Bridging the divide between Uzbekistan and Forest Hills, Jewish Child Care Association’s (JCCA) Bukharian Teen Lounge youth will welcome Queens Assemblymember Michael Cohen on Thursday, February 5 at 3:45-5 p.m. at the Central Queens Y, 67-09 108th St. Cohen will share first hand knowledge about the political process and his experiences as a member of the state Assembly. Participation in the political process is a new experience for young people whose early years were spent in the Soviet Union. The teens are preparing to attend a Jewish youth leadership conference "Panim el Panim" or Face to Face) in Washington, D.C. in April, where they will be meeting with government officials, including Congressmember Anthony Weiner.

JCCA’s Bukharian Teen Lounge, at the Central Queens YM/YWHA, helps high school age immigrants who are among the 35,000 Bukharian Jews who recently emigrated from the former Soviet Union to Queens. Teens meet after school to socialize, become involved with Jewish tradition and activities and participate in life skills workshops, work internship programs and field trips. The Teen Lounge was created for Rego Park/Forest Hills Bukharian youth in 1999 after JCCA received several grants from UJA-Federation of New York.

Panim el Panim (Face to Face) brings students together to explore Jewish values and social and political activism and enables them to understand their responsibility for effecting tikkun olam. (repair of the world). Panim is an educational foundation focusing on integrating Jewish learning, values and social responsibility.

Jewish Child Care Association is a multi-service family and children’s agency with programs in New York City and Westchester. JCCA was founded in 1822 and serves people of all races and religions. Beneficiary: UJA-Federation of New York; Participating agency: United Way.