Research Use Group

Research Use Programs

How can research evidence help you and your organizations build shared knowledge, generate new ideas to inform your work, and shape plans for action? CASJE’s Research Use Programs are developing a national network of professionals looking to build their capacity to lead research-informed initiatives.

Not enough professionals have the opportunity to learn together. Chavurot is focused on unlocking the power of cohorts to support professional growth.

Sponsored by Cohort Based Experience and the Jim Joseph Foundation and facilitated by Dr. Arielle Levites, CASJE is supporting a Chavurot cohort for people who work in Jewish communal organizations in roles related to research, evaluation, data and evidence-informed strategy. This professional network convenes online and in-person to build professionally meaningful relationships, learn from and with one another, and discover opportunities for collaboration.

Participating Organizations, Year 1:

BBYO
MemGlobal
Shalom Hartman Institute
Prizmah
Foundation for Jewish Camp
Jewish Federations of North America
Keshet
Hillel International
OneTable
Birthright Israel
Jewish Federation of Cleveland
Jewish Federation Los Angeles

Recent Chavurot meeting topics include:

“Fireside Chat” with Dan Gaylin, CEO of NORC, Responsibilities and Realities of Data Producing Organizations
Research RoundUp, Julia Logan Labow, David Manchester, Nila Rosen, Designing and Learning from New Research Initiatives

The first CASJE Research Use Group, January-October 2024, was made up of a select group of Jewish educational and engagement professionals whose work focuses on Jewish teens. The program was facilitated by Dr. Arielle Levites, CASJE Managing Director, and Dr. Laura Yares, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Michigan State University. Both have significant hands-on experience translating research evidence for use in Jewish organizational settings.

The group focuses on developing skills around framing questions for inquiry, identifying relevant research, assessing the quality of evidence, summarizing and synthesizing information across sources, sharing key information with colleagues, facilitating organizational conversations about implications for practice, and identifying gaps in knowledge that need future research. CASJE hopes to run future groups for professionals in various sectors of Jewish education and engagement.