Elizabeth Patton came to The J in December after a 17-year career in the disability field, during which she created a successful work program for teens. The State of Alabama named her “Advocate of the Year” for her work with consumers, and gave her the “Collaboration Award” for work with colleagues and Birmingham companies. She is an ADA trainer and holds a degree in signed language interpreting. She lives in Moody with her husband and son.
Elizabeth stepped into the role of program director after having raised $115,000 as The J’s grant writer.
LJCC: What was most exciting to you about becoming programming director?
EP: Getting to develop programs in the place I’ve come to love.
When my son first started at the Cohn Early Childhood Learning Center the teachers all knew his name and they remembered each parent. We really felt that the ECLC team cared for our family, and as a staff member I feel like I’m seen and valued, and am part of something bigger. The J means a lot to me, I feel like I’ve found a home and not simply a career. I am excited about bringing that energy into my role.
I also love a challenge. Our programs are important for differentiating us from a YMCA, for example, and they’re what will help us build our reputation in the community. It really energizes me to lean into this role to help make The J a community place.
I’m also excited because I got to move into a real office space!
Did you feel any trepidation about taking on the new role?
Oh, for sure! The J’s history and legacy sets a high bar. We found a newsletter from 2015 that showcased The J hosting a Jewish book festival. It looked incredible and I can’t wait to develop something similar. There are so many great ideas out there — from members, the B’ham community, the Jewish Community Center Association, and other JCCs.
The thing that weighs most on my mind is the family legacies that have been created here and ensuring that we are nurturing generational growth. I have heard the best stories about the Center Players and how multiple generations have acted on our stage, and the traditions that make our Camp LJCC so special. If I am apprehensive about anything, it’s honoring the multigenerational past while starting and restarting programs in a post-pandemic J.
What has been most satisfying about your new role?
I am crazy about our Monday Matinee movie goers! I’m so happy to see them every week. They were instrumental in helping me decide to become programming director. The group is growing, but I’m still able to greet them by name and value them just as the ECLC did for my family.
At a leadership workshop a few months ago I was labeled a “connector” type, meaning that I like to connect people with their aspirations or needs. One of the most satisfying feelings for me comes when I see two or more people make a connection at an event I helped plan. A good example is our Monday Movie coming up on Monday, Hidden Figures. We have a member who is a rocket scientist at the J, Marquise Johnson, and he’s agreed to give a brief presentation before the movie. We’ll have some yummy space snacks too! Making these connections is the best part of my job.
“At a leadership workshop a few months ago I was labeled a ‘connector’ type, meaning that I like to connect people with their aspirations or needs. One of the most satisfying feelings for me comes when I see two or more people make a connection at an event I helped plan.”
Elizabeth Patton, program director at The J
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a non-Jewish program director at a Jewish Community Center?
One of my advantages is that I am unbiased in my program planning and approach every idea earnestly — meaning that I don’t hesitate to call someone and ask them to lead a program or try to collaborate. On the first grant I wrote for the J, I reached out to Hadassah with basically no knowledge about the organization. But Ginger Brook was very patient as she filled me in on the pertinent details.
I also love working with the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School and The Birmingham Jewish Federation on getting ready for our shinshinims [young cultural emissaries from Israel]. I am happy to have relationships with PJ Library and You Belong in Birmingham, and staffers at The Birmingham Jewish Foundation are always willing to walk me through ideas. I can’t wait to grow these relationships! I come at my job with a blank slate and years of experience planning programs.
The disadvantage is that I don’t have lived experience in Judaism, which can be awkward at times. But I believe strongly that my role is to ensure that all of our programs are developed and implemented through a Jewish lens. Luckily, I have found an amazing network I can turn to for help, including close friends, colleagues, and national organizations. And the Jewish members with whom I’ve interacted are always open about sharing feedback, which I love. Another piece of the culture puzzle falls into place each time I share and receive feedback.
Because I’d like to increase my knowledge of all things Jewish, I recently applied to the Mendel Leadership Project to participate in a program that includes study travel to Israel.
What are you and your team most pumped up about?
I am pumped about how much we’ve been able to accomplish in a short amount of time and the positive feedback we’re receiving. Since I’ve started this new role my team and I have been largely consumed by Camp LJCC, so we’re eager to switch gears to planning for fall for our adult members.
In particular, I’m excited about Southern Jewish Voices, a new monthly program starting in September that will collect oral histories with an audience in an intimate setting — think David Letterman’s “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” — about being Jewish in Birmingham. Oral histories give an understanding of how and why communities develop as they do and how events have a long-term influence. Everyone has a story that can provide insight into that person’s life and expose others to a broader understanding of our world. Southern Jewish Voices will seek to celebrate and highlight stories of being Jewish in the South.
And in case you need even more enticement to attend, we’ll be serving wine and cheese.
What other programs can you tell us about?
Youth theater will return in September! We’re also going to offer after-school classes such as filmmaking and dance. Our auditorium will be busy after its makeover, with screenings of major documentaries, local theater performances, and improvisational comedy. And how about a talent show for members? Finally, we plan to expand our program offerings on Sundays.
Our goal is to create a mix of events that are casual (think pop-up Havdalah game night), community gathering (bridge lessons), and educational (Judaism 101 classes).