In the wake of the terror attack in downtown Boulder, Colorado, on June 1 that left multiple people injured and one passing away from injuries sustained, Boulder JCC is continuing to lead recovery efforts in the community.
The JCC has participated in and hosted several community events and programs which included a vigil attended by over 3,000 people on the J’s campus and online.
Jonathan Lev, the executive director of Boulder JCC, said it’s his organization’s goal to ensure there are avenues for people to connect and gather together to share their experiences and emotions in the wake of the tragedy.
“The antisemitic attack really cut to the core of our community,” said Lev. “It really was heartbreaking and devastating. It invoked fear and trauma, and the responses from different people are varied. Everyone has different feelings at different times. It can go from anger and sadness to the need for love and connection.”
Along with the vigil was the Stand Against Hate event created by Colorado governor Jared Polis. The JCC was actively involved with this interfaith gathering, which featured Lev speaking to the community as well.
“It was really an opportunity to come together to acknowledge what happened and also stand in unity across many faiths and show there’s compassion, solidarity and outrage at something like this,” said Lev.
Boulder Jewish Festival
One of the most difficult decisions Lev made after the tragedy was deciding to still hold the 30th annual Boulder Jewish Festival, which took place in the exact location of the attack.
Lev said many questions were asked when deciding like: If we still had this festival, what will it look like? Who is it for? If we have it, how are we acknowledging and creating a space for what happened?
Ultimately, the festival was successfully held with over 15,000 people in attendance thanks in part to the efforts of law enforcement from local, county and state departments.
“It’s really about community, culture and joy all within the context of our incredible Boulder Jewish community,” said Lev. “We opened the festival with all the rabbis coming on stage and blowing the Shofar (horn) as an acknowledgement of the pain we’re feeling. We transitioned from that to a community dance where we balanced this pain, connection, resilience and joy in a four-hour span. It was a profoundly impactful day.”
Assisting the JCC’s efforts are multiple organizations in the community who shared resources and opportunities. Namely, the Boulder Jewish Family Service created up to 10 free therapy sessions for any community member impacted by the attack. In addition, the JCC is hosting bi-weekly coffee community coffee meets for people to drop in and connect with each other.
“Part of what’s great about our community is that we really partner together,” said Lev. “We’re trying to be additive, not duplicative in the ways we’re providing different support and services to the community. We’re looking at doing song healing circles. We also partner with the Secure Community Network to provide safety and security trainings for the broader area.”
Impactful Leadership
Before the JCC’s successful avenues to assist the community were created, ensuring the team was accounted for and taken care of the was a priority.
Lev said the attack impacted him deeply as some of the victims were very close to him and to Boulder JCC. Their stories and well-being would be the central focus of the organization’s relief efforts.
“This was one of the hardest leadership experiences I’ve had in my career,” said Lev. “Keeping the victims and their families at the center of our response and the center of my leadership was probably one of the most important pieces. I made sure I had a few moments where I specifically just sat with the pain both as a reminder of why I was doing what I was doing, but also to allow myself to feel what I was feeling.”
Despite the intensity of the moment, Lev stayed in action mode and relied on his team around him for assistance.
Lev said the community in Boulder has unfortunately had its fair share of unique and shared tragedies, like COVID-19. These situations allowed the JCC to build up its crisis communication and resources needed to provide to community members.
“Our connection with other leaders in our community has been tremendous,” said Lev. “We’ve been able to uplift and support one another, share how we’re feeling and support the community in what they’re feeling. Hearing from community members about our response has been important to the choices I’ve helped guide.”
Takeaways for Community Rec
Lev learned several critical lessons from this tragedy for other community rec leaders to follow. The first of which is to ensure you know your role as a community organization in the face of different types of tragedies.
“Years ago, we came up with a matrix to understand when and where we would respond and how we that might look,” said Lev. “First, we’re an education-based organization, so we can educate. Second, we can be a consolidator of resources. Third is amplifying what other organizations are doing. How can we share that out? Last is enhancing community gathering — which is our expertise and brings people together. In any tragedy, we had that matrix. This situation activated all four of those avenues.”
The next piece is mastering your organization’s communications before tragedy strikes. For example, Boulder JCC has a crisis communication consultant who works with the marketing and communications director and marketing team for challenging crisis situations.
Also, Lev said to think about the ways in which you’re sharing your messaging. This can include updating a website page that consolidate resources for the community. Immediately connecting with other leaders in the community who can work together is another beneficial strategy as well.
But after all these takeaways, Lev said one of the biggest lessons he took from the experience is the power and hope community can create.
“People have an important need to gather with people who are feeling similar things to them or are responding to the same thing,” said Lev. “How people do that is varied. What is so important is to come up with a variety of different ways for people to continue to heal, and that’s what our JCC has done. And the healing is going to take a lot of time.”
