Impact Year

Make a Difference in Your Community

Impact Year gives teens an opportunity to take part in service learning events and advocacy projects that support a range of populations in need in our communities. The program runs during the school year (Oct. – May) and participants can join in at any time during the school year as their schedules allow.

Throughout the program teens are encouraged to think about themselves, their futures, and their place in the world through a Jewish values-based lens. As they explore their own identities, teens are presented with the challenge to consider how they want to put values such as tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedakah (an obligation to give back to your community) into action and make an impact in their local communities. By exploring these and other Jewish ideas and values, participants come to realize that they are living Jewishly by engaging in service.

Impact Year Leaders: Taking It to the Next Step

For teens who really want to shape their own service learning experience, becoming an Impact Year Leader is a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of the needs in our community while building new leadership skills.

Impact Year Leaders are a committed group of teens who work closely with the YouthFirst staff to plan and execute service and advocacy projects for fellow teens in the Impact Year program.

Teens who demonstrate strong leadership and commitment are eligible to apply for a fully subsidized trip to Israel on a unique, three-week summer service program.

Over the course of the eight month commitment, Impact Year Leaders:

Lead—by creating, planning and executing original service and advocacy projects for their fellow Impact Year participants to support populations in need.

Learn—by participating in interactive monthly workshops, gaining professional and personal skills like time management, resume building, and public speaking.

Grow—by meeting with JFCS experts to get the support to succeed and work on themselves and their personal growth; stress management, conflict resolution, anxiety reduction, and effective communication are just some of the topics covered.

Build Community—by building strong bonds with each other and becoming skilled community advocates, Impact Year Leaders share what they have learned throughout the year.