The Board of Directors supports the mission and work of the Jews of Color Initiative with their strategic thinking, professional networks, and ingenuity. Working alongside staff, the Board of Directors is responsible for upholding our mission and providing invaluable project oversight.
Who We Are
Our team is a talented and vibrant group that is passionate about racial equity in the Jewish community. We work collaboratively and creatively to center Jews of Color in all aspects of our work. Read our bios and get to know who we are!
Ilana Kaufman
Ilana is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jews of Color Initiative. Guided by contemporary research and the experiences of Jews of Color, and leveraging strategies such as grantmaking, research, and community education, Ilana is a prominent thought leader...
Ilana is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jews of Color Initiative. Guided by contemporary research and the experiences of Jews of Color, and leveraging strategies such as grantmaking, research, and community education, Ilana is a prominent thought leader advancing the communal field for Jews of Color and, by extension, the U.S. Jewish Community.
Ilana (she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jews of Color Initiative. Guided by contemporary research and the experiences of Jews of Color, and leveraging strategies such as grantmaking, research, and community education, Ilana is a prominent thought leader advancing the communal field for Jews of Color and, by extension, the U.S. Jewish Community.
A recognized voice on issues of race and Jewish identity, Ilana has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and Code Switch, with writings in eJewish Philanthropy and The Foundation Review. Ilana’s Eli Talk, “Who Counts: Race and the Jewish Future,” has garnered over 50,000 views, and the research she catalyzed is referenced in non-profit organizations and university departments both nationally and internationally. Across all her work, Ilana is dedicated to advancing conversations on Jewish community, community relations, and philanthropy.
Prior to founding the JoCI in 2017, Ilana held the role of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement Director, East Bay, at the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council. Recipient of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs prestigious Tikkun Olam Award, Ilana enjoys exploring themes of equity and justice within Jewish texts. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from California State University-Humboldt and an M.A. in Educational Pedagogy from Mills College.
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Gabi Kuhn
Gabi is the Managing Director of the Jews of Color Initiative, bringing over 10 years of experience in Jewish communal leadership, philanthropy, and organizational development.
Gabi is the Managing Director of the Jews of Color Initiative, bringing over 10 years of experience in Jewish communal leadership, philanthropy, and organizational development. In her role, she leads the development of JoCI's grantmaking strategy and operations, fostering cross-functional collaboration...
Gabi (she/her) is the Managing Director of the Jews of Color Initiative, bringing over 10 years of experience in Jewish communal leadership, philanthropy, and organizational development. In her role, she leads the development of JoCI’s grantmaking strategy and operations, fostering cross-functional collaboration across departments, and advancing the organization’s mission to drive meaningful and sustainable change.
Gabi holds a B.A. in Global Studies from The New School in NYC and an M.A. in Human Rights and Transitional Justice from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 2020, she was a Jeremiah Fellow with Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, focusing on immigrant justice and voting rights. She is also a member of Class 7 of the prestigious Wexner Field Fellowship, reflecting her leadership and commitment to advancing transformative change in the Jewish community.
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Arya Marvazy
Arya is the Senior Director of Programs at the Jews of Color Initiative. A first-generation American born to Iranian-Jewish immigrants from Tehran...
Arya is the Senior Director of Programs at the Jews of Color Initiative. A first-generation American born to Iranian-Jewish immigrants from Tehran, he has spent nearly 20 years advancing Jewish communal service through leadership roles at Hillel on campus, Hillel International, and JQ International.
Arya (he/him) is the Senior Director of Programs at the Jews of Color Initiative. A first-generation American born to Iranian-Jewish immigrants from Tehran, he has spent nearly 20 years advancing Jewish communal service through leadership roles at Hillel on campus, Hillel International, and JQ International.
A proud queer Jew, Arya is deeply committed to empowering diverse Jewish identities, fostering equitable communities, and creating inclusive pathways for a thriving Jewish future. His dedication extends beyond his professional work—he has also served as a lay leader with organizations such as JDC Entwine, JPro, AJC, Schusterman’s ROI community, and more.
