Blog

This month is a big anniversary for me! I have worked at the MJCC and PJA for 20 years! These days most people don't stay at a job for that long, but for me, I love it. I've been thinking about why I love working here and three big points stand out. 

I think it’s safe to say that no one in the Portland metro area got 2024 off to quite the start that we might have hoped. But now that we can’t get our exercise speed-skating down the streets anymore and the pools are warm, clean, and inviting again, it’s time to get our winter workout on!

The statistics are grim. A widely cited survey result shows that as few as 9% of New Year’s resolutions are actually achieved. Even more discouraging, 23% of people quit in the first week and over 40% quit by the end of January.

The onset of the war in Israel has led to a traumatic and stressful time in our Jewish community and similar communities around the nation and the world. One of the most important things that we can do during such challenging times is to gather together in person.

I spend a lot of time thinking about old buildings. First and foremost, this is because the MJCC is an old building that requires lots of TLC. Built in 1971, the building has undergone several renovations, most significantly in 2006. 

Nineteen years ago, I accepted the job to work at the MJCC in marketing and design. After approximately 75 program guides, 19 day camp brochures, and countless weekly emails, I have experienced a tremendous amount of change and growth.

Jackson and Nina. George and Albert. Crixus and Aubrey. Maeve and Ziva. Amaya, Ella and Dot. Louie and Payton. Clark, Lowell and Simon. Liana and Sylvie.* What do all of these names have in common? They are just some of the lucky children of current MJCC staff members.

Happy New Year! The start of a new year is a time both to reflect on the year that just ended as well as to establish goals and resolutions for the year ahead. At the MJCC, this is a particularly exciting time as we plan for the future of our organization in two important ways.

In swimming (like track), teams have the option at most meets to enter multiple relays in each relay event. Each relay team is lettered, with the A relay being the fastest four swimmers from a given team, the B relay the second fastest, and so on.