Shalom on the Range

For many of you reading this, you might not realize that photography is not my full time job - though that is my ultimate dream of dreams - currently photography is only a part time gig. Hey, I am not complaining though! Not everyone gets to do the things they love, and I am lucky that I get even the smallest of opportunities to pursue my photography dreams. However, in the real world I work at the Salt Lake City I.J. & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center.

I have worked at the JCC, or the J as those who hold this building and its community close to our hearts refer to it, for the past seven years. Yikes! That sounds like a really long time. Certainly longer than any relationship I have ever been in. Oops! Now does that say something about me or something about the J? I like to think it says something about just how special and unique this place I work really is

I stumbled upon the J in my early twenties, just after my sophomore year of college. My family had been members of the J for a few years, and my mother was constantly raving about the place. Typical me, I was resistant to anything my mother thought was fantastic. But, my mom being my mom ended up reaching out to Jerrad Strand, the Youth and Teen Director of the JCC, and asking him if I could have a summer job. Apparently the two jobs I was working weren't enough for her, so my mom pestered me into emailing a copy of my resume to Jerrad and I applied for a summer camp position - originally with the intention of simply appeasing my mom.

Thankfully for me, I ended up landing a summer gig at the JCC, and it was one of the best (slightly forced) decision I have ever made in my life. I fell in love with the JCC, the people, the families, and the true sense of the community that the J inspires in their employees and their members. I found a place that challenged my intellectually and physically, that asked a lot of me, but was quick to inspire, reward and praise. An atmosphere of employees and members that truly, and genuinely, cared about one another as individuals and not just another blank face walking through the door.

The J has become my home. It's the place where I have found my family, where I have made lifelong connections, where I am supported daily in my professional and personal pursuits. It truly is a community center. A place of people, bound together my a common interest and compassion, who care and value one another. In this day and age, an experience like that and a place like the J is truly unique - a diamond in the rough

The J doesn't just provide a sense of community and home for people like me, a slightly confused and budding history graduate trying to figure out her life, but it also provides incredibly opportunities for many other people and families in need. Last year alone the JCC provided $110,000 in financial assistant to various low-income families; allowing 47 children to attend summer camp, preschool, kindergarten and after school at the JCC. Similarly, the JCC also provides over 125 free memberships every year, through their Hospital Assistant Program, which allows out-of-town families with a loved ones in the hospital at Primary Children's, Huntsman, Shriner's, or the University of Utah to use the J's facility during their stay.

Furthermore, the J has a Refugee Scholarship Fund, through which over the past year 47 children were in enrolled from various regions such as Bhutan, Burma, Burundi, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Eritrea, Guinea, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and Thailand. Each of these children received a full scholarship to attend summer camp at the JCC, have transportation to and from their community each day, and lunch.

The scholarship programs, financial assistance, and hospital assistance programs are all made possible by the donations received and made during Shalom on the Range. Shalom also helps the JCC fill in the gap between what its members pay in dues and tuition and what it cost to maintain the building. Our annual fundraiser is extremely important to the livelihood of the JCC. Not only does it help us keep the building up and running, but it helps us be able to provide all of the wonderful programs we offer for the community. Without Shalom the J would be unable to connect and assist with the community around it in the ways in continually strives to everyday.

In case you can't tell, the J is incredibly close to my heart. Not only the people who work tether, but the building and the community as well. The J has celebrated my achievements and supported me through my hardships, and I know I am not the only one that this amazing place has done that for. The J is truly a community center; a place to call home. I was so lucky to be able to take pictures for their big event, Shalom on the Range, and I encourage you to check out the JCC if you are an SLC native. Even if you aren't, check out the video below and check out the JCC's website and FB page. Show this wonderful center some love!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E299MwgUwc