Arya holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of California San Diego and an M.A. in organizational behavior from New York University. Most recently, he was selected for Class 8 of the Wexner Field Fellowship.
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Rishona Thrasher
Rishona is the Assistant Director of Operations and Finance at the Jews of Color Initiative. Her passion to help others has taken her from real estate to the nonprofit sector.
Rishona is the Assistant Director of Operations and Finance at the Jews of Color Initiative. Her passion to help others has taken her from real estate to the nonprofit sector. With over twenty years of experience, Rishona previously worked in operations, client services, and technical implementation roles.
Rishona (she/her) is the Assistant Director of Operations and Finance at the Jews of Color Initiative. Her passion to help others has taken her from real estate to the nonprofit sector. With over twenty years of experience, Rishona previously worked in operations, client services, and technical implementation roles. Her writing from the perspective of a Jewish woman of color has been published in the Forward discussing antisemitism in the Black community.
Rishona received her M.B.A. from Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business, and her B.A. in Liberal Arts from West Virginia University. She also has a Google professional certificate in project management and is currently working on a Certificate in Jewish Leadership at the Spertus Institute in Chicago, IL.
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Emma Gonzalez-Lesser
Emma is the Assistant Director of Communications at the Jews of Color Initiative. They are committed to amplifying the leadership and stories of Jews of Color and...
Emma is the Assistant Director of Communications at the Jews of Color Initiative. They are committed to amplifying the leadership and stories of Jews of Color and writing to convey the impact of inspiring communal leaders. Drawing on their academic background, Emma’s work contextualizes...
Emma (they/she) is the Assistant Director of Communications at the Jews of Color Initiative. They are committed to amplifying the leadership and stories of Jews of Color and writing to convey the impact of inspiring communal leaders. Drawing on their academic background, Emma’s work contextualizes diverse Jewish experiences, identities, and community-building efforts in relation to key research findings. Prior to joining the Initiative in 2020, they spent several years as an instructor in undergraduate classrooms teaching on justice and inequality.
Emma received their Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Connecticut and their B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies from Simmons University.
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Jordan Daniels
Jordan is the Assistant Director of Programs of the Jews of Color Initiative. He is equipped with a decade of storytelling experience through an intersectional lens, and four years as a Jewish communal professional.
Jordan is the Assistant Director of Programs of the Jews of Color Initiative. He is equipped with a decade of storytelling experience through an intersectional lens, and four years as a Jewish communal professional. His lived experience as a fat, queer, Afro-Jew deepens his commitment to cultivating diverse and inclusive leadership in the Jewish community and inspires his work centering on justice and liberation.
Jordan (he/him) is the Assistant Director of Programs of the Jews of Color Initiative. He is equipped with a decade of storytelling experience through an intersectional lens, and four years as a Jewish communal professional. His lived experience as a fat, queer, Afro-Jew deepens his commitment to cultivating diverse and inclusive leadership in the Jewish community and inspires his work centering on justice and liberation. He previously served as the Communications and Creative Specialist at the Leichtag Foundation. He is a writer, photographer, speaker, and podcaster, focusing on LGBTQ+ experiences, anti-racism, belonging, and fat liberation. Jordan particularly strives to create a pathway to collective liberation through joy. Jordan has expanded his leadership in the Jewish community by participating in programs such as Bend the Arc’s Selah, Upstart’s Change Accelerator, Uri L’Tzedek’s Torah and Social Justice, and Schusterman’s ROI. He holds a BA in Journalism from CSU Long Beach.
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Sarah Starks
Sarah Starks is the Program Officer at the Jews of Color Initiative. She has experience as a Jewish educator focusing on diversity, community building and environmentalism.
Sarah Starks is the Program Officer at the Jews of Color Initiative. She has experience as a Jewish educator focusing on diversity, community building and environmentalism. Empowerment, liberation, community, and cultivating meaningful relationships with the environment...
Sarah Starks (she/they) is the Program Officer at the Jews of Color Initiative. She has experience as a Jewish educator focusing on diversity, community building and environmentalism. Empowerment, liberation, community, and cultivating meaningful relationships with the environment lie at the epicenter of Sarah’s approach to justice. Sarah’s work is grounded by her multicultural identity, which fuels her passion and commitment to social justice movements globally.
