Union for Reform Judaism: CEELI

Union for Reform Judaism: Bootcamps for Chicago Early Engagement Leadership Initiative

Congregational communities are struggling to attract families with young children, and consequently are faced with the challenge of recruiting and maintaining membership. The Chicago Early Engagement Leadership Initiative (CEELI) is a groundbreaking enterprise in North America by virtue of its scope and outcome measures.

CEELI envisioned a series of high-level, intensive workshops for Jewish early childhood educators across denominations and for members of the Chicago-area community. These seminars would be designed to educate and reinforce leadership skills in new disciplines that are critical to the work of young family engagement.

Meeting Your Mission’s Managing Director, Leslie Rosen Stern was engaged to serve as a Special Project Consultant for the CEELI Boot Camp Initiative. In this role, Meeting Your Mission provides ongoing operational support , publicity, outreach and recruitment, management of logistics related to environment, supplies and participant needs, and on-site program management for the intensive, high-level, hands-on trainings and “bootcamp” workshops.

Leslie’s professional guidance and skills have helped launch our CEELI bootcamps to new heights. She excels in the execution of marketing and e-mail campaigns, event logistics, and the seamless facilitation of all program details. She has managed our internal and external communications with care and concern and her follow-up is terrific. A trustworthy and dependable team member, Leslie dedicates herself to ensuring that all of our objectives are met. I’m delighted by the expertise she brings to this initiative.

Susan ZukrowAssociate Director, Special Projects and Initiatives, Strengthening Congregations, Union for Reform Judaism