September 22, 2025 • 18 mins
We spoke with Inclusion Director, Rachel Scolnic, about the JCC's mission to make the community center an inclusive place to serve every person that walks through their doors.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm
Alison Demerz. My guest this morning is from the JCC
of Greater new Haven Rachel Skolnick. She is Inclusion Director
of the JCC. Good morning, good morning, thank you so
much for having me today. My pleasure. For those who
don't know about the JCC of Greater new Haven, tell
me how did it come about?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Well, the JCC has been around for over one hundred years.
We've been in our building now for thirty years.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
And it's a huge building which has various programs. So
we have everything from a very large, booming daycare center,
to after school programs, to an amazing pool, to a
fitness center where people can take classes, from small group
coaching to trainers to really anything that a family or
individuals would need.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Well, we're going to talk all about that. What is
the mission of the JCC.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
The mission of the JCC is to be able to
be a community center. So we really see community as
our middle name and really want to be able to
be a place to serve every person that walks through our.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Doors, regardless of what faith they have. Correct and your
new cafe a couple of years old now, you are
the inclusion director. You've made it inclusive.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
We have complete lays. So I was originally brought into
the JCC to restart this cafe. There had been multiple
cafes at the JCC for over twenty years. The last
cafe had shut down prior to COVID and we wanted
to reopen it. We knew that if we wanted to
reopen it, we wanted to reopen it with a mission,
(01:32):
So we reopened it with partnership. There's a school basically
down the street from us called Chapelhn and it's a
secondary school for individuals on the autism spectrum. And our
interns from Chapelhaven we refer to them as our interns.
They work in the cafe during the day and it's
this amazing thing we've been able to Some of them
(01:54):
have almost graduated from the internship program, and we have
a couple that are employed as JCC employees during the
week and they're able to learn everything from working the
cash register to making coffees to making cappuccinos. And it's
wonderful both for them and for the members and the
staff of the JCC.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Tell me, why is it wonderful for both.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So for the individuals for Chapel Haven, it's giving them
a vocational experience, which for some individuals, it's giving them
structure to their day. It's getting them out of their apartment.
It's getting them into the community. It's making them proud.
Many of them come from families where it was always
their pride and joy to be part of a community
(02:33):
and be part of the JCC. And so we have
individuals that are just so happy and they will tell
anyone in there that the JCC is their happiest place
to be, and so that's just joyous. And then when
you as a staff or community member see that and
you're having possibly a bad day and you see someone
that's just standing.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
At the cafe and happy, that's just great.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
And then the ultimate goal is that they're learning from
being at the JCC. Maybe they can get a job
somewhere else, either by us or and somewhere else in
the community.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
They're both being blessed everybody hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
And they see you know, and I've had other employers
in town call me and say, wow, like I see
what you're doing. Maybe I can take an individual with
differing abilities into my business. So that's like another goal
from a community point of view for.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Us too, Yes, what are the ages of the people?
Are they over sixteen or are they older?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
They are all older. So the way by nature the
special education system works in Connecticut in most states is
most people can age out of special at about twenty three.
So at that point that's when a lot more individuals
are looking for services. So most of our individuals we
have in turning are over the age of at least
(03:48):
twenty one, because that's when you know they need more
structure and more stuff in their lives.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So what can I get at the cafe?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Oh, we have everything. We have an amazing cafe manager
and they've really expanded the menu over the last years,
so everything from wraps to delicious pizza, bagels, to tunamels
to coffees. And one of the goals is to expand
our culinary program and we have an adaptive culinary program
with the idea so we have a full industrial kitchen
as well at the JCC with the idea that our
(04:16):
individuals from Chapelhaven and we work with olso Aces and
Milestone with two other special needs schools in the community,
that the individuals from these schools will learn more culinary
skills from just safe skills that will help their lives. Right.
