Our Mission

JCUA and its members are powerful allies and advocates for positive social change in Chicago. We combat poverty, racism and antisemitism in partnership with our city’s diverse communities.

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Our Impact

Impact 1

1,800

Since JCUA launched its revamped Membership program in Spring of 2014, we have grown to over 1,800 members.

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Impact 2

$5.2 million

JCUA has invested $5.2 million in the creation and preservation of over 4,000 units of affordable housing.

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Impact 3

500

JCUA’s Teen Social Justice Program has taught over 500 teenagers how to put their Jewish values into action as powerful social justice advocates.

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Upcoming Events

Agenda
Agenda
December 2018 – January 2019 Dec 2018 – Jan 2019
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Dec
30
Sun
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South Side House Party
Tickets
Dec 30 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Join JCUA’s South Side members as we launch our South Side Base Building initiative! Get to know fellow South Side Jews, learn more about JCUA and our work, warm your soul with some delicious soup, and be a part of looking toward 2019 and how JCUA and the Jewish community broadly can build power for change on the south side.

Time/Date: Sunday December 30th from 4-6pm
Location: At a JCUA member’s house in Hyde Park– address will be sent to you upon RSVP.

This event is family friendly so feel free to bring kids!

Email avra@jcua.org for questions.

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Jan
9
Wed
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JCore Membership Meeting @ SketchPad
Tickets
Jan 9 @ 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm

The meeting will be from 6:15 until 8:00 PM at SketchPad (4700 N. Ravenswood). There will be an orientation for first time attendees at 6:00 PM. And there will be snacks!

We will be reviewing JCUA’s Leadership Development tools, going over a JCUA Civic Engagement plan for the municipal elections, and, as always, sharing campaign/committee updates and doing some relationship building.

Please note that JCORE meetings are for JCUA members. Sign up for membership at jcua.org/membership

RSVP here: https://goo.gl/forms/C79weLmVfR9noBmH3

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Jan
14
Mon
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Immigration Committee Meeting @ Beth Emet Synagogue
Tickets
Jan 14 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Join us on Monday, January 14th at 6:30 pm at Beth Emet (1224 Dempster Street, Evanston) for our ~monthly Immigration Committee meeting. RSVP here: https://goo.gl/forms/NULpxyjkdhLzFluF3

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Jan
21
Mon
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Chicago Justice Series: MLK Day Dinner & Discussion @ Silverstein Base Hillel
Tickets
Jan 21 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Join Avodah, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Mishkan Chicago, Repair the World and Silverstein Base Hillel for our third annual Chicago Justice Series. This year we will focus on themes of safety and security through a Jewish lens: examining our relationships as Jews to law enforcement historically and today, exploring local work on police accountability, and thinking about how various identities we hold may impact how we think about our own safety.

The series will begin with a public kickoff event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the evening and will continue with cohort-based learning monthly until the end of May. Looking forward to seeing you for a meaningful discussion over a delicious (and free!) dinner. Please RSVP.

If you are interested in being a part of the cohort for the entire series, please email Hannah Arwe at hannaharwe@jcua.org.

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December 2018 – January 2019 Dec 2018 – Jan 2019
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Latest Blog

  • December 14, 2018 05/29/15 December Update

      Spread Light with Your Year-End Gift to JCUA Over 100 JCUA friends joined us for our Chai-Lights Hanukkah Party (click for photos!). We are inspired by your energy and passion for pursuing justice, and are grateful that so many of you choose to live your Jewish values with us. This year, …

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  • December 5, 2018 05/29/15 Congregational Energy for Impact

    I began working with JCUA’s police accountability organizing efforts two years ago in order to express my Jewish values – the primary importance of good deeds, taking a stand against acts of injustice, caring for the stranger in our midst – and felt fortunate to …

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  • December 5, 2018 05/29/15 Build Community with JCUA

    2018 has been a challenging year. Racism, bigotry, antisemitism – these scourges feel more prevalent, public and dangerous than ever before, but these are not new threats. Our community partners and our own Jewish community have been fighting systemic oppression for generations. That is why JCUA was founded; …

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  • November 20, 2018 05/29/15 My Jewish Social Justice Manifesto

    My Judaism grounds me in tradition, teaches me about myself, and motivates me to mobilize for social justice. Even during periods when I felt disconnected from organized Jewish life, finding Jewish community in organizers, advocates, and students made me feel at home. Jewish tradition and community …

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JCUA – Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

WHAT WE DO

Membership

Organizing Campaigns

Community Investment

Or Tzedek

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR LEADERSHIP CIRCLE AND LEGACY DONORS.

For over 40 years, Gerry and I have proudly supported the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs. Through my work at JCUA, I have a voice on the issues that are important to me. And I continue to build upon what has become a family tradition, passing on our values to the next generation.

Steve Keen, JCUA Board of Directors

Legacy Giving  Leadership Circle

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR LEADERSHIP CIRCLE AND LEGACY DONORS.