Just a few years ago, being innovative was key to a new organizations success. But, as time has gone on, debate has hatched over what can truly be defined as innovative and unfortunately, it has become clear that even with initial funding, it is difficult to keep an innovative program afloat. There have been a huge variety of conversations and articles dedicated to the conversation of innovation, both sharing its importance and questioning its long-term impact. However, recently much of the innovation buzz and discussion has dissipated, but fear not, it is has been replaced by our new friend, organizational sustainability!

Since its inception, UpStart has committed itself not only to strengthening the professionalism and efficacy of new Jewish initiatives, but also to strengthening the Jewish knowledge of the leaders and the quality of Jewish content offered by these initiatives. It remains unique in the network of Jewish incubators aimed at bolstering the Jewish innovation ecosystem, and begs the question: why is it important to engage the leaders of new Jewish initiatives in substantive Jewish learning? And, furthermore, why does UpStart believe that it is not only important, but ultimately intricately interwoven with the potential success of these leaders and their projects?

UpStarter Urban Adamah has announced the launch of its Spring, 2012 Young Adult Fellowship. Jewish young adults can apply for the fellowship online at http://urbanadamah.org/apply/. Twelve fellows will be selected to participate in the new organic farm and Jewish environmental education program in West Berkeley, beginning March 4. This blog is an account of Urban Adamah fellow Aliza Slavin Gazek's experiences on the farm in the summer of 2011.

"What's wrong with your elbow?" an eight-year old asked during Camp Urban Adamah, a Berkeley day camp that explores Judaism and the environment. Struggling for a good view of this hard-to-see part of my body, I yielded to another camper, who responded, "She's a farmer!" It was then that I learned the necessity of scrubbing my elbows; their dark appearance came from dirt or soil rather. I've also learned that soil and dirt are actually the same thing, given two different names based solely on their location (dirt is on the ground, soil is in a planter).

I've acquired dirty elbows and expanded my understanding of food systems this summer as a fellow in the inaugural season of Urban Adamah, an urban edition of the existing Jewish farming venture in Connecticut. As one of twelve fellows, all in our twenties, I'm enjoying three months living in a house with my "fellow fellows," working our one-acre plot of urban land, learning about permaculture, Judaism, and food justice, and exploring beautiful Northern California, especially with those of us unfamiliar with coastal drives and towering redwoods.

12/25/11
MOSAIC: interviews explore how Bay Area peoples lives are enriched by diversity of cultural and faith perspectives. (CBS 5)
Featuring:
Maya Bernstein, Director of Education and Leadership Initiatives at UpStart Bay Area
Sarah Lefton, Founder & CEO at G-dcast

I realized that I wasnt in the Kansas of the Jewish community anymore when there was a break at four oclock in the afternoon and there wasnt a morsel of food in sight. I was attending the Social Innovation Summit which brings together successful social entrepreneurs, funders, and corporations, to discuss how to translate the most innovative and effective practices from the private sector to the social sector. I trailed Nancy Lublin, CEO of dosomething.org and a self- described loud Jew from New York who was on the lookout for a cookie, but alas, everywhere, people stood, Perrier in hand, seemingly comfortable, talking animatedly about their work. I learned about a variety of inspiring programs, which included bringing clean water to rural villages, empowering individuals to help save the U.S public school system, and building libraries and literacy skills for children in developing countries.

There has been much discussion about the importance of connectivity and dialogue in the Jewish community, and the value of the network as a model to enable that. In The Jewish Week, Gary Rosenblatt laments the lack of conversation between Orthodox Jews and Jews of other denominations: There are discussion groups between Jews and Christians, and Jews and Muslims; how about a few more between Orthodox Jews and the rest of the community? In another recent piece, Chip Edelsberg of the Jim Joseph Foundation points to the profound shift from bureaucracy and organizational hierarchy grounded in analog-based communication to a networked universe powered by digital technology and admits that the funding and education communities still function according to the old model. And Annie Lumerman, a recent participant in the Schusterman Foundations NetWORKS gathering, lauds the open-ended network as a model that leads to sparks of connectivity and an open environment for conversations across the aisle to break down barriers and find common ground between different communities. These are calls to action, and we sound them loud and clear. But then we go to work, and, by and large, function the way we always have.

10/18/11
Philanthropic and Executive Leadership: Bringing Nonprofits to Scale
Featuring William Foster, Bridgespan Group Senior Partner and incoming Executive Director of the Jacobson Family Foundation
Cosponsored by The Foundation Center and the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund
UpStart Innovation in Philanthropy Series

William Foster: Bringing Nonprofits to Scale from UpStart Bay Area on FORA.tv

11/14/11
Special Webinar: New Opportunities and Challenges for Innovation in Jewish Life
A conversation with Toby Rubin (UpStart Bay Area Founder & CEO), Barry Finestone (JCCSF Executive Director), and Sara Bamberger (Kevah Founder & Executive Director)
UpStart Online

Opportunities & Challenges for Innovation in Jewish Life from UpStart Bay Area on FORA.tv

"Hanging Out" on Google+ with UpStart Bay Area was a real treat and an amazing exercise in building connections. Because the event was inspired by the film Connected (that I haven't even seen yet), I was especially curious to learn about the insights that would be explored by this impromptu group of Jewish social entrepreneurs. I was already a fan of Tiffany Shlains film The Tribe, and was happy to learn more about her recommendation to take a technology shabbat.

Last week William Foster, Executive Director of the Jacobson Family Foundation and former Bridgespan Group Senior Partner, spoke about philanthropic and executive leadership in bringing nonprofits to scale at an event sponsored by UpStart Bay Area, the Foundation Center, and the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund.

Foster raised a number of important ideas for nonprofit leaders and funders to consider, some of which Ill explore here.