So we had I had an incident when I first
started a couple of years ago that we had an
individual that came to us very disheveled one day and upset,
(04:39):
and we're like, what's wrong. It's like I was trying
to make popcorn at home and he microwaved it on
an unsafe plate and a fire you know blue, and
he almost got very hurt. So our first goal for
culinary with these individuals is safety, right, is knife safety,
is kitchen safety. Has just how to wash products which
will help them both in their individual lives. And then
(04:59):
poss we again maybe get a job and with us
as well.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
You have a wonderful job. You must feel so good
when you put your head on the pillow at night.
You're making a difference.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
We feel really good.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
It's joy.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So I think there's a lot of days we come
to work and there's a lot of stuff in our world,
but this is we feel like we're doing really good
work and we can see the difference very concretely and
tangibly we're making in these guys' lives. Like we have
two or three individuals that have had really hard lives,
that have been with us now for over a year
and came in frustrated and angry and not sure. And
(05:34):
they now have their safe Serve certificate which means they can,
you know, work in places and they're talking and they
pride themselves in knowing what you know, our order is
before we come up, and they'll get me my tea
before I even order it. And so being able to
see that and see the change in these individuals is
just wonderful.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
What did you do when you found them angry to
get them to the place that they are now?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I think you just meet someone where they're at right.
So you're not going to necessarily dissipate the anger. You're
just gonna say, I see you're having a hard day
and give them a moment. And again, because the JCC
is a large place, sometimes I'll walk with them outside
or we'll take a walk and we'll take a breath,
and we'll use cues. With some of our individuals, we
have nonverbal cues we're using if they're having a hard day.
(06:21):
So I have some individuals that will touch their hat
or touch something just to let me know, or our
caf mate manager we just need a break right now,
and that's okay. And taking a break is okay, and
we're not gonna we're not taking in. One of the
things we do share and I'll share with all our
individuals is it's really okay to be angry, right. It's
what we do with our anger that matters. So I
(06:41):
will kind of talk to them as we have pens
and crayons and drawing a very angry picture is okay.
And squeezing a stress walls okay. But it's starting to
add more good stuff to their lives. So there's other
stuff to do with the anger.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I know you're an inclusion director at the JCC, but
I think your calling is to go into these other
business is who hire these individuals and teach them how
to deal with it so they can have the same
success that you have.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I would love to, you know, talk to more people
and see how amazing you know what I refer to
and how I've always talked to my kids. These guys
are my friends, right. So we recently had a couple
of weeks ago, we went to a Hartford yard Goats
game and we brought like twenty five of our guys
on a bus and like it's just joy and it's
just fun and they're happy and they should be coming
(07:29):
to baseball games and doing all the things that we're doing.
And so one of the other things we're trying to
do at the JCC is as we have all these
programs in the JCC IS, continue to grow more adaptive
programs for these individuals. So that's something that's really important
to me. So this fall we have an adaptive pickleball program,
We're having adaptive soccer for younger kiddos coming, and we
(07:53):
also besides the cafe, we had these guys volunteering and
other departments within the JCC so that other individuals and
other departments can see really how wonderful they are and
just continue the education from adoptive Jewish education to all
across really meeting them where they are and what they want.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Right now, my friend has a child on the spectrum.
She began this organization. She has events, non stuff for
all different ages, for the parents, for the children, you know,
for special needs people, and she's been doing it for
like fifteen years, and unfortunately people just don't know what's
out there and they think they're alone, and like you said,
(08:31):
community helps everything.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Right, And I think there's people that don't even know
that this exists, right. So I think one of the
reasons I was so grateful to talk to you and
to share this is that some people know about the JCC,
but to really say that we are this inclusive place.
If someone hasn't asks or wants a program, that they
should contact us or contact me and if we don't
have it right now, A lot of times I can
(08:54):
answer those questions. So a lot of times I also
get questions from parents I just moved to ten or
I have a child that was newly diagnosed or struggling.
