Empowering Leaders.
Inspiring Change.
Empowering current and future leaders to build a more compassionate and just society
The Jewish Center for Justice is a distinguished social justice, education, and leadership development platform that meets each individual where they are in their journey to inspire change.
The Micah D. Bycel Fund for Legislative Fellows
On August 27, 2022, the Jewish Center for Justice community suffered a devastating loss with the sudden and untimely death of Board Member Micah Bycel (z”l).
The JCJ community has created a special fund to honor Micah’s memory and secure his legacy. Micah was a kind and compassionate soul. He saw a broken world and was determined to make it better for his kids and the next generation. In his honor, The Micah D. Bycel Fund for Legislative Fellows will help shape the next generation of Jewish justice activists.
In addition to the Fund, we have renamed the program, The Micah D. Bycel Legislative Fellowship. All future fellows will learn of Micah’s memory and advocate for justice in his honor.
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Take Action : Put Lifesaving Resources in Students’ Hands
Take ACTION by contacting your California legislators and urging them to support AB 727, which which would place the Trevor Project’s crisis hotline number on all student ID cards—ensuring LGBTQ+ youth always have access to lifesaving support at school.
- Find your California Assembly Member and Senator!
Sample script:
Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling from the Jewish Center for Justice to urge [Assembly Member or Senator’s Name] to support AB 727.
This bill requires all California public school student ID cards to display the phone number for the Trevor Project—a confidential, 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis intervention service for LGBTQ+ youth—alongside existing mental health and crisis hotlines.
As someone bearing witness to the struggles our LGBTQ+ youth face, I can’t overstate how critical this is. The Trevor Project is a proven lifeline in moments of despair. By including its number on ID cards, California schools can help ensure that young people always have access to help—right when they need it most.
AB 727 aligns with Jewish values of protecting the vulnerable, preserving dignity, and saving lives.
I urge [Assembly Member/Senator’s Name] to vote yes on Ab 727 and help create a safer, more inclusive California for all. Thank you.
What is JCJ advocating for?
AB 727 would:
- This bill would require that the number for The Trevor Project—a 24/7 confidential suicide prevention and crisis intervention service for LGBTQ+ youth—be printed on all student ID cards in California, alongside existing mental health and crisis lines.
Why do we support it?
This is a simple step with profound impact. LGBTQ+ students, especially trans and nonbinary youth, are facing skyrocketing rates of anxiety, isolation, and suicidality. At JCJ, we believe that saving lives doesn’t always require big gestures—it requires access, compassion, and visibility.
Having The Trevor Project’s number on every student ID sends a clear message: You are not alone. Your life matters. Help is one call away.
In a time when the national government is eliminating the national crisis hotline for LGBTQ youth this bill is an act of justice, care, and holy obligation. Read more about our position on LGBTQ+ rights.
Additional Resources:
Take Action : Protect Health Care Access and Dignity
Take ACTION by contacting your California legislators and urging them to support SB 418, which protects transgender, nonbinary, and intersex Californians from discrimination by health insurers and service providers. Everyone deserves access to healthcare without fear...
Take Action : Streamline Legal Name and Gender Changes
Take ACTION by contacting your California legislators and urging them to support AB 1084, which will streamline gender marker and name changes by removing objection windows for adults, and ensure prompt court and registry updates for youth with parental...
