I’m going to start by sharing something that makes me feel vulnerable: when I became a 28-year-old Executive Director at the JCC in Birmingham, Alabama — my hometown — I had no idea what I was doing.

I had passion and cared deeply about the mission. But I was learning in real time how to lead people, navigate difficult decisions, and carry responsibility for a community that meant so much to so many.

What made the difference were the people who invested not only in the JCC, but in me.

They didn’t stand at a distance telling me what I should do. They walked beside me, took my calls, gave me tough feedback when I needed it, and encouraged me when I doubted myself. They taught me that leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about having the humility to know you cannot do it alone.

This week felt especially meaningful because one of those mentors was in Indianapolis for work, and I had the chance to show her our Indy JCC — nearly a decade after I first stepped into leadership in Birmingham.

As we walked through our JCC, met staff, talked about our vision, and watched members filling our spaces with life and energy, I kept thinking about how much of my journey she had witnessed. She always saw something bigger in the JCC — its ability to bring people together, strengthen Jewish life, and create belonging across generations. And somehow, even when I was a young leader trying to find my footing, she saw potential in me too.

There was something emotional about sharing our community with her — not because everything is perfect, but because she could see growth, the kind that only happens when people choose to invest in one another over time.

I also found myself thinking about another mentor and former boss, who shaped me profoundly. He taught me that leadership is fundamentally relational. He modeled consistency, presence, humility, and the importance of truly seeing people. He understood that strong communities are not built through titles or strategy alone, but through trust, care, and showing up for one another again and again.

This former boss gave me extraordinary opportunities early in my career and invested in me deeply. A former journalist, he is also the person who instilled in me my love of writing. To this day, I still send him drafts and ask for feedback.

I think one of the most powerful forms of leadership is helping people recognize their own potential before they fully see it themselves.

The truth is that most of us do not become who we are on our own. We grow because someone encouraged us to take a chance, challenged us to think bigger, offered grace when we made mistakes, and stayed beside us when the responsibility felt overwhelming.

This kind of investment changes people. It certainly changed me. There were moments early in my career when I felt overwhelmed by the weight of leadership and unsure whether I was capable of carrying it well. But my mentors did not just offer advice; they offered belief. They reminded me that leadership is not about perfection. It is about being willing to learn, listen, staying grounded in purpose, and ongoing growth.

Over time, that belief shaped not only the leader I became, but the person I became.

Our JCC shapes lives every day, often in ways we may not fully realize. Sometimes it is as simple as being the place where a new friendship begins. Sometimes it is a personal trainer encouraging someone to push beyond what they thought they could do. Sometimes it is one person signing up for a class and inspiring someone else to take that same step alongside them. Sometimes it is a teenager becoming a lifeguard and having their very first professional experience begin at the JCC pool on opening day. These moments may seem small on their own, but over time, they shape confidence, connection, belonging, and community. 

As I walked through our halls with my mentor, I reflected on how so much of my own growth happened because people at the JCC believed in me before I fully believed in myself. Maybe that is one of the greatest gifts of our JCC — not simply what happens inside these walls, but what happens inside the people who walk through them. 

Here’s to believing in ourselves, one another, and in the power of our community. Wishing you all a restful Shabbat. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Sam Dubrinsky – JCC Indianapolis CEO