Jewish Stakeholders Take Part in Something Bigger Than Themselves
WHAT: BBYO International Convention (IC) 2015 will be a meeting place and classroom for thousands of the Jewish community’s top teen leaders, educators, professionals and philanthropists from across the world in Atlanta. They’ll hear from and meet inspiring speakers, practice peer leadership and experiential democracy, immerse in and serve the local Atlanta host community, celebrate Shabbat with teen-led services, learn together with hundreds of guest educators, have access to exclusive music performances and do their part to further a strong Jewish future.
Alephs and B’nai B’rith Girls, members of BBYO’s high school leadership fraternity and sorority programs, will lead business meetings to chart the future of a more than 90 year old organization, setting the international movement’s priorities for the upcoming year. IC 2015 is also a convening moment for the Coalition of Jewish Teens (CJT). Teen leadership from the five major youth movements (BBYO, NCSY, NFTY, USY and Young Judaea) will meet for twenty-four hours to strategically plan ways Jewish teens across the world can work together to build a stronger, united Jewish community.
IC 2015 will additionally be a venue for the Summit on Jewish Teens, hosted by The Jim Joseph Foundation, The Marcus Foundation, The Schusterman Family Foundation and The Paul E. Singer Foundation. It is the premier opportunity for the Jewish community’s most influential thought leaders and philanthropists to converse with each other and with teens themselves about how to engage the elusive teen audience in Jewish life.
An overview of the IC 2015 schedule, including featured speakers and guests, is at the end of this media alert. Please Note: Schedule and speakers are subject to change. Contact Elyse Goldberg, [email protected], for confirmation and to attend any portion of IC.
WHO: Over 3,000 Jewish stakeholders including:
- More than 2,200 teens (24% increase from IC 2014)
- 300 Professional Staff
- 300 Program Educators
- 250 Local Volunteers
- Approx. 250 Philanthropists, Business and Thought Leaders, Friends and Alumni
- More than 100 featured speakers, guests and popular music performers (bbyo.org/azabbgic/speakers)
- More than 130 partners and sponsors (bbyo.org/azabbgic/partnersandsponsors)
WHEN: February 12 -16, 2015; Pre-IC summits begin February 11
WHERE: Multiple locations in Atlanta, Georgia
Media who would like more information or to attend any portion of IC should contact Elyse Goldberg, Marketing and Communications Manager, at [email protected] or 202.857.6610.
BBYO IC 2015 Overview
Live-streaming available throughout IC
Highlighted moments: BBYO Celebrates: Opening Ceremonies, BBYO Leads Plenary, BBYO Honors Awards Night
Wed., February 11 through Thurs., February 12: Pre-IC Summits
• AZA and BBG Executives Meetings (Execs) – BBYO regional teen presidents will meet for 24 hours to discuss and vote on the BBYO Movement’s priorities for the next year. Jonathan Greenblatt, Former Special Assistant to the President and National Director Designate, Anti-Defamation League, will hold a briefing during this meeting.
• FEATURED AT IC 2015: Coalition of Jewish Teens (CJT) – Teen leadership from the five major youth movements (BBYO, NCSY, NFTY, USY and Young Judaea) will meet for 24 hours to strategically plan ways Jewish teens across the world can work together to build a stronger, united Jewish community.
• Global Partner Summit (GPS) – GPS brings together Jewish teens from around the world to discuss issues facing the Jewish global community. It’s an opportunity for these teens to meet, connect and strategize on how they will lead the effort to secure vibrant Jewish communities for their peers worldwide.
• Jewish Enrichment Institute and Song Leading Workshop (JEI) – Teens interested in leading Jewish enrichment programs and leading through song will focus on growing these skills with an emphasis on meaningful community service.
Thurs., February 12: IC 2015 Begins
• FEATURED AT IC 2015: Summit on Jewish Teens (attended by Jewish communal philanthropists, business and thought leaders) – The 24-hour Summit on Jewish Teens is the premier opportunity for the Jewish community’s most influential thought leaders and philanthropists to converse with each other and with teens themselves about how to engage the elusive teen audience in Jewish life, hosted right at BBYO IC 2015.
Featured participants include David Cygielman, Founder and CEO of Moishe House; Ami Eden, CEO and Editor in Chief of the JTA; Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of Hillel International; Karen Katz, Chief Executive Officer and President of Neiman Marcus Group LTD LLC and its subsidiary The Neiman Marcus Group LLC; David Makovsky, Ziegler distinguished fellow and director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Project on the Middle East Peace Process; Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Former Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth; and Michael Steinhardt, Chair of the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life.
• BBYO Celebrates: IC 2015 Opening Ceremonies – BBYO IC 2015’s official opening with remarks from BBYO teen and adult leadership, and guests Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks; Lynn Schusterman, Founder and Co-Chair of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation; and a message from one of Israel’s leaders. International teens from 20 countries will be recognized. The evening will end with a surprise musical performance. Live-streaming available.
