BLEWS Freedom Seder is a component of the Youth Initiative Program. The seder is held annually for students participating in the Youth Initiative and adults in related groups. Elements of the traditional Jewish Passover Seder are combined with a counterpart African American "Overcome" obervance to celebrate the importance to both groups of freedom from slavery and oppression.


BLEWS Leadership Initiative is a new effort to bring together leaders and future leaders from the Black and Jewish communities for an ongoing program of learning and dialogue. Go to the Leadership Initiative page for more information, including the program application form.


BLEWS Program Forums on topics of mutual interest are held on a bimonthly basis. Recent forums have covered such topics as the Maryland General Assembly Session, Education and the Thornton Plan, and the new Maryland Museum of African-American History and Culture and its near neighbor, the Jewish Museum of Maryland.


Past programs have included:

Operation Understanding: BLEWS co-sponsored a year-long project for six African American and six Jewish high school students. Program included five orientation sessions, a month^s visit in Senegal and Israel, and participation in a speakers^ forum to share their experiences.

Co-Sponsor of numerous programs designed to lessen inter-ethnic tensions: The Summit on Race Relations,The Multi-Ethnic City, and the Stop the Killing campaign of the Associated Black Charities.

Teen Summit: Project brought together 300 African-American and Jewish teens in 1997 for a full day of inter-group learning activities. Evaluation results show this program was successful in helping to dispel stereotypes and reduce prejudice.

Leadership Program: Project developed leaders who have since taken up leadership positions in both the BLEWS and other community organizations.