News

Sometimes, you don't have to wait long to see momentum.

In just three months at the Jewish Grad Organization (JGO), Midwest Engagement Coordinator Amalia Birch has already seen Jewish grad communities across the region begin to grow, reconnect, and build toward an exciting new year.

And the momentum is showing up across the Midwest.

With the registration of Case Western Reserve University's Jewish Law Students Association, JGO is officially back in Ohio for the first time since 2022, with even more Ohio schools currently in the process of registering with JGO. In Detroit, two new clubs are joining the JGO network, bringing a Jewish grad presence to the city for the first time with JGO. 

At the same time, every active Midwest club from last school year has already re-registered for the year ahead.

That's more than a collection of registrations. It's a sign that the communities students built last year are continuing forward.

The momentum extends beyond campus clubs, too.

Even before official recruitment for the next Jewish Executive Women’s Leadership (JEWL) cohort has begun, four Midwest participants have already signed up. Seven Midwest students took part in JGO's summer Mentorship Program, creating connections with Jewish professionals across industries. And 23 Midwest student leaders are preparing to attend the upcoming Partners Summit, bringing together a growing network of leaders who are invested in strengthening Jewish life on their campuses and beyond.

For Amalia, the most exciting part isn't just seeing the numbers grow. It's meeting the students behind them.

"I've only been working with JGO for 3 months, and already I'm so optimistic about this year. I've met with some of the incredible student leaders we have in Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Nashville to name a few, and the passion and vision these students have for the upcoming year is inspiring."

Those conversations are already translating into plans for the year ahead.

UChicago's Jewish Business Association is looking to build stronger connections with the broader Chicago Jewish community. Vanderbilt's Jewish Law Students Association and Jewish Business Association already have their events mapped out for the entire year. And at the University of Michigan, the Jewish Student Dental Association has already welcomed new members at its first happy hour.

Each campus looks different. Each community has its own priorities. But across the Midwest, students are showing the same thing: they are ready to build.

At JGO, our role is to meet that energy with the resources, relationships, and support students need to turn their ideas into thriving Jewish communities.

Three months in, Amalia is already seeing what happens when students have the support to lead.

And if the beginning of this school year is any indication, the Midwest is just getting started.

About JGO...

The Jewish Grad Organization is the national movement for Jewish grad students and alumni. Our mission is to foster Jewish community on grad school campuses and to cultivate Jewish identity and leadership among young adults at this critical life stage. Since 2011, JGO has built a network of grassroots Jewish affinity clubs at over 170 graduate campuses across North America, impacting 14,000 unique students a year through more than 948 annual programs. We have empowered a generation of young Jewish leaders and touched the lives of more than 50,000 individuals.

To support JGO's work across campuses in North America, visit gojgo.org/donate.