Adopted 5/20/09 by JCRC Board of Directors

Contents:
Mission Statement
JCRC's Values: Values Beliefs and Guiding Principles
Vision for the Future
External Vision: The way we want the world to be in the future
Internal Vision: The way we want our organization to be in the future
Strategies

JCRC's Mission

Mission Statement

The mission statement which was approved by Board of Trustees in April 1999 was not modified during this strategic planning process.

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Boston is the representative voice of the organized Jewish community. Rooted in Jewish values and informed by Jewish history, JCRC's mission also reflects the ideals of American democracy. Comprised of constituent organizations, the JCRC:

· Serves as a catalyst for building a strong and vibrant Jewish community in Boston and around the world;
· Advocates for a safe, secure, democratic state of Israel;
· Promotes an American society which is democratic, pluralistic and just.

In pursuit of its goals, the JCRC facilitates dialogue and forges an action agenda by encouraging collaborative partnerships within the Jewish community; and between the Jewish community and the broader society.  To this end, the JCRC:

· educates, assists and enables the Jewish community to pursue social justice;
· advocates on issues of Jewish communal concern;
· builds coalitions for effective action and opportunities for community involvement;
· convenes the community in times of crisis, celebration and commemoration.

JCRC's Values

Values, Beliefs, Guiding Principles

The base of all of our work is a shared belief and commitment to our common Jewish values.

Israel's right to exist as a Jewish democratic state in peace and security:
We will work diligently to educate others about, advocate for and strongly support a Jewish democratic state of Israel.

A just and civil society:
We strive to create a world that fosters social justice for all. Our work, organization and individual behaviors will embody fairness, civility, and positive humanitarian values, acknowledging that all people have a right to live a life of dignity.

Pluralism:
We seek our organization to have a representative voice across a continuum of perspectives and backgrounds in the Jewish community in order to foster a rich environment for dialogue and action.

Self reflection, evaluation and continual learning:
We will encourage self reflection and a contemplative approach to our work that incorporates thoughtful, collective input. We will create processes to ensure that we are accountable for setting measurable outcomes, dedicating the time and resources for data driven evaluations of our work and ourselves, and learning from our experiences in order to be forward thinking and strengthen our organization.

Collaboration and Partnership:
In order to achieve our vision, we recognize that we must work closely in connection with others inside and outside the Jewish community. Our relationships with Jewish and non-Jewish individuals and organizations are crucial to our community relations work. We will share credit for accomplishments, engage in open communication with strategic partners, respect others experiences, and help others to succeed so that together we can make a difference.

Empowerment and building the capacity of others:
We will make conscious investments in lay and professional leadership cultivation and offer sufficient opportunities for leaders to flourish within and outside of our organization.

Derech Eretz (respect for others):
We will foster a culture of respect for diversity and acknowledge the talents and competencies of others.  We will confront issues with honesty, openness and vigilance, and engage in constructive feedback with others to enhance learning and growth.  We will be open to all points of view, recognizing and validating each other's perspectives, suspending personal opinions and judgments in the face of disagreement and commit to finding common ground, where possible.

The sanctity of the planet:
We strive to ensure a clean environment, incorporating policies and practices throughout our organization that promote environmental standards.

Vision for the Future

What is the change we want to see?

The JCRC's vision for the future is deeply grounded in an enduring commitment to tikkun olam, the "repair of the world" and other Jewish values.

External Vision: The way we want the world to be in the future

Meaningful, sustainable, and honest relationships exist among leaders of various faith traditions and ethnic groups in Greater Boston, enabling us to work together effectively.  In partnership with others, we strive to achieve concrete results that improve the lives of Massachusetts' vulnerable residents, advance issues of importance to the Jewish community, advocate for a safe, secure and Jewish democratic Israel, and advocate for Jews in troubled lands.  A new spirit of collaboration is enhanced by greater capacity to work in partnership, both within and outside of the Jewish community.

Engagement and activism among Jews, especially among young Jewish adults, is heightened and fueled by greater awareness of our own personal empowerment to act, a stronger, more vibrant identity as Jews, greater connections to the Jewish community and to Israel, and concrete opportunities to meaningfully engage in advocacy work.

Internal Vision: The way we want our organization to be in the future

JCRC is regarded by CJP as its primary vehicle for building partnerships and developing allies among the community at-large, enabling Jews in Greater Boston to act on our most basic commitment to pursue justice and generate support for Israel.

JCRC is regarded as an effective vehicle for advancing issues of importance to the Jewish community and as a connector to the community at large.

JCRC is known for its investment in leadership development and its ability to cultivate and empower leaders, which is evident in the expertise, passion, skills, commitment and longevity of its lay and professional leaders.

JCRC is a reflective learning organization, one that regularly measures and evaluates its work and environment, adapts to meet changing needs, and continues to surpass its standards of excellence.

JCRC is a nationally recognized organization for its quality work, its innovative spirit, its sound judgment, and its commitment to social justice.

Strategies

Building on our assessment of our organization and our environment, JCRC has set forth four overarching strategies that will inform our work and our approaches to addressing community needs.

Building Relationships and Partnerships
JCRC will build new and strengthen existing relationships and partnerships inside and outside the Jewish community to effectively and collectively pursue initiatives, to ensure a safe and secure Jewish community in Boston, to advocate for a more just society, a safe and secure Jewish democratic State of Israel, and to respond to other concerns for Jews in Greater Boston and in troubled lands.

Leadership Development
JCRC will make a deliberate and continual investment in developing, nurturing, recruiting, and strengthening the leadership capacities for both lay and professional leaders connected to JCRC to create a pipeline of new leaders for the future of the organization and the community.

Young Adult Engagement
JCRC will foster greater engagement of young adult Jews in Greater Boston to increase individual leadership, strengthen Jewish identity, deepen connections among young adults to JCRC and its programs, and increase young adult activism on social justice and other issues of concern to the Jewish community including support of Israel.

Activism and Advocacy
JCRC will work to spark an increase in activism among Jews, enhancing their capacity and skill to become effective advocates for issues of concern to our Greater Boston Jewish community and our partners.