Sarah holds a B.A. from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Political Science and Africana Studies as well as a minor in history.
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Jade Groobman
Jade is the Program Coordinator at the Jews of Color Initiative. Jade has 7+ years of experience working in the Jewish community, with a special focus on Jews of Color, intentional community building...
Jade is the Program Coordinator at the Jews of Color Initiative. Jade has 7+ years of experience working in the Jewish community, with a special focus on Jews of Color, intentional community building, racial justice and intersectional activism. Her approach to authentic community connection...
Jade (she/her) is the Program Coordinator at the Jews of Color Initiative. Jade has 7+ years of experience working in the Jewish community, with a special focus on Jews of Color, intentional community building, racial justice and intersectional activism. Her approach to authentic community connection is informed by models of liberation, and transformative and restorative justice. Jade holds a B.A. from the University of Kansas in Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies with a triple minor in American studies, Political Science, and Jewish studies. There, she wrote her senior thesis, “Jews of Color: Experiences of Inclusion and Exclusion,” an examination into the experiences of Jews of Color, racism in Jewish spaces, and how to create actively anti-racist Jewish spaces. Jade is currently pursuing a graduate degree in American Studies.
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Board of Directors
Christina Jefferson, Chair
Christina is the first-ever Senior Director of Inclusion and Culture at the San Francisco 49ers. She leads inclusion and diversity efforts across the organization and created the team's internship program.
Christina is the first-ever Senior Director of Inclusion and Culture at the San Francisco 49ers. She leads inclusion and diversity efforts across the organization and created the team's internship program. She is also responsible for managing the team's recruitment and hiring activities and its internship and fellowship programs.
Christina (she/her) is the first-ever Senior Director of Inclusion and Culture at the San Francisco 49ers. She leads inclusion and diversity efforts across the organization and created the team’s internship program. She is also responsible for managing the team’s recruitment and hiring activities and its internship and fellowship programs.
Jefferson earned her B.S. from the University of Southern Indiana and her master’s in human resource management from Golden Gate University. Christina has been a coach for Resetting the Table since 2021 and is a member of several boards, including Repair the World, and Better For You Wellness.
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Valerie Feldman, Vice Chair
Valerie, PhD is a second-generation Chinese Jewish immigrant who is deeply committed to the values of equity, justice, and Tikkun Olam.
Valerie, PhD is a second-generation Chinese Jewish immigrant who is deeply committed to the values of equity, justice, and Tikkun Olam. Originally trained as a mixed-methods sociologist, she has served as a consultant and in-house evaluator and strategist for mission driven organizations in and outside the Jewish community.
Valerie, PhD (she/her) is a second-generation Chinese Jewish immigrant who is deeply committed to the values of equity, justice, and Tikkun Olam. Originally trained as a mixed-methods sociologist, she has served as a consultant and in-house evaluator and strategist for mission driven organizations in and outside the Jewish community. She is currently the Senior Director of Strategic Learning & Impact at GLIDE, a multi-service, advocacy, and spiritual center that is dedicated to fighting systemic injustice and disrupting cycles of poverty among historically oppressed communities in San Francisco. Here, she drives strategic planning and implementation and leads the Center for Applied Learning and Impact to facilitate evidence-based decision-making and programmatic improvement.
Valerie earned her PhD and MA in Sociology with a designated emphasis in Feminist Theory & Research from the University of California, Davis. Beyond her current role, she has served as a research advisor and consultant for several racial justice and equity initiatives. Currently, she is a Community Consulting Group Advisor on harm reduction-related community studies for the Center on Substance Use and Health, a division of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
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Dena Robinson, Secretary
Dena is a first-generation Black, Jewish, and queer woman who is passionate about collective and individual liberation and healing. Dena is a civil rights attorney...
Dena is a first-generation Black, Jewish, and queer woman who is passionate about collective and individual liberation and healing. Dena is a civil rights attorney and runs a DEI facilitation and consulting practice, Radical Roots, alongside her co-founder, a fellow Jewish woman of color.
