From a young age, I watched my late mother’s commitment to the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago
in action.

My mom, Peggy Norton, who passed away in 2002, was JUF’s Jewish Community Relations Council director from 1978 to 1988. Among her many accomplishments during her tenure, she spearheaded a Soviet Jewry rally in Lincoln Park, led an interfaith leaders group, and spoke with media and government officials about critical Jewish issues. Mom was a master of extemporaneous speaking. She made close friends among her peer group of JCRC directors nationwide and was a role model for younger women in Jewish communal circles.

My mother loved having the opportunity to use her skills to benefit the Jewish community, to which she felt deeply connected.

Growing up in the 1970s, I had a second home at the Horwich JCC. I did teen leadership training there, planting seeds towards my future career of psychology.

In college, I participated in what is now JUF’s Lewis Summer Intern Program. In the intern seminar, I studied Jewish texts and took part in my first traditional Shabbat at JCC’s Camp Chi.

Interns received a small stipend and were surprised when we were solicited for a gift through JUF. This sparked a discussion about being part of the worldwide Jewish community. We learned that even a small contribution demonstrates acceptance of our responsibility for other Jews.

While attending graduate school in psychology at Boston University, I was awarded a JUF grant for students from Chicago entering helping professions.

After earning my doctorate I worked as a psychologist in community mental health and private practice. Then I was drawn to work coordinating services for day school students with learning challenges.

Three years ago I joined a new innovative day school for girls, as both a parent and as a staff member. My husband and I were excited to choose The Binah School for our daughter.

The heart of the Binah curriculum is its project based learning (PBL) approach. Students investigate a complex problem and present solutions to challenges. Gaining problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills are as essential to the learning as the content.

Binah created a one-of-a-kind approach to PBL, with Torah values and social justice central to students’ yearlong inquiry. In addition to an Avi Chai Foundation grant, the school has the support of an arts and social justice grant from the Covenant Foundation. Last year this gave students an opportunity to learn from a professional muralist. The students’ mural design grew out of their Judaic and secular studies during the year’s PBL theme of areyvut, responsibility for the other, and spreads the message that inclusion of people with all abilities is essential for the growth of a community and of the Jewish people.

In my professional role at Binah I teach students to develop self-awareness and executive function skills to participate effectively in collaborative learning groups. I also assist teachers in developing differentiated learning strategies for our multi-age classrooms.

My involvement during adolescent and young adult years in Federation-supported programs, and in my adult years as a psychologist and Jewish educator, are rooted in receiving and giving back as a member of the Jewish community.

I benefited immensely from growing up surrounded by the people and programs at the JCC. I received financial support from JUF for my graduate education as a psychologist, and that goal was shaped by my JCC and JUF intern opportunities, where I also received an introduction to my path towards increased Jewish observance.

Now I have the opportunity to give back by using my skills and experiences to support members of the next generation of Jewish young women.

I am thrilled to use all I’ve been privileged to receive in service of the Jewish community. It’s what I watched my mother do while I was growing up. I hope my daughter is watching me.

Nancy Norton, Ed.D. is a psychologist and educator who grew up in Rogers Park and currently lives in Sharon, Mass., outside of Boston. She can be reached at [email protected].

The Binah School, located in Sharon, Mass., is a local and boarding high school with students from locations throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.thebinahschool.org.