This document provides an introduction to the concept of a "connected congregation" through a presentation by Lisa Colton. It discusses three main points: 1. A connected congregation prioritizes relationships and shared values, aligning all aspects around building a strong, engaged community. 2. Values are the DNA of a congregation and should be expressed in all its work. Understanding a congregation's values helps guide its efforts. 3. To be truly connected, a congregation must design for social engagement between members through programs, education, and everyday interactions. Building individual relationships and collective identity strengthens the community.

1. Connected Congregational
Education, Part 1
Lisa Colton
President, Darim Online
Chief Learning Officer, See3 Communications
lisa@see3.com @lisacolton #connectcongs
This presentation is adapted from materials developed through
Connected Congregations: A UJA-Federation of New York Initiative with Darim Online

2. A Little
About Me

3. TODAY… Think Connected.
• Think big
• Take risks, push yourself
• Challenge each other (and me!)
• Be ACTIVE!
• Question your assumptions
• Yes, AND… (not yes, but…)

4. The Game Plan
1. What is a Connected Congregation?
2. Demographic Trends
3. Attributes & Examples
- What is “Community”?
- Values are everything
- Designing for social

5. Traditional Mindset: Hub & Spokes
“Institution as organizer and mediator” “Command and control leadership”

6. Connected Mindset: Social & Networked
Hubs are focus on
influence, not the
center. Currency
are relationships
and social capital.
Strength of network
is the shape and
maturity of the
network, not #
tushes in seats

7. I ndividual Relationships
Small Group I dentity
Community
Congregation
Synagogue
SYNAGOGUE STRENGTH & SUSTAI NABI LI TY
To strengthen the synagogue, we must invest in individual relationships, support
collective identity and responsibility, grounded in Jewish values and action.
The foundation of this is designing for social engagement with each other.
Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego
Lisa Colton, August 2014
We need to matter to each other, and the collective.
Why Social Connection?

8. What is a Connected Congregation?
A connected congregation is one that deeply understands the
meaning of community, and works explicitly to build a strong,
meaningful and engaged Jewish community.
Connected congregations prioritize relationships and shared
values, and align all aspects of institutional management in
service of the community.
Those within connected congregations feel a sense of shared
ownership and responsibility for each other and the
collective, and are empowered to contribute their ideas,
energy and resources.

9. #1. BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE: A DEEP
UNDERSTANDING OF “COMMUNITY”
A connected congregation is one that deeply
understands the meaning of community, and
works explicitly to build a strong, meaningful
and engaged Jewish community.

10. What is “Community”?

11. What does your
Community Look
Like?
How can you use data
differently?
What impact does a program
like Shabbat Connections
have on this map?

12. Who Are You Designing For?

13. Generational Characteristics
BOOMERS GENX MILLENNIALS PLURALS
1946-1964
78 million
1965-1980
48 million
1981-1995
80 million
1996-2009
57 million
• Directive,
command &
control
leadership.
• Raised to pursue
the American
Dream.
• Appreciate
meetings
• Loyalty pays off.
• Focus on money
and savings.
• Independent,
consensual
leadership.
• Pay your dues to
advance.
• Time is precious,
value flexibility.
• Focus on getting
it done.
• Loyalty to people
not necessarily
organizations.
• Creating
meaningful work
and life.
• Flatter mgmt
based on skill, not
seniority.
• Moves jobs and
location.
• Focus on
fulfillment.
• Wary of
institutions and
bureaucracy
• Hyper global and
hyper local focus.
• Multi-faceted
identity as
normative.
• Realistic and
creative.
• Focus on skills
more than
information or
tools.
• Their careers
likely do not exist
yet today.
• Influence family
purchasing.

14. Jewish Community: Pew Report

15. “Engagement” is the Process of
Evolving the Network Map
• What IS engagement?
• What’s the goal of engagement?
• Who or what are we designing for?
• What does it feel like to be engaged?
• Whose job is engagement?
• What kinds of cultural, programmatic or other
shifts are needed to enrich a culture of
engagement?

16. At each step of design and decision making,
we can ask ourselves
“is this in service of the community or the institution?”

17. #2. VALUES
ARE YOUR
CONGREGATIONAL
DNA
They are
expressed
everywhere

18. Where are you now, and where do you want to be?
Complete on your own, then you might want to compare later with
others from your congregation.
You can download the blank worksheet for your own use at
http://connectedcongregations.org/organizational-values-worksheet/
Organizational Values Worksheet

20. LIVING YOUR VALUES, EVERYWHERE
Pam
Schuller
on the real
meaning of
“inclusion”.

21. OPERATIONALIZING
CONNECTEDNESS
MEANS DESIGNING
FOR SOCIAL

22. Be Social.
Personally and
Organizationally.

24. Mike Moxness with Debbie Echt-Moxness
On Living On After a Diagnosis of Cancer

25. Our Challenge:
What does this look like in an educational
context?
And what is the role of the educator in
becoming a Connected Congregation?
• An explicit goal: Build relationships
• Design for social: Family education
• Kehillah is the curriculum

26. DESIGN FOR SOCIAL WITH EMPATHY

27. Family
Education
What have been
your goals? What
“connected” goals
might you add?

28. The Kehilla is the Curriculum
“Instilling a sense of responsibility for keeping a community strong begins at a
young age. The goal is to manage a shift from “me” to “we”. This is where
creativity, innovation and experimentation come in, building upon one
pedagogical foundation: the kehilla (community) is the curriculum.
“In moving from the mission of building community to an actual curriculum, the
educational program serves the purpose of the kehilla; it provides the skills,
context and meaning for the learners who are part of that community’s life. -
Rabbi Jim Rogozin
http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/the-kehilla-is-the-curriculum/
We have to walk the walk

29. What’s Next?
• August 13th
and Aug 20th
1-2pm eastern
• Looking at practical work and examples.
• What are you doing? Want to share?
• Recording, slides and links will come via email
shortly.

30. Q&A