And because of my background that I was a social
worker and a case manager for so long, I know
of a lot of resources that are available to hook
people up with different services as well.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Honestly, that makes all the difference in the world to
these parents and to these children, right.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
And we're also starting this fall a special needs parents
support group, so that's going to be at the same
time as our child soccer adaptive soccer class. So if
a parent drops off a child, you know, at soccer,
and they want to take a minute, we'll go get
some coffee or tea from the cafe and just gather,
not in a very formal way, but just as a
way to have you know, people together and for again
(09:39):
for them not to feel alone and to really say, okay,
like your kid can play soccer. They're safe downstairs playing soccer,
and let's just have a moment too to maybe gather advice,
you know, and gain some stamina from other parents.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Every parent needs that.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
And I think, and I think about this, you know,
like my kids are getting older and I have two teenagers,
and I think when we think when our kids are babies,
there's the support groups, right, like there's the JCC has that,
and we have great mommy and me for babies, but
we need parents support groups for all ages, right, and
all special needs parents definitely need it, and medically complex
kids definitely need it, and parents of teenagers need.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
It too, absolutely, like we all.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Need different support and if nothing else, like to have
the place of the JCC is a place to be
for people to gather, and it's okay and there should
be no shame in needing support and wanting to gather
and community can be really powerful.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Yes, mine are older, mine are twenty one and twenty nine.
But I always look at parents and I just say
they will emotionally mature. I promise you it will get
better because I love them now, but I used to
have to pray, Lord, please help me to like them,
Please help me to want to be around them. That
sounds horrible when other mothers used to talk about their
kids like that. I just look at them. But I
(10:50):
get it. It's not easy. It's not easy.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And I think if you have a kid with differences
or with disabilities, there's this constant feeling of fear of like, well,
this get better, right, So like is this going to change?
Am I going to be able to provide for them?
Are they going to be okay without me? And this
overwhelming loss and grief and anxiety all.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
The time, which it is grief too.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It's grief because it's also it's mourning the life of
what you thought this child could be or what was
going to be, And so it's giving them a space
that that's okay to grieve that, and then you might
you also have this pretty incredible kid right here in
front of us, and let's celebrate that in a different way.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
So let's get to the programs and services. You did
highlight some, but there are so many we could be
here for an hour. Serves all age groups as well, right.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
From infants, we had the daycare center takes babies like
right once the parents go back to work at twelve
weeks to We have a full camp every summer and
eight week summer camp that's a full day camp, you know,
from nine to four every day, so there's not that
many of those left, so that's amazing. And we have
an after school programs that kids can come after school
(12:00):
swimming lessons for kids. We have an amazing fitness center
with coaching and the people that can coach people at
all different walks of life. Over the last year or so,
we started a Parkinson's support group as well, and now
they're also restarting a lot of Parkinson's training groups and
a rock steady boxing class specifically to help people with
Parkinson's disease.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
A rock steady boxing class. That's cool, so they get
in the ring with the boxing glove.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah. So there's been a lot of research done that
shows that boxing specifically helps individuals with Parkinson's. So we
have monthly support groups for individuals with Parkinson's disease.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
So I help.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I'm a social worker by training, so I help in
the Parkinson Support Group and do caregivers to help give
the caregivers support during that, and then we do other
activities with the patience during that. And one of the
other things we're bringing into our JCC is a rock
steady boxing to be able to really help these individuals
in more.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Ways because caregivers, it takes a toll on them as well,
a huge toll. People don't really understand that the caregiver
can also get sick and tired because they're taking care
of somebody else.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
And we also want them to not feel alone. So
something that was really important to me is to bring
together these support groups that we're now having in person
once a month and then multiple during the month on
Zoom that people can join in and just be able
to share things that are going on in their lives.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
What kind of positive impact have you seen from the
people who've attended these classes.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
They walk away and see what's happening in their home,
is they're not the only one experiencing that that they
have a place to share. They can just take a
huge deep breath while they're around other people, and that
could be very impactful.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
When you see somebody who gets it, it means everything
to you.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, I've really enjoyed experiencing that, and what other people
are enjoying within the group is sometimes it's heartbreaking, right,
you can leave one of these groups and it's heartbreaking
to see what people are experiencing and what they are
seeing through this. They are partners and their loved ones.
