2013 Conference Workshops (Presenter Bios listed at end)

Session “A” – Monday, 9:30-11:00 am

A1 Winning Ways to Support PJ Development and Fundraising in your Community

Dan Kirsch, Mentor, JCamp 180, Harold Grinspoon Foundation (Track: Planning for Success)

Even if asking for money is not your responsibility, your work with your PJ Library community can make the difference between a solid financial future and a perpetual struggle for donor dollars. It’s true. Come learn how you can bring more value to your organization’s fundraising efforts and more fulfillment to PJ donors. See how programming and outreach activities can complement and support your organization’s strategies for engaging donors. Share stories of fundraising success with your peers. Participants will leave this session with:

An understanding of the four key steps of successful, donor-focused fundraising and where you fit in

An appreciation for what donors want and how you can be sure they get it

Skills for creating win-win fundraising successes for your organization and PJ

Knowing how your attention to the most neglected step in fundraising can make your PJ Community stand out with donors

A2 5 Rules to Becoming the Most Influential Person in Your Organization and Your Community

Lou Cove, Senior Consultant, Harold Grinspoon Foundation (Track: Planning for Success, Veteran PJ Professionals)

As a seasoned PJ Library professional, you are part of a powerful network and a program that has yielded tremendous success for communities across North America. Have the people of influence in your community caught on? In this session, we'll learn how to talk about what's happening globally at PJ Library and bring it home. Whether you're connecting with executives, donors, fundraisers or PJ families, you will be able to inspire them to give generously of their time, counsel and charitable contributions, taking your program to the next level. Intended for those who have been working with PJ Library for at least three years, and have taken on more responsibility for PJ Library fundraising (or want to!) Participants will leave this session with:

5 rules you can act on NOW to motivate those hardest-to-win-over

New strategies for making PJ Library the centerpiece of Jewish outreach in your community

New strategies for making PJ Library a funding magnet

Best practices for building financial support to grow the program, whether you're fundraising or coaching the fundraisers

A3 Building Community Collaborations – Next Steps

Rosalie Eisen, Program Officer, PJ Library (Track: Planning for Success)

Building on the Monday morning panel presentation, Outstanding Collaborations, this workshop delves into the benefits of and strategies for building community partnerships. Take the next steps toward collaboration in your community and reap the benefits: increased enrollment, attendance, program offerings, and volunteer involvement; improved communication; and the potential for impactful community-wide projects. Participants will leave this session with:

Sample partner agreements

Tools to build both inter-departmental and community collaborations

Goals and action plan for next steps of increased collaboration in your community

A4 Marketing PJ in Public Spaces

Eva Stern, Senior Director of Training, Jewish Outreach Institute (Track: Marketing & Outreach)

Venturing into non-virtual public space holds tremendous potential to reach new families and connect them to PJ Library and local Jewish community. Join this interactive workshop to discover the key strategies of effective public space outreach, and answer the following questions: How can we use public space as an opportunity to find new PJ families? Which techniques, locations, and activities reach the most newcomers? How can we transform our one-time public space interactions into true relationships with families? Participants will leave this session with:

An overview of many public space marketing options

Practical tips for drawing in and engaging with families in public space

A5 Beyond Facebook Basics: Ten Terrific Tactics

Kevin Martone, Technology Program Manager, Harold Grinspoon Foundation

(Track: Marketing & Outreach, Veteran PJ Professionals)

If you already manage your local PJ Library Facebook Page and want to use it even more effectively, this is the session for you. How do you improve the impact and effectiveness of your existing PJ Facebook Page? In this workshop we will look at 10 tactics you can use to engage current and potential PJ families, increase the number of Facebook Likes and interactions, and build community online. Participants will leave this session with the skills to:

Get more folks to like your Page

Find content to post on your Facebook Page

Get people to engage with your content on Facebook

Use PJ Library Facebook Apps to extend the functionality of your Page

Use the Timeline Layout functionality to your advantage

Ensure your audience will see your PJ Library posts in their Newsfeed NOTE: This session will not cover Facebook Basics such as creating a Facebook Page; differences between Facebook Profiles, Groups, and Pages; how to post photos, videos, albums, and other basic content on a Page. For help getting started on Facebook, please contact Kevin Martone (kevin@hgf.org).

A6 Creating Social Programming for Parents of Very Young Children

Vivian Newman, Book Selection Committee Member, Educational Consultant, PJ Library Lisa Litman, Director, PJ Goes to School (Track: Engagement)

Recent research shows that families with babies and toddlers, especially first time parents, crave new friendships and are eager to become part of a community. This session will explore ways in which innovative PJ programming can leverage this desire and help families build a social network with other Jewish families. Participants will leave this workshop with:

An increased understanding of the developmental needs and interests of new parents and their young children

Creative ideas on where to locate and how to structure programming for this demographic

Guidance on how to integrate Jewish values into the programming of ongoing PJ social groups for parents

Examples of dynamic programming our PJ communities are currently using to foster intra-family relationships

A7 Maximizing PJ Library’s Impact in Synagogues Jordanna Birnbaum Amsel, Program Officer, PJ Library (Track: Marketing & Engagement, Synagogue, Newer Communities)

If you are a newer PJ Library community implemented by a synagogue this is the session for you. Starting with an overview of all the areas in which PJ Library can impact your congregation, we will share best practices for marketing PJ beyond the synagogue, engaging families in programming, and integrating PJ into committee, volunteer and communications structures. Participants will leave this session with:

