Thousands of students come to Pittsburgh each year for college. What inspires some to stay after graduation and build their lives here, while others choose to move on?
J'Burgh director David Katz has given that question a lot of thought. His organization, an independent arm of
Pittsburgh's Hillel, is a cultural gathering place that aims to "enhance the quality of life for young emerging adults," Katz says, "with a focus on graduate students and young professionals."
These young adults "are beginning to figure out what their adult lives are going to look like," he says. They're at a point of transition, where they've outgrown the undergraduate community but not yet entered the community of young married Pittsburghers. Participation in community activities can make a difference in whether they decide to stay, and that's where J'Burgh comes in.
"Our challenge," Katz says, "is, 'How do we showcase all the options and encourage people to become involved in the wider Pittsburgh community after college?'"
Last year, J'Burgh hosted numerous events (everything from networking parties to kickball tournaments) that drew an increasingly strong turnout. In 2010, "we're moving into a different platform of programming, where we're doing more ongoing projects," Katz says, "like a three-week Jewish short stories class and a four-week Jewish learning class." Offerings like these "strengthen the bonds between our participants, and allow them to form friendships in a way that you can't do at one-time events."
So far, 32 people have signed up for an 8-week bowling league, and Katz believes that says something powerful about the commitment young Jewish adults have to getting involved. "Especially for grad students, who are dealing with things like preparing for medical boards," Katz says, it's encouraging that they're taking time for community events.
In the past three weeks, Katz says, more than 250 people have attended J'Burgh events. That's a great beginning, and it has Katz inspired to get many more involved as the year progresses.
"We have a goal of recruiting and retaining young Jewish adults in Pittsburgh," Katz says. "So we really focus on showcasing the Pittsburgh community and all it offers."
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Source: David Katz, J'Burgh
Image courtesy of J'Burgh. Pictured, left to right: Sophia Berman, Susie Sheldon and Beth Goldstein at a J'burgh event