But being able to give them community and comfort and connection.
(14:05):
Those are three big things.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
That's what it's all about. You have birth to five
youth programs, teens and we mentioned some adult Would you
like to talk about the kids, So.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
There's you know, like the daycare center, like we said,
there's after school, there's multiple enrichment programs that happen throughout
the day. So everything from soccer our basketball program on
Sundays is something that my own kids did, so that
in the winter time, Sundays at the JCC is the
place to be. There was every class in the world
(14:37):
from swimming to racquetball to soccer, and like, kids and
families can really.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Do everything, kids and families together. Yes, that's wondering.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
And all doing different things sometimes doing it together. And
then a couple of years ago we reopened our cafe
at the JCC, so now they can also families can
also get a snack and have a coffee, sit together
and be able to have another part of community there.
One of the other inclusive things that we've done that
I've done personally that's been around for a long time
(15:08):
that we do Jewish holiday programming about once a month
or social programming that's around, you know, around holidays, so
you don't have to be Jewish to attend, but we
try to really incorporate everyone. So I've actually ran that
group even prior to coming to the JCC. So for
Rosa Shada and for the major Jewish holidays, it's a
way for people to become educated and we'll have apples
(15:30):
and honey, and for some individuals that never feel comfortable
with their family or with a synagogue or in a
formal place, it's a way for them just to gather together.
So we refer to that as our Shalom group, and
that's been around for a while, and that's going to
kind of continue to be around, both you know, doing
programs at the JCC, and then we go into local
synagogues to be able to celebrate with them too.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
And to teach people about who you are.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Right so to me, it does both things, right, Like
I said, it's both for our individual jewels to be
able to celebrate, and it's also for that community. So
last year we brought I think like thirty five or
forty individuals to synagogue in Milford, and they thanked me
so for them to be able to have them come
to a Shabbat dinner, they had.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Never experienced that before.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
So it was really wonderful both for you know, my
individuals who loved the food and got to have this
celebratory Friday night dinner, but for the individuals and the
Rabbi there and all the people there. They they're texting
me all the time. Can't wait to get them back.
There's a story I share sometimes. My daughter, you know,
was always raised with me as a you know, as
a mom that was a social worker that always worked
with different people. And there was one day, it's probably
(16:39):
four years ago, we're walking into the CVS and there's
a man outside that everyone's looking at and pointing at
because he's talking to himself and talking about the rocket ship.
And all these people are like, oh, he's so weird,
Like don't talk to him. And my daughter looks at
him and goes, so, sir, what color is your rocket ship?
And I was like, oh, I've messed up in life,
(17:01):
but I've done something right. He like, it's that girl.
So she gets it and so my kids if nothing else,
She goes, look and he answered, and he answered. My daughter,
who was probably eight at the time, he goes, well,
it's blue, but it might turn purple. And she said
after she said, why didn't people just ask him the
color of his rocket ship?
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Just love him? Just love him?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
And so that to me, that's so much of like,
you know, what I've been able to give to my
own kiddos is that we want to be able to
continue to share with our community.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
I'm speaking with Rachel Skolnick. She is Inclusion director of
the JCC of Greater New Haven. That web address is
JCCNH dot org. There are so many things for everyone,
program services, classes, you name it, and this beautiful cafe
that you need to visit. And the JCC of Greater
New Haven's fourteenth annual Bagel Run is going on right
(17:50):
now between seven thirty and eleven am today. Right there
are three sixty Amity Road in Woodbridge. If you'd like
to make a donation, just go to JCC dot Org Rachel,
thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
I really appreciate it.
