This in-person event has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thank you for joining the Network for our Virtual 2020 Conference offerings. Recordings and presentations can be found in the Resource Libray.
NJHSA Annual Conference
VISION 2020: CONVENE. CONNECT. COLLABORATE.

May 3rd – May 5th
Dallas, TX
The Fairmont Dallas Hotel
As the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas, Dallas offers the best shopping in the Southwest, a cutting-edge culinary scene led by celebrity chefs, 20 exciting entertainment districts and impressive accommodations. Click here to learn more about things to see and do, as well as, discounts to local attractions, restaurants and shopping and much more!
Corona Virus (COVID-19) Update
March 17, 2020
As we continue to monitor the evolving dynamics regarding COVID-19, and the daily restrictions which are being placed in each of our respective communities, we have decided to officially cancel the NJHSA 2020 Annual Conference: VISION 2020: CONVENE. CONNECT. COLLABORATE, which was scheduled for May 3-5, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. In the coming days, we will provide information about our plans to offer Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) as well as registration refunds, hotel cancellation, and other logistical details as they become available.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Fairmont Dallas
1717 N. Akard Street | Dallas, Texas
214-720-2020 | fairmont.com/dallas
Room Rate: $199/night
(Room rate availability applies to 3 nights prior and post conference dates.)
Cut-off Date: Room reservations must be made by Wednesday, April 1st.
Book online here or call 800-441-1414
Group code: NJHSA Annual Conference
CONFERENCE DETAILS
At NJHSA’S 3rd Annual Conference, VISION 2020: CONVENE. CONNECT. COLLABORATE., the Network is excited to offer a variety of workshops which showcase high impact solutions, innovative practices and dynamic responses in operational management, executive leadership, capacity building, development, advocacy, lay leadership, workforce initiatives, and programmatic best practices.
- Jewish Federations of North America’s Center for Advancing Holocaust Survivor Care,
- The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, and
- The National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty, sponsored by the Jewish Funders Network and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
REGISTRATION FEES
- NJHSA Member Agency Professional/Lay Leader – $775.00
(includes Sunday lunch and evening Networking Event, breakfast on Monday and Tuesday and refreshment break) - Discounted Registration (operating budgets up to $2 million) NJHSA Member Agency Professionals – $525.00
(includes Sunday lunch and evening Networking Event, breakfast on Monday and Tuesday and refreshment break) - Non-Member Agency Professional/Lay Leader – $875.00
(includes Sunday lunch and evening Networking Event, as well as breakfast on Monday and Tuesday and refreshment break) - One-Day Rate – $300.00
(includes meals offered that day) - Guest/Spouse – $300.00
(includes Sunday lunch & evening reception, Monday breakfast, Tuesday breakfast)
– Claims Conference Breakfast
Tuesday morning – no charge
**Open to all Claims Conference grantees and all others working with Holocaust survivors.**
– Open Meeting of Jewish Funders Network’s National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty
Tuesday 12:30-5pm – no charge (12:30pm lunch, 1:00 – 5:00 pm programming)
– JFNA Aging & Trauma: 2020 Training Workshop
Tuesday 12-5:30pm at the Fairmont Dallas and Wednesday 9-3pm at the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center of Dallas)
– $90/one day or $175/both days
Tuesday includes a kosher lunch and Wednesday includes a kosher breakfast and lunch.
We will provide a one-way bus from the Fairmont to the JCC on Wednesday morning.
JFNA subgrantees and other colleagues in aging services are invited to explore the latest research and practice implications for serving Holocaust survivors and other older adults with a history of trauma. This Training Workshop is mandatory for Critical Supports subgrantees, Delta and Echo cohort subgrantees, and optional for all other cohorts, NJHSA members, non-members, and other aging service providers.
We are pleased to offer Group Discounts to NJHSA member agencies sending four (4) or more staff to the Conference. We will deduct $75 for each full registration over the 3rd registered attendee (from the member agency). Following attendance at the conference, a rebate check will be prepared and sent to the agency. Please direct questions to Karen Rosen.
* Additional registration options available. Please click on the registration block below for details.
Note: All hotel meals are under strict kosher supervision.
*Payment Must Be Made in US Funds*
Credit cards and checks will be accepted as payment.
Checks should be made out to NJHSA and sent to:
NJHSA | 50 Eisenhower Drive | Suite 100 | Paramus, NJ 07652
Cancellations and/or requests for refund must be sent in writing to:
Karen Rosen (NJHSA |50 Eisenhower Drive | Suite 100 | Paramus, NJ 07652) and postmarked by April 3rd.
A $100 charge will be applied to cancellations. No partial refunds will be made. No refunds will be issued after April 3rd.

Brave, Bold Steps in Addressing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Sunday Opening Plenary Lunch | May 3rd
Diversity and equity experts, Cecilia and Malissa Stanton Adams of the Stanton Adams Diversity Institute will present the case for Brave, Bold Action.
Drawing from their unique experiences working within corporate and non-profit settings, they will share best practice research and stimulate thoughtful conversation on the roles we each play within our communities and organizations. Attendees will leave with practical approaches to increase diversity within the context of a faith based human service agency.
Conference goers will leave with the:
- Understanding of the importance of historical context in building trust with communities of color,
- Ability to recognize how unconscious bias interrupts our ability to connect and;
- Knowledge of how to leverage key insights from today’s best practice research.

