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It’s all Fun and Learning at the Diller Teen Fellows’ annual Jewish Community Mifgash!

Our Israeli Diller cohort of 20 teens from Pittsburgh’s Partnership2Gether community of Karmiel and Misgav landed in Pittsburgh Friday for the  Diller Teen Fellows’ annual Jewish Community Mifgash (JCM). This is the first time JCM has happened in three years and we’re thrilled to host the Israeli Teen Fellows here in Pittsburgh for a 10-day, co-learning, partnership experience with 19 Pittsburgh Diller Fellows. A whirlwind …

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Incorporating Inclusion Across Our Camps and Children, Youth and Family Programs: The Journey Continues

The JCC of Greater Pittsburgh has a longstanding tradition of addressing the needs of those with physical and intellectual disabilities. This commitment has been explicitly demonstrated through our Merck Summer Therapeutic Inclusion Program for Children with High Functioning Autism (a partnership with UPMC and J&R Day Camp), the JCC’s Gesher program (formerly known as Teen Center) where individuals with disabilities actively participate in regular JCC …

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Helping All Children Feel Included at Camp

What is it like to raise a child who has invisible needs (ADHD, Autism, emotional dysregulation, sensory needs etc.)?  “Exhausting,” says the parent of 5-year-old Janey, who struggles with emotional regulation.  “You yearn for the day when you can only be worried about them meeting normal goals - completing homework, making friends, or completing household chores.  These are things we work on, but we also …

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Creating an Inclusive Camp

Summer camp can be a magical experience – carefree days spent outdoors, swimming, sports, singing, cheering and the list goes on.  But for families who have children with hidden disabilities – sensory challenges, ADHD, autism, emotional dysregulation – summer camp can be the best experience or the worst. Leah’s 5-year-old son, Austin, was a camper at J&R Day Camp last summer and will be returning this …

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Try It Out: Active Recovery

I liked the sound of the class – “Active Recovery” – even though I didn’t think I had anything specific to recover from. Except… I’d done some intense workouts in the past couple of days. I have stiff joints when I get out of bed in the morning or get up from sitting a long time. And then there are those vague aches and pains that …

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Try It Out!

Each month, the JCC is featuring one of our many Group Exercise classes. With classes for people of all ages and fitness levels, we know there's something for everyone but still, taking that first step can be intimidating. We want to help get you started so we've enlisted staff and friends who want to try out highlighted classes. In this blog they will share the …

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Spotlight

In our new Spotlight blog,  we will be highlighting some of our lovely JCC members, community, and their amazing stories. Billy Carney - "B'man" Being inclusive and welcoming to people of all abilities is at the forefront of what we do. Seventeen-year-old Bill Carney, better known as B'man, has cerebral palsy. B'man and his family moved to Pittsburgh four years ago to get medical attention after complications stemming from …

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ECDC Children Learn and Explore Through Art

The JCC’s Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) adopts an approach for the education of young children which is inspired by the ideas and practices in Reggio Emilia, Italy.  The principles of the Reggio Approach resonate with the JCC’s mission to create an environment that nurtures people and connects community each day, through every age, inspired by Jewish values. The Arts are a core component of ECDC’s …

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The imperative to preserve and safeguard life – Why two JCCs announced vaccine requirements

The mitzvah of preserving life taking precedence over other Jewish laws has been at the forefront of our minds these past weeks It has not been an easy ride for the JCC field these past 18 months. Mandated closures, partial re-openings, staff layoffs, workforce shortages, capacity limitations, new operating protocols, contract tracing, mask requirements and mandated quarantines—a journey no JCC has faced on this scale for …

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Teens Bring About The First Teen Mental Health Awareness Day

Sunday was a win for teens, teen mental health advocates, mental health organizations, and the community-at-large. Teens who are a part of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s PA Youth Advocacy Network wrote a proclamation that recognized May 23, 2021, as Teen Mental Health Awareness Day in the city and in the commonwealth.  The proclamation, written for teens and by teens, was a culmination of work by multiple organizations and …

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