Increasing “Now Generation” Engagement and Connections Within Our Community
Keeping young adults engaged in Jewish life is critical for our community to grow and thrive. Thus, the Federation is launching an initiative to explore how we can increase participation and opportunities for young Jewish adults to engage Jewishly. This task force will explore programs and best practices from other communities that have been successful in increasing Jewish identity and engagement through Israel, Education, Leadership Development and Social Action. This initiative is taking place both inside the Federation and outside the Federation. The outside initiative in called Now Gen and the inside initiative is called NOWGen.
What is the Difference Between NOWGen and Now Gen?
NOWGen is a department of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. The Federations’s NOWGen department aims to engage Jewish young adults between the ages of 22-45 through meaningful programs and events that help young adults connect to Judaism and Jewish life in the Valley of the Sun. The NOWGen department includes Young Jewish Phoenix, ShabbatLuck, iMPACT: A New Generation of Women's Philanthropy, and managing the Phoenix community Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. Young Jewish Phoenix primarily hosts social and community service events. ShabbatLuck helps build community by arranging Shabbat dinners, both at synagogues and in people's homes, for people to connect and celebrate Shabbat. iMPACT is specifically for young women to do hands on service projects in our community.
Now Gen is programming and services intended to increase the choices and opportunities available to young adults to become involved in community programs. These programs will be run by organizations throughout the community and funded by the Federation, through the program grant process.
The 2015 process is currently underway. Stay tuned for more information about funded programs and further developments with this initiative.
The 2016 process will begin with a letter of intent. The RFP for this process will be available in fall of 2015.