Changing Our Act in “Acts of Change”

By Pamela Klier-Weidner
Director of Development and Organizational Advancement, JCUA

Why mess with the fundraising dinner? JCUA, like so many organizations, has been doing them successfully for years.

Big fundraising galas have a warm place in my heart, in my history. I’ve experienced great joy (and several additional gray hairs) in producing large scale fundraising dinners. I have, however, fantasized about taking the “gala” out of JCUA’s fundraising galas.

“Acts of Change” will honor Kalman Resnick and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, with guest speaker Tamar Manasseh and performances from “Soul Sisters–A Multicultural Musical.” Learn more and buy tickets.

This tried-and-true formula never quite hit the mark for me at JCUA. We’ve had heroic honorees. We’ve worked with devoted dinner chairs. We’ve had our events at wonderful downtown hotels where the staff dedicated themselves to making our lives easier and our event virtually seamless.

So, why mess with the fundraising dinner?

I’m not speaking on behalf of everyone at JCUA, but for nearly four years, I’ve heard so many people ask us not to do “those big dinners.” I’ve also struggled with the expense of a large dinner and the ticket prices we had to set in order to reach our fundraising goals.

At each fundraising dinner, I couldn’t help but ask myself, “Are we including ALL of our communities at this gala?” I wonder if the event is true to who we really are as an organization. Is it communicating the importance of our relationships and the bridges we create across racial, ethnic and religious lines? Are we having fun?

Muslims, Jews and Christians Have to Work Together

JCUA’s Jane Ramsey and Rabbi Robert Marx were the “special honorees” at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network’s end-of-year dinner, Dec. 11, 2011.  This is Ramsey’s acceptance speech, along with a video message from Rabbi Marx, who was not able to attend in person.

On behalf of Rabbi Robert Marx and myself, and all of us at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, I am deeply honored and moved to accept this extraordinary award from you and the Inner-City Muslim Action Network. [Ramsey's remarks continue below video link.]

I think back 10 years ago, when IMAN and JCUA became partners, recognizing that we shared a common vision for a just city and nation, and of working from the grassroots up to tackle poverty and inequities, and to build bridges across racial, religious, ethnic and class lines.

Journey to Freedom: Reflecting on the King Memorial

In the 1960s, Rabbi Robert J. Marx marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Chicago and Alabama and fought for civil rights in Chicago and beyond. Rabbi Marx is the founder and a past president of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, where he continues to be an active board member, leader and mentor. He is the Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Hakafa in Glencoe, Ill., which he founded in 1983.

By Rabbi Robert J. Marx

(Marvin Joseph/Getty Images)

Time affirms what heroism discerns. The dedication of a statue in memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is a belated yet significant tribute to a man who did so much to redefine the meaning of our democracy.

Make no mistake about it, there was a civil rights movement in the middle years of the 20th century, but King was the face of the movement, the pulse of it — one might even say the heart of it.

The memorial in Washington, D.C., about to be dedicated to his memory is made of solid stone, of granite. It will remain for the ages, solid and unmoving, a reminder of what dedication and courage are able to achieve.

“Keep the Vision Alive”

Rabbi MarxA

A letter from Rabbi Robert Marx, founder of JCUA, read by Rabbi Bruce Elder on June 23, 2011 at the Rabbi Robert J. Marx Social Justice Awards Dinner.

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We are a stiff-necked people, so goes the Biblical assertion.  To my great disadvantage I tried to discover the literal meaning of that aphorism by breaking my neck and left clavicle.  The pain I experience now is tempered by the realization that it could have been worse for the bone I injured was the same one that devastated Christopher Reeve.  And so, while fortunate in one respect, I am also deprived for the first time in many years, of the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.

How I wish I could be with you to honor the inspired leadership of Jane Ramsey, the dedication and wonderful service of Steve Keen as JCUA president for the last three years, and the commitment of JCUA staff that remains as imaginative as it is tireless. How I wish I could be with you to congratulate my colleague, my friend, my Rabbi—Bruce Elder—as he assumes the presidency of out Council.  And how I wish I had the opportunity to congratulate the three outstanding members of our community you have chosen to honor this day:  Ralph Brown, Roberta Nechin and David Midgley.  For many years their good deeds have cried out for acknowledgment and recognition.

Of course I am with you in thought and in spirit.  There is still so much more to do.  There are communities hungering for guidance and help.  There are new fields to be tilled, homes to be built, hopes to be shared.  Not backward but forward must be our direction, even in this time of recession, in this time of reaction, in this age of temerity.  Please, do not be afraid to accommodate new dreams.  Please, keep the vision alive.

-Robert J. Marx, Rabbi

Housing Commissioner Andrew Mooney Speaking at Anuual Dinner on June 23

Ralph Brown, Roberta Nechin and David Midgley

We hope you will be able to join us for our social justice awards dinner on June 23 honoring Ralph Brown, Roberta Nechin and David Midgley, three people dedicated to ensuring all Chicagoans have decent, safe and affordable housing.

Andrew Mooney

Andrew Mooney, commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development, will be speaking at the dinner and presenting awards to the honorees.

Chairing the dinner is JCUA board member Peter Hanig along with JCUA advisory board member Sheldon Baskin and Kitty Freidheim of Freidheim Consulting as honorary chairs.

Whether or not you are able to attend the dinner, you can purchase tickets for our 2011 raffle for an opportunity to win an iPad 2, a six-night vacation, $1000 worth of fine jewelry, $500 for shoes or up to $150 for dinner for two.

You do not need to be present to win; however, you must be an Illinois resident to participate.

For Esther Saks and Family, Social Justice is a Way of Life

A colorful quilt by the artist Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, hangs on the wall in the dining room of Esther Saks’ Chicago apartment in Lakeview. Its elements are finely detailed—down to the images of people woven into the fabric. And like the images woven into the quilt, so has the desire to do social justice work been woven into the fabric of who Saks is.

“Living a self-sustaining and self-supporting life is a given, but above that offering one’s resources, time and intelligence to your communities, takes the meaning of life next level,” said Saks. “Our family has always felt that one owes something to your community,” she said.

Saks, 80, shared this passion for social activism with her late husband Alan Saks, and in their 50-year marriage, the couple were deeply committed to many political and social justice movements and activities, and raised four daughters who followed in their footsteps.

“Both my parents and Alan’s parents led by example – we always tried to do the same,” said Saks.

Esther and Alan Saks

“A People In Between”: JCUA’s Jane Ramsey Shares Her Thoughts with The Jewish Daily Forward for Jewish Book Month

Jane Ramsey

In celebration of Jewish Book Month, during “30 Days, 30 Texts,” The Jewish Daily Forward is having community leaders write a series of reflections on books that influenced their Jewish journeys.  JCUA Executive Director Jane Ramsey shared her thoughts with The Forward on Rabbi J. Robert Marx’s “A People In Between: The Paradox of Jewish Interstitiality .”

Here is an excerpt of her post:

Marx brings clarity to the past, present, and future of Judaism through this lens. His thorough and bold analysis leads to a hopeful future for Judaism and our Jewish community — if we heed his warnings and fulfill positive, rather than negative, interstitial societal roles. Implied in this conclusion is a Jewish community that actively seeks alliances that lead to a just society.

[Read full article]

[Read "The People In Between" by Rabbi Marx]