Big picture understanding of how PJ Library can strengthen and enrich your congregation

Examples of best practices for integrating PJ Library into the various areas of the congregation: communications, marketing, programming, committees / volunteers

Eagerness to create an PJ Library Action Plan

A8 PJ Administrative Procedures for Newer Communities

Lauren Harvey, Director of Data Management, PJ Library (Track: Administration, Newer Communities)

If you are from a newer PJ community or new yourself to PJ Library, this session is for you. We will review the enrollment process and explore ideas to help the PJ administrative tasks flow more smoothly. We will go over PJ Library timing and policies to help you understand what’s happening with your subscriptions. This session will cover all aspects of PJ administration in general. Participants will leave this session with:

An understanding of PJ timelines

An understanding of how to use the Program Professional Dashboard

An overview of PJ policies and procedures for new enrollments, renewals and address changes

Session “B” – Monday, 1:30-3:00 pm

B1 Finding Your Way through the Survey Monkey Jungle: Some Advice for Conducting a Study of

Parents

Mark Rosen, Assistant Professor, Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program, Brandeis University Barbara Barak, Senior Coordinator, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto Debbi Cooper, Assistant Vice President, Young Family Engagement, JUF / Jewish Federation of Metro Chicago (Track: Planning for Success)

In this session, a follow-up to the morning presentation, Mark Rosen, together with PJ Program Professionals experienced in surveying their own communities (with and without professional support), will discuss the practical realities of conducting a community study of parents. What are the advantages and disadvantages of surveys and focus groups? When is it advisable to bring in a professional researcher, and when can you do the study yourself? What are some of the funding and political issues that arise when such a study is conducted? Participants will leave this session with:

Clearer idea of what is involved in conducting a study

Ability to determine the best way for your community to move forward with a community survey

B2 Fundraising Support Group Dan Kirsch, Mentor, JCamp 180, Harold Grinspoon Foundation (Track: Planning for Success)

PJ Library Program Professionals who have fundraising responsibilities, come join a group of your peers for an informal, facilitated opportunity to network, brainstorm, and problem solve together. Share your stories of success (and lack of success?). Help each other think creatively about solutions to the fundraising challenges you share in common. Dan Kirsch, an experienced fundraising mentor, will guide the discussion in the most constructive direction. Participants will leave this session with:

Confidence that stronger fundraising is possible

New ideas that your PJ peers have tested

Ideas for changes you can make today to improve and grow your PJ fundraising

A network of supportive peers who understand your challenges and want to help you overcome them.

B3 Save Time with an Online / Social Media Action Plan

Kevin Martone, Technology Program Manager, Harold Grinspoon Foundation

(Track: Marketing & Outreach)

Online tools like Facebook and e-newsletters offer great opportunities to connect with your families and raise awareness of your local PJ Library community. How can you possibly manage your Social Media efforts with limited time and a long list of other PJ Library responsibilities? The answer is an Online / Social Media Action Plan. In this session, we’ll review some simple tips to streamline your Facebook efforts and discuss and prioritize the Online / Social Media efforts that will make the most impact in YOUR community within the constraints of your available time. Participants will leave this session with:

Goals for your online communications efforts

Ideas for online communications activities that could have a positive impact

A prioritized action plan custom fit to the time you have available for online and social media outreach

Tips for most efficiently managing your Facebook Page

B4 Publicizing PJ Programs Far and Wide

Paul Lewis, Program Officer, PJ Library Lisa Aamodt, PJ Library Coordinator and Youth Director, Merrick Jewish Center, New York (Track: Marketing & Outreach)

If you have ever wished that more folks showed up for a program that PJ Library sponsored or co-sponsored, come to this workshop to get lots of ideas on how and where to publicize your events. Publicize PJ Library in the places where parents are most likely to hang out and get their information – online and in the community. Participants will leave this session with:

Strategies for building a publicity infrastructure to use for any event or program

Key elements and compelling phrases to design flyers that attract attendees

B5 Key Building Blocks for Impactful Programming

Kelly Rubanenko, Strengthening and Growing Jewish Cleveland (Track: Engagement)

Learn how to maximize the impact of your PJ programs to gain community support and “friend-raise.” This session will outline the key building blocks for impactful programming: setting goals; identifying partners & resources; preparing for success; marketing; communicating with all stakeholders and the all-important follow-up plan. PJ Library communities of any size will learn easy-to-use programming best practices. Participants will leave this session with:

Inspiration for upgrading your local programming

A priority checklist of the key building blocks for impactful programming

Ideas to increase support for PJ Library and build community

B6 PJ Book Selection Process

PJ Book Selection Committee: Chris Barash, Samara Klein, Vivian Newman, Naomi Shulman, Marcie Greenfield Simons, Diane Troderman (Track: Engagement)

PJ Library Book Selection Committee members share the “ins and outs” of the book selection process. What are the criteria for selecting books? How does a manuscript become a PJ book? How does PJ gauge the success of its selections? What’s coming down the road? Participants will leave this session with:

An understanding of how the PJ Book Selection Committee makes book choices

Knowledge of the PJ “from manuscript to publication” process

The inside scoop about exciting PJ books in the pipeline

B7 PJ Administrative Procedures for Year 2+ Communities

Lauren Harvey, Director of Data Management, PJ Library (Track: Administration, Veteran Communities)

