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Humanizing the work of JFCS

BY DEBORAH MOON incorporating storytelling. the Jewish community and
The new communications “JFCS is so fortunate to have helps anyone in need,” she says.
manager for Jewish Family & Jenn on our team,” says JFCS Jenn has a deep foundation in
Child Service is a storyteller. Deputy Director Susan Green- journalism and Jewish commu-
“Storytelling humanizes berg. “She brings her many nal work. She earned a master’s
something intangible,” says talents to JFCS including grant degree in journalism from the
Jenn Director Knudsen, who writing (and) writing articles University of California-Berke-
joined JFCS in March of this internally and externally about ley in May 1999. She has been
year. She uses storytelling in what’s happening at JFCS. Ba- a freelance and enterprise jour-
virtually every communication sically, she gets the word out. nalist since 2000, including
she writes, because “Our sup- Jenn is a wonderful connector co-founding the 2B Writing
porters want to know the hu- and brings so much to our or- Company in 2016, where she
man story behind what we do.” ganization.” provided content, reporting,
As communication’s manager, When Jenn was young, her writing, editing, media relations
Jenn provides original content, mom told her she would be a and publicity expertise for indi-
editing, articles and written cor- therapist. viduals, nonprofits and for-profit
respondence to the public and “Instead I get to work with companies through 2020. Jenn Director Knudsen.
to donors about the nonprofit therapists,” says Jenn. “I really From 2009 to 2014, she Photo by Ken Klein.
agency’s four program areas: admire what they do. I like the served as associate develop- She is a monthly contributor
Holocaust survivor services, care they give and feel toward ment director of the Harold and proofreader of articles for
counseling, emergency assis- their clients. I like working Schnitzer Family Program in the congregation’s newsletter
tance and disability support among and for them.” Judaic Studies at Portland State “The Chronicle.”
services. A fifth area of focus is Jenn works with every staff University. A member of Con- “The Jewish community is
volunteers, who support the four member of the nonprofit and gregation Neveh Shalom, she where I feel most comfortable
programs. She also researches says it has been a great team to has served on the board and and most at home,” says Jenn.
and writes grant proposals to work with on grant proposals. executive committee as well For more information about
support the programs – again “I love how JFCS represents as numerous other committees. JFCS, visit jfcs-portland.org.

Ahavath Achim hires administrator Cory Willson to lead Foundation School

Melissa Abu (Bloom) joined Congregation Ahavath Achim as the Congregation Neveh Shalom has named Cory Willson as Foun-
part-time synagogue administrator on July 19, 2021. Over the past dation School Director. Cory has been in a leadership position
seven years, Melissa has helped the con- at Foundation School since 2018, most
gregation in numerous ways, from event recently as assistant director of the pre-
planning to communications to applying school. She has decades of experience
for a homeland security grant. working with children and families as
Melissa grew up in Portland and worked both an educator and a family counselor,
at various Jewish agencies and syna- with specialization in human resiliency.
gogues here before attending American “I’m really excited to be the new director
Jewish University, formerly University of of Foundation School,” says Cory. “Foun-
Judaism, to receive her MBA in nonprof- dation School is more than a preschool,
it management and a master’s in Jewish it’s a thriving community, and it’s one that
communal studies. She has served as the I am grateful and honored to lead.”
executive director of Congregation Shaa- Neveh Shalom’s Foundation School is
rie Torah; marketing and development director of Jewish Family & based on the ideals and traditions of the
Child Service in Portland; and executive director of Temple B’nai Jewish faith and is dedicated to providing exceptional early child-
Torah in Bellevue, Wash., Congregation Beth Ami in Santa Rosa, hood education. While the curriculum is centered on the founda-
Calif., and Westwood Kehilla in California. Until it was forced tions of Jewish learning, the program is open to all. For over 60
to close by COVID-19, Melissa owned and operated Yo Zone in years, Foundation School has embraced our youngest learners –
Tanasbourne for three years. sparking imaginations, instilling a sense of wonder, and providing
Congregation Ahavath Achim, meaning “brotherly love,” was the building blocks for the next generation of creative and confi-
founded in 1916 by Jews from Turkey and the Isle of Rhodes. To- dent problem-solvers. The preschool values play as every child’s
day, Ahavath Achim has a broad membership with Jews of Span- natural way of learning and views each child as a competent and
ish and Portuguese descent, as well as Jews with roots in Greece, unique learner.
Turkey, Israel, Yemen, Persia, Morocco and many countries of Cory earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from
Ashkenazi heritage. Western Oregon University. She has taught in middle school, first
After being forced to relocate by urban renewal, the Sephardic grade and preschool since 1998. She also has her master’s in
congregation dedicated its Byzantine-inspired synagogue on Bar- counseling with a specialty in family/child work from San Fran-
bur Boulevard in 1965. In 2017, the congregation moved Shabbat cisco State University. After graduating from SF State, she studied
services and many activities to Hillsdale (6686 SW Capitol Hwy.), with a national leader in the field of resiliency for three years so
expanding the space to include a sanctuary and social area. that she could bring healing and real change to those she serves.
Melissa is excited to be working with Rabbi Sholom Skolnik and Neveh Shalom’s announcement notes: “Cory brings a passion for
the board of directors to assist in bringing Ahavath Achim into the children, families and teachers as well as a focus on empowerment
next chapter. Reach Melissa at melissa@ahavathachim.com. and well-being to all the work she does here at Foundation School.”
6 Jewish Review Aug. 4, 2021