Fighting Poverty and Enhancing Dignity in the 21st Century
Monday Plenary Breakfast | May 4th
Join Network colleagues for “Fighting Poverty and Enhancing Dignity in the 21st Century,” an update on the three agencies who are eagerly attacking the challenges of developing a successful road map for their high impact and sustainable solutions to Jewish poverty.
The Intensive Incubation Program of the NJHSA Jewish Poverty Challenge, an initiative of the Network’s Center for Innovation & Research, is completing year one with three deserving agencies who are eagerly attacking the challenges of developing a successful road map for their high impact and sustainable solutions to Jewish poverty.
Professor H. Luke Shaefer, the inaugural director of Poverty Solutions at University of Michigan, will begin by sharing his research on poverty and social welfare policy in the United States, which has been published in top peer-reviewed academic journals in the fields of public policy, social work, public health, health services research, and history.
After he fields questions we’ll dive into a facilitated conversation led by StartCo President Andre Fowlkes with representatives from the three winning NJHSA agencies/communities: JFS Columbus; JFS Detroit, JVS Human Services, Detroit, Yad Ezra; JFCS Philadelphia.

A Call to Action: Strategies for Jewish Human Service Agencies to Support and Strengthen Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Tuesday Closing Plenary | May 5th
The global refugee crisis is at an all time high. Public sentiment for refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers is polarized. And 2020-21 will, one way or another, present dramatic new opportunities for faith based agencies, like the members of our Network, to think globally while acting locally on this issue.
Presenters will offer concrete strategies for our membership, as faith-based human service agencies, to
- collaborate,
- mobilize and
- become engaged as leaders in their communities providing critical education, advocacy and service delivery.
Using the City of Dallas as an example, Rabbi Nancy Kasten (pictured above), community educator, volunteer, activist and Co-Chair, Faith Forward Dallas will frame our conversation by sharing the ways in which the faith community of Dallas has come together to increase their impact as refugee advocates and as service providers.
Rabbi Kasten will then facilitate a conversation to highlight the NJHSA response with Mark Hetfield, Elise Herzig, and Cathy Barker.



Awards
2020 NJHSA Conference Award Winners
The Network was delighted to receive many award submissions this year. There is no doubt that member agencies from across the globe are busy strengthening and serving their communities through innovative and sustainable initiatives and programming, managed by extraordinary professionals and lay leaders.
As the leading voice for Jewish human service organizations and the go-to resource for best practices, research, innovation and partnerships; the Network designed this year’s awards around these core values, in addition to recognizing extraordinary member agency professionals and lay leaders.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Award winners will be featured prominently on the NJHSA website and on the Conference mobile app. Additionally, winners will be recognized on Sunday, May 3rd at the Opening Plenary Lunch where they will be invited to accept their award. Each award winning program will also be presented via webinar following the Conference.
*New This Year*
Pillar award winners will be invited to present a webinar in 2020 to showcase their award winning initiatives. Webinar dates and times will be announced in the near future.
AWARD WINNERS – PILLARS OF EXCELLENCE
Advocacy
- Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Boston – Advocacy- Making an Impact Beyond Direct Service
Best Practice
- Jewish Family and Child Service of Greater Toronto – The Transformative Journey of Building a Reimagined Supplementary Financial Assistance: Optimizing a Mutual Framework for Program, Service, and Evaluative Excellence
Collaboration
- Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia – Unscripted, Radically Honest Conversations About Addiction
Innovation
- Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Mercer County – Mobile Food Pantry
- Jewish Vocational Service of Boston – English for Advancement Program: A New Way of Delivering ESOL
Many thanks to the 2020 Conference Awards Committee:
Linda Burger, Chair, JFS Houston, TX
Julie Chapnick, NJHSA Board of Directors
Lauren Schwartz, Collat JFS, Birmingham, AL
Roselle Ungar, JFS New Orleans
Michele Wellikoff, JFCS Northern NJ
Conference Sponsors
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Partner with NJHSA and be a Sponsor at the Conference. Learn more about the
various levels of sponsorship and opportunities to connect with the Network.
Conference Committee
The Network would like to extend much gratitude to the 2020 Conference Committee who have committed to dedicating a great deal of time and energy to making this Conference a success.

Judy Halper, Co-chair
Roselle Ungar, Co-chair
Cathy Barker
Sandra Braham
Lauren Brand
Linda Burger
John Colborn
Tara Feiner
Anna Feldman
Susan Friedman
Don Goldman
Paul Groch
Leah Guskin
Robert Hyfler
Sara Leeper
Jeffrey Lev
Gil Levy
Marla Meyers
Lori Moss
Perry Ohren
Howard Olshansky
Cindy Orbach
Rashki Osina
June Ridgway
Avi Rose
David Rosenberg
Judy Sacks
Lauren Schwartz
Limor Schwartz
Laurie Silver
Diane Squadron
Michele Wellikoff