If you are from a PJ community approaching or beyond its third year, this session is for you. We will focus on renewals and related topics. We will discuss how to determine which subscriptions may have expired after their second year in PJ but are still eligible for renewal. This session will touch on all aspects of PJ administration with added emphasis on renewals in year 3 and beyond. Participants will leave this session with:

An overview of PJ policies and procedures for new enrollments, renewals and address changes

An understanding of opt-in renewals

An understanding of how to determine how many participant slots you are using and why that is different than active participants

Session “C” – Tuesday, 8:30-10:00 am

C1 Creating Effective Board and Committee Presentations

Paul Lewis, Program Officer, PJ Library (Track: Planning for Success)

Showcasing the impact of PJ Library to your organization’s board and committees can significantly increase the internal support for ongoing funding for the program. Facts, figures, catchy visuals and engaging stories help your organization’s leadership absorb the true power of PJ Library to identify the young families in your community who are raising Jewish children, engage those families in living joyous Jewish lives, and strengthen collaboration within your community. Participants will leave this session with:

Guidelines for year-round gathering of data and information

Guidelines for gathering compelling stories that illustrate the magic of PJ Library

Tips on how to present your numbers and stories in a way that will inspire continued or expanded support for PJ Library

C2 Action Planning for Newer Communities

Jordanna Birnbaum Amsel, Program Officer, PJ Library Diane Freedland, Program Officer, PJ Library (Track: Planning for Success, Newer Communities)

How can you put all of your hopes and dreams for PJ Library into action while making the most of your limited time? In this session we’ll offer tools to help you see the big picture while keeping track of the details. Action planning can be your road map to get where you want to go – it helps identify goals, set priorities, organize tasks, and evaluate results. You will be able to more confidently bring PJ Library to life in your organization, with a clearer picture of where you are going, a map of the steps to get you there, a sense of the pitfalls to be avoided, and the means to assess your success. Participants will leave this session with:

Manageable goals and objectives for the next year’s PJ Library effort

Action Planning Toolkit

Outline for PJ Library Action Plan including priorities, tasks and timeline

C3 Welcome Families Well to Keep Them Coming Back

Eva Stern, Senior Director of Training, Jewish Outreach Institute (Track: Engagement)

How do your family programs look to the newcomers and the less engaged? How do we create environments and programs which families look forward to returning to again and again? Join us to learn concrete techniques to ensure that newcomers to our organizations and events are effectively and sensitively welcomed and meaningfully served. Additionally we will explore what to do with new families once you have found them, including hands-on, take-home strategies to maximize the impact of the programs and services you work so hard to offer. Learn how to build personal relationships from your PJ Library story hours, public space events, holiday programs, and more! Participants will leave this session with:

Tips for proactive hospitality

Tools to assess newcomers experience at your events

Effective name collection techniques

10 Easy Steps to Great Follow-Up

C4 Save Time with an Online / Social Media Action Plan

Kevin Martone, Technology Program Manager, Harold Grinspoon Foundation

(Track: Marketing & Outreach)

See Workshop B3 for description.

C5 Showcasing PJ Authors: Engaging Children and Adults with Stories

Westernmost Authors: Eric Kimmel, Sylvia Rouss, Rabbi Sandy Sasso, Ann Stampler (Track: Engagement)

Four top-notch PJ authors will interactively share successful strategies for engaging children and their parents with books. With many years of accumulated experience, these amazing authors will share what has worked best for them when reading, presenting, engaging, interacting, and educating families. Participants will leave this session with:

Ideas for successful engagement of children and families in reading and book-related activities

Familiarity with the work and individual style of the authors

Ways of imagining the exciting programming these authors could bring to your community

C6 It’s Alive! Transforming Books into Dramatic Presentations

Lisa Litman, Director, PJ Goes to School (Track: Engagement)

Our Jewish heritage is built on a living, oral tradition. For centuries all of our ancient texts were passed on orally. This workshop will focus on techniques to turn any book into an interactive theatrical experience and get families talking to one another. We will also share ideas on how to arrange the physical environment of the space to enhance this social interaction. Participants will leave this session with:

Strategies to break a story down to child-friendly scenes with easily-mimicked lines and scripts

Tools to highlight the Jewish values in each book through repeated phrases and movement

Methods for choosing and arranging the physical environment to augment family participation

Suggestions for simple props and costumes

C7 PJ Administrative Procedures for Year 2+ Communities Lauren Harvey, Director of Data Management, PJ Library (Track: Administration, Veteran Communities)

See Workshop B7 for description.

Session “D” – Tuesday, 10:30-12:00 pm

D1 How to Apply for Grants to Support PJ Library in your Community

Diane Freedland, Program Officer, PJ Library (Track: Planning for Success)

Grants from local and national foundations are a possible source for PJ Library funding. How do I find out what grants are available in my community? How do I put together a proposal that best tells my PJ Library story? Designed for those new to proposal writing, this session will help you take the first steps towards developing a grant application. Participants will leave this session with:

Understanding how a proposal fits into the overall grant seeking process from your organization

What to include in a standard proposal to a foundation

Tips for making each section of your proposal stronger

What donors want to see included in your proposal and attachments

Tips for how to communicate with funders during the grant process

Additional resources on proposal writing, including sample proposals

D2 Roundtable Discussion: Year 5 and Beyond Communities

Program Officers, PJ Library (Track: Planning for Success)

