The Jewish community is invited to a virtual briefing to hear the results of the comprehensive population and demographic study of the Kansas City Jewish community, commissioned by Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and conducted during the spring/summer of 2021.
The results will be presented by the principal researcher, Dr. Matthew Boxer of the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15.
This study, the first of its kind since 1985, provides a current portrait of the local Jewish community. The findings will provide Jewish community agencies and organizations with key data and insights for strategic planning and better use of community resources.
“We’ve needed a study for a very long time,” said Andi Milens, Jewish Federation’s senior director of community building. “Anecdotally we know that our community has changed, and now we’ll have an accurate picture of current Jewish life in Kansas City.”
This study answers many questions relevant to the present and future of the Kansas City Jewish community, including: How large is the community? Where does the Jewish population live? How many Jews live in poverty or have unmet financial needs? How many people in the community live with disabilities?
Following the release of the results, the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City will convene various meetings with community leaders to review the data and insights, and to prioritize and/or plan to create the programs and services that are most needed moving forward.
“We’re very excited about the study and to have this new data,” added Helene Lotman, Jewish Federation’s president and CEO. “It will help Federation and our community institutions plan for the future, both independently and collaboratively, so we can all better meet the current and future needs of our community.”
To register for the community study briefing, visit jewishkansascity.org/communitystudy.