Young people of Toronto have yet another reason to celebrate as JYN (Jewish Youth Network) has opened the Robbins Family Campus; furthering its mission to empower young people in their community. For more than 20 years, Rabbi Shmuli Nachlas and his wife, Chani, have developed and led a powerful organization which provides teens with a safe place to hang out, have fun and to learn the values and life lessons of their faith to help them develop a healthy mental, physical, and spiritual life. The opening of their new facilities ushers in the next chapter of this life-changing endeavor.
Beyond a typical youth center, Rabbi Shmuli had envisioned a space where the environment itself would provide positive energy, inspiration and tell the stories which have helped the Jewish people thrive for centuries. To help bring his vision to reality, Rabbi Shmuli engaged the services of environmental graphics design firm Selbert Perkins Design to help bring these stories to life.
“This was a true collaboration, and it’s important always to recognize that. We had the architectural aspect and then you had the interior designer, Dvira Interiors, which added a tremendous element to the project. Then, on top of that, we had Selbert Perkins Design laying out the environmental graphics experience and storytelling within the space. And we had The Click Co., which was the Jewish designer taking those ideas and the Jewish aspects and supporting, working together there. Then, you had my wife and I, the teens, and our team. It’s an amazing story of collaboration, everyone working together, giving each other respect and space.”
— Rabbi Shmuli Nachlas
A primary purpose of the campus is to provide a fun space for teens to gather, connect, engage and enjoy. Along with classrooms, the facility boasts everything from state-of-the-art Music and Art Rooms to the outdoor pavilion, rooftop patio, and even its own kosher cafe, called Manna… all designed to engage young people and spark their creativity.
Beyond the bricks and mortar, what makes this building truly remarkable is the experience they’ve created. When you enter the Robbins Family Campus, you are immersed in these stories via environmental graphics. Every wall displays some of the most important Jewish teachings, so that the walls, themselves, speak.
In addition, and following the example of Lubavitcher Rebbe, these core teachings are rewritten so that they are not biblical sounding, but still true to those original core values, but very modern-day, relatable in color and style, in design and feel, and messaging. As young people are enjoying themselves, they are being imbued with inspiring values and life lessons.
The kids love it! Whether they’re playing basketball, playing ping pong, they’re in the café, whatever they’re doing, they’re surrounded by the energy, by the Western Wall, by positive messaging, by vibrant colors, by just a place they want to go to. It’s not the old… it’s a modern-day expression of Jewish traditions, values and heritage.
“Regarding Selbert Perkins Design, it’s been an absolute pleasure. I work with a lot of people. Not only with this project, and especially as a Rabbi, I’m interacting with so many people on so many levels, whether it’s transactional or community. John Lutz and Rachael Rosa… we love them. They’re the best people, great, great human beings, and just amazing. They have it in them. It’s not just a job that they’re doing; They’re born to tell these stories!”
— Rabbi Shmuli Nachlas
Selbert Perkins Design is honored to be assisting the Jewish Youth Network in their ongoing mission in providing spaces and programs to inspire, empower and enrich the lives of young people in Toronto.