Communities that launched before 2009 often wrestle with different issues than younger PJ communities. This session is an opportunity to have an open roundtable discussion about issues particular to year 5 communities. Potential topics might include but are not limited to financial sustainability, renewing families that already have received an abundance of books, serving graduates, and tracking effectiveness. Discussions will be facilitated by the PJ Library team of Program Officers, divided by size of communities. Participants will leave this session with:

Connections with PJ Program Professionals from seasoned communities

Ideas for increased long-term impact of PJ Library

D3 STAR State Leadership Training Rick Recht, PJ Musician and Celebrity Spokesperson, Leadership Trainer (Track: Engagement)

STAR State is a powerful and highly motivational leadership training seminar demonstrating methods utilized by

the world's top athletes, entertainers, and educators to quickly and consistently achieve a peak physical and

psychological state to achieve extraordinary performance. What do these 'best in class' performers share in

common? They all utilize STAR State techniques to guarantee the very best version of themselves is front and

center. STAR State is highly interactive, physical, and fun. STAR State will provide wonderful practical, take-home,

techniques for PJ partners to utilize in their personal and professional lives to achieve a 'peak state' when alone, in

the community, with colleagues, or with friends and family. You can always be a STAR!

D4 Beyond Facebook Basics: Ten Terrific Tactics Kevin Martone, Technology Program Manager, Harold Grinspoon Foundation

(Track: Marketing & Outreach, Veteran PJ Professionals)

See Workshop A5 for description.

D5 Welcome Families Well to Keep Them Coming Back

Eva Stern, Senior Director of Training, Jewish Outreach Institute (Track: Engagement)

See Workshop C3 for description.

D6 Showcasing PJ Authors: Engaging Children and Adults with Stories Easternmost Authors: Ellen Bari, Aubrey Davis, Jacqueline Jules, Rich Michelson (Track: Engagement)

Four top-notch PJ authors will interactively share successful strategies for engaging children and their parents with books. With many years of accumulated experience, these amazing authors will share what has worked best for them when reading, presenting, engaging, interacting, and educating families. Participants will leave this session with:

Ideas for successful engagement of children and families in reading and book-related activities

Familiarity with the work and individual style of the authors

Ways of imagining the exciting programming these authors could bring to your community

D7 Maximizing the Impact of PJ Library in Small Communities

Beth Grafman, Program Officer, PJ Library (Track: Planning for Success)

If you are from a small community (under 10,000 estimated Jews and / or under 300 PJ enrollments) and want to get the most out of the limited hours you have to devote to PJ Library, this is the workshop for you. We will take a look at a range of successful efforts used by other small communities to deepen Jewish engagement of families raising young children. Based on the time and resources available to you, you will design a prioritized action plan to accomplish your chosen goals. Participants will leave this session with:

Manageable goals and objectives for the next year’s PJ Library efforts

Ideas for engaging families with local and Jewish community resources

Ideas for engaging synagogues and other Jewish organizations with PJ Library

D8 PJ Administrative Procedures for Newer Communities

Lauren Harvey, Director of Data Management, PJ Library (Track: Administration, Newer Communities)

See Workshop A8 for description.

2013 Conference Presenters

Keynote Presenter

Dr. Erica Brown Erica Brown is a writer and educator who works as the scholar-in-residence for the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and consults for the Jewish Agency and other Jewish non-profits. Author of numerous books, Erica has written Inspired Jewish Leadership: Practical Approaches to Building Strong Communities, a National Jewish Book Award finalist, and is the author of the forthcoming books Happier Endings: A Meditation on Life and Death (Simon and Schuster) and Leadership in the Wilderness (Koren/OU).

Previously a Jerusalem Fellow, Erica is a faculty member of the Wexner Foundation, an Avi Chai Fellow, winner of the Ted Farber Professional Excellence Award, the recipient of the 2009 Covenant Award for her work in education and the 2011 recipient of the Bernie Reisman Award for Jewish Communal Service (Hornstein Jewish Peofessional Leadership Program, Brandeis University). Erica has degrees from Yeshiva University, University of London, Harvard University, and Baltimore Hebrew University.

She writes a weekly internet essay called “Weekly Jewish Wisdom” that has appeared on the Newsweek/Washington Post’s “On Faith” website. She resides with her husband and four children in Silver Spring, MD and can be reached at erica@leadingwithmeaning.com.

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more,

do more and become more, you are a leader." John Quincy Adams

Conference Presenters

Lisa Aamodt Lisa Aamodt is the PJ Library Coordinator, Youth Director, Shabbat Alive! Coordinator, and Educator at the Merrick Jewish Centre, a Conservative synagogue in suburban Long Island. With ten years of experiential Jewish educational programming behind her, Lisa has been successful in the start up of new programs and the strengthening of existing ones in synagogues throughout Long Island. Currently working on various programs at four Temples on Long Island, she attributes much of the success to strong marketing through outreach and publicity mixed with creative and innovative program ideas. Lisa has a Bachelors in Management of Technology from Farmingdale University and is currently working on her dual Masters in Special Education and Grades 1-5.

Publicizing PJ Programs Far and Wide (Session B)

Jordanna Birnbaum Amsel

Jordanna Birnbaum Amsel serves as a Program Officer for the Grinspoon Foundation in New York where she enjoys working with more than 90 organizations implementing PJ Library. Outside of her professional role, Jordanna is a co-founder of the Orthodox Women’s Leadership Project and serves as a mentor with the Educational Alliance. Jordanna graduated from New York University, where she earned a B.A. in Public Policy & Social Justice at the Gallatin School for Individualized Study and was named one of NYU’s 15 Most Influential Students by the student run newspaper. While at NYU, Jordanna served as President of Hillel which was awarded the NYU Presidential Service Award. On campus, she was actively involved in Muslim-Jewish interfaith programming and co-founded the BRIDGES Dialogue Group, which brings together and engages Muslim and Jewish

students from various New York colleges. For her work building community at NYU she was awarded the Exemplar of Excellence award by the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life.

