Work with Jewish Teens? This ‘Un-Conference’ is For You.

Photo courtesy Jewish Learning Works

(JWeekly) – San Francisco-based Jewish LearningWorks is organizing a five-day conference for those who work Jewish teens that will emphasize themes of wellness and mental health.

The Bay Area Teens Thrive Un-Conference is scheduled to take place at five locations over five days starting Monday, Feb. 4. Each location will cover a different theme or topic, with the daily sessions running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on the final day, Feb. 8.

“Teens are feeling more and more pressured and stressed,” said Debra Sagan Massey, teen education consultant at Jewish LearningWorks and conference organizer.

The sessions and locations are as follows: “Caring for Our Teens” (Google Community Space, S.F.); “Healthy Relationships” (Congregation Rodef Sholom, San Rafael); “Stress and Resilience” (Temple Isaiah, Lafayette); “Gender and Sexuality” (Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills) and “Reflections and Applications” (Jewish LearningWorks, S.F., from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Lunch is included each day.

The lineup of speakers includes former NFTY regional adviser Rabbi Paul Kipnes, Jewish Studio Project co-founder Rabbi Adina Allen, Rabbi PJ Schwartz of Congregation Shir Hadash and Keshet’s Bay Area LGBTQ inclusion and training specialist Randi Reed.

According to the flyer, the conference is designed for “rabbis, lay leaders, educational and executive directors, and all staff who interact with teens.” It was created by the Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Initiative, a project of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of the East Bay, with significant support from the S.F.-based Jim Joseph Foundation.

The cost of the conference is $36 per day or $130 for all five days (per location). For more details or to register, call (415) 751-6983 or visit jewishlearningworks.org.