A Note From the Youth Ambassador Council Facilitator:
My name is Jodie Goldberg, Honeycomb Program Consultant and Facilitator of Cohort 7 of The Youth Ambassador Council. It’s been a true privilege to learn alongside this year’s cohort of nine exceptional teen leaders from across the country, each of whom brings multiple years of experience in their youth philanthropy programs.
Throughout the year, the Youth Ambassadors Council has explored the diversity of youth philanthropy programs from across the country, deepened their leadership skills, and learned practical tools to adapt back to their youth philanthropy programs. Their work culminated in the creation of a final project: a newsletter.
The Youth Ambassador council newsletter spotlights one of the cornerstones of Honeycomb’s curriculum: the 7 Core Values of Philanthropy. The Youth Ambassador Council has created a collection of original resources: an article, a piece of artwork, and a song, each inspired by one or more of these core values. You’ll also find guiding questions with each resource, designed to help you explore these values more deeply with the teens you serve.
Interested in learning more about the Youth Ambassadors Council? Learn more about it by visiting here.
Jodie Goldberg, Honeycomb Program Consultant
—————————————————————————————————————————–
Youth Ambassador Council Member Locations:
—————————————————————————————————————————–
Youth Ambassador Council Blog Post:
By Mia, Logan, and Ella
On the Youth Advisory Council, we used Honeycomb’s core values to guide us not only in choosing nonprofits to support but also in shaping our philanthropic motivations. Coming from all over the United States, each member brought a unique perspective and a different core value to the Youth Ambassador Council. Although our philanthropic journeys varied greatly based on the missions of our original organizations, Honeycomb’s core values connected us in different ways, all centered around Jewish youth philanthropy.
By Logan: Justice is a core value of the Jewish Community Youth Foundation (JCYF), which empowers teenagers throughout the Princeton area of New Jersey to advocate for organizations they genuinely believe in. Justice and advocacy go hand in hand, and this connection comes alive during our small group discussions, where we debate which organizations truly promote social good or protect the vulnerable. What makes justice uniquely powerful within JCYF is that each person interprets it differently, bringing diverse perspectives to the table. The foundation thrives on listening to these varied viewpoints and engaging in respectful disagreements. These passionate conversations about funding decisions reveal the strong impact justice has on youth philanthropists. It inspires a generation to give, challenge systemic issues, and support meaningful, lasting change. Honeycomb’s Youth Ambassador Council has continued to nurture and motivate my ideas and voice on justice. While my JCYF group consists of teenagers from a general radius around my town, the Youth Ambassador Council spans the entire United States. This dramatic shift allows me to see new perspectives and viewpoints on what justice means to each person. Organizations like JCYF and Honeycomb, which train youth philanthropists to define their versions of justice, are vital in the modern Jewish world, where one could otherwise feel disconnected from these ideals.
By Mia: Service is a value instilled in the Jewish community from an early age. Most Jewish teens attend either Jewish schools, Jewish camps, or are involved with Jewish youth groups. While many take it for granted, participating in a youth philanthropy program helps us understand the importance of giving back to the organizations that help our community thrive. The most meaningful outcome of being in a philanthropy program is making a difference, seeing how you can impact many lives simply by deciding to fund a specific organization. A key aspect of philanthropy is putting others before yourself. Giving back, making a difference, and witnessing change, that’s what philanthropy is all about. Just as these organizations have shaped or will shape our lives, we can help transform many more by serving the community. Being part of the Jewish Fund Teen Board in Metro-Detroit, Michigan, has helped me see this in action. On a larger scale, the Youth Ambassadors Council has shown me that each of the seven core values, especially service, plays a significant role in why we give back and why philanthropy is a crucial part of being a modern-day Jew.
