{"id":48168,"date":"2025-12-19T01:39:06","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T09:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=48168"},"modified":"2025-12-18T09:11:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T17:11:16","slug":"new-chapter-for-jfs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2025\/12\/19\/new-chapter-for-jfs\/","title":{"rendered":"New chapter for JFS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shelley Rivkin is the new chair of the Jewish Family Services (JFS) board of directors. Rivkin steps into the role at a pivotal moment, succeeding outgoing board chair Jody Dales, who led the organization through the pandemic and the milestone of securing a permanent home for JFS for the first time in its 89-year history. Rivkin will guide the next phase of development for JFS\u2019s newly acquired 22,000-square-foot facility on Commercial Drive, which is slated for a major renovation to become a fully integrated hub for food security, mental health, seniors support, housing navigation and counseling services. This renovation represents the most substantial infrastructure improvement in JFS\u2019s history and will ensure the organization can meet the community\u2019s growing needs for decades to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cShelley brings deep strategic insight, decades of experience in community planning and a profound commitment to serving vulnerable populations,\u201d said Tanja Demajo, chief executive officer of JFS. \u201cHer leadership will be essential as we transform our new building into a future-ready social-service centre.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>
Shelley Rivkin takes over from Jody Dales as chair of Jewish Family Services\u2019 board. (photo from JFS)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rivkin currently serves as the executive director of Congregation Schara Tzedeck, bringing her expertise in community planning, organizational development and social-impact strategy.<\/p>\n

Prior to her current role, Rivkin spent 17 years at the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, where she advanced major community priorities including poverty reduction, housing initiatives, mental-health strategies and global Jewish engagement. Her work has shaped policy, strengthened nonprofit capacity and guided some of the community\u2019s most significant collaborative efforts.<\/p>\n

In addition to her professional leadership, Rivkin has volunteered extensively across community organizations and advisory bodies, consistently championing inclusive, evidence-based and people-centred approaches to communal service.<\/p>\n

\u201cJFS is entering an incredibly exciting phase,\u201d said Rivkin. \u201cOur new facility will allow us to expand our services, integrate programs more meaningfully, and respond to the urgent and growing needs of individuals and families across the Lower Mainland. I\u2019m honoured to support this work alongside a dedicated board, staff team and community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>
Jody Dales, outgoing chair of Jewish Family Services\u2019 board of directors. (photo from JFS)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dales reflected on the transition and Rivkin\u2019s appointment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been one of the great honours of my life to serve as board chair of JFS during such a transformative time,\u201d said Dales. \u201cShelley is exactly the leader\u00a0<\/span>JFS needs for this next chapter. Her deep understanding of community needs, her integrity and her ability to bring people together will be invaluable as we move forward with the renovation of our new home on Commercial Drive. I have complete confidence in her leadership and look forward to seeing JFS thrive under her guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dales\u2019 tenure included guiding the organization through COVID-related challenges, the launch of the Kitchen food hub, expanded mental-health and addiction services through JACS Vancouver, and the acquisition of JFS\u2019s permanent facility.<\/p>\n

The new Commercial Drive facility will allow JFS to significantly expand its reach and integrate services under one roof. Planned features include an accessible food-security centre; expanded counseling, addiction support and mental-health services; seniors programs and community navigation; purpose-built spaces for group programs and workshops; and infrastructure to support case management, housing navigation and emergency financial assistance.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Courtesy Jewish Family Services<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shelley Rivkin is the new chair of the Jewish Family Services (JFS) board of directors. Rivkin steps into the role at a pivotal moment, succeeding outgoing board chair Jody Dales, who led the organization through the pandemic and the milestone of securing a permanent home for JFS for the first time in its 89-year history. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[7702,7703,9070,8664,2327],"class_list":["post-48168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local","tag-jewish-family-services","tag-jfs","tag-jody-dales","tag-milestones","tag-shelley-rivkin"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48168"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48168\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}