SJCC holds early childhood school naming and reopening ceremony

Published 9:30 am Monday, September 15, 2025

Amy Lavin, CEO of the Stroum Jewish Community Center of Greater Seattle (SJCC), described a recent day as a celebration of three phenomenal moments.

With a large crowd in attendance at the Mercer Island center on Sept. 7, it was announced that the center was naming its early childhood school as the Karen and Gary Schwartz Early Childhood School. That space is now housed in the newly renovated and named Joan and Larry Barokas Education Wing.

“We were able to celebrate two significant philanthropic gifts to the JCC from the families,” said Lavin, who added that the center took a big leap by renovating its early childhood wing that had one section built in 1969 and another in 1981. The families’ transformative gifts made the renovation possible, according to a press release.

It was an emotional moment for Lavin as she spoke at the ceremony. Lavin noted that she has a long relationship with the J and attended preschool in that wing.

“These historical moments are rare in life and I just feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of it and to know that our community supports the vitality and future of our Stroum Jewish Community Center for the whole region,” she said.

During a 12-week span over the summer, crews remodeled 22 class spaces, transported an administrative office to the wing’s front entry and renovated the foyer for the J’s auditorium. It was a massive undertaking, said Lavin, adding that nearly 200 children — ages 3 months to 6 years — spend their days in the building along with faculty members.

Lavin said that families are thrilled about the renovation that literally makes their children’s days brighter and more comfortable.

“At a broader level, the community was just overwhelmed with the generosity and signal that the J is on a positive path forward into envisioning our future,” said Lavin, adding that they have a long-term plan to redevelop the entire center.

The early childhood school renovation includes new HVAC systems, energy-efficient upgrades and refreshed spaces, according to the press release. Classes were relocated to other J spaces and to the next-door French American School of Puget Sound (FASPS) during the refurbishment. Key partnerships that brought the project to fruition were “the collaboration of Weinstein A+U, GLY Construction, FASPS, an extended network of other community partners, and quite importantly the resilience of SJCC ECS and J Camp families,” the release adds.

Members of the Barokas and Schwartz families discussed what the SJCC means to them and copious others who walk through the center’s doors.

“The J has been a second home for our family for decades. It’s where we’ve made lifelong friends, some of our best memories, and so many community connections,” said Joan Barokas of Mercer Island.

Gary and Karen Schwartz resided on Mercer Island from 1975-1994 and remain connected to the area.

“We feel it is important to uphold the growth and beauty of the Island for the future generations to come,” Gary Schwartz said. “We also have interests in childhood education and the quality of family history that Mercer Island has to offer. We have contributed to the JCC because we believe they are best equipped to handle the Island’s growth in a responsible manner.”