Today’s high school students are tomorrow’s Jewish leaders. Unfortunately, it is also true that Jewish high school students in Kansas City encounter antisemitism on a disturbingly regular basis in their schools.
Through bringing AJC’s Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) program to Kansas City, JCRB|AJC works to ensure that young Jews in Kansas City will be informed, prepared, and effective advocates for the Jewish people and for themselves.
In their monthly sessions, the 2020-21 Kansas City LFT cohort has showcased their commitment to Jewish advocacy and leadership, and they already recognize the impact the program will have on their lives moving forward.
“LFT has given me the knowledge and tools necessary to become an advocate,” said one participant. Another student said that the program has made them “feel more connected to other Jews in my community.”
While sessions have been conducted virtually due to the pandemic, students participated in the same discussions and activities they would have if they were in person.
Together, the cohort discussed the definition of Zionism and what it means to be a Zionist, learned about the complexities and nuances of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and examined contemporary examples of online antisemitism.
Virtual programming opened up the opportunity for students to engage with AJC’s associate director for policy and Middle East initiatives, Benjamin Rogers, during a local session and to learn about Israeli history from AJC’s director of contemporary Jewish life, Dr. Laura Shaw Frank, during a national LFT session with more than 200 LFT students across the nation.
Beginning this fall, our 2021-2022 KC LFT cohort will participate in seven sessions featuring local and national experts. Local sessions, held once a month on Sundays, are facilitated by JCRB|AJC’s executive director, Gavriela Geller, and education and program associate, Sarah Markowitz.
Students will discuss a variety of topics, including past and current Israeli affairs, challenges and opportunities facing global Jewry, understanding and combating antisemitism, and strategic advocacy and coalition building.
Graduates from our Kansas City cohorts stay engaged with AJC as they become part of a nationwide network and are invited to participate in special alumni programming across the country. In November, alumni of the 2019-2020 cohort had the unique opportunity to participate in an advocacy meeting with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat, during which the teens shared their own experiences with antisemitism and advocated for AJC policy priorities.
JCRB|AJC is currently accepting applications from outstanding high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are interested in Jewish advocacy for this year’s LFT program.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, however we urge interested students to apply quickly, before the cohort becomes full. Participants will be selected based on their application and a phone interview. There is no cost to participate.
To apply for the 2021-2022 cohort, please visit: https://www.ajc.org/lftinfo. For questions, please contact Markowitz at .
