In the latest Expert Q&A, editor John Reecer is joined by Liane Weber, the director of family programming at the JCC Greater Boston, to chat about the J’s family wing space.
Specifically, Weber details why the wing is so popular with members, why the indoor toddler space is important to have, advice for other leaders and more.
Questions Asked During the Interview
- Share on the JCC’s family wing, and what are the most popular features or things members respond the most to there?
- How did the indoor toddler play area come to fruition? Why did your JCC feel like this was necessary?
- When it comes to overall family programming, what advice would you give to other community rec leaders in the industry when it comes to offering spaces that can appeal to all age groups?
- Are there any other ways you hope the family wing grows even more, or is there any other ideas on how to use this space to further assist the community?
The family wing at the JCC greater Boston is used by many departments to serve the whole family. Adult classes here include Mahjong and Canasta and knitting and along with group fitness classes.
Also, the JCC offers babysitting for members in this space along with birthday parties and children’s classes like chess. The indoor play space for toddlers is one of the most popular features in the family wing. It’s used by members every day of the week to bring their kids and hang out with other parents. The JCC hosts regular meetups in there. It’s also where preschool students get to come and play on days when it’s too rainy or cold to use the playground.
Moving forward, the JCC Greater Boston hopes to use this space across departments, because the more exposure families has to all the J’s diverse offerings, the better for everyone. Also, the JCC would love to not only offer business-driven revenue offerings, but more mission-driven offerings that really create community and connection.
