Who We Are
JYCM is a youth-led movement centered in Jewish communities and institutions all across the country. JYCM is composed of a National Leadership Board of around 30 Jewish-identifying, middle and high school-aged climate activists and a national network of kvutzot (chapters).
Kvutzot
The core of our movement are kvutzot (chapters/groups) at local Jewish institutions across the country. Our network of over 50 JYCM kvutzot operates in Jewish institutions and communities all around the country, including synagogues, schools, JCCs, federations, organizations, and local geographic areas. Led by youth, kvutzot engage all members of their institution or area to take action for climate justice. Through kvutzot, JYCM empowers all youth to take action around climate change and provides them with a platform for their own ideas and projects. Kvutzot work in partnership with the National Leadership Board to plan campaigns and work on local and national projects and climate activism.
In several cities across the country, kvutzot are organized into regional and citywide cohorts. Kvutzah Cohorts engage in regional in-person gatherings and events and work together to take political action and mobilize at a regional level. Cohorts currently exist in New York, Boston, and Denver-Boulder, and more cohorts will continue to form in the near future.
Leadership Board
JYCM’s National Leadership Board supports the success and day-to-day functioning of our national network of kvutzot, facilitates the development and inner-workings of the movement, runs national campaigns, and serves as the connection between JYCM and staff, mentors, and the wider Adamah organization. A subset of the Leadership Board serves on the Executive Board, which consists of the directors of each working group and two co-directors of the national Leadership Board.
The Leadership Board is divided into eight working groups, each of which performs unique and essential function for JYCM:
- Kvutzah development: supports our bases around the country.
- Jewish Ritual & Culture: grounds our movement in Jewish tradition.
- Communications: broadcasts all of our activities to the public.
- Actions: organizes actions to build momentum and secure wins for our movement.
- Education & Training: implements trainings and publishes written pieces.
- Policy: organizes advocacy projects for public policies that advance climate justice.
- Equity & Inclusion: holds our movement accountable to centering equity and inclusion.
- Writing: publishes writing and supports our members in writing their own stories.
JYCM Staff
Liana Rothman
Youth Empowerment Director
Liana is the director of Youth Empowerment at Adamah and co-founder of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM). Liana oversees JYCM and Adamah on Campus, supporting Jewish teens and college students with taking climate action, and promoting climate justice within institutions. She is pursuing a MPA in nonprofit management and public service from NYU.
212.908.2526
New York, NY
Miriam Ehrlich
JYCM Coordinator
Miriam is passionate about Tikkun Olam, and has over five years of experience working with non-profits and on political campaigns. She earned her Master of Social Work at Columbia University and was born and raised in New York City.
212.908.2514
New York, NY
Samm Kaiser
Jewish Youth Climate Movement Manager
Samm’s background ranges from software engineering to college campus engagement to goat milking. She is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis who enjoys reading, walking, and looking at bugs in her free time.
917.268.7124
New York, NY
Isaac Johnston
JYCM National Coordinator
Isaac brings a background in community organizing to JYCM and is excited to support kvutzot across the country in combating the climate crisis. In his free time, Isaac loves to read, listen to sports podcasts, and create vibrant Jewish community
Boston, MA
Publications & In the News
- Environmental Justice Through a Jewish Lens, Hadassah Magazine, January 2022
- Jewish Youth Climate Movement Fellows Attend U.N. Climate Change Conference in Egypt, JMore Baltimore Jewish Living, November 2022
- Synagogues Aflame: Our Omissions in Transmitting L’Dor VaDor, The Peoplehood Papers 28
- Jewish Youth Climate Movement: Organizing the Jewish Community Toward Climate Justice, October 2021
- On Jewish Earth Day, more Jewish groups take climate action, AP News, January 2022
- Activists call out Chase Bank for their role in the climate crisis, UpriseRI, November 2022
- Rabbis arrested demanding climate action by Wall Street giant’s Jewish CEO, NY Jewish Week, October 2021
- JYCM Day of Climate Education and Action: Day in Review, Jewish Boston, November 2022
- Video: Coming of Age in the time of Climate Crisis: Stories of Climate Grief and Resilience, The Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest, January 2022
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