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What We Do
At JTConnect, we empower Jewish teens in the Greater Hartford area to deepen their Jewish identity, build meaningful community, and lead with purpose. We do this through four distinct but interconnected program areas:
Jewish Learning and Leadership
We offer year-long elective classes across multiple synagogues, where 8th-through 12th-grade teens engage in lively, interactive study of Judaism—its history, values, rituals, and meaning—with peers and experienced educators. These classes meet weekly and offer a rich blend of dinner, social time, and learning.
At JTConnect, teens don’t just talk about making a difference — they do it. Through one-day projects and multi-day service experiences like “Summer of Service,” participants take action on issues like food insecurity and homelessness, work side by side with local nonprofits, and reflect on the impact of their efforts — all while having a great time together.
Social Action Projects
TLPI: Teen Leadership & Philanthropy Initiative
Teens learn how to give back strategically: meeting monthly, creating mission statements, researching nonprofits, planning fundraising, and making grant-making decisions. This offers a higher level of leadership development and gives students hands-on experience in giving, not just volunteering.
Teen Philanthropy
Beyond classes and service, JTConnect hosts fun, social programming to build bonds among Jewish teens across the community and foster a sense of belonging.
Social & Community-Building Events
Through these four pillars, JTConnect helps teens connect with Judaism and with each other; act on Jewish values in the world; build leadership and philanthropic skills; and feel part of a pluralistic, inclusive Jewish teen community.
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