Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) - Boston Haifa Connection

The Boston-Haifa Connection has been changing lives and opening hearts since it was established by Combined Jewish Philanthropies and the City of Haifa in 1989. The Connection builds "living bridges" between the sister cities and strengthens the social fabric of both societies. Thousands of individuals have been touched by the Connection, including at-risk youth in Haifa, Boston-area Jewish day school and religious school students, Ethiopian-Israeli immigrants, Israelis from the former Soviet Union, seniors and Israeli Arabs.

Many active projects continue to engage social service agencies, schools and synagogues in both cities, making the Connection a dynamic, multi-faceted partnership. Going far beyond one-time missions and donations, the Connection builds Jewish community on both sides of the ocean through dialogue and collaboration. As Israel's third-largest city and a center for pluralism and coexistence, Haifa makes an ideal sister city for Boston.  Click here to visit the site.

The Council for Volunteers (CVO)

The ultimate vision for the Council is that it will operate as an umbrella organization for NGOs in Haifa that will coordinate the activities of civil society organizations, empower NGOs and their volunteers, and increase the connection between Boston and Haifa NGOs. Specifically, the Council will strengthen NGOs by helping the organizations to network and coordinate activities with one another. At the same time, the Council will provide resources to individual NGOs such as advice regarding media access, fundraising techniques and volunteer management.  Finally, the Council will empower volunteers by providing placement services with volunteer organizations within Haifa. 

McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at UMASS Boston

The Center for Social Policy (CSP) provides expertise on policies and practices that reduce social and economic inequities in Massachusetts and the nation. Through active community engagement, CSP takes a critical look at the structural causes for low wages, housing affordability problems and the unequal distribution of resources. In the family centered approach to research, they use innovative and pragmatic ways to reshape policies to promote solutions that address the root causes of poverty; this work is carried out by collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including people from communities most affected by state and federal social welfare policies, as well as service providers, policymakers, employers, labor unions, and philanthropic organizations. Click here to visit the site.

Shatil

Shatil (seedling in Hebrew) is the leading agent for social change in Israel, promoting a society based on social, economic and environmental justice, human and civil rights, and cultural and religious pluralism. Shatil's work strengthens Israel's democracy by increasing citizen involvement in the processes of government and the quest for equality and social justice. Shatil influences policy and initiates social change projects on our own and in partnership with non profit organizations, public institutions, business, philanthropists, the media, academia and the arts.

Established by the New Israel Fund in 1982 to strengthen civil society in Israel, Shatil builds the capacity of more than 1400 social change organizations yearly through tailored consulting and group trainings in advocacy and media, strategic planning, fundraising, financial management, conducting effective projects and campaigns, coalition building and many other areas. We help disadvantaged communities improve their lives by working with them to effect systemic social change.  Click here to visit the site.