Not too long ago, Youngstown had 5,000 Jewish people. Now we’re down to about 1,400. Many in our community frame this population loss as an issue only for the Jewish community. But truly it’s part of the bigger issue that Youngstown, as a whole, has had a population decline of 60 percent since 1959. We haven’t just lost Jews; we’ve lost everyone. But the past is the past. It is time to focus on the present and ensure a strong future. 

I’ve been honored to spend many moments in the last seven years getting to know many of you and hearing your stories. Wistful remembrances of attending weekly patio dances at the JCC, Hebrew School classes overflowing with children are commonplace. Sadly, just as commonplace as the comparison of those times to now. 

Many of your children and grandchildren don’t live in this area any more. That means we’re asking you to invest in a community that doesn’t, and will not, include their family. We’re asking you to give your time, talent, and treasure as a “thank you” or “pay back” for all this area has given you and your family when they were here. 

Until my last day on this Earth I will go hoarse trying to change the conversation to one about making a wise investment in an evolving community that will survive while staying true to its Jewish core regardless of the number of people at the table.

We are a functional Federation, overseeing all of our agencies (JCC, JFCS, Heritage Manor, Levy Gardens, Akiva, and the JCRC). In just the past few years we’ve done some innovative and creative things to better serve the Jewish community while widening our focus to incorporate the non-Jewish community as well. While these changes were guided by Jewish values such as tikkun olam, they were also strategic moves to stay solvent in an ever challenging environment, and frankly were necessary for our survival. We are doing what the Torah instructs and building ambassadors in a world increasingly riddled with anti-semitism. I’ll be blunt… the choice is share our agencies and services or not have them at all.

Those who know me know I’m a glass half full kinda gal…sometimes exhaustively so. I have made it my goal to usher in an era of positivity but I need all of your help.  

The next few decades will be nothing short of transformational. It will be a time for our community to grapple with a multitude of emotions, opinions, and choices that not everyone will be happy about. The Federation is taking on more and more responsibility for the community as a whole. We’ve just begun some of the tough conversations such as sharing services and weighing mission with money. Maintaining a positive focus will be necessary to step carefully into the future while honoring our past.   

I intend to stay in this community for the rest of my life and to work as a Federation leader until my retirement. The challenges I’ve laid out are not Youngstown’s alone. I look forward to continuing to create deep ties and working together toward our common goals. I am confident in the Federation in Youngstown, its community, its staff, its lay leaders, its services…and most importantly, its future.  

L’Chaim…  with a glass half full!

Lisa

Lisa Long, Federation CEO

Read past LISA'S LONG VIEW columns HERE.