(BBYO) For years, BBYO has played a significant role for Mountain Region teens in developing leadership and social skills, strengthening their Jewish identity, learning organizational skills, and creating new friendships with Jewish teens around the world.

BBYO is the leading pluralistic teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. With over 700 teen-led chapters (AZA for boys and BBG for girls) across 50 countries around the world, Jewish teens in communities of all shapes and sizes engage their peers in activities focuses on community service, philanthropy, civic engagement, Israel education, and Jewish heritage, among other topics.

Teens are often drawn into the Movement through social activities like dances, sports leagues, movie screenings, and similar events. In BBYO, teens are in charge; they plan and implement activities (concerts, sports, overnights) and do good for the community (advocacy campaigns, fundraisers, and service work for causes that they choose). Throughout the process, they master valuable leadership skills, form deep connections with their fellow
teens, and build a Jewish identity for themselves. As a teen-led organization, members also plan the year’s calendar, manage chapter boards, and communicate with parents.

All Jewish teens in grades 8 through 12 are welcome in BBYO!

What does BBYO look like in Mountain Region? BBYO Mountain Region has over 350 members in 14 chapters across Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. All of our chapters hold events every week. Events are planned by teens for teens throughout the entire school year. Members develop and lead programming, which range from fun activities like ice skating, to more serious programming around social justice or leadership development. Chapters also hold some events with other chapters across Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, and teens coordinate carpools for locations that are farther away. Chapters host other exciting events on occasion like fundraisers, Shabbat dinners, and overnights. All chapters participate in regional programs such as
dances, community service days, sports leagues, and weekend-long conventions.

FUN FACT
Mountain Region’s mascot is the goat and our
colors are blue and gold!

BBYO Glossary
AZA: Division of BBYO for those who identify
as males; stands for Aleph Zadik Aleph.
BBG: Division of BBYO for those who identify
as females; stands for B’nai B’rith Girls.
Godol: The president of an AZA (boys) chapter.
N’siah: The president of a BBG (girls) chapter.
Chapter: A group of members who program
for and train their younger members; a place
where the strongest bonds occur between
brother Alephs and sister BBGs.
Region: Large areas that are made up of
multiple chapters.

This article was originally posted on BBYO.

This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content are presented solely by the author, and JewishPhoenix assumes no responsibility for them. MORE