(DENVER) – The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), a program of JEWISHcolorado, will host its annual leadership luncheon on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at History Colorado from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The event will honor Steve Demby, senior partner at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck who has a long history of philanthropic and political engagement. The event also will feature remarks from Ellen Germain, the U.S. State Department’s Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, recipient of the 2023 Jewish Public Official of the Year Award.

“We are excited to share the work of the JCRC, to highlight our accomplishments, celebrate our partnerships, and thank our legislative and community allies,” said JCRC Director Dan Leshem. 

As the central community relations agency of the organized Jewish community in Colorado, the JCRC is both a voice for the Jewish community at the Colorado State Capitol and a partner in building relationships with and among stakeholder communities. The council advocates for Israel, promotes Holocaust education, tolerance, and social justice, and builds bridges across the Jewish and broader communities. The Council consists of 38 member organizations and 15 at-large members.

Among the Council’s most recent efforts was to promote passage of a state law requiring that public school students learn about genocide and the Holocaust before graduating high school. JCRC has recently taken on a convening role in the community to help implement the Holocaust and Genocide Education standards.

Relevant to this effort will be the remarks of Ellen Germain, Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues for the U.S. State Department. Germain has held positions in the offices of Russian Affairs, Israel-Palestinian Affairs, and Maghreb Affairs and has served on tours in Sarajevo, Tel Aviv, London, and Moscow.

For his advocacy of and commitment to the Jewish community, Steve Demby will be honored with the JCRC’s Community Leadership Award. Demby currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for National Jewish Health and is a founding member of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association. He serves as a national board member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and has been involved in pro-Israel activism and political engagement around the country for decades. Demby is passionate about giving back to the community on a local, national, and international level.

Tickets are $50 with proceeds benefiting the JCRC and its work in the community. Details and registration at https://www.jewishcolorado.org/events/jcrc-luncheon-2023/. Sponsorship packages are available by contacting the events team, events@jewishcolorado.org or 303.316.6428. For more information about the JCRC, please contact Dan Leshem, PhD, JCRC Director, at dleshem@jewishcolorado.org or 303.951.0271. JCRC gives special thanks to the event’s presenting sponsors Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, MDC/Richmond American Foundation, United Airlines, and Zeff Kesher Foundation.

About JEWISHcolorado

JEWISHcolorado mobilizes resources to ensure that Jewish culture remains vibrant, secure, and accessible for all Jews in Colorado and abroad, acts on issues of concern to the local community, stewards our communal resources, and maintains living links with the people of Israel in partnership with local, national, and international agencies. For more information, please visit jewishcolorado.org.