Update: New Staff and both Paid and Volunteer Openings

Having operated for 20 years as an all-volunteer organization, we are now gradually transitioning towards a core of paid staff who will handle the increased leadership and administrative burdens associated with our expansion. As of November 2022, we now have three part-time, paid staff members:

• Executive Director - Ben Littauer

• Director of Reentry - Glenn Williams

• Administrator - Randy Wessel

We hope in 2023 to fund more expanded roles for these individuals and eventually to shift to a full-time salary and benefits model. We also plan to create additional paid positions, including a Director of Fundraising and a Director of Training. Additionally, we plan to hire returning citizen Circle Guides as paid facilitators and Credible Messengers to help lead our inside and reentry circles.

After many years of dedicated service, Jon Hickok is retiring as our Treasurer (thank you Jon for your giveaway!). We need to find a new Treasurer to replace him. Please contact larry.cotton@jerichocircle.org if you or someone you know might be interested.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Jericho Circle is committed to becoming a more diverse, equitable & inclusive organization. Historically, our volunteer base has come primarily from the ManKind Project (MKP), a men’s personal growth organization that, in New England, consists predominantly of white, middle-class men. While we remain very grateful for our continued relationship and partnership with MKP, we also plan to significantly broaden our recruiting horizons as we move forward. We are currently in the process of expanding and diversifying our Board of Directors and expect to have some exciting news to share on this front in the near future, as well.

We are actively recruiting prospective volunteers who are people of color, formerly incarcerated, women, and/or under the age of 50. Please direct any candidates whom you believe would be a good fit to http://jerichocircle.org/apply. Prior experience sitting in a circle and facilitating work is helpful, but not required. Training will be provided to new volunteers, and logistical & financial support will also be made available in the interest of promoting accessibility.

Since December of 2021, Seth Harwood and Michael Chell have co-led a monthly virtual intercultural competency circle designed specifically for the white men in Jericho (our majority volunteer demographic). The intention of this call is to support us in exploring our whiteness and raising our awareness so we can make Jericho a more inclusive space for people of color. We’ve had some great conversations and done some juicy work in this circle, and plan to expand it beyond this demographic in the near future to help further our organization’s intercultural learning and growth process. (Please contact seth.harwood@jerichocircle.org if you’d like to join these calls).

Governance

We are looking for pro bono legal assistance to overhaul our by-laws, produce a liability waiver for volunteer activities, and do a general risk assessment for our organization. Please contact larry.cotton@jerichocircle.org if you or someone you know might be interested in helping with this.

Community Calls

• Each Saturday from 10-11:30 am ET, Randy Wessel, and Sean Luttmann have been hosting a Community Call to further connection among our volunteers, discuss Jericho business, and create an online space for doing work. Please contact randy.wessel@jerichocircle.org if you’d like to join this call.