Belonging

We are working to build an event in which each participant:

• Feels valued as an individual.
• Can identify a welcoming spirit adopted by all organizers and presenters as their posture.
• Sees presenters leading with respect and honor for all participants.
• Can be confident that all staff, regardless of role, are treated with equal care and concern.
• Feels that they matter to others and are essential to the conference mandate and vision.
• Understands that the conference is built with a belonging lens that keeps in mind the personal, communal and environment itself and that acceptance, sharing and mutual responsibility are paramount to the entirety of the conference.

Organizers, presenters, and volunteers at every level will incorporate belonging best practices into the processes, curation and content of JPro25 – from recruitment and marketing to decision-making for each program component. Together, we will assume a posture of empathy at every opportunity, and this posture should be evident in our interactions, our program, our communications, and all other aspects of the conference experience. JPro25 staff, chairs, and host committee will share ownership, collective power, and shared responsibility at all stages of implementation. As part of the belonging framework, there will be opportunities to meet in affinity groups during the conference.

Your safety is our top priority. We have taken extensive measures to ensure a secure environment—without compromising the welcoming, inclusive spirit we want to define the entire conference. Security personnel have been trained to support a diverse community of attendees with care, consistency, and respect. Upon arrival at the Hilton, all guests will go through a metal detector and small bags brought to the conference floor will be subject to inspection. A photo ID will be required to receive your security credentials. There will be a K9 unit on site.

You’ll also notice both uniformed and plainclothed security professionals positioned throughout the venue and surrounding areas. These protocols are based on guidance from Jewish communal and Baltimore-area security organizations and reflect current threat assessments. We appreciate your understanding and partnership in creating a safe space for everyone.

We are also deeply committed to ensuring this conference is responsive to the individual needs and observances of our attendees:

• For those who require seating close to the stage in the plenary room, tables with a “Reserved ADA” sign will be available at the front.
• If you’ve indicated any allergies or food accommodations, they have been considered in preparing the meals.
• Primary breakfast buffet: There will be a marked allergy-friendly table.
• Tuesday lunch: Please let your server know if you need a vegetarian meal. 
• Dinner stations: Food items will be marked with all allergen information. 
• All meals provided at the conference are kosher. 

For those observing the Omer (sefirat haOmer), we have several measures in place to ensure you can participate fully in the conference without compromising your religious practices. Please visit the “Omer” Resource in the conference app for more information.

We’re so proud of our approach to belonging at our last conference, JPro22: Going Places, Together in partnership with JFNA. Check out these articles, “Cleveland conference mirrored Jewish demographics – by design,” authored by Gamal J. Palmer and Stacey Aviva Flint, and “Equity by Design: Behind the Scenes,” authored by Ilana Aisen. We look forward to ensuring that belonging is ingrained into every aspect of JPro25.

If you have any questions about our commitment or approach to belonging, please reach out to us at jpro25@leadingedge.org.