Faith Inclusion Webinars

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One of the greatest ways that leaders with disabilities and their allies can strengthen the organizations in which they participate is by helping to move them toward greater inclusion. That said, the role of an internal advocate is fundamentally different from that of an external change agent. Learn from some successful Jews with disabilities and their allies about how they’ve made change from the inside at their organizations.
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There are many ways to lead in Jewish organizations, from donating time and talent, to active participation. Some will take the ultimate plunge and choose to work professionally for a Jewish organization. In this session, we focused both on the types of opportunities available, and the ways to build on your network and use modern technology so that you may contribute your time and talent. [continue reading…]

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Foundation funding is at the core of many organizations. There is an art to every part of the process of working with a foundation, from grant proposals to program descriptions, to outcomes and aligning with funder priorities. This panel featured two leaders from the Jewish foundation world who introduced each of these topics, explaining both how you as a volunteer can help, and how you might join the foundation world as a professional. [continue reading…]

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Money makes the world go round, but relationships are what truly build lasting connections to donors and support for our organizations. This session will teach you how to build these connections, from finding prospects, to opening dialogue, all the way to closing a gift. This session focused on individual prospects, from friends to philanthropists.

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Whether serving on a board or helping with programs, getting things done in the nonprofit world is immensely easier if you understand how nonprofits work. This session gave the basics of nonprofit operation, including budget, mission and purpose, the role of the board, staff and volunteers, bylaws and grant agreements, and how you can get involved. [continue reading…]

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Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms have become not just an important way to get out your message, but the most important way to get out your message. While everyone seems to have social media, a quick scroll through the average social media feed shows that we greatly vary in our ability to use these tools effectively and craft the messages that work. This workshop was designed to close that gap and will be useful not only to contribute to nonprofits, but in anything that you want to do. [continue reading…]

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On February 23, 2021, Rabbi Darby Leigh spoke at the Center for Jewish Education’s ASL Meet Up to celebrate Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month.

Presented by the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit’s Opening the Doors Program and RespectAbility’s National Disability Speakers Bureau

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Moderated by Mitchell S. Parker, PhD, psychologist

Speaker Bios

Jennifer Fink is a social entrepreneur and management consultant whose passion lies in promoting behavioral and community health to empower individuals learning to cope with mental health challenges. Due to an accident and illness in her mid-20s, Ms. Fink lives with nonvisible disabilities, anxiety, and depression. Fink had founded a nonprofit and co-authored a children’s book supporting military children. She collaborated with the Obama White House’s Joining Forces Initiative, and due to Fink’s finesse, former First Lady Michelle Obama filmed a video for a USO Asia-Pacific Tour that Fink co-led. A captivating and relatable storyteller, she weaves humor and grace as she embraces and shares her story, wisdom, and lessons learned from her journey.

Dr. Arielle Silverman has been both Jewish and blind since birth. She has worked with Jewish camps, congregations, and other organizations to help build a culture of inclusion. Dr. Silverman has also studied and conducted research on the psychology of disability. She speaks on the tensions between her intersecting disabled and Jewish identities; simple principles for fostering inclusion across ability lines; and learning to correct our own biases toward people who are different.

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RespectAbility Communications Fellow and 2020 Lab alumni Ava Rigelhaupt speaks about autism and Judaism for Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month 2021 at Congregation Har Shalom.