Dena (she/her) is a first-generation Black, Jewish, and queer woman who is passionate about collective and individual liberation and healing. Dena is a civil rights attorney and runs a DEI facilitation and consulting practice, Radical Roots, alongside her co-founder, a fellow Jewish woman of color. Leading from her values and lived experience, Dena has worked as an organizer in the areas of race equity, education, and campus sexual assault, taught English to immigrant and refugee students, designed social justice and race-equity-focused curricula, and facilitated workshops around race, white supremacy, and identity.
Dena graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law with a healthcare law certificate. Dena also holds an M.S.Ed. from The Johns Hopkins University. Currently, Dena works as a Trial Attorney for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in the Employment Litigation Section, where she enforces Title VII against state and local governments. Previously, she served as the Board President for If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice.
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Mendel Davis
Menachem Mendel Davis is the Co-Founder and CEO of Nova Insurance Company, a Class B(iii) insurer and Segregated Portfolio Company based in the Cayman Islands.
Menachem Mendel Davis is the Co-Founder and CEO of Nova Insurance Company, a Class B(iii) insurer and Segregated Portfolio Company based in the Cayman Islands. At Nova, he leads efforts to design tax-efficient, bespoke insurance structures for U.S. and Latin American clients...
Menachem Mendel Davis is a Co-Founder of Nova Risk Transfer and a former Financial Planner who resides in Baltimore, Maryland. Menachem was born to an African American father who embraced Orthodox Judaism and was raised by his Egyptian-born mother while attending the Talmudical Academy. Menachem’s achievements include serving as a counselor at the Hebrew Academy of Special Children, authoring a Passover Haggadah, and helping others overcome addiction to become the best version of themselves. His professional journey has been marked by versatility within the financial industry. After studying abroad in Israel post high school, he commenced his career in banking, but his path soon led him into the realm of private wealth management. Later on, he ventured into the public side of financial services, gaining invaluable insights into the intricacies of financial planning, particularly for those in greatest need. With a background as a former financial planner, Mendel remains dedicated to aiding individuals in adeptly navigating financial risks. His prior positions encompass roles such as Vice President of The Einstein Group, Assistant Vice President at JPMorgan Chase, and Wealth Advisor at Raymond James. Mendel holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Maryland Global Campus and is actively engaged as a board member in several organizations. In his free time, he enjoys motorcycle rides, playing the saxophone, watching YouTube while also being a dedicated family man to his two daughters and wife.
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Natasha Kehimkar
Natasha Kehimkar is a strategic advisor, executive team coach, and organizational transformation expert. As CEO and founder of Malida Advisors, she and her team enable companies to achieve their goals by addressing organizational friction, developing resilient and inclusive leaders...
Natasha Kehimkar is a strategic advisor, executive team coach, and organizational transformation expert. As CEO and founder of Malida Advisors, she and her team enable companies to achieve their goals by addressing organizational friction, developing resilient and inclusive leaders, and fostering high-performing teams. With nearly 30 years of global experience...
Natasha Kehimkar (she/her) is a strategic advisor, executive team coach, and organizational transformation expert. As CEO and founder of Malida Advisors, she and her team enable companies to achieve their goals by addressing organizational friction, developing resilient and inclusive leaders, and fostering high-performing teams. With nearly 30 years of global experience, Natasha is a rapid-response expert in navigating challenges such as restructuring and cultural change in dynamic industries like tech and biotech. Natasha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a Master’s degree in HR and Labor Relations, and is an ICF-accredited executive coach and team coach.
Born and raised in Toronto and now a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, Natasha serves on the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council and advisory committees with both the county SELPA and the local high school district.
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Buffie Longmire-Avital
Dr. Buffie Longmire‑Avital is the inaugural Associate Dean of Academics at the Honors College, North Carolina A&T State University, and a Professor of Psychology...
Dr. Buffie Longmire‑Avital is the inaugural Associate Dean of Academics at the Honors College, North Carolina A&T State University, and a Professor of Psychology researching how systemic injustices and psychosocial factors drive health inequities among racial, religious, and sexual minorities.
