Danielle V. Minson — Raising the Bar
From the Desk of the CEO: Meeting the Needs of Older Adults
Taking Stock of Cincinnati 2020. In 2010, our community study reminded us that reaching our community’s potential requires critical mass and sustainability. “More Jews, More Engaged” became the DNA of our Cincinnati 2020 vision. We built priorities around making Jewish life thrive in Cincinnati.
At our Annual Meeting, we shortened the presentations and used that time to take stock of Cincinnati 2020. We asked all the participants, “What Cincinnati 2020 initiatives have benefited you or your family?” and “What do you see as our community’s biggest challenges as we look forward to 2030?”
The dialogues that broke out showed what makes our community different—the way we speak to, listen to, and challenge each other and how we collaborate for the greater good.
Annual Meeting participants told us how important it is to provide quality options for our older adults, to be inclusive of interfaith families and those with physical and other differences, and to strengthen our organizations and congregations. Everything we heard will inform how we begin to plan for the next decade.
New Federation President Gary Greenberg spoke so eloquently about these priorities and about his experience growing up and raising a family in Jewish Cincinnati at the Annual Meeting. Congratulations, Gary. And thank you, Tedd Friedman, for your vision and leadership.
Crucial Conversations. The decision to sell Cedar Village’s Mason campus so that the proceeds can be better invested in serving our older adults was very difficult for the Cedar Village Board. After that decision was announced, we heard many questions and concerns. However, since then we have had many face-to-face meetings. And when we sat down and discussed the specifics, community members were relieved to learn that:
- the retirement communities built by Cedar Village’s new operator are high-quality and have great reputations;
- the new owner is a nonprofit that is willing to go to great lengths to maintain Jewish life, observance, and tradition at Cedar Village;
- all the proceeds of the sale will be invested in caring for our older adults;
- this will enable the community to provide more and better services; and
- some of the new services will start to become available just months after the sale.
In fact, the Aging 2.0 task force, a collaboration of the agencies that serve older adults in our community, is already investigating new ways to provide Jewish cultural, religious, and social connections for our older adults. To learn more about Aging 2.0’s goals and priorities, click here.
If you have suggestions about where to hold future discussions about older adult needs, please let me know.
Together We Can Do Almost Anything. Your gift to the Annual Campaign fuels crucial work—to enhance belonging, take on big problems, and address critical community priorities. Our campaign closes May 31. And while we are close to reaching our $5.6 million goal, we are not there yet. For every new gift or increase before the end of May, the community gets matched, thanks to The Jewish Foundation.
Your generosity makes A Day with Jewish Federation possible. Check out this video, which illustrates just a few of the ways the Jewish Federation enriches our community.
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