Metro Briefs June 11

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has announced staff changes to its Oakland office.

Jason Oppenheimer comes to the Federation from Denver and is Young Adult Division director. Oppenheimer will manage outreach to community members ages 22 to 45 and help develop the next generation of Jewish leaders. He brings program and leadership development experience from prior positions at synagogues in New York, Massachusetts and Georgia. His resume also includes years as a senior staff member at Jewish camps. Oppenheimer is a Georgia native.

Carolyn Slayton is the new Shalom Pittsburgh associate. She will provide opportunities for young singles, couples and families to have meaningful Jewish experiences. At Duquesne University, Slayton founded the Jewish Law Students Association. At the University of Pittsburgh, she founded and managed Aish Pittsburgh, which provides Jewish programming to students throughout the city. Slayton has served J’Burgh and BBYO in volunteer leadership positions. She comes to the Federation from the Pittsburgh office of Eckert Seamans, where she served as project attorney.

The Federation also announced the promotion of three staff members:

>> Jenny Jones, previous director of the Jewish Federation Volunteer Center, is now senior development officer.

>> Amy Cohen, previous Shalom Pittsburgh associate, is now Volunteer Center manager.

>> Matt Cohen, previous Volunteer Center programming associate, is now campaign associate.

Squirrel Hill AARP Chapter 3354 will hold its annual spring luncheon on Wednesday, June 17 at the Comfort Inn in Penn Hills. Call Frieda Safyan at 412-521-2804 for more information.

Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee and Repair the World will present SermonSLAM! on Saturday, June 20 at the RTW Pittsburgh Workshop, 6022 Broad St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show.

The Sermon Slam is a free intercultural and all-ages event featuring Alan Olifson, host of the Pittsburgh Moth StorySLAM and creator/producer of WordPlay. Pittsburgh’s SermonSLAM is an invitation to watch, listen to and even participate in performances based on this SermonSLAM’s theme of chesed, the Hebrew word for loving kindness. Performers are encouraged to deliver sermons, speeches, spoken word, poetry, writing or movement/dance. All types of creative expression are welcome. Food and refreshments will be served.

Contact PittsburghTeam@werepair.org or Bari Morchower at morchower@pajc.net for more information.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh Early Childhood Development Center will welcome participants of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance Conference on Wednesday evening, June 17, from 7-8:30 p.m. for a tour and dessert reception.

ECDC Director, Liza Baron, and educators will be present to share information about the journey towards becoming a Reggio Emilia-inspired school. Community members are welcome to join this evening of touring and conversation.

The JCC ECDC is part of the Pittsburgh Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative (JECEI). Pittsburgh JECEI’s approach to educational excellence and Jewish engagement draws from the blend of the Reggio Emilia approach, which immerses children in a dynamic learning process while engaging parents and families in meaningful experiences, and Jewish ideas and values.

Pittsburgh JECEI is a program of the Agency for Jewish Learning and is supported by The Centennial Fund for a Jewish Future of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.