Dr. Buffie Longmire‑Avital (she/her) is the inaugural Associate Dean of Academics at the Honors College, North Carolina A&T State University, and a Professor of Psychology researching how systemic injustices and psychosocial factors drive health inequities among racial, religious, and sexual minorities. In 2022, she served as the first Black faculty member promoted to full Professor in Elon University’s College of Arts & Sciences. At Elon, she launched the Black Lumen Project, served as the president-appointed Faculty Administrative Fellow for Mentoring, and Coordinator of the African and African American Studies interdisciplinary minor program for six years.
Dr. Longmire‑Avital has authored over two dozen publications and was a Center for Engaged Learning Scholar from 2018–2020, and co-authored the 2024 revision of the Council for Undergraduate Research’s Council of Undergraduate Research (COEUR) 2.0 standards. Honors include appointment as a Race, Religion, and American Judaism Fellow at the Center for Jewish Ethics and National Endowments for the Humanities (2022), Facilitator of the Voice of the People (an initiative of President Herzog in 2024), and recognition by Psi Chi at the Southeastern Psychological Association. An active editor and twice guest editor for Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Mentoring Journal (PULSE) journal on mentoring underrepresented undergraduates, she is also a prolific consultant and speaker, delivering more than 50 invited talks and keynotes.
Dr. Longmire‑Avital earned her PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology from NYU Steinhardt in 2008, completed an NIH-funded postdoc, and received the NIH Loan Repayment Award for Health Disparities Research in 2010. She currently serves on the Board of the Jews of Color Initiative and formerly on the Beth David Synagogue board.
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Kai Mishlove
Kai Mishlove is a passionate and dedicated Jewish communal leader, with a career spanning Jewish Social Service agencies to Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRC). She is a firm believer in the African Proverb: “It Takes a Village"...
Kai Mishlove is a passionate and dedicated Jewish communal leader, with a career spanning Jewish Social Service agencies to Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRC). She is a firm believer in the African Proverb: “It Takes a Village” and is guided every day by the Jewish values of Tzedakah, Chesed, and Tzedek.
Kai Mishlove (she/her) is a passionate and dedicated Jewish communal leader, with a career spanning Jewish Social Service agencies to Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRC). She is a firm believer in the African Proverb: “It Takes a Village” and is guided every day by the Jewish values of Tzedakah, Chesed, and Tzedek. Kai has a BA in Political Science from Boston University with graduate studies in Public Health from University of Illinois.
She has served on numerous boards, including Hillel Milwaukee, JCRC Milwaukee, the Friendship Circle WI, NCJW Milwaukee, ADL Midwest, SE Asian Literacy Project, Wisconsin African Community Association, Turner Hall, Rotary Club, Hands and Voices, and various disability rights groups. Kai is a graduate of multiple Jewish leadership programs including Bend the Arc’s Selah JOC Cohort 15 Leadership Program, the Jewish Women of Color Resilience Circle 2, Leading Edge, and is currently part of Cohort IV of the Elluminate Collective.
Kai has been recognized with honors such as the NCJW Milwaukee Building Bridges Award, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s 2020 Shero award, and the 2021 Woman of Faith Award for her Tables Across Borders Project, a restaurant and community gathering pop up highlighting the cuisine and cultures of local refugees.
Kai is a very proud stepmother and mother of four adult children and stand-in “American mom” and “auntie” to several refugee youth. Kai’s hobbies include motorcycles, bikes, cooking, gardening, music, and art. Kai feels very strongly about the importance of building global bridges between cultures and the promotion of inclusive and healthy communities.
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Deitra Reiser
Deitra Reiser, PhD is the founder of Transform for Equity, an antiracist repair group that supports organizations and leaders in building the capacity for diversity, racial equity, belonging and justice within the organization.
Deitra Reiser, PhD is the founder of Transform for Equity, an antiracist repair group that supports organizations and leaders in building the capacity for diversity, racial equity, belonging and justice within the organization. Dr. Reiser fosters greater antiracist understanding among individuals and within institutions, and supports their continued growth through thoughts and actions.