Maximizing PJ Impact in Synagogues (Session A)

Action Planning – Newer Communities (Session D)

Barbara Barak PJ Library connects community to books - two things Barbara is passionate about. She trained and worked as a children's librarian for many years before entering the not-for-profit world. Currently, Barbara is responsible for UJA Federation - Jewish Information Service and has the pleasure of being part of the local PJ Library, helping to navigate the Federation world, looking for funding to expand PJ across the Greater Toronto Area and working to connect families to our vibrant community. Great service - great colleagues - great impact!

Finding Your Way through the Survey Monkey Jungle: Some Advice for Conducting a Study of Parents (Session B)

Chris Barash Chris Barash is a writing specialist for PJ Library and head of its Book Selection Committee. Before her work at HGF, Chris taught various elementary grades in Jewish day schools for 25 years and was Head of School at Sinai Academy of the Berkshires, a Jewish day school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Chris holds a B.A. in Russian Literature and History.

PJ Book Selection Process (Session B)

Debbi Cooper Debbi Cooper is the Assistant Vice President, Young Family Engagement at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Chicago’s PJ Library program sends Jewish books and music to over 6,000 families and plans a calendar of engaging programs for young families to celebrate Jewish life. Prior to coming to the Federation, Debbi was a consultant with the national fundraising firm Campbell & Company. Debbi has a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s in Public Administration/Non-profit management from George Mason University. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Aaron and their three children: Gabe, Judah and Noah.

What Do Parents Want? (Monday Research Presentation)

Finding Your Way through the Survey Monkey Jungle: Some Advice for Conducting a Study of Parents (Session B)

Lou Cove Lou Cove is a senior adviser to Harold Grinspoon, as well as to Boards and CEOs of an array of national non-profits, on the intersection of creativity and sustainability. He is also the producer of the forthcoming documentary The Jewish Partisans Project which was recently honored with a prestigious Kroll grant by the Foundation for Jewish Culture. Lou has served as trustee of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Executive Director of the cutting-edge Jewish think-tank/incubator Reboot, and Vice President of the National Yiddish Book Center. He is also the proud dad of two PJ Library kids.

5 Rules to Becoming the Most Influential Person in Your Organization and Your Community (Session A)

Rosalie Eisen Rosalie Eisen is a Program Officer for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. She has held professional positions as a teacher, a Life Coach, and a Financial Planner. She co-founded Basherte, an international network of programs, focusing on Jewish relationships and holds a special smicha (ordination) as a Jewish Relationship Counselor and Master of Blessings. Her passion is creating joy and meaning in Jewish life. Rosalie has a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, is the mother of three children, ranging in age from 35-20, the grandmother of two beautiful grandsons and resides in Amherst, MA.

Building Community Collaborations (Session A)

Roundtable: Year 5 Communities (Session D)

Diane Michalowski Freedland Diane is a Program Officer for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Prior to her role at PJ Library, she was Executive Director of Young Audiences of Massachusetts, an affiliate of one of the nation's largest arts education organizations. Diane is a seasoned nonprofit leader, and has extensive experience developing and improving the operational, programmatic, marketing, publications, and philanthropic health of community programs. She has written on and developed numerous exhibitions, programs, and projects - on topics ranging from contemporary art, art and civic dialogue, and social justice. She holds a Master of Education degree from Harvard University.

Investing in Community Engagement: A Collaborative Approach to Resource Sharing

Action Planning – Newer Communities (Session D)

Catriella Freedman Catriella Freedman is the Project Director for PJ 9-12, a program which will expand PJ Library to children beyond age 8. Catriella holds a BA in Religion from Princeton University and an MA in Jewish Studies from Harvard University, where she received the Derek Bok award for graduate teaching. She has always been passionate about Jewish education, and has lectured widely on subjects ranging from Maimonides to Jewish peoplehood. Catriella was Jewish Studies Principal of the Hebrew Academy of the Capital District and is the author of the Melton curriculum Foundations of Jewish Family Living. Prior to joining HGF she directed international program and curriculum

development at Beit Hatfutsot in Tel Aviv, where she authored and developed the My Family Story curriculum.

PJ Library 9-12 Expansion (Sunday Evening Reception)

Beth Grafman Beth Grafman is a Program Officer for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. She is deeply experienced in several aspects of Jewish communal life. Most recently, Beth served as librarian and Judaic Studies teacher at Solomon Schechter Westchester, spreading her passion for Jewish continuity. She is a Board Member and Sisterhood President at Temple Israel Center in White Plains, NY, Board Secretary for Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake, and served on Hadassah's National Camp Committee. Beth's corporate experience includes marketing and business development for GE Capital. Born in Chicago, Beth holds a BS in Psychology and an MBA from the University of Illinois.

Maximizing the Impact of PJ in Small Communities (Session D)

Lauren Harvey Lauren Harvey is the Director of Data Management for PJ Library. Her main responsibilities include making sure PJ Library monthly mailings go out on time and have the correct contents. Lauren has been with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation working on the PJ Library program for 6 years. Lauren holds BA degrees in Statistics and Religion from Mount Holyoke College.

