Overview
The EDCJCC’s Youth Action Institute (YAI) is the place for youth and teens in the DC area to become socially responsible, civically engaged leaders who are motivated to solve today’s most pressing challenges.
Through fun, engaging volunteer opportunities that address issues like climate change, homelessness, and food insecurity, teens will grow their leadership skills, earn service-learning hours, and make new friends.
As with everything we do, the YAI is guided by Judaism’s imperative to heal the world and bring about social change.
The YAI is targeted to youth ages 11-18.
Get Involved
Upcoming Events
Teen Volunteer Project: Park Clean Up With PASYN
Date : Sunday, November 10, 2024
Time : 10:00 AM
Location : Address provided after registration
Everything But The Turkey: Teens Edition
Date : Monday, November 25, 2024
Time : 6:30 PM
Location : Edlavitch DCJCC
Teen Volunteer Project: Gift Wrapping
Date : Sunday, December 15, 2024
Time : 4:30 PM
Location : Edlavitch DCJCC
Teen Volunteer Project: DC Central Kitchen
Date : Sunday, January 26, 2025
Time : 8:15 AM
Location : Address provided after registration
Teen Volunteer Project: Lutheran Social Services with Our Lady Victory School
Date : Sunday, February 23, 2025
Time : 1:30 PM
Location : Address provided after registration
Youth Action Institute FAQs
Don’t see an answer to your question here? Reach out to Lyssa at ajellenik@edcjcc.org.
No! Our programs are open to everyone and there will be no explicitly religious content presented. We will present Jewish values as a framework for why we care about making the world a better place.
All of our programs except the Tzedek B’Mitzvah Fellowship are free at this time. Please visit the Tzedek B’mitzvah Fellowship page to learn more about this 5-month fellowship program.
When a volunteer event is not easily accessible via public transportation, we will be providing transportation from and to the JCC.
All of our events are staffed by at least one professional, full-time staff member from the JCC as well as an additional part-time facilitator. All staff are over the age of 21 and have completed a background check.
As a teen-driven initiative, we put students at the heart of our decision-making. There are currently two formal leadership opportunities available:
1. The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a teen advisory body that helps us make decisions about all aspects of our work from branding to programming to swag. Teens must apply and be accepted onto the YAC. Applications for the 2024-2025 school year will open in September.
2. The YAI’s chapter of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement is 100% teen-driven and -run. We are always looking for more teens to join and help put on climate action-related events. If interested, please reach out to Lyssa at ajellenik@edcjcc.org
We make every effort to accommodate teens of all abilities in our programs. Please communicate about how we can best support your teen and their needs with as much detail as you’re able to provide. In some instances, we may request that a participant come with a one-on-one if we don’t feel confident that we can serve all of their needs.
Because every school system and district has its own paperwork, we request that everyone provides their own community service form for us to sign. Please bring forms to each event or email them within 48 hours so we can return them in a timely manner.
No. ALL participants must sign up on our website prior to the start of the event. Due to capacity limits, we are unfortunately not be able to include anyone who doesn’t sign up in advance. Don’t worry though – signing up is easy and free.
Since all of our events have limited space, we ask that you email Lyssa at ajellenik@edcjcc.org as soon as possible.
Team
Lyssa Jellenik
Assistant Director, Youth Action Institute
Sonya Weisburd, MSW
Director for Social Impact
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