Kumi: Exploration is for Kumi alumni (10th-12th graders) who want to build on their Kumi: Foundation learning.
Our Kumi: Exploration trip gives Kumi alumni a laboratory to explore Jewish justice and equity work in the real world, visit a vibrant American city, and connect with fellow Kumi alumni from all cohorts.
The curriculum will use the history and current events of an American city to expand on topics learned in Kumi: Foundations. Participants will spend time in experiential sessions like in Foundations, but also meeting local Jewish justice practitioners to start to imagine their Jewish justice future. We will continue to utilize a two-track model to support and center JOC learning as an important part of our program.
In 2025, Kumi alumni will visit Chicago, Illinois! Chicago has a vibrant Jewish community, and it is home to incredible justice movements. Some potential site visits include:
- Learning from Jewish teen organizers working to impact their city
- Connecting with artists who combine their Jewish values and creativity to speak about inequality
- Taking a walking tour of a historic Chicago neighborhood to learn about housing justice
- Enjoying fun tourist spots like The Bean and Willis Tower
Kumi: Exploration 2025 will be in Chicago, IL!
For our pilot Kumi: Exploration trip in 2025, there are a limited number of spots available. Sign up by Nov. 25 to reserve your spot.
This application is only open to Kumi alumni. If you’re interested in joining the Kumi community, sign up to be notified when our application opens for Kumi: Foundation.
Program Format
Kumi participants will engage in a four-day, in-person learning trip and two virtual Community of Practice sessions designed to support and deepen their learning.
Trip dates: March 21-24, 2025
Trip Location: Chicago, IL
Kumi: Exploration will continue to use our tracked spaces: Jews of Color* Empowerment and Anti-Racist Allies. In keeping with racial justice best-practices, these two tracks will be learning together and separately over the course of the experience to provide intentional and targeted support of their learning.
Virtual Community of Practice – Jan. 19, Feb. 23, and April 6, 2025
Virtual Community of Practice sessions prepare participants for our trip and offer participants a space to process and plan to implement their new skills and knowledge when we return.
*Jews of Color is an imperfect umbrella term that refers to Jewish people who also identify as people of color in an American race context, and we ask that only teens who identify as Jews of Color apply for this track.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for Kumi: Foundation if:
- You participated in a Kumi: Foundation retreat
- You are currently in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade
Looking to join the Kumi community? Sign up to be notified when our application opens for Kumi: Foundation.
Program Fee
The fee to participate in Kumi is $500, which includes:
- Valuable leadership and anti-oppression skill-building within a community of young Jews
- Room, board, and activity feeds for a four-day, in-person city exploration trip
- Local transportation during the trip
- Two virtual community of practice sessions
Travel to Chicago is not included. Financial assistance is available, including travel subsidies. Financial resources should not be a barrier to participation, and requests for stipends can be made upon acceptance and registration.
For our pilot Kumi: Exploration trip in 2025, there are a limited number of spots available. Sign up by Nov. 25 to reserve your spot.
This application is only open to Kumi alumni. If you’re interested in joining the Kumi community, sign up to be notified when our application opens for Kumi: Foundation.