Good morning, thank you for listening to Community Access. I'm
Alison Demerz. My guest this morning is from the JCC
of Greater new Haven Rachel Skolnick. She is Inclusion Director
of the JCC. Good morning, good morning, thank you so
much for having me today. My pleasure. For those who
don't know about the JCC of Greater new Haven, tell
me how did it come about?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Well, the JCC has been around for over one hundred years.
We've been in our building now for thirty years.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
And it's a huge building which has various programs. So
we have everything from a very large, booming daycare center,
to after school programs, to an amazing pool, to a
fitness center where people can take classes, from small group
coaching to trainers to really anything that a family or
individuals would need.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Well, we're going to talk all about that. What is
the mission of the JCC.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
The mission of the JCC is to be able to
be a community center. So we really see community as
our middle name and really want to be able to
be a place to serve every person that walks through our.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Doors, regardless of what faith they have. Correct and your
new cafe a couple of years old now, you are
the inclusion director. You've made it inclusive.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
We have complete lays. So I was originally brought into
the JCC to restart this cafe. There had been multiple
cafes at the JCC for over twenty years. The last
cafe had shut down prior to COVID and we wanted
to reopen it. We knew that if we wanted to
reopen it, we wanted to reopen it with a mission,
(01:32):
So we reopened it with partnership. There's a school basically
down the street from us called Chapelhn and it's a
secondary school for individuals on the autism spectrum. And our
interns from Chapelhaven we refer to them as our interns.
They work in the cafe during the day and it's
this amazing thing we've been able to Some of them
(01:54):
have almost graduated from the internship program, and we have
a couple that are employed as JCC employees during the
week and they're able to learn everything from working the
cash register to making coffees to making cappuccinos. And it's
wonderful both for them and for the members and the
staff of the JCC.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Tell me, why is it wonderful for both.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So for the individuals for Chapel Haven, it's giving them
a vocational experience, which for some individuals, it's giving them
structure to their day. It's getting them out of their apartment.
It's getting them into the community. It's making them proud.
Many of them come from families where it was always
their pride and joy to be part of a community
(02:33):
and be part of the JCC. And so we have
individuals that are just so happy and they will tell
anyone in there that the JCC is their happiest place
to be, and so that's just joyous. And then when
you as a staff or community member see that and
you're having possibly a bad day and you see someone
that's just standing.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
At the cafe and happy, that's just great.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
And then the ultimate goal is that they're learning from
being at the JCC. Maybe they can get a job
somewhere else, either by us or and somewhere else in
the community.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
They're both being blessed everybody hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
And they see you know, and I've had other employers
in town call me and say, wow, like I see
what you're doing. Maybe I can take an individual with
differing abilities into my business. So that's like another goal
from a community point of view for.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Us too, Yes, what are the ages of the people?
Are they over sixteen or are they older?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
They are all older. So the way by nature the
special education system works in Connecticut in most states is
most people can age out of special at about twenty three.
So at that point that's when a lot more individuals
are looking for services. So most of our individuals we
have in turning are over the age of at least
(03:48):
twenty one, because that's when you know they need more
structure and more stuff in their lives.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So what can I get at the cafe?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Oh, we have everything. We have an amazing cafe manager
and they've really expanded the menu over the last years,
so everything from wraps to delicious pizza, bagels, to tunamels
to coffees. And one of the goals is to expand
our culinary program and we have an adaptive culinary program
with the idea so we have a full industrial kitchen
as well at the JCC with the idea that our
(04:16):
individuals from Chapelhaven and we work with olso Aces and
Milestone with two other special needs schools in the community,
that the individuals from these schools will learn more culinary
skills from just safe skills that will help their lives. Right.
So we had I had an incident when I first
started a couple of years ago that we had an
individual that came to us very disheveled one day and upset,
(04:39):
and we're like, what's wrong. It's like I was trying
to make popcorn at home and he microwaved it on
an unsafe plate and a fire you know blue, and
he almost got very hurt. So our first goal for
culinary with these individuals is safety, right, is knife safety,
is kitchen safety. Has just how to wash products which
will help them both in their individual lives. And then
(04:59):
poss we again maybe get a job and with us
as well.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
You have a wonderful job. You must feel so good
when you put your head on the pillow at night.
You're making a difference.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
We feel really good.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
It's joy.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So I think there's a lot of days we come
to work and there's a lot of stuff in our world,
but this is we feel like we're doing really good
work and we can see the difference very concretely and
tangibly we're making in these guys' lives. Like we have
two or three individuals that have had really hard lives,
that have been with us now for over a year
and came in frustrated and angry and not sure. And
(05:34):
they now have their safe Serve certificate which means they can,
you know, work in places and they're talking and they
pride themselves in knowing what you know, our order is
before we come up, and they'll get me my tea
before I even order it. And so being able to
see that and see the change in these individuals is
just wonderful.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
What did you do when you found them angry to
get them to the place that they are now?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I think you just meet someone where they're at right.
So you're not going to necessarily dissipate the anger. You're
just gonna say, I see you're having a hard day
and give them a moment. And again, because the JCC
is a large place, sometimes I'll walk with them outside
or we'll take a walk and we'll take a breath,
and we'll use cues. With some of our individuals, we
have nonverbal cues we're using if they're having a hard day.
(06:21):
So I have some individuals that will touch their hat
or touch something just to let me know, or our
caf mate manager we just need a break right now,
and that's okay. And taking a break is okay, and
we're not gonna we're not taking in. One of the
things we do share and I'll share with all our
individuals is it's really okay to be angry, right. It's
what we do with our anger that matters. So I
(06:41):
will kind of talk to them as we have pens
and crayons and drawing a very angry picture is okay.
And squeezing a stress walls okay. But it's starting to
add more good stuff to their lives. So there's other
stuff to do with the anger.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I know you're an inclusion director at the JCC, but
I think your calling is to go into these other
business is who hire these individuals and teach them how
to deal with it so they can have the same
success that you have.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I would love to, you know, talk to more people
and see how amazing you know what I refer to
and how I've always talked to my kids. These guys
are my friends, right. So we recently had a couple
of weeks ago, we went to a Hartford yard Goats
game and we brought like twenty five of our guys
on a bus and like it's just joy and it's
just fun and they're happy and they should be coming
(07:29):
to baseball games and doing all the things that we're doing.
And so one of the other things we're trying to
do at the JCC is as we have all these
programs in the JCC IS, continue to grow more adaptive
programs for these individuals. So that's something that's really important
to me. So this fall we have an adaptive pickleball program,
We're having adaptive soccer for younger kiddos coming, and we
(07:53):
also besides the cafe, we had these guys volunteering and
other departments within the JCC so that other individuals and
other departments can see really how wonderful they are and
just continue the education from adoptive Jewish education to all
across really meeting them where they are and what they want.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Right now, my friend has a child on the spectrum.
She began this organization. She has events, non stuff for
all different ages, for the parents, for the children, you know,
for special needs people, and she's been doing it for
like fifteen years, and unfortunately people just don't know what's
out there and they think they're alone, and like you said,
(08:31):
community helps everything.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Right, And I think there's people that don't even know
that this exists, right. So I think one of the
reasons I was so grateful to talk to you and
to share this is that some people know about the JCC,
but to really say that we are this inclusive place.
If someone hasn't asks or wants a program, that they
should contact us or contact me and if we don't
have it right now, A lot of times I can
(08:54):
answer those questions. So a lot of times I also
get questions from parents I just moved to ten or
I have a child that was newly diagnosed or struggling.
