September 9, 2024 — New York, NY
American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Jewish on Campus today announced a new partnership to better support young Jews before, during, and after their time as college students. This new programming, a unique approach that will see students from their time in high school to college and then as young professionals, ensures continuity of support and community as they grow in their advocacy.
“Jewish students in high school and college and Jewish young professionals are increasingly on the frontlines in the fight against antisemitism. They need to know that not only are they supported by the larger Jewish community but also their peers across the country. This new partnership will allow AJC and Jewish on Campus to provide the sustained support they need and deserve as they continue to lead their communities and grow in their advocacy,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch.
Julia Jassey, co-founder and CEO of Jewish on Campus, said, “Jewish on Campus strongly believes in the power of partnership to better meet the needs of Jewish students in 2024. Our collaboration with AJC will provide more opportunities for Jewish students to lead as they head to campus and after they graduate. As antisemitic hate plagues too many campus communities, Jewish on Campus is determined to make Jewish student voices heard. Partnering with AJC will strengthen our efforts at a critical moment.”
The new, formalized agreement includes three areas of focus:
- Connecting AJC’s Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) high school students with Jewish on Campus students in advance of entering college,
- Deepening ties between AJC’s campus leadership and Jewish on Campus and equipping Jewish on Campus students with advocacy skills, and
- Providing a home for Jewish on Campus alums who have graduated and are looking to become involved in advocacy as Jewish young professionals through AJC’s ACCESS Global.
To realize these goals, AJC will connect LFT high school students with Jewish on Campus student leaders so that incoming college students can better understand the realities of being a Jewish student on campus today. Once these students are on campus, AJC will reserve a seat for one of the chairs of Jewish on Campus’ student union on AJC’s Campus Global Board. In parallel, the chair of AJC’s Campus Global Board will serve on the board of the Jewish on Campus Student Union. AJC will also hold an annual training for Jewish on Campus on engaging government officials and diplomats. A delegation of Jewish on Campus students will also be included in AJC’s Campus Track at Global Forum each year.
Following graduation, AJC’s ACCESS Global will welcome Jewish on Campus alumni to robust programming and leadership training as they enter their post-campus careers in cities across the United States to ensure they continue to grow their advocacy and community.
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
Jewish on Campus (JOC) is a nonprofit organization founded and run by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students. Since its founding in 2020, JOC has collected stories of antisemitism from thousands of students around the world and created meaningful change on campus. Learn more at www.jewishoncampus.org.
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