Informing Change has evaluated the Los Angeles Jewish Teen Initiative (LAJTI or the Initiative) since it began in 2015. This evaluation report, Findings from the LAJTI Evaluation – Years 6-8, covers the last three years of the Initiative, from Fall 2020 through Spring 2023, and draws primarily on qualitative data collected from teens, Jewish educators, parents, and community stakeholders.

Although the data collection for this report focuses on the Initiative’s activities during the last three years, many informants who provided qualitative data in interviews and group sessions also commented on changes that were stimulated by Initiative programming throughout the Initiative’s entirety.

LAJTI applies three main strategies to foster a rich, collaborative infrastructure and a diverse mosaic of accessible and affordable Jewish teen opportunities:

1. Expand and create teen engagement programs of excellence.
2. Nurture the teen ecosystem and build community commitment to teen engagement.
3. Support the professional development of educators of Jewish teens.

The Initiative launched with the goal of engaging Jewish teens in Los Angeles in activities that promote a healthy, personally meaningful, and fulfilled Jewish life. Funded through a partnership between the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Initiative is one of ten community Initiatives in the Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Funder Collaborative, a joint effort of 15 national and local funders committed to learning together, sharing best practices, and investing in community-based Jewish teen education and engagement initiatives.