In 2026, Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis joined forces with our companion organization Jewish Family Services of St. Paul to form a new organization: JFCS Minnesota. The original organizations (founded in 1910 and 1911, respectively), were created to aid large numbers of refugees settling in Minnesota from Eastern Europe. JFCS builds on this tradition of reaching out to all who need support within the Jewish community and beyond. Our long-standing tradition of serving immigrants and refugees continues today, as we serve individuals from the Somali and Latino(x) communities, along with immigrants/refugees from the former Soviet Union. This year, JFCS services will serve an estimated 17,000 individuals and families, with clients ranging in age from less than one year to over 100 years. J-Pride is a signature program of JFCS, launched in 2006 in response to community need—a few parents of LGBTQ+ Jewish children asked JFCS to organize a Jewish presence at the Twin Cities Pride Festival twenty years ago. Since its grassroots inception, J-Pride has grown over two decades into a robust community initiative with social, ritual, and educational programs by and for LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies.