Within the tremendous accomplishments of the Jewish community and its non-profit organizations, there are still challenges that the community must grapple with. In April 2007, CLI, in partnership with Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community, designed and coordinated The Conference for Change. Funded by philanthropists Angelica Berrie and Lynn Schusterman, the conference was a 24-hour intensive gathering designed to increase the status of efforts to create a more inclusive Jewish community.

A group of 120 Jewish leaders – philanthropists, foundation professionals, executives from major Jewish communal organizations, and activists – gathered in Princeton, NJ to vision and to take concrete action around the subjects of gender equity, GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning) Jews, and Jews of Color. The Conference for Change schedule and bio book tells much of the story.

With very limited frontal presentations, the participants at the Conference for Change worked in a complex series of break out groups to develop strategies and action plans for change.The actions put into place by the conference and the networks created continue to resonate in the Jewish community. See the program booklet here.