PJ Administrative Procedures – Newer Communities (Sessions A & D)

PJ Administrative Procedures – Year 2+ Communities (Sessions B &C)

Dan Kirsch

Dan Kirsch is a Mentor for JCamp180. Dan has devoted his career to increasing the capacity of non-profit organizations to fulfill their missions through fundraising, planning, recruitment, and board development. He is the co-founder of KirschLeuchs, a fundraising consulting firm serving education, arts and culture, healthcare and human services markets. He has also worked with non-profits to recruit executive talent and has coached private sector professionals transitioning to non-profit careers. Dan received his BA in Government from Dartmouth College.

Winning Ways to Support PJ Library Fundraising and Development (Session A)

Fundraising Support Group (Session B)

Paul Lewis Paul Lewis is a Program Officer at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, bringing PJ Library to new communities and growing it where it already exists. Paul joined PJ Library in 2009 after a career of more than 30 years in journalism. He was an on-air TV reporter and investigative producer for local and national news programs. As a TV executive, Paul led newsrooms in Hartford and Albany. Along the way he was recognized with numerous awards for journalistic excellence, including multiple Emmys and a Peabody Award for a documentary called Safe Haven, which tells the story of the only effort made by the US government to rescue Jews from the Holocaust. Paul is passionate about storytelling and loves to tell the PJ story. He lives in West Hartford, CT, with his wife in a very quiet house now that his three daughters are grown.

Publicizing PJ Programs Far and Wide (Session B)

Effective Board and Committee Presentations (Session C)

Lisa Litman Lisa Litman is the Director of PJ Goes to School (PJGtS). Her responsibilities include expanding the program to new school communities, providing ongoing support and resource materials, and giving the PJGtS an updated look and feel. Lisa joined the PJ Library in 2012 after a long tenure at JCC Association of North America, having served as Director of Programming and Curriculum Specialist. Lisa was a co-creator of An Ethical Start®, JCC Association’s signature early childhood program based on Jewish values. Lisa has extensive experience in professional development training, both on-site and online. She has been an education consultant, workshop presenter and keynote speaker in a myriad of settings. In her spare time, Lisa follows her passion in the world of

musical theater. Lisa has a M.Ed. from Gratz College and participated in the Reggio Emilia Study Tour in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Creating Social Programming for Parents of Very Young Children (Session A)

It’s Alive! Transforming Books into Dramatic Presentations (Session C)

Kevin Martone Kevin Martone is the Technology Program Manager for JCamp 180 and PJ Library. He focuses on how organizations can effectively use technology for fundraising and outreach. He has more than 15 years of experience helping organizations utilize technology solutions to meet their goals. He helps PJ Library communities utilize Facebook effectively to engage their audience and raise awareness of the program. Kevin holds a BS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University.

Beyond Facebook Basics: 10 Terrific Tips (Sessions A & D)

Save Time with an Online / Social Media Action Plan (Sessions B & C)

Vivian Newman As an Educational Consultant to the PJ Library, Vivian serves on the PJ Book Selection Committee; creates book-based curricula for family education programs; and conducts webinars and training workshops for PJ Program Professionals, supporting them in their efforts to utilize the PJ Library as a tool for Jewish family engagement. A graduate of Bank Street College of Education and Barnard College, Vivian has taught and consulted in a wide variety of early childhood settings and has served as an adjunct faculty member of Hebrew College and Bank Street College of Education. She is the author of two Jewish children’s books, Ella’s Trip to Israel (Kar Ben, 2011) and Tikkun Olam

Ted (Kar Ben, 2013).

Creating Social Programming for Parents of Very Young Children (Session A)

Rick Recht Rick Recht is the top-touring musician in Jewish music playing over 150 concerts a year in the United States and abroad. Recht is widely recognized for his appeal to youth and family audiences not only as an exceptional musician, singer/songwriter, and entertainer, but as a role model for involvement in Jewish life. He has become an icon for Jewish youth in the U.S., elevating the medium of Jewish music as a powerful and effective tool for developing Jewish pride and identity among the masses. The teen rock concerts are sweaty, loud and exciting. The little kids concerts give us a chance to be goofy, but really educational at the same time. The family concerts are a little bit of everything and the Shabbat Alive! services have their own unique, powerfully spiritual feeling.

STAR State Leadership Training (Session D)

Mark Rosen Mark I. Rosen, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University, where he teaches courses on the management of Jewish nonprofits. He also serves as a consultant and researcher to Jewish organizations and foundations, including the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. His numerous publications on programs for families with young children have been highly influential and have helped shape programs in such Jewish communities as Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC.

What Do Parents Want? (Monday Research Presentation)

Finding Your Way through the Survey Monkey Jungle: Some Advice for Conducting a Study of Parents (Session B)

Kelly Rubanenko As part of Federation's Strengthening & Growing Jewish Cleveland's initiative, Kelly helps welcome and connect young families to Cleveland’s Jewish community and to each other. Over the past 12 years at Federation, Kelly has worked with Women's Division and served as Director of Jewish Volunteers in Action. Since 2010, Kelly has built strong collaborations with the JCC, day schools, preschools, synagogues and secular partners who understand the power of partnering with PJ Library®. Her Jewish resume includes OTZMA, Jewish Campus Service Corps, UJA-Federation of New York's Hands On program, and raising 3 children, Jonah (13) Elana (10) and Gabe (7) with her husband Gil.

