Student to Student participants

Student to Student Program

Prejudice often results from a lack of knowledge and familiarity. In response, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of St. Louis created the Student to Student program in 1992 to reduce stereotypes and prejudice. Jewish students travel to schools lacking a strong Jewish presence and share their experiences with Judaism with their peers. The program has now expanded to Des Moines as part of a national pilot program, starting in 2017. In 2022, Student to Student became the primary program of the newly-founded 501(c)(3), Be The Narrative, reaching 25 metropolitan areas across the United States.

“It is through programs such as this that our communities learn to understand each other better so that we… can live in mutual respect and peace.”

– Student to Student Participating Teacher

What is Student to Student?

Student to Student® is a classroom-based experiential program that brings Jewish and non-Jewish high school students together to learn about Judaism through personal storytelling. STS is the licensed program of Be The Narrative.

Be The Narrative, a national 501(c)(3) organization, develops interactive educational programs that connect Jewish and non-Jewish peers to learn about Judaism and dispel stereotypes.

Presentations are given by a group of three or four students representing the Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform branches of Judaism. Since this is a presentation by peers, it can resonate with the students on a deeper level. The style of presentation is more like that of an informal discussion. Classrooms find that the use of props and openness to questions are some of the most engaging elements of the presentation. The students also bring in personal stories which show both the reality and diversity of Jewish practice.

Presenters discuss a range of topics, including the following:

  • A typical day in the presenters’ lives
  • The Jewish calendar and holidays
  • The Sabbath
  • The Jewish life cycle
  • Jewish dietary practices
  • The Hebrew language
  • The Holocaust
  • Israel history and culture

Through hundreds of presentations each year across 25 metropolitan areas, Student to Student has reached thousands of students in schools across the country that lack a Jewish presence. These young people can now put a “human face” to Judaism—the best antidote to bigotry and intolerance.

How to Participate

For more information or to schedule a presentation, contact Benjamin Brodkey, Assistant Director of Education and Programming, at 515-987-0899 ext. 236 or benjamin@jewishdesmoines.org.

To nominate a high school student presenter, please fill out this form.

To apply as a high school student presenter, please fill out our application.