J-Serve is the annual day of service for Jewish youth throughout the world. It is a day on which Jewish teens join their counterparts in other faith communities, other cities and other countries in giving of their time to serve the communities in which they live.  I served on Houston’s planning committee this year and put a lot of work into the event.  

We came up with the theme “Embrace the Challenge” and yesterday around 400 teens and child participants with physical and/or mental disabilities were involved in sports, performing arts and carnival activities. Our main goal is to help educate teens about challenges facing those with disabilities and I think we accomplished that goal. 

Here is an email I received from our parent project chair following the event:

You brought together a community.  Teens from all over Houston, different schools and denominations, working together for one amazing cause.  I truly believe each and every teen today was moved by the speaker and the projects. You brought together families with disabilities and gave challenged children a very special day, parents a much needed break, an inspiring speaker, and siblings a day that they could feel special too…You had people thinking and acting outside their comfort zone and realizing how great it feels.  You used music, art, sports and games to make something magical happen, finding commonalities and building  bridges between teens and their buddies. You inspired other teens to want to be leaders.  

Brad Cohen flew into Houston to speak.  Brad is the author of Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had.  His book was recently made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that will be available on DVD in Hallmark stores in mid-April.  

Will post more about Brad and his keynote.