NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN ST LOUIS SECTION

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND MEMBERSHIP:EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 2,000 NCJW VOLUNTEERS LOG OVER 10,000 HOURS TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF MORE THAN10,000 ST. LOUISANS. SINCE 1895, NCJW'S PIONEERING PROJECTS HAVE GROWN INTO VITAL SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND SELF-SUSTAINING AGENCIES. OURCURRENT FOCUS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS:HEALING HEARTS BANK, A NON-TRADITIONAL MICRO-LENDING PROGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTICVIOLENCE AND UNDERSERVED WOMEN AND FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY AND OTHER NEEDS. THERE IS NO APPLICATIONFEE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN, AND SINCE NCJW IS A CREDIT REPORTING AGENCY, WE HELP OUR BORROWERS... (SEE SCHEDULE O)(COMMUNITY SERVICE ANDMEMBERSHIP CONTINUED)BUILD CREDIT IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.WIFE-WIDOW-WOMAN, A SUPPORT GROUP AVAILABLE TO WOMENOF ALL FAITHS TO MANAGE ONE OF LIFE'S MOST DIFFICULT TRANSITIONS. NEW GROUPS FORM TWO TO THREE TIMES A YEAR, AND MEET TWICE A MONTH FORSIX MONTHS. THE PROGRAM IS LOOKING TO EXPAND TO INCLUDE A NEW MEN'S GROUP. THERE IS NO COST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.PROJECT RENEWALIS DESIGNED TO EMPOWER UNDERSERVED WOMEN BY PROVIDING CLOTHING, EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED AT WORK ANDHOME. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RESALE SHOP, VOUCHERS ARE GIVEN TO THE WOMEN TO SHOP FOR FREE, AND WORKSHOPS ARE PROVIDED WITH TOPICSLIKE RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEW SKILLS, AND SHOPPING HEALTHY ON A LIMITED BUDGET. THERE IS NO COST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. IT IS HELD 3-4 TIMES A YEAR.MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN REGARDLESS OF GENDER, RACE, OR RELIGION. MEMBERS OF NCJW IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD AT LARGEBY BECOMING PART OF A GROWING NETWORK OF COURAGEOUS AND COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS WHO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, ANDFAMILIES EVERY DAY. NCJW-ST. LOUIS SECTION HAS OVER 1,600 MEMBERS AND IS THE 4TH LARGEST SECTION IN THE COUNTRY. WE JOIN WITH OVER 95,000OTHER WOMEN NATIONALLY TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD IN BOTH MISSOURI AND IN WASHINGTON D.C.

ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION: MANY OF NCJW'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS ARE GEARED SPECIFICALLY TO THE EDUCATION OF OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE FREEDOMSAND RIGHTS THAT ARE ACCORDED TO ALL. FROM OUR TRIPS TO JEFFERSON CITY TO MEET WITH OUR LEGISLATORS, TO OUR LUNCH AND LEARN PROGRAM THATPROVIDES EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGARDING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS ALIKE ARE CONCERNED AND INVOLVED IN THEIRCOMMUNITY. NCJW COLLABORATES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ADVOCACY WITH LOCAL ANDSTATE LEGISLATORS ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES OF THE DAY. NCJW OFFERS SERVICES, MEMBERSHIP, AND SUPPORT TO MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDRENREGARDLESS OF RELIGION, RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR DISABILITY. (SEE SCHEDULE O)(ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION CONTINUED)WHILE BASED ONTHE JEWISH VALUES OF "TIKUN OLAM--REPAIRING THE WORLD", WE DO NOT ENGAGE IN ANY RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL ACTIVITY, NOR DO WE LIMIT OURSERVICES TO PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN RELIGION. IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT AS MEMBERS OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO EVERYTHINGIN OUR POWER TO WORK TO MAKE THE WORLD WE LIVE IN A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL. SOME OF THE ISSUES WE FOLLOW INCLUDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PERIODPOVERTY, IMMIGRATION, GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAID EXPANSION, REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE ANDEMPOWERMENT FOR WOMEN, LGBTQ RIGHTS, APPOINTMENTS TO THE JUDICIARY AND MANY, MANY MORE.