Two Wings, One Future: How Voices is Organizing for Impact
In our recent sessions, Voices of the Future has been exploring how best to organize our energy and creativity. Out of these conversations, a new framework has emerged that captures both the spirit of experimentation and the seriousness of stepping into leadership. We describe this as the Two Wings Model, made up of Civic Engagement and Programming. Like two wings of the same bird, both are needed if we want to fly.
The Civic Engagement Wing focuses on showing up in the rooms where Jewish life is being shaped. That can mean attending board or committee meetings at local institutions, writing and sharing collective feedback, or simply making sure we stay informed about key decisions that affect our community. Presence matters, but it cannot stop at placing one or two young adults at the table. What makes the difference is when those young adults are encouraged and supported by a community that values their contributions and affirms their experiences. Voices is helping to provide that support by giving young adults a network that uplifts them, validates their experiences, and equips them to show up with confidence. In that environment, their perspectives can genuinely influence outcomes. As one participant put it, representation is only a first step. Lasting change comes from consistent involvement with institutional leadership and a culture that welcomes young voices into meaningful roles.
The Programming Wing is about showing our Jewish community examples of what meaningful programming shaped by Voices participants could look like. Unlike NEXTGen, which is a Federation committee that primarily supports the social needs of young adults, the Voices programming wing is focused on exploring larger signature initiatives aligned with our priorities. These priorities include unifying the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform communities, encouraging year-round engagement in Jewish life especially for working adults, and supporting non-denominational Jewish childhood education. The aim is not for Voices to become a permanent programming arm of the community, but rather to help local institutions experience the kinds of initiatives that participants in Voices of the Future are hoping to see across the larger Jewish Community.
Together, these two wings give structure to our next chapter. Civic engagement channels our voices into influence. Programming helps people experience a glimpse of the community that tomorrow’s leaders are hoping to build, allowing us to see and feel the future we are striving toward. Each strengthens the other: programs create relationships that draw people in, while civic engagement ensures those relationships have impact in decision-making spaces.
In a moment when our community is resetting and asking big questions about the future, Voices is helping create space for new leadership and fresh ideas. For Voices of the Future, this is the season to build, to listen, and to act — with both wings working together to carry us forward.
If you’d like to learn how you can get involved with Voices of the Future, email me at louise@thejewishfed.org.
Dr. Louise Williams
Administrative Assistant
louise@thejewishfed.org
(574) 233-1164 x1820