MAY 23 • 2024 | 23 not welcome in Jewish settings. Health & Human Services & Financial Well-being • 23% of Jewish households include someone with a chron- ic health issue, special needs or disability. • One in six households say they are struggling financially. WHAT’S NEXT While the study itself is com- plete, the community’s work to translate data into action is just beginning. This report is the starting point for intro- spection, deeper conversation and collaborative strategic planning. A Community Visioning and Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by Robin Pollak and Megan Bernard, has begun to meet to develop a new community vision and strategic plan. This plan will be generated over the course of many months, using the valid data of the study as a founda- tion to identify a set of com- munal values and goals, and a strategic plan to enhance local Jewish life. The planning process will be conducted in partnership with volunteer leaders, community organizations, program pro- viders and the community writ large to explore the data, iden- tify new questions and contin- ue to learn about communal needs and desires. Federation Board President Decky Alexander emphasizes that the next steps are a neces- sary continuation of the pro- cess started by the study. “ As with other communities across the U.S. who have engaged in data-driven planning, I hope that the study gives us, if not a roadmap, a light on how to best engage, serve and support each other now and in the future,” she says. THE PLAYERS A diverse group of over 60 volunteer and profession- al leaders served on the Community Study Planning, Implementation and Next Steps Committees, chaired by Barry Nemon and co-chaired by Randy Milgrom. The research team was a collaboration of two preemi- nent research institutions: the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) at Brandeis University and NORC at the University of Chicago. This team, led by Dr. Janet Aronson and Professor Leonard Saxe at Brandeis University, and Dr. David Dutwin and Evan Herring- Nathan at NORC, combined CMJS’s extensive experience conducting dozens of Jewish community studies over the last two decades with NORC’s expertise using the most advanced research methodol- ogies. This study was made possi- ble by the foresight and stra- tegic vision of directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, which recognized the importance of convening this project, and by the com- munity partner organizations who understood how crucial this data and analysis would be, and will be, to the future of our community. Generous financial sup- port was received from Beth Israel Congregation, JCC of Greater Ann Arbor, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Ann Arbor, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, Jewish Federations of North America and Temple Beth Emeth. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation provided a significant grant to understand the racial and eth- nic diversity of our community and to collect data about finan- cial insecurity. Additionally, the follow- ing communal organizations provided valuable input and encouragement through- out this process: Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan, Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation, Chabad House of Ann Arbor, Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor, Jewish Communal Leadership Program at U-M, Jewish Cultural Society and Pardes Hannah. Finally, this study would not have been possible without the participation of the over 900 households who responded to the survey to provide data on a diverse and thriving Jewish community in Washtenaw County. Eileen Freed is CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. The full Community Study and a document containing major highlights are available at www.jewishannarbor.org/ communitystudy. For more information, contact Eileen Freed at eileenfreed@ jewishannarbor.org. Community members listen to the results of the study.