Developing Skills for Hard Conversations

In-Person

A Workshop with NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change

When we help adolescents build their capacity to communicate across differences, we support them in increasing the likelihood of transforming entire communities through the power of relationships. This is the heart of our winter, resilience building workshop with Tasneem Noor, Program Director of NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change, and Jewish LearningWorks’ Bay Area Jewish Youth Resilience Roundtable. Please join us!

When: Thursday, January 15, 2026 from 10 am to 12 pm

Where: Temple Sinai in Oakland

How do we build resilience when conversations become hard?

In this workshop, we will explore and practice techniques for discussing differences and charged issues. By doing so, we will grow our own capacity to create spaces for Jewish adolescents to practice and strengthen their own abilities to discuss hard topics while being in community with those with differing ideas, beliefs, and perspectives.

  • Aimed at: Jewish educators who work with adolescents.
  • Format: One-time, in-person meeting.
  • Facilitated by: Tasneem Noor, who facilitates MAJIC (Muslims & Jews Inspiring Change) High School Leadership Council, will share NewGround’s facilitation best-practices for communicating across difference. She will be joined by Jewish LearningWorks’ Senior Educator, Alisha Pedowitz, who has been trained in NewGround facilitation techniques, and participates in their Community of Practice.

Program Details

  • Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026.
  • Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Lunch will be provided.
  • Location: Temple Sinai (2808 Summit St., Oakland, CA 94609).

Registration

Early bird fee: Register for $36 by January 2, 2026.

Regular registration fee: The program fee rises to $40 after the early bird deadline.

Organizations that are members of the Bay Area Jewish Youth Resilience Roundtable receive one comped registration. If you are a member, please email Alisha Pedowitz at alisha@jewishlearning.works to register.

Register Here

Questions

Please contact Alisha Pedowitz, Senior Educator, at alisha@jewishlearning.works for any questions or more information.

All trainings at Jewish LearningWorks are subsidized by our generous donors. If the cost is a barrier to your participation, do not hesitate to contact us.

About Our Facilitator

Tasneem Noor, Program Director, NewGround: A Muslim Jewish Partnership for Change. Tanseem is best known as the faith connector. She is the award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of “The Faith Connection: Your Journey Starts with Knowing Yourself.” Tasneem is the founder of Noor Enterprises: SOULful Transformations committed to providing transformational experiences, personal & spiritual development, and facilitating meaningful dialogue across differences. Tasneem received her Masters in Education in Student Affairs from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). For over seven years, Tasneem worked within student affairs on campuses including Santa Monica College, UCLA, and Cal State University, Los Angeles.

As the Programs Director for NewGround: A Muslim Jewish Partnership for Change, Tasneem has trained over 200 community leaders through 8 month long conflict transformational programs. Tasneem specializes in communication across differences, especially on difficult, charged topics. For Tasneem, authenticity and courage are her most cherished values in building stronger relationships and sustainable communities.