And because of my background that I was a social
worker and a case manager for so long, I know
of a lot of resources that are available to hook
people up with different services as well.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Honestly, that makes all the difference in the world to
these parents and to these children, right.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
And we're also starting this fall a special needs parents
support group, so that's going to be at the same
time as our child soccer adaptive soccer class. So if
a parent drops off a child, you know, at soccer,
and they want to take a minute, we'll go get
some coffee or tea from the cafe and just gather,
not in a very formal way, but just as a
way to have you know, people together and for again
(09:39):
for them not to feel alone and to really say, okay,
like your kid can play soccer. They're safe downstairs playing soccer,
and let's just have a moment too to maybe gather advice,
you know, and gain some stamina from other parents.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Every parent needs that.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
And I think, and I think about this, you know,
like my kids are getting older and I have two teenagers,
and I think when we think when our kids are babies,
there's the support groups, right, like there's the JCC has that,
and we have great mommy and me for babies, but
we need parents support groups for all ages, right, and
all special needs parents definitely need it, and medically complex
kids definitely need it, and parents of teenagers need.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
It too, absolutely, like we all.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Need different support and if nothing else, like to have
the place of the JCC is a place to be
for people to gather, and it's okay and there should
be no shame in needing support and wanting to gather
and community can be really powerful.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Yes, mine are older, mine are twenty one and twenty nine.
But I always look at parents and I just say
they will emotionally mature. I promise you it will get
better because I love them now, but I used to
have to pray, Lord, please help me to like them,
Please help me to want to be around them. That
sounds horrible when other mothers used to talk about their
kids like that. I just look at them. But I
(10:50):
get it. It's not easy. It's not easy.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And I think if you have a kid with differences
or with disabilities, there's this constant feeling of fear of like, well,
this get better, right, So like is this going to change?
Am I going to be able to provide for them?
Are they going to be okay without me? And this
overwhelming loss and grief and anxiety all.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
The time, which it is grief too.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It's grief because it's also it's mourning the life of
what you thought this child could be or what was
going to be, And so it's giving them a space
that that's okay to grieve that, and then you might
you also have this pretty incredible kid right here in
front of us, and let's celebrate that in a different way.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
So let's get to the programs and services. You did
highlight some, but there are so many we could be
here for an hour. Serves all age groups as well, right.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
From infants, we had the daycare center takes babies like
right once the parents go back to work at twelve
weeks to We have a full camp every summer and
eight week summer camp that's a full day camp, you know,
from nine to four every day, so there's not that
many of those left, so that's amazing. And we have
an after school programs that kids can come after school
(12:00):
swimming lessons for kids. We have an amazing fitness center
with coaching and the people that can coach people at
all different walks of life. Over the last year or so,
we started a Parkinson's support group as well, and now
they're also restarting a lot of Parkinson's training groups and
a rock steady boxing class specifically to help people with
Parkinson's disease.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
A rock steady boxing class. That's cool, so they get
in the ring with the boxing glove.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah. So there's been a lot of research done that
shows that boxing specifically helps individuals with Parkinson's. So we
have monthly support groups for individuals with Parkinson's disease.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
So I help.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I'm a social worker by training, so I help in
the Parkinson Support Group and do caregivers to help give
the caregivers support during that, and then we do other
activities with the patience during that. And one of the
other things we're bringing into our JCC is a rock
steady boxing to be able to really help these individuals
in more.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Ways because caregivers, it takes a toll on them as well,
a huge toll. People don't really understand that the caregiver
can also get sick and tired because they're taking care
of somebody else.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
And we also want them to not feel alone. So
something that was really important to me is to bring
together these support groups that we're now having in person
once a month and then multiple during the month on
Zoom that people can join in and just be able
to share things that are going on in their lives.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
What kind of positive impact have you seen from the
people who've attended these classes.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
They walk away and see what's happening in their home,
is they're not the only one experiencing that that they
have a place to share. They can just take a
huge deep breath while they're around other people, and that
could be very impactful.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
When you see somebody who gets it, it means everything
to you.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, I've really enjoyed experiencing that, and what other people
are enjoying within the group is sometimes it's heartbreaking, right,
you can leave one of these groups and it's heartbreaking
to see what people are experiencing and what they are
seeing through this. They are partners and their loved ones.
