Community Conversations

JFS Community Hunger Briefing

Participants:
Michael Hopkins – CEO, Jewish Family Service
Anahid Brakke – Executive Director, San Diego Hunger Coalition
Sasha Escue – Director of Nutrition Services, Jewish Family Service

Please join us to learn about our response to the hunger crisis during COVID-19 and discover how you can take action to ensure that our neighbors are healthy during these difficult times.

Becoming an Anti-Racist Jewish Community

Moderator:
Nate Looney, Jews of Color Recruiter, Avodah

Panelists:
Rabbi Yael Ridberg, Congregation Dor Hadash
Kelsey Greenberg Young, Education Director, ADL San Diego
Micah Parzen, CEO, Museum of Man

JFS invites the Jewish community to come together to learn about implicit bias, how to recognize covert racism and microaggressions, and to understand the role of becoming an ally in this work. Our speakers will provide tools on how to become an anti-racist and take actions to create meaningful and transformative action.

Understanding the Supreme Court Decision On DACA: What Happens Next?

Panelists:
Leah Chavarria, Esq., Director of Immigration Services Immigration Attorney, Jewish Family Service
Jairo Castañeda, Esq., Lead Attorney, Higher Education Legal Services, Jewish Family Service
Claudia Cuevas, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Cynthia Torres, Coordinator of Undocumented Resource Area (URA) at SDSU
Leticia A. Díaz, M.A., Director of EOPS and Special Programs, San Diego Mesa College
Daniel Alfaro, Program Manager of Undocumented Student Services, UCSD

Moderator: Vanessa Piñeda, Outreach Manager for Breaking Down Barriers, Jewish Family Service

In this Community Conversation, our panel of immigration experts and advocates will summarize the court ruling and the immediate effects it has on DACA recipients, discuss the emotional impact of the decision, and connect participants to helpful immigration resources.

Positive Parenting During Uncertain Times

Panelists:
Margo Gonzalez, Lead Parent Educator, Jewish Family Service
Julio Ramos, Parent Educator, Jewish Family Service
Jennifer Martin, Military Family Specialist, Jewish Family Service

Moderators:
Autumn Weidman, Director of Positive Parenting Program, Jewish Family Service

This Community Conversation features our team of Positive Parenting educators and will focus on finding positive strategies for maintaining a healthy family life during quarantine, managing challenging behaviors, and helping our children cope during these difficult times.

Supporting The Mental Health Of Asian/Pacific Islander Communities During COVID-19

Panelists:
Amanda Lee, Division Dir. of Adult/Older Adult Mental Health, UPAC
Heeyoung Kim, Counseling & Treatment Ctr Program Manager, UPAC
Jashneel Singh, Doctoral Student, Alliant International University
Michelle Ly, Division Dir. of Children & Adolescent Mental Health, UPAC

Moderators:
Gabby Masuda, Outreach Coordinator for Asian Pacific Islander Community, Jewish Family Service

This Community Conversation will bring together mental health experts from across the API community to discuss common mental health issues, identify the social barriers that prevent API individuals from seeking help, and offer tips on coping during the increased stress and uncertainty of our current public health crisis.

Teen Talk: Finding Connection, Coping Strategies, and Hope for the Future

Panelists:
Sarah Greenstein, Guidance Counselor, San Diego Jewish Academy
Ashley McGuire, Professional Peacemaker and Restorative Justice Practitioner
Ali Shapiro and Ilana Goldklang, Teen Leaders, Jewish Family Service

Moderators:
Daria Tomsky, Teen Leadership Coordinator, Jewish Family Service
Matthew Ewing, Teen Leader, Jewish Family Service

This Community Conversation focuses on how to find connection, motivation, and a sense of belonging during these challenging times. From accessing mental health resources to creating daily routines, we’ll talk about our collective anxiety, find creative ways to stay connected, and learn how to navigate this crisis together.

Prevención Durante la Pandemia: Una Conversación para Padres

Panelistas:
Ariane Porras, Consultant & Trainer for Partner in Prevention, Strengthening Families Department, YMCA
Saribe Perez, Mental Health & Disabilities Manager, MAAC Child Development
Gisella Gomez, MSW, Family Developer, Casey Family Programs – San Diego

Moderadora: Margot González, Lead Parent Educator, Jewish Family Service

Esta conversación comunitaria, se centrará en encontrar estrategias positivas para mantener una vida familiar saludable durante la cuarentena, administrar nuestros nuevos roles como maestros y ayudar a nuestros hijos a sobrellevar estos tiempos difíciles.

How Collective Trauma, Self-Care, and COVID-19 Varies Across Communities

Panelists: JFS Breaking Down Barriers Team
Fernando Parra Chong, Outreach Coordinator for Latinx Community
Spshelle Rutledge, Outreach Coordinator for African American/Black Community
Gabriela Masuda, Outreach Coordinator for Asian Pacific Islander Community
Vanessa Pineda, Outreach Coordinator for LGBTQ+ Community
Lily Mojdehi, Outreach Coordinator for Middle Eastern Community

Moderator: Kim Lesnau, Director of Learning & Development at JFS

This Community Conversation focuses on understanding the community impact of COVID-19 from a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed lens. We’ll provide techniques for maintaining your physical and mental wellbeing, tips on normalizing emotions that are often ignored, and advice on accessing helpful community resources.

Dementia Caregiving in the COVID-19 Outbreak

Panelists:
Tracey Truscott, Clinical Social Worker, Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at UCSD
Amy Abrams, Director of Education, Alzheimer’s San Diego
Colleen Cook, Dementia Specialist, Jewish Family Service

Moderator: Meredith Morgenroth, Sr. Director of Social & Wellness Services at Jewish Family Service

This Community Conversation focuses on finding emotional support and stress management for care partners, staying connected to isolated loved ones, creating a safety plan, and accessing local resources for additional support

Self-Care Strategies for Adjusting to a New Normal

Panelists:
Ken Druck, Ph.D., Resilience Expert, founder of Jenna Druck Center
Dr. Bruce Sachs, Clinician, Jewish Family Service
Rabbi Yael Ridbeg, Congregation Dor Hadash

Moderator: Michael Hopkins, CEO of Jewish Family Service

This program, moderated by Michael Hopkins, CEO of Jewish Family Service, and featuring panelists Ken Druck, Ph.D., Rabbi Yael Ridberg, and Dr. Bruce Sachs, will focus on how to meet these challenges by upgrading, innovating and putting our self-care and caregiving skills and abilities to work.