Already connected by similar roles or shared goals across JCCs and JCC Camps, Peer Communities at ProCon 2025 are where those connections deepen. They’re more than meetups—they’re meaningful gatherings to exchange ideas, tackle shared challenges, and build what’s next together.
Many of these communities connect virtually year-round. But face-to-face connections? That only happens here.
When you register, you’ll be asked to tell us which Peer Communities you’re in or want to join—so we can help you plug in and show up ready to roll.
Fifteen Peer Communities will convene throughout ProCon, offering rich, role-specific time to reflect, collaborate, and connect!
- Monday, October 27, 2025, 3–4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 2–3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 9:50–11:20 a.m.
If your Peer Community is not represented below, let us know at [email protected].
Here’s a snapshot of each Peer Community.
Adults/Older Adults
The Adults/Older Adults Programs Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will provide space for connection, collaboration, and learning. Participants will kick off with interactive networking to share successes, challenges, and creative ideas from their programs. Session highlights will include cross-departmental collaborations that enrich adult and older adult engagement. The group will explore how JCCs can better support members through key life transitions, with insights from experienced practitioners in the field.
The Arts & Culture Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will offer inspiration, practical tools, and meaningful connections for JCC professionals. Participants will exchange artist recommendations across disciplines, explore best practices for navigating tricky or controversial programming with values-driven decision-making, and explore strategies for funding their vision with grants, sponsorships, and partnerships. Using case studies, shared resources, and roundtable reflections, participants will leave with new ideas, useful frameworks, and an expanded network to strengthen arts and culture at their JCCs. Arts & Culture
The Aquatics & Sports/Rec Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will bring together aquatics and sports and recreation professionals to share strategies, tools, and best practices across both areas. Topics will include managing and mentoring high school staff, designing effective orientations, using data to inform decisions, and strengthening member communications. Participants will also divide into aquatics and athletics-specific discussions—from summer recruitment, private lessons, and ECC connections to basketball pipelines, JCC Maccabi®, fundraising events, and gym scheduling. Aquatics & Sports/Recreation
The COOs/Assistant Executive Directors & Program Directors Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will dive into the unique opportunities and challenges of being a “#2” leader, including navigating complex community dynamics, managing competing priorities, and balancing values with external pressures around Israel, DEI, and funding. Using case studies, small group discussions, and rotating “timeless topic” tables, participants will explore practical issues, including HR, facilities, organizational structures, marketing, and allyship. The sessions will offer tools, peer learning, and strategies both to help participants excel in their own roles and to guide their teams with clarity and confidence.COOs/Assistant Executive Directors & Program Directors
The Day Camp Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will engage in forward-looking, collaborative conversations about the evolving landscape of Jewish camp. Sessions will explore how to adapt creatively to expanding enrollment amid space limitations and how to envision the “camp of the future” in light of these and other factors; changing staff pipelines, inclusion needs, Israel education, mental health realities, time management, and staff burnout. Participants will share practical strategies, ethical considerations, and imaginative ideas to strengthen their camps today and shape what Jewish summer experiences can become in the years ahead.Day Camp
The Development Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will include three thoughtfully designed sessions—presented with Amy Schiffman and Jessica Grossnickle from Evolve Giving Group—that will bookend our conference experience with meaningful connection and intentional planning. The opening session will include a welcoming, interactive exercise to help us connect, introduce ourselves, and understand who’s in the room before we begin to build a shared language and foundation for collaboration within the cohort. We will then focus on techniques to build a culture of philanthropy, including a strong lay/professional development team to make your board a partner in fundraising and real talk and informed work on readiness for a campaign—whether capital, endowment, or anniversary. There will be time to connect and reflect, set intentions for continued growth, and lay the groundwork for follow-up. We’ll close by discussing accountability partnerships and our strategy for post-conference connections, ensuring the Peer Community remains a source of support long after the conference ends.Development
The Early Childhood Educators Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will focus on strengthening relationships, sharing best practices, and elevating the field together. Participants will build meaningful connections with colleagues across the movement, explore stories of high-quality practices and the processes that made them possible, and contribute to a participant-driven session shaped by the questions and priorities that matter most. Educators will leave with stronger networks, practical tools, and inspiration that will have a positive impact on their schools and teams.Early Childhood Education
