The Rose Project is run by the New England Jewish Labor Committee (NEJLC). NEJLC is a chapter of the national Jewish Labor Committee, which was founded in 1934 by Jewish union leaders in order to smuggle money and arms to Jewish resistance in Nazi Europe. NEJLC has a proud history of organizing the Jewish community to support the labor movement, including strike support and our Young Workers Happy Hours series. The Rose Project is staffed by NEJLC Associate Director Miriam Cohen.

The Rose Project is for anyone ages 20-27 who identifies as Jewish. If you have questions about eligibility, we would love to have a conversation— please reach out! We are happy to talk about whether this program makes sense for you or other ways you can get involved with the Rose Project or NEJLC. We run stand alone trainings and other labor events throughout the year that are open to all.

Please fill out the interest form on the Learn More tab. Online applications will be sent out to people who have filled out the interest form this fall. After submitting, applicants who are accepted into the next round will have two interviews with NEJLC staff and labor organizers. If you are accepted into the finalist round, we will connect you with the union(s) you are interested in working with, which each have their own interview process. After a union accepts you into their program, you are all set as a Rose Project cohort member!

The first Rose Project cohort will run from September 2027 to August 2028. Part time and full time work schedules are available. The cohort will come together regularly for in person evening sessions including processing and peer coaching, organizing skill building, Jewish learning, and Shabbat dinner. Other kinds of support will be layered throughout the program year, including 1:1 mentorship sessions and sessions with the wider labor community.

You will work with one of our local union partners, including UNITE HERE Local 26 and Starbucks Workers United. Evening and weekend availability is often required. During the application process, you will be matched with a union that makes sense for you. 

Pay is variable but ranges between $18-$35/ hour. Please reach out if you would like to discuss how this might be financially feasible for you.

The Rose Project is based in the greater Boston area. Your workplace will depend on which union you are working with and cohort sessions will vary in location. If you are relocating to Boston, we are happy to have a conversation about where makes sense for you to live and support you in finding housing. 

The curriculum has three components: processing and peer coaching, organizing skill building, and Jewish spiritual practice and learning. All three components are geared toward supporting cohort members to hone their organizing and make the work more sustainable. It will be taught by guest facilitators from the Boston labor movement and progressive Jewish community along with program director Miriam Cohen. To get a taste of the curriculum, you can attend a workshop in our fall series, found here.

In accordance with our commitment to building worker power and to dignity for all, the Rose Project is in solidarity with both the labor movement and all movements for justice, including justice in Israel/Palestine. We model our organizing approach after unions, which by necessity organize everyone in the workplace across political difference. We welcome a range of political opinions into our cohort along with frank conversation and disagreement. Our curriculum will include grappling with concepts of Zionism and antizionism in the labor movement and for ourselves as Jewish organizers. 

Please feel free to fill out the interest form to learn more or reach out directly to program director Miriam Cohen.