JCCA celebrated February’s Black History Month with numerous events and activities. Mental Health and Preventive Services in Brooklyn held a party at Brooklyn College’s Hillel Center where clients enjoyed arts & crafts, played Bingo with "Bingo Bob” (VP Robert Cizma), participated in poetry readings, Step Dancing, a Black History Trivia game, and enjoyed delicious food prepared by the staff.

Among the many activities on our Westchester campus, Edenwald Center had a "high-five" event at a Nets game, which included basketball player Desmond Mason. The Times Square Church came to Edenwald, celebrating through song, dance, video, and theatre, and the Edenwald Choir performed at the Martin Luther King Pleasantville Community Celebration. Residents of Pleasantville Cottage School held a Cultural Dinner followed by an original show, “100+ Years of Black History and Music.” More than 30 youth and seven staff participated in the show which told of the struggles and triumphs of African-Americans from slavery to the present day. The performance was a rousing success.

One of the most highly regarded conferences in its field, this full-day program is for adoptive parents, adoptive parents-to-be, and adoption professionals. At the conference more than 50 internationally recognized experts will discuss current trends and developments in infertility and adoption.

A delegation of five teens from JCCA's Bukharian Teen Lounge, an after-school program for immigrant Jewish teens in Forest Hills, traveled to Washington, D.C. in February to participate in Panim el Panim, a prestigious Jewish civics education program. The youth met other Jewish teens from across the U.S. and began learning about the differences and similarities they shared. They worked together in teams to learn more about the political process and discussed topics such as gender, civil rights, and equal opportunity through a Jewish lens. They also visited museums and monuments around the city, including a tour of the Supreme Court.

On the last day of the conference, the teens were given the opportunity to lobby Congressman Anthony Weiner, by meeting with his Special Assistant, Robert W. Cousart. They shared their views about immigration, education, climate change, childhood obesity, homelessness, and the genocide in Darfur. Afterwards they were treated to a V.I.P. tour of the Senate floor. The Bukharian youth plan to continue their new-found friendships and ongoing dialogue with the other teens in the group.

For more information about the Bukharian Teen Lounge, click here.

With music, songs, drama, and art, enter into the spirit of Passover with our Adoptive Multicultural Passover Celebration! The story of Passover reflects the great trials that the Jewish people suffered in Egypt, the challenges of their exodus from that land, and their joyful arrival in Canaan. Join with other adoptive families in a festive celebration of this wonderful holiday. Lunch included. For more info, please visit jccany.org/passover.

Beth Elohim, 274 Garfield Place, Brooklyn. Call 212 558-9949 or click here to register. $15 per adult/$10 per child over 2 years.

To learn more about Ametz or to view upcoming Ametz events, please click here.

Save the Date! The 1st Annual Walk for the Cottage Schools will take place on Sunday, May 18, beginning at 9:30 am on the Pleasantville Campus. Anyone can participate — children, youth, adults, parents, and seniors — but we are specifically looking for youth ambassadors of middle school and high-school age to network and ask their friends to commit to walking and raising funds for campus programs. More information will be posted shortly on our website.