Baltimore Teen Programs

2020-2021 Program Update

4Front’s “Signature Programs” have always stood for fun, dynamic, high-quality learning experiences that allow teens to explore who they are, what they care about, and what they are capable of. Our programs utilize 5 distinct lenses to pursue justice and self-improvement – innovation, leadership, hands-on service, advocacy, and philanthropy. In the past, our signature programs have also shared a common format; cohort-based, year-long immersive experiences that meet approximately once a month. As we prepare for the 2020-2021 programmatic year, we are excited to announce that we’re shaking things up!

At 4Front we’ve always strived to meet teens where they are, keeping teen choice at the forefront of our initiative, and catering to your diverse needs and interests. With that in mind, 4Front is happy to share that our signature programs will now be offered in varying formats, from one-off “pop-ups”, to short-term intensives, to year-long cohorts. With each format, teens will still receive the same high-quality content, dedicated staff, and dynamic programming, while also building their resumes and making new friends. These new offerings will also provide more flexible structures to fit both your busy schedules and the societal changes due to Covid-19.

Signature Programs will now be offered in the following three program formats:

Year-long Cohorts
This format offers teens year-long, cohort-based experiences that will meet approximately once a month, most similar to our traditional format.
To participate in our year-long cohorts, teens must fill out an online application and complete an interview with program staff.

Short-term Intensives
This format provides teens with shorter, multi-week programs options ranging from 6-12 weeks in length. Content in these programs will be condensed and move at a faster pace, meeting more frequently over the program duration. To participate in short-term intensives, teens must apply online and join 4Front staff for a pre-program consultation.

“Pop-up” Series
These are our shortest duration programs, ranging from one-off, opt-in experiences to 3-4 week long series focusing on a specific topic.
Pop-up series require registration only and offer low barrier opportunities for teens to explore signature program content.

Interested? Complete this form to let us know which signature program you’re interested in and we’ll keep you in the loop about details and application deadlines!

Students Taking Action for Change (STAC)

Social Innovation Fellowship

Diller Teen Fellows

Peer Leadership Fellows

Teen Service Council

FUN(d): A Teen Giving Circle

Students Taking Action for Change (STAC)

Flex your leadership muscles and get political! STAC teaches teens how to create change in their community through the many avenues of advocacy- gov and politics, lobbying, journalism, and more. Through STAC, teens will develop an understanding of the political process, gain real life skills in lobbying and public speaking, and advocate for change at the grassroots, local, state, and federal levels.

Program Update:
The STAC curriculum will now be broken into multiple, topic driven “pop-up” series and intensives throughout the school year. Teens will be able to sign up for one or multiple series based on their interests. Each will dive into a different topic surrounding advocacy, politics and making change. Program gatherings have the flexibility to take place in person or virtually as COVID-19 restrictions allow.

STAC Pop-Up Series #1: Rep US- Explore Election 2020
In this Fall STAC pop-up, teens will explore topics surrounding the 2020 election. Learn about the role of money in politics, the ins and outs of campaigning, what the electoral college really does, and more. Stage your own presidential debate, join our live election watch party and then debrief the results! Online registration required to participate.

Dates: 5 Sessions, Oct 13, 2020 – Nov 8, 2020
Grades: 9 – 12
Cost: $250
Community Service Hours: 5 Hours
Registration: Open soon

We look forward to sharing about additional STAC Series & Intensives in Winter and Spring 2021.

For more information, please contact
Rabbi Dena Shaffer at dshaffer@4frontbaltimore.org or 410.500.5983

Social Innovation Fellowship

The Social Innovation Fellowship is a hands-on entrepreneurship program that inspires and empowers Jewish teens to be changemakers in their community. Under the guidance of innovation experts and local mentors, fellows will develop an entrepreneurial mindset and skill set to create and implement their own social enterprise to tackle problems in our community. The fellowship offers a real-world, resume-building experience that includes a kick-off innovation boot camp, workshops, mentoring sessions, and a final Demo Day pitch competition.

Program Update:
The Social Innovation Fellowship will now be offered as a 12-week short term intensive, from December – March, 2021. The 2020-21 program will not include overnight retreats or international travel. The program will have a blended curriculum of virtual meetings and in person gatherings, as covid-19 restrictions allow.

