This week I had the privilege of representing Pittsburgh at the Young American Leaders Program (YALP) at Harvard Business School (HBS), a convening of civic, business, nonprofit, and government leaders from across the country who are deeply invested in the future of their communities. It was an inspiring experience and a powerful reminder of why the work we do at the JCC matters, not just for Jewish Pittsburgh, but for the vitality and resilience of our region.
YALP is rooted in the idea that cross-sector collaboration—when businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and/or academic institutions work together—is a good strategy that contributes to long-term financial and social gains. When sectors work together with shared purpose, we move faster, build stronger and sustain longer.
To be part of this national conversation along with colleagues from 13 other cities from across the country and to bring the voice and values of our JCC to the table was truly energizing. The experience underscored not only how important institutions like ours are to the fabric of local life, but also how critical it is that we are included in charting the course that will define the future of our region.
As we reviewed HBS case studies, articles and excerpts talking about high-impact coalitions and innovation, and a wide variety of national and local data, several key lessons emerged that felt especially relevant to our daily work:
- True success includes both growth and shared prosperity. As a community center inspired by Jewish values, we believe that the well-being of one is bound up in the well-being of all. Our mission calls us to nurture people and connect communities across lines of identity, background, and need.
- Today’s brand of leadership has to be “ambidextrous leadership.” We must respond to what is probable AND prepare for what is possible. We must meet specific needs AND design for systemic change. We must listen to what is happening within our walls AND remain attuned to what is taking place outside them. This balance is essential as we strive to dream bigger than we are.
- Systems thinking sharpens our strategy. By understanding how our work intersects with the efforts of others—in education, health, policy, and beyond—we can make smarter decisions and strengthen the collective impact of our region.
- Innovation happens closest to the ground. While big ideas may circulate at the national level, the most transformative change often takes root locally. Here in Pittsburgh, where relationships run deep and collaboration is a shared value, we have the opportunity to test, learn, and grow in ways that ripple outward.
At a time when the world often feels fractured, this experience affirmed the importance of institutions like the JCC—ones that build bridges between sectors and create brave spaces for conversation, serve as a catalyst for progress and a partner in innovation, and commit to the well-being of all—in shaping Pittsburgh’s civic and communal landscape.
Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom,
Jason
