Earlier this summer, the Jews of Color Initiative appointed Christina Jefferson as Chair and Dr. Valerie Feldman as Vice Chair of our Board of Directors. For the first time in the organization’s history, the Board will be led by two women of color, whose impressive leadership experiences and commitments to diversity will guide the organization through an inspiring period of growth.
Christina Jefferson’s professional background, as well as her lived experience as a Black Jewish woman, make her perspective an invaluable guiding light for our Board. As the first-ever Senior Director of Inclusion and Culture for the San Francisco 49ers, Jefferson has pioneered strategies that champion inclusivity in a high-profile arena. Her career trajectory—from retail to earning a Master’s in Human Resources, and then to pivotal corporate DEI positions— underscores her deep commitment to fostering diverse and equitable environments. Her innovative approach to DEI has not only transformed workplaces but also paved the way for future leaders in the field.
Dr. Val Feldman brings a wealth of experience to JoCI. As a second-generation Chinese Jewish immigrant and trained sociologist (PhD and MA from UC Davis), Feldman has applied her expertise in mixed-methods sociology to address issues of diversity and leadership. Her current role at GLIDE in San Francisco reflects her dedication to social justice and community empowerment. Val’s background equips her with a nuanced understanding of diversity, which she now brings to her work with JoCI.
First-hand experiences with the limited representation of Jews of Color within the Jewish community initially drew Feldman and Jefferson to Jewish leadership. Feldman’s encounter with a lack of racial and ethnic diversity in Jewish organizations, brought to light through her consulting work with Jewish institutions, motivated her to seek change. Jefferson’s journey, which began with her conversion to Judaism, highlighted the absence of leaders who looked like her. “It was really a series of moments where I realized that every time I looked around me, none of the leaders I saw speaking at Jewish events looked anything like me,” said Jefferson. “And I’m not one of those people who’s going to notice something and complain about it—I’m going to do something about it. So I started raising my hand for things.”
Both Feldman and Jefferson’s professional experiences have led them to prioritize being present as leaders in the communities they support. Jefferson’s philosophy can be summarized in a maxim that she has held onto throughout her career: “Be where your feet are.” This important reminder underscores the need to be present and engaged when leading a group toward a goal.
Feldman views leadership through the lens of service and responsibility, stressing the importance of understanding how each team member responds to praise and feedback. “I view myself as a servant leader, which means that I’m responsible for guiding and supporting my team toward meeting goals, celebrating their successes along the way, but also, I am ultimately responsible for any mistakes or missteps my team may make.” Their respective philosophies of leadership have already dovetailed into a positive leadership model for our Board.
Both Jefferson and Feldman’s journeys to JoCI were serendipitous: Feldman discovered JoCI through CEO Ilana Kaufman, who helped her realize the potential for growth and representation within the organization. “The Jews of Color initiative found me and lifted me up into Jewish leadership, which opened up a whole new world for me. I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh! There is a community that looks like me,’ which I never grew up with,” reflected Feldman. Jefferson often received questions about her familiarity with the JoCI while attending Kaufman’s childhood synagogue. After many inquiries, Jefferson was finally introduced to Kaufman by a fellow congregant during the pandemic. At this pivotal moment in JoCI’s journey, and with her own career reaching new heights, Jefferson joined as a member of the Board. “Being on the JoCI Board fills my cup,” said Jefferson.
Already, Feldman and Jefferson have developed a powerful rapport that reverberates within the broader organization: “We volley ideas really well, even when we disagree,” said Feldman. “I just feel so much respect for Christina. We always bring a bit of levity to what we’re doing as well, because sometimes [this work is] really heavy.”
Having board members who bring a diversity of perspectives is crucial to sustaining an institution that aims to reflect the JoC community. At the same time as Jefferson and Feldman’s appointments to Chair and Vice Chair, JoCI had the honor of bringing on two new Board members: Dr. Buffie Longmire-Avital and Reb. Evan Traylor. Traylor’s liturgical background as a rabbinical student in his final year and Dr. Longmire-Avital’s academic background and prestige are sure to broaden the Board’s perspectives.
Reb. Evan Traylor, a rabbinical student entering his final year, is excited to join the organization. “JoCI is such an exciting and formidable organization that is lovingly challenging our Jewish community to live up to our highest ideals. It’s an honor to be able to contribute to the work of JoCI, and continue building a strong, beautifully diverse Jewish community for generations to come.”
Dr. Buffie Longmire-Avital’s career in sociocultural psychology adds another layer of academic and lived experience to the Board. “As a sociocultural developmental psychologist and Jewish woman of color, both my lived experience and scholarly work reflect on the ways Jewish communities of color form and thrive together despite systemic barriers that often drive feelings of isolation. I am honored to serve an organization that amplifies the needs, strengths, and hopes of the diverse Jewish community of color landscape. I am excited to learn more about the kaleidoscope of mission-driven work, innovative approaches, and strategies the JoCI both nurtures and launches.”
“This is a very exciting inflection point for JoCI,” said Feldman. “We’ve built a strong Board, and we are really clear on our strategic objectives. It’s now time for us to spread our wings.”
Feldman and Jefferson hope that in their roles they can encourage more young Jews of Color to seek leadership opportunities on boards: “I think there’s a stigma [for young people] and they think, ‘oh, why should I join a board? Why would anybody want me on a board? What do I have to bring to a board?’ You absolutely have something to bring to a board. I wish more young people would be on boards,” Jefferson said. Feldman added that financial and scheduling barriers can cause “a huge disservice to our community” by keeping early career professionals at a distance from these collaborative decision-making roles.
With Jefferson and Feldman at the helm, JoCI is poised for an exciting period of expansion and impact. Their leadership, combined with the excellence of our dedicated Board members, will drive us forward in creating a more inclusive and vibrant Jewish community. “To me, it’s not just about having an incredible Board—it’s the staff too,” said Jefferson. “The JoCI staff is incredible and it’s been such a pleasure to work with them.” Feldman agreed about the strength of the staff: “They bring their whole selves to the job, and to the mission. You don’t get that everywhere. It is a very, very special organization.”
We look forward to the incredible work that Jefferson and Feldman will steer and are excited about the future of JoCI under their guidance. Together, we are ready to embrace new challenges and opportunities with renewed energy and vision.