Key Building Blocks for Impactful Programming (Session B)

Eva Stern Eva Stern is the Senior Director of Training at the Jewish Outreach Institute. Eva trains, coaches, and consults with professionals and volunteer leaders from hundreds of Jewish organizations throughout North America (including Federations, synagogues, and JCC’s), to help them better find, welcome, and engage thousands of unaffiliated Jews and intermarried families in Jewish life. She addresses venues across the continent, leading informative, motivating, and interactive workshops and training sessions on creating more inclusive and welcoming Jewish communities. She also develops creative outreach programs, and conducts environmental research scans on numerous Jewish organizations and communities, helping them to maximize their potential to reach out and welcome in. Eva holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Near Eastern and Judaic

studies from Brandeis University. Eva is deeply involved in Jewish life as a volunteer leader as well, having created a vibrant and Jewishly diverse synagogue-based community of young adults in New York’s East Village. She is a recipient of the 2010 Young Professional Award of the Jewish Communal Service Association of North America.

Marketing PJ in Public Spaces (Session A)

Keep New Families Coming Back Again (Session C)

Roundtable: Synagogue Outreach (Session D)

Dori Zvili Zumba changed Dori’s life. Since she started taking Zumba as a participant back in December 2008 she has lost more than 85 pounds and still going. Dori loved it so much she became a certified Zumba instructor. Dori has worked with youth at the JCC of Greater Baltimore for over a decade, and will be direct Camp Milldale this summer for the sixth year running.

Zumba (Monday and Tuesday early morning)

Authors and their PJ Books

Ellen Bari

Ellen Bari is the author and creator of award-winning multimedia, exhibits and programs for children and adults for clients including Sesame Workshop, PBS, Nickelodeon, US Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), Harper-Collins and American Express. Ellen has published numerous leveled readers, non-fiction books and other creative curriculum materials for a host of educational publishers including Scott Foresman, Houghton Mifflin, Behrman House Inc. She is the co-founder of Momasphere, an organization that creates innovative programs and events for moms of all ages at all stages, in and out of the workplace. Ellen’s “creative compass” navigates her life as a writer, educator, producer, globe trekker, event planner, and designer of one-of-a-kind ceramics and jewelry. She lives in New York. Jumping Jenny

Aubrey Davis Before becoming a storyteller and author, Aubrey Davis worked as a logger, farmer, salesman and teacher. As a young man he traveled across Europe and North Africa where he discovered traditional Teaching Stories. “These bottomless tales puzzled, shocked and delighted me. They helped me see the world and myself in fresh, new ways. They made me think like I’d never thought before.” Later Aubrey began to tell these tales at a weekly gathering in Toronto; then in nursing homes, festivals, jails and on national radio and television. For over 30 years Aubrey has told stories to people of all ages. He has performed and conducted workshops across Canada and the US. A retired teacher, Aubrey has two grown children and two granddaughters. He lives in Toronto with his storytelling wife Sandra Carpenter-Davis and their dog, JojoBella. Bagels from Benny / Bone Button Borscht / A Hen for Izzy Pippik / Kishka for Koppel

Jacqueline Jules Jacqueline Jules is the award-winning author of 23 children's books. Most of Jacqueline’s books have grown out of her experiences as a teacher and elementary school librarian. Students are her inspiration. Her picture book No English, about two girls who find a creative way to overcome a language barrier, was motivated by her own desire to reach out to English-as-Second-Language learners. Duck for Turkey Day began after a discussion on Thanksgiving with immigrant students. Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation started as a skit for her students to perform on Constitution Day. And her Zapato Power series was inspired by students clamoring for a superhero story. When not reading, writing, or teaching, Jacqueline enjoys taking long walks, attending the theater, and spending time with her family. She lives in Northern Virginia. Abraham’s Search for God / Benjamin and the Silver Goblet / Goodnight Sh’ma

Once Upon a Shabbes / Picnic at Camp Shalom / Sarah Laughs / The Hardest Word

Eric Kimmel Eric Kimmel loves old stories and credits his grandmother, a storyteller from the Ukraine, with instilling in him a love of storytelling. He believes that he was destined to be a storyteller, and he truly enjoys author appearances where he can read aloud from his books. Eric also wanted to be a writer and notes that his interest in writing preceded his ability to write. Professional writing didn't start until he graduated from college, where he trained to be an elementary school teacher. After the publication of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins which won a Caldecott Honor, it was "full speed ahead" with his writing career. He holds the rank of Professor Emeritus of Education at Portland State University and lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Doris, cat named Doug, a snake named Pirate, and a tank full of tropical fish.

Even Higher / Gershon’s Monster / Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins / A Horn for Louis / Joseph and the Sabbath Fish / The Chanukah Guest / The Golem’s Latkes / The Story of Esther / When Mindy Saved Hanukkah / Zigazak

Richard Michelson Richard Michelson is a prize-winning children’s book author, poet, and art dealer who does not generally speak of himself in the third person, so… I was born on July 3rd, 1953 in East New York, Brooklyn, where my dad had a small hardware store. We were 100% secular, though the area was 90% Jewish. Within 12 years it would be 90% African-American, and spark my lifelong exploration of racial issues. I write about the neighborhood and my Dad’s death in some of my poetry, and essays; episodes from my childhood are touched on in my children’s books. Richard is the Curator of Exhibitions at The National Yiddish Book Center and owns R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton, Massachusetts.

