For Jewish teenagers, this time of life is about discovering who you are, what you value and where you belong. It is also when you discover your personal journey about what being Jewish means for you.

That is why The Associated, and its network of agencies, support teens during every stage of their journey. Whether it is strengthening their Jewish identity and connection to Jewish Baltimore or helping them find a place where they feel safe, we help teens develop the tools to manage the pressures of being a Jewish teenager.

Exploring Jewish Identity

Every teen should have the chance to grow into a confident Jewish adult who feels proud of who they are.

The Associated, through its 4Front Baltimore teen initiative, managed by the Jewish Community Center, offers small group programs for middle and high school students. In these groups, students develop leadership skills, strengthen Jewish connections and grow professionally in ways that help them prepare for their future.

The Associated also provides funds for the Jewish Student Unions in local high schools, as well as support Baltimore chapters of BBYO, a national teen movement with the mission of getting more Jewish teens meaningfully involved in Jewish life and experiences.

Supporting Teens as They Confront Antisemitism

Antisemitism affects everyone, especially our teenagers who spend their formative years confronting hate speech and other harmful rhetoric in-person and through social media.

Through The Associated’s Center for Countering Antisemitism and Hate, The Associated offers programs like Student-to-Student which brings Jewish teen ambassadors to local schools. There, these students share Jewish traditions and culture with their non-Jewish peers, dismantling stereotypes and prejudices.

And through the Baltimore Jewish Council (BJC), and Associated agency, the Social Justice Teen Fellowship builds allies through greater understanding. This program, managed in partnership with the Elijah Cummings Youth Program, brings together Jewish and Black teens so that they can engage in safe conversation around antisemitism, racism and similar issues they face today.

Addressing Teen Mental Health

Teens already face an enormous amount of stress, whether it’s from school, sports or their personal lives. But today’s teens have a new challenge, as rising antisemitism and economic hardship has caused a decline in teen mental health, and the situation is only growing for Baltimore’s Jewish teens.

We recognize that mental health is not just an individual concern – it affects the entire community. And that is why The Associated takes a proactive approach through our agency, Jewish Community Services (JCS), by offering extensive age-appropriate programs in classrooms, covering topics such as substance abuse, social media and stress management.

Another Associated agency, CHANA, which provides crisis intervention, education and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, provides programs on healthy relationships and dating violence.

Stay Up to Date

Want to stay informed on teen programming in the Baltimore community? Join The Associated’s Newsletter.