Deitra Reiser, PhD (she/her) is the founder of Transform for Equity, an antiracist repair group that supports organizations and leaders in building the capacity for diversity, racial equity, belonging and justice within the organization. Dr. Reiser fosters greater antiracist understanding among individuals and within institutions, and supports their continued growth through thoughts and actions.
Dr. Reiser holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology from The University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her free time, you can find her laughing and chatting with the people she loves, hiking, being active, binging shows, or reading a book with coffee in hand.
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Rabbi Evan Traylor
Rabbi Evan Traylor serves as Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn. He was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City in 2025, where he was a Wexner Graduate Fellow...
Rabbi Evan Traylor serves as Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn. He was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City in 2025, where he was a Wexner Graduate Fellow, a Tisch Fellow, and served on the Leadership Team of the HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen.
Rabbi Evan Traylor (he/him) serves as Assistant Rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn. He was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City in 2025, where he was a Wexner Graduate Fellow, a Tisch Fellow, and served on the Leadership Team of the HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen. Rabbi Traylor currently serves on the boards of Encounter, JOIN For Justice, and the Jews of Color Initiative. Prior to rabbinical school, he worked at the Union for Reform Judaism for several years creating new initiatives in college and young adult engagement. Originally from Oklahoma City, Rabbi Traylor graduated from the University of Kansas studying political science, Jewish studies, and leadership studies. He is an alum of URJ Greene Family Camp and URJ Kutz Camp, and served as the North American President of NFTY, the Reform Jewish youth movement. Rabbi Traylor lives in Brooklyn with his wife Lindsey, their daughter, Ida, and their tiny dog, Ruby Nakia.
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Grant Advisory Committee
The Grant Advisory Committee helps ensure a fair and thoughtful decision-making process for grant awards. Together with the Jews of Color Initiative leadership staff, the group reviews grant applications and makes informed recommendations based on their own experience and expertise in the field.
Santy Barrera
Santy (he/him) is a seasoned educator with over 10 years of youth development, community building, and academic work experience.
Santy (he/him) is a seasoned educator with over 10 years of youth development, community building, and academic work experience. He is the son of Ecuadorian immigrants and is first-generation United States born on both sides of his family.
Santy (he/him) is a seasoned educator with over 10 years of youth development, community building, and academic work experience. He is the son of Ecuadorian immigrants and is first-generation United States born on both sides of his family. He combines creative writing and social justice to bring visibility to his Indigenous identity and people from Ecuador. Santy is passionate about empowering youth with the resources and information they need as they explore their passion, skills, and ideas in the education system.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English & American Literature from Middlebury College where he also focused in Creative Writing and studied Italian. He recently completed the JoCI Philanthropy Fellowship and currently resides in New York City.
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Jon Cohen
Jon (he/him) is a Gay, Jewish, Mexican organizing Jewish communities for LGBTQ+ rights. As Keshet’s Director of Community Mobilization, he has catalyzed Jews for political action in all 50 states.
Jon (he/him) is a Gay, Jewish, Mexican organizing Jewish communities for LGBTQ+ rights. As Keshet’s Director of Community Mobilization, he has catalyzed Jews for political action in all 50 states. A Florida native, Jon graduated from Florida State University and survived one cold winter in New York as a Repair the World Fellow in Brooklyn before returning to Miami as Repair’s Program Manager, launching the Miami Repair community and fellowship.
Jon (he/him) is a Gay, Jewish, Mexican organizing Jewish communities for LGBTQ+ rights. As Keshet’s Director of Community Mobilization, he has catalyzed Jews for political action in all 50 states. A Florida native, Jon graduated from Florida State University and survived one cold winter in New York as a Repair the World Fellow in Brooklyn before returning to Miami as Repair’s Program Manager, launching the Miami Repair community and fellowship. He has participated in Uri L’Tzedek Torah In Action, Bend The Arc Selah Leadership Program, Joyous Justice Ko’ach Fellowship, and Jewtina y Co. PUENTES Leadership and Resiliency. Jon serves on the board of Repair the World and is the chair of YLD Pride at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. A South Florida native, Jon currently lives in Miami with his fiance Kevin. Outside of work, Jon can be found on his Peloton, at the beach, reading queer fiction novels, and using online menus to plan the meal before getting to the restaurant.
