Click here to register for this event.

When: July 15, 22 and 29, 2020 at 8:00 pm PDT
Who: High School Teens (and older) plus their parents and educators
Cost: Free of charge

July 15 – Teens and Adults together

July 22 – Teens Only

July 29 – Parents and Educators

This is an online session like no other; here is a chance to learn and connect with international award-winning speaker and writer, Scott Fried, as he guides us through the holy work of supporting a teen in a pandemic.

Scott Fried is a youth educator, international award-winning speaker and writer. As a person living with HIV for over 32 years, he was part of and survived that 20th century pandemic, where his HIV/AIDS support group became the inspiration for the Broadway musical “RENT.” Scott’s work spotlights the teenage years, shining a powerful message of love, responsibility and self-respect. He is the author of four books, including his newest, “How to Raise an Elegant Teen: The ABCs of Gen Z Parenting.” He is an adjunct professor at Colby College where he teaches a popular class called “AIDS, Love and the Meaning of Life.” Scott lives in New York City.

Session I: This session is for BOTH TEENS AND ADULTS

Launch this summer series by coming together to listen to Scott’s stories and anecdotes, so that we can share a common language of growth, hope and perseverance.

Session II: This session is for TEENS ONLY

Are you feeling stuck in a monotonous daily routine and tired of wearing PJs all day? Are you struggling to see beyond the lockdown? Give yourself the gift of time with Scott, who will talk to the group frankly, help to offer perspective on life in a pandemic and listen to your voices.

Session III: This session is for ADULTS ONLY -Note this is Tisha B’Av

How can we show up for the teens in our life? How can we convey to them that we are here, when we don’t know how to answer so many of their questions? Using the Jewish fast day of Tisha B’Av as a frame, we will explore ways in which we can best support our young people through the ups and downs of life. We will also focus on the importance of us practicing self-care as adults. Give yourself this hour with Scott to listen, learn and grow alongside other adults supporting teens.

Before registering, please note:

We ask everyone to attend each session fully. As best as we can via Zoom, please be present. We request that everyone leave their cameras on during the talk. Doing so helps to create the sacred community that is needed for these sessions. By having your camera on, Scott can see you and connect with you. Please feel free to be vulnerable, to emote, and to listen and learn through Scott’s valuable messages.  There is great comfort in seeing emotion coming from the surrounding boxes — we have experienced that firsthand. For these reasons, we will not allow those whose cameras are off to remain in the session.

Many thanks to our partners in this program and to the Jewish Community Federation’s Teen Initiative for their funding of this series:

Center for Children and Youth, a division of Jewish Family and Children’s Services
Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills
Congregation Emanu El, San Francisco
Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley
Congregation Rodef Sholom
Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco
Congregation Sinai, San Jose
Contra Costa Midrasha
Peninsula Temple Beth El, San Mateo
Temple Sinai, Oakland
The Kitchen, San Francisco