EngagingAmerica
Developed by American Jewish Committee's Belfer Center for American Pluralism and Department of Interreligious Affairs, AJC's EngagingAmerica initiative empowers AJC members and staff to be more effective as “domestic diplomats” in an ongoing nationwide project of interethnic and interreligious (intergroup) engagement by providing training and resources.

In a world where diversity often devolves into conflict EngagingAmerica is a hopeful contribution, a tool for building relationships among America's diverse groups, to help each of us realize the imperative of Leviticus 19:18, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' and the Jewish teaching of tikkun olam, repairing our broken world.

The Program

Through training sessions that build skills in intergroup leadership and advocacy, the EngagingAmerica program – conducted in AJC chapters across the country – moves the intergroup conversation beyond dialogue to social and political action on behalf of Jews and our neighbors. Leaders are encouraged to represent Jewish and American concerns from the perspective of Jewish values and history.

EngagingAmerica advances several objectives linked to our founding mission:
  1. Prepare Jewish leaders for intergroup work by providing training in advocacy, coalition-building
  2. Articulation of Jewish values that inform our work.
  3. Insure that our leaders gain the requisite knowledge about the key issues of other groups, core tenets of other faiths, and relevant AJC policy positions.
  4. Increase public support among ethnic and religious groups for the Jewish community's issues
  5. In alliance with partners, advocate for the issues we share
  6. Develop local and national programs that build interethnic and interreligious understanding and respect.
We continue to reach out to other ethnic and religious groups as part of our ongoing work in Engaging with America, and building a better nation.
 
Take AJC's Energy Pledge, www.ajc.org/energypledge www.z-word.com