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MJF Reimagining changes begin

October 1st, 2011

After last spring’s and summer’s activities — the cascading community interviews, the Jewish Community Summit, and the Strategic Action Session — the work of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Reimagining Project is continuing.

“The messages we received from our community were clear, with a surprising degree of consensus,” said Sheryl Primakow, MJF staff leader of the Reimagining Process and the MJF interim executive director.

“In order to support the dreams of our community, the Federation must become warmer, more inclusive, more collaborative with our agencies and our volunteer partners, more efficient and more focused on our role of community convener,” she said. “Resource development will remain the foundation of the work we do.”

“We’re already taking a few first, small steps within the Federation staff,” Primakow added. “We’re making changes to our physical environment and to the way we work with each other and to support our community. For example, this year’s Campaign Kickoff event was free of charge, letting our community know we are taking seriously what we learned at the Summit.”

A Transition Team, under the leadership of MJF President-Elect Marlene Lauwasser, will provide leadership to the overall Reimagining effort as its leaders plan and implement transformational change.

“There is a lot of work ahead of us,” said Lauwasser. “We’re in the process of expanding the original Reimagining Sponsor Team to create the Transition Team.”

“We’ll begin by developing a goal statement and appointing work groups to approach some of the specific issues raised in the SAS, including expanding the work of the Jewish Community Foundation, reorganizing our staff and volunteer structure and developing a new approach to overall fund development,” she said.

“The task ahead is daunting is some ways,” said Lauwasser, “and yet enormously exciting. What a gift it is to be part of a community that has the courage and commitment to re-invent itself and to more forward in strength and dedication to future generations.”

The Transition Team is expected to report to the community with a timeline and draft implementation plan by the end of December.

In parallel to the work of the Transition Team, self-selected community members are continuing to work on the 19 Community Initiatives developed at the Community Summit in June.