Secure Community Network Expands Regional Security Initiative to Eastern Connecticut

Program will operate under the existing security umbrella covering New Haven and Western Connecticut

The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, is expanding its Regional Security Initiative in Connecticut. As part of this effort, the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut is joining the existing infrastructure alongside the Jewish Federations of Greater New Haven and Western Connecticut, further strengthening security coordination, preparedness, and resources across the state.

Michael Shanbrom, the Regional Security Advisor (RSA) for New Haven and Western Connecticut, will now extend his leadership to include Eastern Connecticut, providing security expertise, threat mitigation, and emergency coordination for an additional 3,000 Jewish residents. His expanded role will serve key communities including Norwich, New London, and Waterford, reinforcing a proactive and integrated security framework.

Shanbrom’s responsibilities include conducting security assessments, leading training exercises, and advising synagogues, campus organizations, and other Jewish institutions in the newly incorporated Eastern Connecticut region.

“This initiative ensures that all Jewish communities in Connecticut have access to professional security guidance, training, and emergency response resources,” said Michael Shanbrom, Regional Security Advisor for New Haven, Western Connecticut, and now Eastern Connecticut. “I am honored to expand my role and work closely with our community leaders to build a strong, proactive, and integrated security network for our Jewish institutions across the state.”

“Keeping the Jewish community safe is a top priority for our Federation. I believe that it is our role to serve as a convener for the region to make sure that every synagogue, Jewish organization, and Jewish event has a security plan to ensure that everyone can relax and enjoy being together,” said Rachel Levy, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Eastern Connecticut Jewish Federation to the regional security consortium. With this partnership, our entire region—from Western Connecticut to Eastern Connecticut and all the communities in between—is now seamlessly covered. This collaboration enhances our ability to communicate, coordinate, and respond as one united community—dramatically increasing our efficiency and strengthening our collective impact to keep every Jewish community safer and more secure,” said Gayle Slossberg, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

“We benefit greatly from our relationship with the Secure Community Network and our go-to person, Michael Shanbrom. To have Eastern Connecticut on board with us in this mutually beneficial consortium only strengthens our resolve to protect Jews throughout our regions of the State of Connecticut,” said Rabbi Paul F. Resnick, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut

This hiring was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the three Federations comprising the regional security initiative, local donors, community partners, and national donors, with professional support from SCN. Major funding for this initiative comes from both SCN and Jewish Federations of North America through the joint $130 million LiveSecure Campaign—the largest philanthropic effort ever undertaken to establish a comprehensive, standards-based collective security framework for Jewish communities across North America.

“In our journey to ensure that every Jewish community has a strong security initiative necessary for flourishing Jewish life, we’re thrilled to see that the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut is taking steps to grow their security program. I look forward to working with the community to raise the necessary matching funds as it continues on its journey to secure the Jewish community,” said Jewish Federations of North America Chair Julie Platt.

The Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut is part of a growing network of Jewish federations and communities that have partnered with SCN to launch or build upon existing community-wide security programs designed around an “all threats, all hazards” approach to preparedness, safety, security, and resiliency. Each program is connected to SCN’s national operations, providing direct access to SCN’s Jewish Security Operations Command Center and Duty Desk, as well as best-practice security resources and support related to policies, procedures, physical security, facility assessments, training, and incident response.

✡✡✡