Social Innovation Fellowship Intensive
Program Dates: 12 weeks, December 2020 – March 2021
Grades: 9 – 12
Cost: Approximately $1000 (Financial Aid Available)
Community Service Hours: 10 Hours
Applications: Open Fall 2020

For more information, please contact
Diana Solomon at dsolomon@4frontbaltimore.org or 410.500.5985

Diller Teen Fellows

Diller Teen Fellows is a year-long immersive leadership program inviting teens from six continents and 32 communities to step up, lead their communities, and repair the world. Diller will provide you with the tools, feedback, and guidance you need to experiment, collaborate, and grow as a leader, while exploring your own Jewish identity. You’ll connect with teens in Baltimore’s partner city, Ashkelon, giving you a new, broader perspective. The traditional program includes monthly workshops, weekend retreats, a 10-day seminar with Ashkelon teens in Baltimore and a three-week summer seminar in Israel.

Program Update:
As part of an international organization, Baltimore Diller Teen Fellows will follow the guidelines given from Diller International. As of now, plans are to run the year as close to normal as possible, however experiences like overnight retreats, the Jewish Community Mifgash (JCM) when Ashkelon teens travel to Baltimore, and the Israel Summer Seminar could be subject to change due to covid-19 travel regulations.

Diller Teen Fellows: Year-long Cohort
Program Dates: September 2020 – September 2021
Grade: 11th Grade
Cost: $3100 (Financial aid available )
Community Service Hours: 20-30 Hours
Applications: NOW OPEN

For more information, please contact
Sam Kahan Strakes at sstrakes@4frontbaltimore.org or 410.843.7477

Peer Leadership Fellows

4Front’s new Peer Leadership Fellows program trains and empowers teens to be communal connectors! Fellows will learn how to build relationships, engage their peers in meaningful, identity-based conversation, and connect their social networks to the vast menu of opportunities available to teens in the Baltimore Jewish community and beyond. Fellows meet monthly (in real life and virtually), building a team of leaders helping to strengthen the community and each other.

Open to sophomores and juniors, Peer Leadership Fellows runs from January-December each year (applications open in late fall) beginning with an immersive leadership training experience. In the months that follow, Fellows will also receive training on social network mapping, community organizing, and peer-to-peer engagement following the nationally recognized Hillel campus curriculum. Peer Leadership Fellows is a legitimate, resume-building internship! Fellows receive a $500 annual stipend which represents a commitment of approximately 10 hours each month. Each Fellow is charged with building relationships with uninvolved Jewish teens in their own communities. Serving as a conduit to a plethora of communal opportunities, the Peer Leadership Fellows strive to advance Jewish values in the context of their relationships.

Peer Leadership Fellows: Year-long Cohort
Program Dates: January 2021 – December 2021
Grades: 10 & 11
Applications: Open November 2020

For more information, please contact
Jeffrey Snyder at jsnyder@4frontbaltimore.org or 410.500.5453

Teen Service Council

Teen Service Council is a great first step towards identifying needs in your community and making a real difference. This program offers opportunities for exciting, hands-on service learning to give back to your community. Through Teen Service Council, participants will learn about the many needs in our community, work with organizations addressing those needs, and make their own impact!

Program Update:
Teen Service Council will now be composed of several individual pop-up events throughout the year. Teens will be able to sign up for these service projects individually as we offer various ways to give back to the community. The types of service projects and level of hands-on interaction will be based on the current COVID-19 regulations at the time of each project. Stay tuned for more details and upcoming Teen Service Council pop-up projects!

Teen Service Council Pop-Ups
Program Dates: TBA
Grades: 9 – 12
Cost: TBA
Community Service Hours: minimum 3 hours each
Registration: Coming Soon

For more information, please contact
Jeffrey Snyder at jsnyder@4frontbaltimore.org or 410.500.5453

FUN(d): A Teen Giving Circle

Want to make a difference in the community? Put your money where your mouth is! Make an impact with thoughtful, strategic, and inspired giving to causes you care about. Teens in FUN(d) will experience the importance of philanthropy and fundraising using their personal passions while engaging in a group allocation process. Experience what it means to be a philanthropist and why it is so important to give back to the community. Learn how to think outside of the (tzedakah) box!

Program Update:
Fun(d) program coordinator Sam Kahan Strakes is currently out spending time with her beautiful new baby Zoey, which has put a hold on planning for Fun(d) 2020-21. When Sam returns, she look forward to planning and sharing more about Fun(d)’s new format- likely following a pop-up series model aimed for Spring 2021.

Fun(d) TBA
Program Dates: TBA
Grades: 9 – 12
Cost: TBA
Community Service Hours: TBA

For more information, please contact
Sam Kahan Strakes at sstrakes@4frontbaltimore.org or 410.843.7477

Applications:

Now Open: Diller Teen Fellows (Apps Close August 23)

APPLY

Opening Soon:

STAC Fall Pop-up Series: Election 2020
Social Innovation Fellowship Pop Up: Hack-a-thon
Teen Service Council Pop Ups

Stay in the loop about future registration dates and deadlines by completing our interest form!

INTEREST FORM

4Front Signature Programs