By Ella: Being on the Youth Advisory Council has opened my eyes to the similarities among Jewish teen philanthropists. Before joining, I thought it would be difficult to connect and find consensus due to our diverse backgrounds. Yet, no matter where we were from, our shared value of philanthropy was a unifying factor. I didn’t expect to find common ground with my peers from the San Diego Jewish Teen Foundation and other groups across the country. Although our reasons for coming together were similar, our “whys” varied. Each teen prioritized a different core value of philanthropy. For me, responsibility is key. I believe we, as Jews, must support the entire world and give back however we can. Despite differences in our philanthropic motivations, we all recognized the importance of donating to both Jewish and non-Jewish organizations. After October 7th, all our teen philanthropy groups focused on supporting Jewish organizations due to the urgent need in Israel. Our responsibility undoubtedly lay with Israel during that time. Still, the Youth Advisory Council recognized the importance of donating to non-Jewish organizations as well. We found common ground in our responsibility to support both Jewish and non-Jewish causes. By forming these philanthropic alliances, the Jewish value of responsibility can spread and inspire others to do the same. By connecting with nonprofits in Israel, we do our part to support our home away from home. Philanthropy forms bridges linking us to people across the country and in Israel. Our influence as Jewish teens can encourage others to embrace the same responsibility to protect and care for all causes. By leading with core philanthropic values, our impact can extend far beyond what we imagine.
Honeycomb’s Youth Ambassador Council has allowed each individual to be able to learn from these 7 core values. These core values not only guide our diverse philanthropic journeys but also as Jewish Individuals as a whole. By finding which of these values resonate with you, it better focuses your goals for philanthropy and also your motive. As we have found, each one of us resonates with our unique values stemming from the differences in our organizations and our ideals. Youth Ambassador Council’s discussion on these various topics has allowed our group to connect on a deeper level, despite our different locations and experiences. Through open conversations and shared reflections on various topics, we discovered that while our motivations may vary, we are united by a common purpose: to make meaningful change through Jewish philanthropy. The Youth Ambassador Council has provided a space for growth, collaboration, and introspection, helping us not only understand what we stand for but also how we can lead with intention. In doing so, Honeycomb’s Youth Ambassador Council has empowered us to carry these values into the future, shaping not just the kind of philanthropists we are today, but the Jewish leaders we strive to become tomorrow.
—————————————————————————————————————————–
7 Core Values Artwork
Images created by: Lucy, Amanda, and Sasha.
The 7 core values, a resource found in the Honeycomb ChangeMakers curriculum, inspired the Youth Ambassador Council to create resources for the field of Jewish youth philanthropy.:
- Hope- Tikvah– תיקוה
- Lovingkindness- Gimelut Chasadim– גמילות חסדים
- Service- Avodah- עבודה
- Preservation- Shmirah– שמירה
- Responsibility- Areyvut- עריבות
- Human Dignity- Kavod– כבוד
- Justice – Tzedek – צדק
Core Values Song
By: Matan, Isabella, and Nate.
Thinking About Our Values [Set to the tune of Thinking Out Loud, by Ed Sheeran]
Exploring the concepts of “values” and the specific values of Justice, Service, and Responsibility.
[Verse 1]
Justice means more than just laws on paper.
It’s speaking the truth when silence feels safe
Service is showing up, no spotlight in sight
Doing the work just because it feels right
[Chorus]
Responsibility quiet but clear it’s owning the way that others might fear
So I hold these values like a vow
Not someday i’ll live them down
Justice in the way I speak
Service when the world feels weak
[Verse 2]
Responsibility it’s not for show, it’s strength in how we grow
And hope it’s why we keep going even when we’re not sure where we’re going.
Not a single act will fix it all
But values catch us when we fall
And when I’m gone I’ll hope they’ll say
They lived their true life and they led the way.
Questions for Consideration: To introduce participants to the 7 Core Values of Philanthropy, use the song and lyrics above alongside the questions below to help them reflect on and connect personally with the concepts of values, and the specific values of responsibility, justice and service.
The verse says, “Values catch us when we fall.”
a. What do you think that means?
b. How do you personally define or experience values in your life?
Focusing on the value of responsibility:
a. In what ways does the song express or reflect this value?
b. What does responsibility mean to you personally?
c. Can you think of a moment when you actively lived out this value?
Focusing on the value of service:
a. How do you hear the theme of service expressed in the song?
b. When you think of “service,” what does it look or feel like to you?
Focusing on the value of justice:
a. What elements of the song speak to the idea of justice?
b. How do you define the value of justice, and why do you think it matters?