September 2026 JTeen Newsletter
By Leah Stinson, Amy Fox, and Rachel Valdman
September 2, 2026
As September begins, we’re settling into new routines and looking ahead to the High Holidays, a season of reflection, renewal, and fresh beginnings.
It’s also a great time to reconnect, discover new opportunities, and find meaningful ways for teens and families to be part of the Jewish community.
This month, we’re sharing upcoming programs, resources, and ways to get involved. Don’t miss our two new Partner Spotlights at the bottom of the newsletter.
Wishing you and your family a sweet, meaningful, and connected New Year.
Shanah Tovah!
Leah Stinson, Director of JTeen and JCamping
lstinson@jewishatlanta.org
Amy Fox, Parent Engagement Manager, JTeen
afox@jewishatlanta.org
Rachel Valdman, Coordinator, JCamping and JTeen
rvaldman@jewishatlanta.org
JTeen’s First Partner Gathering: Connecting, Learning, and Growing Together
On Wednesday, August 19, JTeen hosted its first partner gathering of the year in collaboration with the Jewish Atlanta Ecosystem. Partners from across the community came together to connect, share ideas, learn from one another, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The gathering provided resources to help strengthen our collective work with teens and families across Atlanta. We look forward to continuing the conversation with additional partner gatherings and learning opportunities throughout the year.
Upcoming Events
JTeen Fall Webinar Series
For parents of teens
Date: Monday, September 14 and Monday, October 19
Time: 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual Webinar
Cost: Free
JTeen’s College Admissions Webinar Series gives parents practical guidance for navigating the college process with greater clarity and confidence. Led by Terri Jacobson, M.Ed., Founder of Apogee College Prep, these two virtual sessions will help families plan ahead from middle school through senior year, understand today’s evolving admissions landscape, and focus on the factors that matter most.
Monday, September 14 | College Admissions 101: A Parent’s Roadmap will help parents understand the college planning timeline, from academic choices and extracurricular involvement to key application milestones.
Monday, October 19 | What Matters Most in College Admissions Today will take a closer look at how colleges evaluate applicants, including academic rigor, extracurricular impact, testing, and the components that help students build an authentic, compelling application.
Attend one session or join us for both!
JAccess Cohort Series: Inclusive Futures, Jewish Roots
Sessions run from September 2026 through February 2027
First Session: Wednesday, September 16
Time: 5:30–7:30 PM
Location: Sandy Springs
Join JAccess for a six-session leadership and learning experience for Jewish parents raising children with disabilities. Connect with other families, deepen your understanding of inclusion and belonging, and gain practical tools to advocate for your child’s future.
Reverse Tashlich Mason Mill ATL
Open to all
Date: Sunday, September 20
Time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Location: Mason Mill Park
Cost: Free
Reverse Tashlich is an innovative Jewish environmental ritual celebrated globally whereby people work together to clean up local waterways, combating plastic pollution and acting upon a shared ethic of environmental stewardship.
AI & Today’s Teen: What Every Parent Needs to Know
For teens and parents of teens
Date: Tuesday, October 6
Time: 7–8:30 p.m.
Location: Sandy Springs
Cost: Free
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing the way teenagers learn, communicate, solve problems, and navigate everyday life. While many parents are familiar with tools like ChatGPT, few fully understand how deeply AI has become integrated into teens’ academic, social, and emotional worlds.
Join educators, mental health professionals, and teens themselves for an honest conversation about how AI is shaping adolescence today. We’ll explore both the opportunities and challenges AI presents – from improving organization and executive functioning to concerns about academic integrity, social skills, mental health, and relationships.
Parents and teens will leave with a deeper understanding of how teens are actually using AI, practical strategies for guiding healthy use, and ideas for having meaningful conversations at home.
Upcoming Federation Opportunities
JTeen Scholarships
Phase 1 of our JTeen teen scholarships has closed. We will re-open on September 28 for the next round.
Welcome to our new Schoenbaum Shinshinim!
We’re excited to welcome this year’s Schoenbaum Shinshinim to Atlanta! After preparing together at their summer seminar in Israel, they’re now here and ready for a year of building relationships, sharing Israeli culture, and connecting with teens and families across our community. Stay tuned to follow their adventures, programs, and experiences throughout the year!
Partner Spotlight
BBYO
BBYO serves teens in 8-12th grade. BBYO is the world’s leading pluralistic, Jewish, teen-led movement, serving over 70,000 members across more than 70 regions in 62 countries. It’s not temple, and it’s not Hebrew school – it’s a movement run BY teens, FOR teens. Members plan their own events and elect their own leaders; the staff is simply there to support them and make it happen.
Locally, our region is the Greater Atlanta Region (GAR), made up of 13 individual chapters. AZA serves male-identifying teens and BBG serves female-identifying teens, and the two groups partner on many programs together. In addition to chapter programs, we also offer regional programs, giving teens from all across Atlanta, the opportunity to come together and experience all that BBYO has to offer. Beyond Atlanta, BBYO also offers movement-wide experiences like International Convention, summer leadership programs, and domestic and international travel opportunities.
Contact Details:
Lindsey Greenstein, Regional Director
678-303-8857 | lgreenstein@bbyo.org
Abe Barnes, Assistant Regional Director
470-559-5134 | abarnes@bbyo.org
Tami Sharoni, Genesis Fellow
470-618-3217 | tsharoni@bbyo.org
General inbox: bbyo@atalantajcc.org
Register for events: atlantajcc.org
Become a member: bbyo.org/join
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
SOJOURN
SOJOURN lives at the intersection of LGBTQ+, Jewish, and Southern communities. We provide resources and programs to educate, empower, celebrate and advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Our three signature events are:
- Pride Weekend, October 9–11, which includes an interfaith Pride Shabbat, staffing a booth at the festival, and convening the Jewish community to march together in the Sunday parade.
- The Jewish Professionals for Rainbow Youth Educational Summit on November 10 provides education and practical tools for those working with Jewish youth.
- Purim off Ponce on February 27 is both our biggest fundraiser and the best Purim party in town!
We can also support your families by providing workshops, resources, and community for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
Contact Details:
McKenzie Wren, MPH, Special Project Manager
404-849-0109
Website
MJCCA – Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta
Take a look at the exciting opportunities for Teens at MJCCA!