Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)
Leadership by Jewish Community Called a Major Force Behind Preschool Promise Win
While the recent national elections have been called some of the most divisive in recent memory, there was one election result on which our Jewish and broader Cincinnati communities had broad agreement—supporting Issue 44, a levy to support Cincinnati Public Schools and expand preschool in Cincinnati. Its passage by a wide 62 percent to 38 percent vote margin was historic. While many factors contributed to its passage, including broad interfaith support, the Jewish community played a particularly important role in this success.
Greg Landsman, who spearheaded the Preschool Promise campaign over the last several years, is a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Program in Jewish Leadership and a member of the boards of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC). Landsman shared recently that a key factor in passing the Preschool Promise was our Jewish community’s wall-to-wall support for the initiative, including our JCRC’s endorsement and the endorsements of most Jewish congregations and many Jewish agencies. “It was unprecedented and provided powerful support,” said Greg.
Our community’s rabbis were among the greatest advocates and remained extremely committed to the effort. Rabbi Kamrass served on the Preschool Promise advisory committee, Rabbi Wise galvanized support throughout the Jewish community, and Rabbi Terlinchamp was supportive from the beginning and instrumental in leading the interfaith effort of the Amos Project. Both Jewish Family Service and our JCRC, led by President Michelle Kohn, coordinated advocacy and education.
In addition, Jewish Cincinnati’s leaders were largely responsible for winning the support of Cincinnati’s business and civic leadership. Steve Shifman, CEO of Michelman, Federation a member of the influential Greater Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, and past president of the Mayerson JCC; and Michael Fisher, Children’s Hospital CEO and past trustee of The Jewish Foundation, among others, were instrumental in their capacity to leverage and mobilize Cincinnati’s diverse community to come together to pass this historic levy.
The Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati played a unique role by leading a special trip to Israel in partnership with the United Way. Twenty Cincinnati senior civic and education leaders learned how universal preschool and other effective early education programs in Israel have changed the lives of children living with poverty and trauma. Many of the trip leaders, including Mary Ronan of Cincinnati Public Schools, Rob Reifsnyder of the United Way, and Stephanie Byrd of Success by 6, were on the trip together. This experience helped further the relationships between these Cincinnati leaders who were able to work together to combine the planned Cincinnati Public School levy with the ground-breaking preschool expansion.
There is no value more central to the Jewish experience than education, which has unlocked Jewish survival and success for centuries. But far too many in the urban core have not had a strong educational foundation. With the passage of Issue 44 in November, all children living in the city will have access to quality preschool as well as additional educational opportunities provided by the Cincinnati Public School District, enabling the city to invest in the development and potential of its children and setting the stage for a brighter future. The CPS school district, which levied $48 million per year for the next five years, will see an increase in preschool expansion and quality improvement as well as investments in strong neighborhood schools, technology, and services such as college preparedness and workforce readiness.
As many Cincinnatians celebrate the success of Issue 44, there is still much work to be done. Collaboration continues as city leaders work with communities across the city to ensure the complex realities required to turn this dream into a reality.
To monitor the Preschool Promise’s efforts and get any inquirers answered, go to askpreschoolpromise.org.
