New Beginning for the JCC of the North Shore

The following was submitted by Leigh Blander of the JCC:

After nearly closing its doors this spring, the JCC unveiled a new business plan Wednesday night for the future. 

The Jewish Community Center is marking its centennial year by approving an exciting business plan that partners it with a national health and wellness group, grows its relationship with a leading outpatient care center and expands its renowned Early Childhood Center. The J is alsowelcoming new language and music schools.
The new plan, formulated over the last several months by a JCC Task Force with national business turn-around consultants and community input, will strengthen the J and carry it into thefuture, says President Lisa Nagel.

“We’re taking the JCC to a whole new level,” Nagel said. “We’re improving our core businesses and building new ones to ensure that the JCC is sustainable and thriving.”

The J is now working with Medifit, an organization with an impressive record at JCCs of managing fitness & wellness centers, membership services and recreation programs.

“We’re bringing new professionalism and innovation to the JCC,” Nagel said. “The Center will stand out for its health and wellness programs. We’ll be a leader on the North Shore.”

Spaulding Outpatient Center, which provides physical therapy at the JCC, will increase its clinic space and provide new services with the J, including Medical Wellness, Post Rehab andPreventive Care.

The JCC Early Childhood Center is opening a satellite preschool in Beverly at Temple B’nai Abraham on East Lothrop Street. Beginning next fall, it will welcome children ages 15-monthsto 5-years with enriching programs like Yoga, Music, Cooking, Art, Sports, Shabbat celebrations and more. Look for an Open House in Beverly on March 13, at 10 am.

“We’re thrilled to bring our wonderful tradition of quality, trusted childcare and education tofamilies in the Beverly area,” said JCC Early Childhood Director Amy Battinelli.

The international Berlitz Language School is coming to the J, offering language lessons to people of all ages. The music school Jammin’ with You will lead music classes and instrumentlessons here for kids and adults.
Task Force chair Maria Samiljan emphasizes the business plan is dynamic and evolving.

“This is really a three-year plan with targets built in,” Samiljan said. “We’ll constantly be monitoring our performance and reassessing to see how we can make it better with new partners and new services.”

The JCC formed its Task Force last spring, hiring a national consultant and holding community forums. The group has been working non-stop developing this new business plan to carry the J forward.

“It was important to all of us that the JCC continue to be the strong, vibrant gathering place that it’s been for the last 100 years,” said Nagel. “With this new business plan, we can fulfill ourcommitment to our members and the community.”

Over the last several months, the JCC has invested in new state-of-the-art fitness equipment and renovated its indoor and outdoor pools, locker rooms and playing fields. It launched a successful camp, Summer on the Hill, on its 11-acre campus in Marblehead, offering exciting programs for toddlers to teens. It has also started several new fitness programs as well as cultural events, including its Manhattan in Marblehead series which simulcasts famous speakers live from NYC.

And people are paying attention. The J is once again attracting new members who appreciate the personal, family approach there. The fitness centers are bustling, preschool classes are busy and community programs are well attended.

“We have more going on now than ever before… there’s an excitement in the air, you can feel it,” said longtime member Jack Stahl. “And this new business plan makes sense. We have a lot to look forward to.”