Advocacy in Action: Creating Change Beyond Our Walls

At JFS, our work doesn't stop when services are delivered. While we are proud to provide food, counseling, aging services, resettlement support, and so much more, we also know that lasting change requires advocacy. It means speaking up, sharing stories, educating decision-makers, and ensuring that the voices of our community are heard where policies are made. 
Recently, members of our team traveled to meet with elected officials and advocate for issues that directly impact the people we serve every day.

Melissa (JFS Chief Development and Communications Director) met with legislators to advocate for the Jewish American Security Act, a comprehensive federal effort to strengthen the safety and resilience of Jewish institutions and communities nationwide. The agenda centers on several key priorities: expanding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion annually to better protect synagogues, schools, and community organizations; strengthening protections for Jewish students by requiring federally funded schools and universities to designate Title VI coordinators and enforce clear anti-discrimination and antisemitism response procedures; increasing accountability for online platforms through transparency reporting on how hate speech and antisemitic content are identified and addressed; enhancing coordination between the FBI, DHS, and local law enforcement to improve threat assessment and response; and investing in community-based security infrastructure, including trained security personnel, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness planning.

These discussions were grounded in deeply troubling firsthand accounts of security breaches and rising antisemitism impacting Jewish agencies and institutions. The message from these conversations was urgent and clear: sustained, coordinated investment in security and prevention is essential to protect communities today and prevent violence and hate crimes in the future. 
Sarah (JFS Chief Program Officer) and Chrissy (JFS Director of Nourish and Community Services) advocated on behalf of the Food Is Medicine Coalition, championing legislation that recognizes the powerful connection between nutrition and health. Their primary focus was supporting the Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act, a bipartisan effort that would expand access to medically tailored meals for Medicare beneficiaries living with nutrition-sensitive health conditions. 
This innovative approach provides customized meals designed to support individuals managing chronic illnesses, helping them stay healthier, avoid costly hospitalizations, and improve their quality of life. Simply put, this pilot program has the potential to save both lives and healthcare dollars.

As a proud member of the Food Is Medicine Coalition, JFS is already delivering medically tailored meals in our community and witnessing firsthand the positive impact proper nutrition can have on health outcomes. Continued federal investment in these proven interventions will help more people access the food they need not only to eat, but to heal. 
Mira (JFS Director of Community Engagement)  traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies' annual Advocacy Fly-In, joining 40 professional and lay leaders representing 23 agencies across 17 states. During two days of advocacy and education, participants met with members of Congress and their staff to discuss critical issues affecting vulnerable individuals and families, including SNAP, Medicaid, and Medicare.

Through policy briefings, coalition meetings, and nearly 100 conversations on Capitol Hill, advocates worked to elevate the voices and needs of the millions of people served by Jewish human service organizations across the country. For JFS, these conversations are especially important as many of the older adults, families, newcomers, and individuals we serve rely on nutrition assistance and healthcare programs to maintain their health, independence, and stability. 
The Fly-In also provided an opportunity to collaborate with fellow advocates from across the nation, demonstrating the collective power of Jewish human service organizations working together to protect essential safety-net programs and ensure communities continue to receive the support they need to thrive. 
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Advocacy is not reserved for politicians or policy experts. It belongs to all of us. Every phone call, email, conversation, and shared story has the power to influence change. 

The question is: What will you do to advocate for what you care about today? 
In the coming months, you'll see opportunities through this newsletter to lend your voice to issues that matter to our community. We invite you to stay informed, take action, and join us in creating a stronger, safer, healthier future for all. 
Together, we can turn compassion into action and action into impact.