In the Community
Coalition Building
A vital task of the JCRC is inter-group work. We actively cultivate and maintain relationships with other organizations involved in advocacy initiatives of interest to our community. We have one of the largest Afghan populations in the US within our region and are actively pursuing relations with appropriate partners in the Muslim community. In 2005, East Bay JCRC Council members spearheaded an Anti-Hate Forum in the Tri-Cities area (Fremont/Newark/Hayward). Based on the success of this forum, another was presented in 2007. An outgrowth of this effort led to the formation of the East Bay JCRC-Muslim Coalition, which meets monthly to discuss our respective faith traditions and plans joint programming for the community.
Programming
In response to current events in the Middle East, the East Bay JCRC in partnership with the East Bay Federation, organized Israel Solidarity gatherings in both Alameda and Contra Costa counties. We also hosted security briefings for area synagogues and Jewish agencies given heightened security concerns for Jewish institutions. As a result of an anti-Semitic graffiti incident at El Cerrito High School, JCRC in tandem with one of our sister agencies, implemented student and teacher workshops and a Jewish Town Hall Forum in El Cerrito on how to respond when hate crimes occur in the community. The East Bay JCRC is also working on Israel education programs for area churches and the community at-large.