The Finance Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will bring CFOs and senior finance professionals together to tackle the critical issues shaping JCC financial strategy today. Sessions will address forward-looking strategic planning, the real costs and benefits of recruiting and retaining top talent, and the growing role of cybersecurity in financial oversight. Participants will share tools and approaches for managing complexity, balancing mission with sustainability, and positioning their JCCs for long-term strength. Through peer exchange and expert facilitation, this Peer Community will provide CFOs with practical insights, professional networks, and strategies to elevate their individual leadership and the financial health of their organizations.Finance
The Fitness and Wellness Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will bring JCC professionals together to strengthen health and wellness strategy through innovation, data, and collaboration. A moderated panel of senior leaders will highlight diverse perspectives across fitness, wellness, aquatics, athletics, and membership, setting the stage for deeper peer exchange. Breakout groups will explore data-driven decision making, innovative personal training and group programming, strategic fitness center design, and emerging trends, including recovery services and equipment planning. Participants will leave with practical tools, fresh ideas, and stronger professional networks to advance the effectiveness and sustainability of JCC fitness and wellness programs and initiatives.Fitness & Wellness
The HR Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will focus on strengthening the people practices that drive thriving JCCs. Sessions will dive into performance management strategies that support accountability and growth; effective approaches to recruiting, onboarding, and orientation that contribute to staff success; and a conversation with CFOs about compensation management that will ensure equity and sustainability across the field. HR leaders will gain tools, insights, and connections to enhance the employee experience and strengthen organizational culture.Human Resources
The Inclusion/Accessibility Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will bring professionals together to connect, challenge, and support one another in advancing inclusive practices across the JCC Movement. Using roundtables on vocational education, staff training, and early childhood inclusion, participants will explore practical models and share approaches that work. Sessions will also examine the business case for inclusion and how it strengthens fundraising, marketing, and mission alignment. Participants in this Peer Community will build networks, share expertise, and deepen the movement’s collective commitment to belonging for all.Inclusion/Accessibility
The Jewish Life Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will explore how JCCs can strengthen their Jewish mission and identity in meaningful, relevant ways. Sessions will address the unique challenges and opportunities of post–October 7 Israel programming, drawing on global expertise and connections to artists and educators; build strategies to increase Jewish knowledge and confidence among all staff, regardless of background; and examine how to infuse a Jewish “feel” throughout JCC spaces, beyond formal programs and holidays. Participants will share ideas, resources, and practical tools to deepen Jewish life across the movement.Jewish Life
The Marketing Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will enable JCC professionals to connect with peers and work collaboratively on the unique challenges of JCC marketing. Participants will explore how marketing efforts relate to organizational goals, how to balance the needs of diverse audiences and stakeholders, and how to create workflows that improve collaboration and efficiency across departments. They will also investigate the changing role of marketing in JCCs, including how new technologies are shaping the work, and exchange practical strategies and fresh ideas with others. Participants will leave with strategies to strengthen their work, a shared language for approaching JCC marketing challenges, and a trusted community of peers to continue learning with after the conference has ended.Marketing
The Membership Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will focus on strategies to strengthen recruitment, retention, and member experiences across JCCs. Sessions will highlight collaborative onboarding models in partnership with fitness professionals; tools to manage difficult customer interactions using de-escalation and crisis response techniques; and the use of data, dashboards, and reporting to drive growth and retention. Participants will also dive into a dynamic case study entitled “10 Successful Sales Strategies” that explores real-world results, ROI, campaign themes, and missed opportunities in strategies implemented across the movement. Membership professionals will leave with actionable insights and proven practices to expand, enhance, and sustain their communities. Membership
The Youth & Teen Peer Community at ProCon 2025 will focus on strengthening programs, fostering collaboration, and promoting and supporting staff well-being. Sessions will explore work-life balance strategies that reduce stress and burnout, retain staff, and create opportunities for collaborating and programming with other JCCs to unify the field. Facilitated analyses of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) and in-depth conversations in small groups to evaluate, improve, and share successful youth and teen programs also will be included. Participants will leave with practical tools, fresh ideas, and stronger connections across the movement.Youth & Teens
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