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Jamie Maxner
Jamie (she/her) is a community builder, systems enthusiast, and lifelong lover of camp with over two decades of experience at the intersection of people, operations, and programs.
Jamie (she/her) is a community builder, systems enthusiast, and lifelong lover of camp with over two decades of experience at the intersection of people, operations, and programs. She has worked across diverse sectors, including education, social justice, global development...
Jamie (she/her) is a community builder, systems enthusiast, and lifelong lover of camp with over two decades of experience at the intersection of people, operations, and programs. She has worked across diverse sectors, including education, social justice, global development, and travel, contributing her expertise to both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
As the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement at Hannah Senesh Community Day School, Jamie envisions the school as a vibrant hub for Jewish belonging, curating meaningful experiences for Jewish families of all types from across Brooklyn. Her consulting work has spanned HR, leadership and talent development, strategic planning, and event execution, where she excels at weaving networks and fostering collaboration.
Jamie serves on the board of Jews in All Hues, was a founding member of Repair the World NYC’s Advisory Council, and enjoys volunteering as a poll worker in New York City elections. She holds a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and has lived in Connecticut, Atlanta, Israel, Denmark, and Rwanda. Today, she is rooted in Brooklyn, NY, where she lives with her husband and young child.
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Sele Nadel-Hayes
Sele (she/her) is VP of Special Projects at Envision Education, bringing expertise in public education, nonprofit operations and finance, organizational development, and community organizing.
Sele (she/her) is VP of Special Projects at Envision Education, bringing expertise in public education, nonprofit operations and finance, organizational development, and community organizing. As a Black Jewish woman and native of Oakland, California, Sele is passionate about building community and connection across the wide range of experiences Jews of Color embody.
Sele (she/her) is VP of Special Projects at Envision Education, bringing expertise in public education, nonprofit operations and finance, organizational development, and community organizing. As a Black Jewish woman and native of Oakland, California, Sele is passionate about building community and connection across the wide range of experiences Jews of Color embody.
Sele was honored to be part of the 2020 cohort of Bend the Arc’s Selah Fellowship, where she deepened her practice as an anti-racist Jewish leader. Sele has also served on the advisory boards of the Oakland Public Education Fund’s A-Z Fund and the Agape Foundation Peace Prize, and is actively involved in local electoral campaigns, working to support leaders to have an impact in her city and neighborhood.
In November 2023, Sele became Ima (mother) to Ayka. She draws inspiration from generations of adults who have created the conditions for young people to know themselves and their ancestors, find joy, explore and be curious, and read the same book fifty-leven times before going to sleep.
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Ben Poretzky
Ben (he/him) is the co-founder of a men’s education and community building organization called Kinhood. His first career was as a product manager in technology.
Ben (he/him) is the co-founder of a men’s education and community building organization called Kinhood. His first career was as a product manager in technology. He now repurposes the rigor and organizational focus of corporate experience into social projects.
Ben (he/him) is the co-founder of a men’s education and community building organization called Kinhood. His first career was as a product manager in technology. He now repurposes the rigor and organizational focus of corporate experience into social projects. He studied Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and Jewish Studies at the Pardes Institute. He works for Sacred Design Lab, a soul-centered research and design lab, Schonfield Consulting, a Bay Area-based non-profit consulting firm, and OpenLev, a community coworking project he founded and now advises. He is a member of the SF Jewish Community Federation Jews of Color Giving Circle, the Tzedek Fund. He serves on the board of the Jewish spiritual community, Chochmat Halev and helps organize a Burning Man Shabbat ceremony for 1000 guests in the desert each summer.
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Partners
We are grateful for the wonderful support we have received from the following funders:
Brad and Emeri Handler Family Fund
Denise R. Sobel
Naomi Sobel & Becky Silverstein
Scott & Alison Mellon Fund
