FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 2, 2017
CONTACT:
Samantha Kupferman, West End Strategy Team
[email protected]; Office: 212-498-9300; Cell: 202-215-9260
NEW YORK – On Wednesday, JCC Association of North America convened a conference call for JCC executives and leadership featuring representatives from the Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly publicly promised heightened support to JCCs, many of which have received phoned-in bomb threats since January.
David Posner, director of strategic performance at JCC Association of North America, whose role involves advising local JCCs on security policies and practices, released the following statement in response:
“The Department of Homeland Security is offering concrete help at a time when our JCCs need to hear that the federal government is prioritizing our security. DHS has promised that its protective security advisors, stationed in all 50 states, will be in contact with JCCs within the next week, offering their expertise on protective measures, threat reporting and security awareness. We look forward to working with DHS through this unparalleled level of assistance, which comes as very welcome at an extraordinarily stressful time for JCCs and the diverse communities they serve. We again thank Secretary Kelly and DHS.
“We urge fellow federal agencies to follow DHS’ lead and apply all resources necessary toward finding the perpetrator or perpetrators of these disruptive, harassing calls, and bringing them to justice. We are relieved no one has been harmed, but the atmosphere created by these calls hangs over our communities and will only be lifted once someone is caught and punished.”
ABOUT JCC ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA:
JCC Association of North America strengthens and leads JCCs, YM-YWHAs and camps throughout North America. As the convening organization, JCC Association partners with JCCs to bring together the collective power and knowledge of the JCC Movement. JCC Association offers services and resources to increase the effectiveness of JCCs as they provide community engagement and educational, cultural, social, recreational, and Jewish identity building programs to enhance Jewish life throughout North America. By supporting the 25,000 Jewish communal professionals who connect with two million JCC participants each year—JCC Association encourages engaged lives of purpose and meaning. Learn more at jccassociation.org, on Facebook and on Twitter at @JCCA
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