As I was preparing to begin my very first position at the JCC back in 2016, our esteemed former colleague Rachel Marcus ended a tour of the Squirrel Hill facility by bringing me into the Kaufmann Dance Studio, where the Gesher program participants were gathered. She paused, pointed gently toward the room, and said, “Forget everything else that you have seen today. This program is all you need to know about what makes the JCC such a special place.”
I have carried that moment with me ever since. It has served as a reminder of who we are at our best – an organization committed to honoring the dignity, potential, and inherent worth of every individual.
The JCC’s Gesher Program is designed to empower individuals with disabilities through a comprehensive and person-centered approach. It fosters independence, promotes social engagement, and nurtures essential life skills, creating meaningful pathways for participants to engage fully with our community. The program offers a diverse range of enriching activities, including swimming, fitness, technology, art, music, and community-based instruction.
This past Wednesday, we reached an important and joyful milestone in the Gesher program, as our first participant in the JCC’s new Supportive Employment Initiative began working in our food services department. Pedro was an instant hit, and his enthusiasm, warmth, and readiness to contribute were felt immediately.
This initiative represents the next step in the JCC’s long-standing commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment and meaningful engagement for adults with disabilities. While Gesher continues its essential work building life skills, social connection, and personal growth, our new supportive employment pathway is designed to help participants gain workplace skills, explore career interests, and succeed in real job settings – first within the JCC and, ultimately, across the community.
We look forward to welcoming more participants into supported roles throughout the JCC in the coming months, and to deepening the partnerships – both internal and external – that will allow this initiative to flourish. We are grateful to our staff, families, and donors who make this work possible.
And to Pedro—thank you for leading the way. We are so proud to welcome you to the JCC workforce!
Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom,
Jason
