Author launches ‘Ask an Expert,’ a joint series from WPC/MJCC

By Deborah Moon

article created on:

An Oct. 8 “Ask a Teenage Author” workshop for parents will be the first in a series of programs that the Women’s Philanthropy Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and the Mittleman Jewish Community Center have teamed up to bring to the community.
   
“There is a natural symmetry to pairing up with the MJCC,” said WPC Chair Barbara Cohen. “They have done a remarkable job of re-invigorating their campus. It is our hope that we may be able to introduce the MJCC to some of the people who attend our programming. The other side of the equation is that we will be able to promote the WPC to people who are familiar with the center, but have not been connected with federation.”   

The 7 p.m., Oct. 8, program is the first in the “Ask an Expert” series launched by the WPC last spring with its “Ask a Food Critic” program that drew about 50 people. Vanessa Ven Petten will help parents learn to communicate with their teenagers during a talk based on her book “You’re Grounded,” which she wrote while still in high school.
   

“As parents of teens, we want our children to understand our motivations and teens want us to understand theirs,” said WPC Marketing Chair Marisa Brown. “That’s the thrust of the first event with Vanessa Ven Petten.”
   
This year’s series also will feature a life coach, a rabbi and a cheese maker (see schedule in box). Life coach Marci Nemhauser will offer “five ways to help women survive and thrive in our busy lives,” said Brown. Drawing on Jewish mysticism, Rabbi Ariel Stone will help women learn to slow down and live more in the moment. And in a “purely for fun” event, women will be able to taste specialty cheeses at Steve’s Cheese Shop.
   
“The events stemmed from brainstorming about who we know and what can we offer,” said Brown. “The WPC wants to be relevant and provide valuable programming.”
   
That desire to provide useful programs is shared by the MJCC, said Brown, who is also the marketing director for the MJCC. She said the center decided to co-sponsor the series since all but one event will be held at the center. Only the final event, which will be held in a specialty cheese shop, will be outside the center.
   
“The JCC is working to have quality programming and to get people back into the building,” said Brown. “It’s a win-win.”
   
Brown said the center offers great space flexibility (with either small meeting rooms or a large auditorium) and is centrally located—just one exit off a bridge from the east side and close to Beaverton.
   
“We see the MJCC as the center of the Jewish community,” said Cohen. “We want to support it as much as possible, and it’s our intention to utilize it for our programming whenever we can. You will see many more WPC events at the center, including our upcoming woman’s seder this April.”
   
The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland established the WPC in the fall of 2006 at the urging of Cohen who wanted a place for Jewish women to come together to enhance community and promote Jewish values. Cohen has been chair of the group since its inception.
   
“I am thrilled with this new partnership,” said Cohen. “The WPC has big plans for the 2007-2008 year, as well as big plans for the future. Creating this partnership allows us the opportunity to reach more people and to better connect them with the Jewish community.”
   
For more information on the WPC, contact JFGP staff liaison Jen Feldman at 503-245-6449.