The Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities held its first meeting of the fiscal year on Sept. 9, 2013 at the Simon Family JCC.
Under the leadership of Carolyn Abron-McCadden, who is beginning her third year as chair, members discussed program, outreach, and fund development opportunities in South Hampton Roads and across Virginia.
The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities works with schools, businesses, and communities to address prejudices, in all forms, to improve academic achievement, increase workplace productivity, and enhance local trust. Through workshops, retreats, and customized programs that raise knowledge, motivation, and skills, VCIC develops leaders who work together to achieve success throughout the Commonwealth. The organization traces its roots back to 1935 in Virginia. Originally founded as the Virginia Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities concluded its association with NCCJ in 2005 and joined with many offices across the country to form the National Federation for Just Communities, a new movement fighting prejudice in all its forms.
Recent local programming includes participation by six South Hampton Roads high schools in the Harold M. Marsh, Sr. Connections Institute, as well as workshops for Norfolk Collegiate School, Tidewater Community College, and Virginia Summer STE AM Academy. The Tidewater Chapter also co-sponsors the NEXUS Interfaith Dialogue Series, which this year focuses on “How Our Faiths See Marriage and Family.”
The 50th annual Tidewater Chapter Humanitarian Awards Dinner takes place on Thursday, March 27, 2014. J. Jerry Kantor, a 2011 Humanitarian Award recipient, will chair the event. Nominations will be solicited throughout October. For more information or to nominate someone for the Humanitarian Award, visit www.inclusiveva.org.
by Jonathan Zur, president and CEO