JCRC Shares Vision for Outreach, Advocacy, and Engagement

Alan Scher Zagier, JCRC Council Director

As the new community relations director for our Federation since July, I’m often asked, “What exactly does the Jewish Community Relations Council do?” and “Will that approach change going forward?”

With the return to town of our many seasonal residents, I want to take an opportunity to share a bit more about JCRC’s mission and vision.

In short, JCRC serves as the public affairs arm of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, with a mission to promote and enhance the relationships between our Jewish community and the general community of greater Naples.

Council membership consists of volunteer representatives from Jewish organizations that serve our community, as well as at-large members. The broad range of members — and their diverse values and opinions, which range across the political and ideological spectrum — enables the JCRC to serve as the organized voice of the Jewish community on social and political issues of communitywide interest.

In that capacity, the JCRC engages three key constituencies — elected officials, K-16 educational leaders, and interfaith and intercultural communities — on three critical topics: combating antisemitism, Israel advocacy, and other issues vital to sustaining our Jewish community.

This framework (see above) ensures that our Jewish community builds meaningful relationships across all sectors while addressing the most pressing concerns facing Jewish families in the Greater Naples area.

Each intersection in the trellis represents a unique opportunity for engagement, with the JCRC working systematically across all nine intersection points, ensuring comprehensive coverage of our key constituencies on our most important topics.

This framework ensures no relationship or issue falls through the cracks, while providing clear structure for strategic planning and resource allocation. Think of it like this: the JCRC is the bridge that connects our Jewish institutions with the broader Naples community.

So, what does this look like on the ground? Lots of meetings, conversations, and dialogue, laying the foundation for meaningful relationships and partnerships, not just transactional exchanges.

Expect to see more elected officials— both Jewish and non-Jewish—at Federation events and activities, and more Federation and JCRC members engaged in the public sphere, from the county courthouse to the State Capitol in Tallahassee, which we will visit on Jan. 26-27 as part of a statewide Israel Day and Jewish Community Day, with opportunities to meet with lawmakers on their home turf to discuss community priorities.

JCRC programming will continue apace, including our annual Day of Learning (scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, with a focus on environmental education and awareness in both Israel and in our backyard) and our yearly Power of Community Celebration on Sunday, Mach 29, 2026.

Additional opportunities are anticipated, with our behind-the-scenes efforts hopefully paving the way for new community collaborations,

Want to learn more? If you haven’t yet done so, sign up for our email list at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/iD8aPR9 for periodic updates on programs, outreach, and opportunities for direct advocacy with elected leaders.

Want to get involved? Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns. I can be reached at 239-799-1842 or azagier@jewishnaples.org.