MAY 13 • 2021 | 17

C

ollective Compassion, 
a project of the Jewish 
Teen Education 
and Engagement Funder 
Collaborative takes place in 
May to acknowledge Mental 
Health Awareness Month.
The organization is an 
innovative philanthropic col-
laboration where national and 
local funders work together to 
develop new approaches to teen 
engagement. 
Collective Compassion shares 
events and resources from more 
than a dozen partners to address 
the significant mental health 
wellness needs of the Jewish 
community. Pop-up programs, 
creative workshops, giving- 

circles, screenside chats and 
wellness inspiration all draw 
on Jewish culture and wisdom 
to help address rising levels of 
loneliness, stress and anxiety.
Events and trainings include 
Creativity for Coping, which 
helps build resilience through 
creative guides such as 
“Storytelling for Strength and 
Sanity,” breathwork and a com-
edy show to help people relax, 
center themselves and under-
stand how these techniques tie 
to Jewish wisdom.
Another highlight is 
Education & Awareness to 
learn and share practical 
tools for mental health, such 
as “iGen: Understanding the 

Smartphone Generation with 
Dr. Jean Twenge,” an event for 
parents and educators of teens 
and tweens that will provide 
ideas for how to find a healthi-
er balance with technology.
Also included is CPR 
for Mental Health, an evi-
dence-based course teaching 
adults how to support young 
people, ages 12-21. The Jewishly 
framed 6.5-hour training is a 
mix of self-paced and instruc-
tor-led workshops. The pro-
gram also includes books, art, 
apps and quarantine playlists to 

support positive mental health.
“Events of the last year have 
left many reeling with a height-
ened sense of uncertainty, con-
fusion and loss, and our com-
munity is responding in a pow-
erful way” said Sara Allen, exec-
utive director of the Jewish Teen 
Education and Engagement 
Funder Collaborative. 
“We are inspired by the 
creativity and commitment of 
our partners, and hope people 
explore the dozens of offerings 
and learn self-compassion 
strategies, participate in prac-
tices that draw on Jewish tra-
dition, and see that no matter 
what people are going through 
— you are not alone.”
Collective Compassion 
partners include the Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit, BBYO, USY, NFTY, 
Repair the World and others. 
For further details, visit 
collectivecompassion2021.
com. 

“Collective Compassion” project 
promotes mental health, coping.

Helping Jewish Teens

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Supported through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation.

We Have Answers.

 
 
Need to find 
 
 
help during a 
 
 
family crisis 

¨ 
Call jhelp at 1-833-445-4357

¨ 
Visit jhelp.org

¨ 
Chat online with a staff 
member or schedule a 
 
call at jhelp.org

¨ 
Do all of the above

Q

X