But being able to give them community and comfort and connection.
(14:05):
Those are three big things.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
That's what it's all about. You have birth to five
youth programs, teens and we mentioned some adult Would you
like to talk about the kids, So.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
There's you know, like the daycare center, like we said,
there's after school, there's multiple enrichment programs that happen throughout
the day. So everything from soccer our basketball program on
Sundays is something that my own kids did, so that
in the winter time, Sundays at the JCC is the
place to be. There was every class in the world
(14:37):
from swimming to racquetball to soccer, and like, kids and
families can really.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Do everything, kids and families together. Yes, that's wondering.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
And all doing different things sometimes doing it together. And
then a couple of years ago we reopened our cafe
at the JCC, so now they can also families can
also get a snack and have a coffee, sit together
and be able to have another part of community there.
One of the other inclusive things that we've done that
I've done personally that's been around for a long time
(15:08):
that we do Jewish holiday programming about once a month
or social programming that's around, you know, around holidays, so
you don't have to be Jewish to attend, but we
try to really incorporate everyone. So I've actually ran that
group even prior to coming to the JCC. So for
Rosa Shada and for the major Jewish holidays, it's a
way for people to become educated and we'll have apples
(15:30):
and honey, and for some individuals that never feel comfortable
with their family or with a synagogue or in a
formal place, it's a way for them just to gather together.
So we refer to that as our Shalom group, and
that's been around for a while, and that's going to
kind of continue to be around, both you know, doing
programs at the JCC, and then we go into local
synagogues to be able to celebrate with them too.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
And to teach people about who you are.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Right so to me, it does both things, right, Like
I said, it's both for our individual jewels to be
able to celebrate, and it's also for that community. So
last year we brought I think like thirty five or
forty individuals to synagogue in Milford, and they thanked me
so for them to be able to have them come
to a Shabbat dinner, they had.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Never experienced that before.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
So it was really wonderful both for you know, my
individuals who loved the food and got to have this
celebratory Friday night dinner, but for the individuals and the
Rabbi there and all the people there. They they're texting
me all the time. Can't wait to get them back.
There's a story I share sometimes. My daughter, you know,
was always raised with me as a you know, as
a mom that was a social worker that always worked
with different people. And there was one day, it's probably
(16:39):
four years ago, we're walking into the CVS and there's
a man outside that everyone's looking at and pointing at
because he's talking to himself and talking about the rocket ship.
And all these people are like, oh, he's so weird,
Like don't talk to him. And my daughter looks at
him and goes, so, sir, what color is your rocket ship?
And I was like, oh, I've messed up in life,
(17:01):
but I've done something right. He like, it's that girl.
So she gets it and so my kids if nothing else,
She goes, look and he answered, and he answered. My daughter,
who was probably eight at the time, he goes, well,
it's blue, but it might turn purple. And she said
after she said, why didn't people just ask him the
color of his rocket ship?
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Just love him? Just love him?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
And so that to me, that's so much of like,
you know, what I've been able to give to my
own kiddos is that we want to be able to
continue to share with our community.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
I'm speaking with Rachel Skolnick. She is Inclusion director of
the JCC of Greater New Haven. That web address is
JCCNH dot org. There are so many things for everyone,
program services, classes, you name it, and this beautiful cafe
that you need to visit. And the JCC of Greater
New Haven's fourteenth annual Bagel Run is going on right
(17:50):
now between seven thirty and eleven am today. Right there
are three sixty Amity Road in Woodbridge. If you'd like
to make a donation, just go to JCC dot Org Rachel,
thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
I really appreciate it.
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