A is for Abraham / Across the Alley / Lipman Pike

Sylvia Rouss Sylvia Rouss is the award-winning author and early childhood educator who created the popular

Sammy Spider and The Littlest books. Over three decades with three year old children from 9 am to 2 pm, Monday through Friday ended last June when she retired from teaching. She now spends more time writing, starting a new publishing company, and co-authoring a new book with her daughter Shannon, The Watermelon in the Sukkah. Sylvia gets to enjoy being a “mimi” (the name she chose 6 years ago because she just knew she was too young to be called “Grandma”). She watches her youngest grandchild, 8 month old Leo, three days a week while her oldest daughter is teaching 3rd grade. She lives in Tarzana, California.

The Littlest Pair / No Rules for Michael / Sammy Spider’s First Day of School . . .First

Purim . . . First Rosh Hashanah . . . First Shavuot . . . Simchat Torah . . . First Trip to Israel

Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso is one of the Senior Rabbis of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis where she has served since 1977. She is an internationally known children’s author who has published twelve children’s books, her first being God's Paintbrush, and one book for adults, God’s Echo – Exploring Scripture with Midrash. Her most recent book, The Shema in the Mezuzah, recently won the 2012 National Jewish Book Award for Illustrated Children’s Books. Rabbi Sasso has written numerous articles and chapters on the spirituality of children and spoken across the country on the subject. She was the keynote speaker at the first International Conference on the Spiritual Life of Children in West Sussex, England. She continues to be a sought after speaker in both Jewish and Christian settings.

The Shema in the Mezuzah / A Tale of Two Mountains (God Said Amen)

Ann Redisch Stampler Ann Redisch Stampler loves folk tales! She is an award-winning picture book writer, receiving the National Jewish Book Award for The Rooster Prince of Breslov in 2010. The Eastern European folktales that started her picture book career were stories she learned, mostly from her immigrant grandmother, when she was child. Ever since she was first able to write, Ann had notebooks and file folders and bankers’ boxes full of stories, and pieces of stories, and fragments of novels, and random paragraphs. As a teenager, she saw herself as smart and socially hopeless. Now she sees herself as less smart and less hopeless, but basically the same person she’s always been, just a lot happier about it. She lives in Los Angeles.

The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street / The Rooster Prince of Breslov / Shlemazel and the

Remarkable Spoon of Pohost / The Wooden Sword

PJ Library Musicians

Todd Herzog Todd Herzog is an artist who takes the raw material of life experiences and creates soulful, spiritual, acoustic pop music along the lines of John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Marc Cohn. The music is not intended solely as entertainment but also to promote healing and change in people’s lives. His songs invite us to slow down and take a closer look at how the simple choices we make each day affect the shape of our journeys.

Todd's goal is to bring Jewish communities around the country together by bridging the gap between religion and spirituality. He has been a featured performer at CAJE, Hava Nashira and the URJ Biennial. He is the Artist-In-Residence for Vocal Music at the JCC Maccabi ArtsFest in Minneapolis. Todd recently completed a grant project that brought together students from four Jewish Day Schools in the metro Phoenix area. His album for the younger demographic, Everyday Blessings, debuted at the URJ’s Early Childhood Education conference in Cleveland, OH and is 2012 PJ Library selection. In addition to his own performances, he is the Cantorial Soloist at Temple Solel in Paradise Valley, AZ.

Everyday Blessings CD

Selections on: Sing With Me! Childhood Favorites, Jewish Style

Selections on: This is Me! Groovin’ and Growin’ Jewish Style

Joanie Leeds As a musical theatre major at Syracuse University, Joanie Leeds began composing her own songs. After graduation, she did the New York City thing, bartending at The Bitter End when not onstage performing. Joanie found (as in "discovered") herself, managing one of the Manhattan Gymboree locations and singing with and for kids all day long. Life clicked into place when Joanie realized that when she was with children, they transformed themselves into amazing creatures of joy, forgetting how to hold back. Seeing the kids get in touch with their true selves gave Joanie a sense of fulfillment that far surpassed playing for adults on the club circuit. The songs that Joanie Leeds began turning out reflected this sense that life is a joyful adventure. Entertaining at birthday parties and pre- schools soon progressed into concert performances nationwide and generated material for four full length CDs: City Kid, Challah, Challah, I'm a Rock Star, and Joanie’s new release, What a Zoo! Joanie's has also released a full length DVD, City Kid

Live. She is currently working on a children's book, while maintaining a busy teaching and performance schedule. Selections on: This is Me! Groovin’ and Growin’ Jewish Style

Rick Recht Rick Recht, PJ Library’s Celebrity Spokesperson, is the top-touring musician in Jewish music, promotes PJ Library in Jewish communities throughout North America

and Israel at his 150+ performances each year. Recht is known for his powerful,

interactive performances that have earned him a strong, loyal national fan base of all ages.

Recht shares his sentiments about the influence of PJ Library in his own home. “I believe

PJ Library is one of the most extraordinary and effective Jewish family and community

engagement opportunities of our time,” said Recht. “I feel incredibly blessed that, for

years, my family has experienced the profound impact of reading and listening to the

inspirational and incredibly high-quality PJ Library children’s books and music. On the

road, many of the families we meet feel equally blessed to receive PJ Library, providing their families with such fantastic

resources and experiences.”

Producer / Selections on: Sing With Me! Childhood Favorites, Jewish Style

Look at Me!

Producer / Selections on: This is Me! Groovin’ and Growin’ Jewish Style

Producer / Selections on: Sounds Like Summer