J-Teen Leadership

A group of Jewish teenagers in New York is learning to do community service work with their hands. J-Teen Leadership is a community service leadership development initiative for Jewish high school students. What makes this group unique is that teens plan and lead projects.

J-Teen members provide assistance with rebuilding homes struck by Hurricane Sandy in Queens and Brooklyn, bringing 40 teens to rebuild houses each year around New York City, doing insulation, sanding, spackling, painting and other hands-on work. More than two years after this disaster, there is still a need for their help.

The teens organize rebuilding and supply and philanthropy drives prior to each trip, rounding up materials they’ll need to fix up houses. And when they return from their service trips, participants speak at their high schools, inspiring their peers to help.