The World Jewish Congress and the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles have launched the West Coast’s first-ever Campus Pitch Initiative, aimed at encouraging students to propose creative ways to change the discourse about Israel at colleges and universities.
Applications will be accepted throughout March, and five student groups will be narrowed down as finalists. The final competition will be held in spring, where student groups will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. The winning group will receive $5,000 to implement their proposal. Students interesting in pitching their proposals for the Los Angeles Campus Pitch Initiative can register here: losangeles.campuspitch.org
The Campus Pitch Initiative debuted in New York in the fall of 2015 for students in the Tri-State area, with the first competition being held in spring 2016. The project is gradually being expanded across the United States, with plans to launch in London next semester, and then to other cities in Europe and Latin America. 
WJC CEO Robert Singer said: “Campuses all over the United States, as well in Europe and Latin America, have been taken over by the dangerous initiatives of those seeking to boycott and delegitimize Israel and Jewish communities. These movements are gaining steam and popular support at alarming rates, and Jewish and pro-Israel students often feel silenced and threatened,” Singer said. “The World Jewish Congress fully stands behind the advocacy efforts to fight these anti-Israel anti-Jewish campaigns. Thanks to the courage and determination of these students, we can and we will change the conversation on campuses.”
Israel’s Consul General in Los Angeles Sam Grundwerg said: “We are thrilled about the launch of the first Campus Pitch Competition in Southern California. As the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, we strive to bring the best of Israel to the Southwest United States. On campus, students are the most powerful means of delivering a message about Israel that is true, positive and productive. We look forward to the innovative ideas as the next generation of Israel advocates take on the Campus Pitch Competition.”
Yale student Lea Weiner won the 2017 competition in New York for her proposal for a two-day workshop and mock negotiation on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process with David Makovsky (Director of the Project on the Middle East Peace Process) and Ghaith al-Omari (Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute). As part of her plan, Jewish and Israeli students will be trained by al-Omari in how to represent the Palestinian side and Arab students will be trained by Makovsky in how to represent the Israeli side.
Baruch College students Orr Izkovich and Amit Gutin won the 2016 competition with their proposal for a Humans of New York-style photo exhibition telling the stories of Israeli citizens from all walks of life. Their exhibit, Faces of Israel, was launched in spring 2016 on their New York campus and has since been displayed at various events and venues both locally and abroad.
For more information: https://www.campuspitch.org/
