2025 CJN September

The Charlotte

JEWISH

NEWS

Vol. 47, No. 8 Elul 5785- Tishrei 5786 September 2025

Shalom Park Leads A New Era of Campus Security

Shalom Park is more than a campus— it is the physical and spiritual heart of Jewish life in Charlotte. Every day, people of all ages gather here to learn, celebrate, connect, and serve. The Foundation of Shalom Park( Foundation), which oversees the operation and safety of this 54-acre campus, is committed to ensuring that all who enter feel both welcome and secure.
New Security Lobby
A Strategic Commitment to Protection
Security at Shalom Park is evolving— not in isolation but in collaboration. While the Foundation leads this transformation, we deeply value the strength of our agency partnerships, whose cooperation is vital to the success of every advancement. Our approach is guided by a longterm vision: to create a comprehensive, system-wide safety culture that protects our people, preserves our values, and ensures the vitality of Jewish life in Charlotte.
Smarter Entry, Safer Campus
A major milestone in this effort is the transformation of the main lobby into a modern security hub. Equipped with facial comparison technology, the new space will support seamless, touchless credentialing for the thousands who access the campus weekly— balancing safety with ease.
Expanded Leadership in Security
Thanks to funding from Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte through the Jewish Federation of North America’ s( JFNA) LiveSecure initiative, the Foundation has appointed its first Security Director and Advisor, Martha Dozier. This new role marks an exciting chapter in our proactive safety culture and extends our support to Jewish institutions throughout the Charlotte metro region. In this capacity, Martha consults on security plans / operations and policies, coordinates training, and completes security assessments for Jewish organizations outside of Shalom Park. The strategic expansion of our security team underscores our core belief that safety is not just a system, it is a culture we build together.
Prepared for the Unexpected Behind the scenes, the Foundation has developed a new Emergency Standard Operating Procedure Plan to guide all agencies through incidents ranging from medical events to active threats. Built in partnership with local law enforcement and national experts, this framework ensures preparedness and coordinated
Martha Dozier, Security Director & Advisor— LiveSecure response at every level.
At the Foundation our mission is clear: to keep this campus a safe, vibrant home for Jewish life – now and for generations to come.
For questions about the security lobby, emergency planning or the new credentialing process, please contact Chris Dozier at chris. dozier @ shalomcharlotte. org.

Securing Jewish Charlotte: Federation’ s Commitment to Safety

By Jessica Goldfarb, JFGC Comnmunications Specialist
When people gather to celebrate, learn, worship, or lead within Jewish spaces, they deserve to do so without fear. Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte( JFGC) is committed to making that possible— through proactive planning, strategic investment, and community-wide coordination.
In recent years, Federation has taken a lead role in strengthening the security of Jewish life across greater Charlotte. From helping organizations access federal resources to helping fund local infrastructure upgrades, this work reflects both an urgent need and a collective responsibility.
As the central philanthropic organization for Jewish Charlotte, Federation is uniquely positioned to raise and direct the funds needed to meet these critical needs. Security has become a top priority— one that Federation continues to address in close partnership with donors, local institutions, and national networks.
Through LiveSecure— a national initiative in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America— JFGC, in collaboration with Foundation of Shalom Park, has helped organizations across Charlotte apply for federal Nonprofit Security Grants, complete site assessments, and access expert guidance. A significant step forward was the hiring of a dedicated Security Director and Advisor focused on institutions across greater Charlotte, providing hands-on support, planning, and coordination with law enforcement. For many institutions, this marks the first time they’ ve had direct access to professional security expertise.
In 2024, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte received an initial grant from The Tepper Foundation, which helped significantly expand their capacity
to support community security for children’ s programming. Combined with Annual Campaign dollars and other targeted gifts, this funding has enabled Federation to assist the Foundation of Shalom Park in making key physical upgrades, improving emergency preparedness, and enhancing coordination across campus institutions.
By aligning local leadership with national resources, Federation is ensuring that every Jewish life in Charlotte has the tools and support it needs to stay safe and resilient. Security is an ongoing effort, and Federation will continue to help lead it with focus, collaboration, and with the shared commitment of a community that protects its own.
NONPROFIT ORG U. S. POSTAGE PAID CHARLOTTE NC PERMIT # 1208 CHARLOTTE, NC
5007 Providence Road, Suite # 101 Charlotte, NC 28226 Change Service Requested

Celebrating The High Holidays In Charlotte Special Section— Pages 19-26