Fri., February 13:
• BBYO Leads Plenary – A morning of guest speakers who will inspire IC participants to lead through service, advocacy and philanthropy. Live-streaming available.
Featured speakers include Barak Raz, former Israel Defense Forces spokesperson; Juliette Hochberg, president of BBYO France; Kat Graham, Jewish actress known for role in The Vampire Diaries; IN-Q, slam poet; Noa Tishby, Israeli actress and co-founder of the digital activism group Act For Israel; Karen James, Canadian Olympian from the Munich Games; Michael Skolnik, political director for Def Jam Records and President of GlobalGrind.com; Trudy Album, Holocaust survivor; and Michael Steinhardt.
• BBYO Leadership Labs – BBYO will offer 20 Leadership Labs, or tracks, for teens to learn about advocacy, globalization, Israel, leadership, marketing and communications, philanthropy, political engagement, relationship building, service, chapter and program development, event management and design and more hosted at organizations across Atlanta.
Organizations include Atlanta Community Food Bank, Coca Cola, CNN, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Marcus Autism Center, MedShare Atlanta and World Affairs Council of Atlanta. More at bbyo.org/azabbgic/partnersandsponsors.
• Shabbat (begins) – BBYO will offer 25 pluralistic teen-led Shabbat services allowing teens to celebrate Shabbat in the way that most resonates with them.
Sat., February 14:
• Shabbat (continued)
• BBYO Limmud – Nearly 200 Limmud learning sessions led by program educators, guest speakers and leaders in the thought and business world. More than 3,000 teens will be together this day as members of NFTY will join in these shared learning moments.
• Havdallah
• BBYO Honors: State of the Order and Awards Gala – An evening address by BBYO’s International Teen Presidents about the state of the BBYO Movement and how they, as Jewish teens, are stronger together. International awards will be presented. Live-streaming available.
Guest speakers include Emmanuelle Chriqui, Canadian film and television actress known for her role on Entourage; Alex Banayan, venture capitalist named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30;” Garrett Weber-Gale, Olympic gold medalist.
Sun., February 15:
• AZA and BBG International Elections – Candidates for the 91st Grand Board of the Aleph Zadik Aleph and the 71st International Board of the B’nai B’rith Girls will present platforms for their vision for the future of BBYO and BBYO's role in strengthening the Jewish future. Their peers will then vote to elect the next BBYO International Board members for the 2015-2016 BBYO programming year.
• AZAA BBGG – AZA Athletics (AZAA) and BBG Games (BBGG) is a Maccabiah-style sports competition featuring several tournaments throughout the day. AZAA BBGG supports the character building, recreational, team building and healthy living values of AZA and BBG.
• Interfaith Service at MLK’s Ebenezer Baptist Church: BBYO and NFTY teens will attend an interfaith service together.
• Film Screening of Playoff followed by Q&A with Director Eran Riklis – Directed by Eran Riklis, one of Israel’s most acclaimed filmmakers, Playoff tells the story of legendary Israeli basketball coach Ralph Klein.
• Atlanta Sightseeing – Teens will tour Atlanta sights including The World of Coca-Cola, an Inside CNN Studio Tour, the College Football Hall of Fame and Fan Experience, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the Georgia Aquarium. Members of NFTY will join BBYO teens at some sights.
• BBYOTechTalk – A select group of teens will take part in the first-ever BBYO international technology boot camp at the Center for Civic Innovation and will be joined by representatives from Google and Code for America, among others. Members of NFTY will join BBYO teens.
• BBYO IC 2015 Concert – IC 2015 participants will celebrate an inspiring weekend of leadership and learning with an exclusive performance by multiple guest music artists.
Please Note: Schedule and speakers are subject to change. Contact Elyse Goldberg, [email protected], for confirmation and to attend any portion of IC.
About BBYO
BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. For 90 years, BBYO‘s leadership programs the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA, high school fraternity) and the B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG, high school sorority) have been providing exceptional leadership programs and identity enrichment experiences, shaping the confidence and character of more than 400,000 alumni who are among the most prominent figures in business, politics, academia, the arts and Jewish communal life. Now, BBYO’s network of Jewish teens, alumni, parents, volunteers and philanthropists serves as the Jewish community’s most valuable platform for delivering to the post Bar/Bat Mitzvah audience fun, meaningful and affordable experiences. With year-round activities in hundreds of local communities and inspiring world-wide travel experiences, BBYO’s broad program menu enables teens to explore areas of leadership, service, civic engagement, Israel education and Jewish values.
Please note that BBYO should not be referred to as the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, but rather as “BBYO.”
For more information on BBYO, please visit www.bbyo.org.