Two Boulder Jewish organizations, the Boulder JCC and Soul Food, received a phenomenal three grants totaling more than $20,000 from the 2011-2012 Roots and Branches cohort of the Rose Community Foundation. In all, the Roots and Branches cohort granted over $63,000 to nine agencies/collaborations.

Together, on April 2nd, at the Grant Hall at Four Mile Historic Park in Denver, the recipients of the grants and the fellows joined together to celebrate and share in the honor of both giving and receiving these grants. More than fifty members of the Jewish community were there including Rabbis, educators, JCC professionals, and the eighteen members of the Roots and Branches 2011-2012 cohort, which included one member from Boulder, CO, Jenna Monaster.

The big recipients of the night were the Boulder JCC and Limmud Colorado who received funding in both of the defined priority areas: Engaging Families with Children ages 5-13 in Jewish Life and Jewish Community and Engaging Jewish Adults in their 20s and 30s in Jewish Community. According to Sarah Indyk, Jewish Life Initiatives Manager at Rose Community Foundation, this is the first year that any agency has ever received funding in both categories from Roots and Branches.

The first of the Boulder JCC’s grants will enable the JCC to engage young families in Louisville and Superior through a series of outreach events at the summer Louisville Street Fair as well as through starting a Jewish story time at the Louisville Public library and donating 100 PJ Library books (Jewish themed books) for general circulation.

The second grant to the Boulder JCC provides the catalyst for the Community Concierge, Michael Rosenzweig, to have 100 conversations with individuals in their 20s and 30s in the community. The goals of these conversations are to develop a community networking map, learn from this group of individuals, and create a group of organizers to inspire participation. In addition, Michael will be posting weekly on the Boulder Jewish News about these meetings!

In addition, Boulder-based Soul Food, all you can eat for your inner Heeb, received a grant to run a series of radical cultural events and conversations to stimulate dialog for those in search of authentic Jewish identity. Soul Food is an organization led by Orthodox Rabbi Gavriel Goldfeder of Kehillah Aish Kodesh and Reform Rabbi Josh Rose of Congregation Har Hashem.

The Rose Community Foundation’s Roots and Branches program provides an incredible opportunity to participate in a group experience that focuses on philanthropy, grant making, and foundations. They are currently accepting applications for next year’s cohort.

To learn more or apply, contact Sarah Indyk, sindyk@rcfdenver.org. Next year, maybe more than one Boulderite participates in this amazing and transformative experience.