Who We Are - Jews of Color Initiative

Ilana Kaufman

Ilana is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jews of Color Initiative. Her work sits at the center of Jewish Community, Racial Equity, and Justice is anchored by the voices and experience of Jews of Color and is focused on grantmaking, research and field building, and community education. As a guest on NPR’s All Things Considered and Code Switch, with pieces featured in eJewish Philanthropy and The Foundation Review, and an Eli…

Ilana (she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jews of Color Initiative. Her work sits at the center of Jewish community, racial equity, and justice, is anchored by the voices and experience of Jews of Color, and is focused on grantmaking, research and field building, and community education.

As a guest on NPR’s All Things Considered and Code Switch, with pieces featured in eJewish Philanthropy and The Foundation Review, and an Eli Talk titled Who Counts, Race and the Jewish Future with over 45,000 views, Ilana is passionate about all things at the intersection of Jewish community, racial justice, Jews of Color, education, and philanthropy.

Ilana was previously the Public Affairs and Civic Engagement Director, East Bay for the San Francisco, Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council.

A Senior Schusterman Fellow who is always searching Jewish text for discussion of equity and justice, Ilana received her B.A. in Sociology from California State University-Humboldt and her M.A. in Educational Pedagogy from Mills College.

Gabi Kuhn

Gabi is the Managing Director at the Jews of Color Initiative. She has extensive experience working in the Jewish community, with a focus on advocacy, philanthropy, and...

Gabi is the Managing Director at the Jews of Color Initiative. She has extensive experience working in the Jewish community, with a focus on advocacy, philanthropy, and multicultural community building. Gabi’s work is grounded in her intersectional identity, which inspires her commitment to social and racial justice issues around the world. Gabi received her B.A. in...

Gabi (she/her) is the Managing Director at the Jews of Color Initiative. She has extensive experience working in the Jewish community, with a focus on advocacy, philanthropy, and multicultural community building. Gabi’s work is grounded in her intersectional identity, which inspires her commitment to social and racial justice issues around the world.

Gabi received her B.A. in Global Studies from The New School in NYC, and received her M.A. in Human Rights and Transitional Justice from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In 2020, she was a Jeremiah Fellow with Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, focusing on immigrant justice and voting rights.

Gabi was selected for class 7 of the prestigious Wexner Field Fellowship.

Arya Marvazy

Arya is the Senior Director of Programs at the Jews of Color Initiative. He is a first-generation American born to Iranian-Jewish immigrants from Tehran.

Arya is the Senior Director of Programs at the Jews of Color Initiative. He is a first-generation American born to Iranian-Jewish immigrants from Tehran. For nearly 15 years, Arya has cultivated his leadership in Jewish communal service at Hillel on campus, Hillel International, and JQ International.

Arya (he/him) is the Senior Director of Programs at the Jews of Color Initiative. He is a first-generation American born to Iranian-Jewish immigrants from Tehran. For nearly 15 years, Arya has cultivated his leadership in Jewish communal service at Hillel on campus, Hillel International, and JQ International. A proud queer Jew who is passionate about empowering diverse Jewish identity, enriching equitable Jewish community, and ensuring inclusive pathways toward Jewish continuity, Arya has also served as a lay leader with other Jewish orgs including JDC Entwine, JPro, AJC, Schusterman’s ROI community, and others.

Arya earned his B.A. in psychology at the University of California San Diego, and an M.A. in organizational behavior at New York University. Arya was recently selected for class 8 of the Wexner Field Fellowship.

Emma Gonzalez-Lesser

Emma is the Communications Manager at the Jews of Color Initiative. Emma is dedicated to work that centers racial justice, Jewish peoplehood, and identity. She is a scholar-activist whose research…

Emma is the Communications Manager at the Jews of Color Initiative. Emma is dedicated to work that centers racial justice, Jewish peoplehood, and identity. She is a scholar-activist whose research examines the identities and experiences of Jews of Color, Jews by Choice, Jewish women, LGBTQ+ Jews—and all their intersections. Before joining…

Emma (she/they) is the Communications Manager at the Jews of Color Initiative. Emma is dedicated to work that centers racial justice, Jewish peoplehood, and identity. She is a scholar-activist whose research examines the identities and experiences of Jews of Color, Jews by Choice, Jewish women, LGBTQ+ Jews—and all their intersections. Before joining the Initiative, Emma spent several years as an instructor in undergraduate classrooms teaching on justice and inequality, and serving as the Managing Editor of an academic journal.

Emma received her Ph.D. in Sociology and her M.A. in Sociology from the University of Connecticut, and her B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies from Simmons University.

Rishona Campbell

Rishona is the Operations Manager at the Jews of Color Initiative. Her passion to help others has taken her from real estate to the nonprofit sector.

Rishona is the Operations Manager 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 Operations Manager 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, and she has been a featured guest on the Black NewsBeat talk show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania discussing antisemitism in the Black community.

Rishona received her M.B.A. in 2012 from Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business, and her B.A. in Liberal Arts from West Virginia University in 2009.

Sarah Starks

Sarah is a Program Officer at the Jews of Color Initiative. She has experience as a Jewish educator, focusing on diversity, community building and environmentalism.

Sarah is a Program Officer at the Jews of Color Initiative. She has experience as a Jewish educator, focusing on diversity, community building and environmentalism. Sarah has a background working in Black organizations as a student and is eager to support communities of color on a larger scale.

Sarah Starks (she/her) is a Program Officer at the Jews of Color Initiative. She has experience as a Jewish educator, focusing on diversity, community building and environmentalism. Sarah has a background working in Black organizations as a student and is eager to support communities of color on a larger scale. 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. 

Jordan Daniels

Jordan is a Program Officer 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 a Program Officer 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 a Program Officer 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.

Jade Groobman

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 anti-racism, and intersectional activism.

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 anti-racism, and intersectional activism. Her approach to authentic community connection is informed by models of liberation, and transformative and restorative justice.

Jade (she/her) has 7+ years of experience working in the Jewish community, with a special focus on Jews of Color, intentional community building, racial justice and anti-racism, 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.

Board of Directors

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.

Christina Jefferson, Chair

Christina is the first ever Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the San Francisco Forty Niners, where she leads inclusion and diversity efforts across the organization and the teams internships, fellowships and holistic training strategy. Prior to joining the 49ers, Jefferson spent six years with Sephora leading their diversity and inclusion efforts company-wide.

Christina (she/her) is the first ever Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at the San Francisco Forty Niners, where she leads inclusion and diversity efforts across the organization and the teams internships, fellowships and holistic training strategy. Prior to joining the 49ers, Jefferson spent six years with Sephora leading their diversity and inclusion efforts company-wide, including facilitation, the creation of diversity trainings, and providing oversight to all cultural programming.

Jefferson earned her B.S. from the University of Southern Indiana and her Masters in Human Resource Management from Golden Gate University. She is a member of several boards, including the Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco, Congregation Sherith Israel, and Better For You Wellness.

Valerie Feldman, Vice Chair

Valerie is a second-generation Chinese Jewish immigrant who is deeply committed to the values of equity, justice, and Tikkun Olam.

Valerie 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 (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.

Dena Robinson

Dena is a first-generation Black, Jewish, and queer woman who is passionate about collective and individual liberation and healing.

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.

Buffie Longmire-Avital

Buffie Longmire-Avital, PhD, is a diversity, inclusion, and racial equity (D.I.R.E ©) scholar-educator. She recently became the first Black-identified faculty promoted to the rank of professor in the College of Arts & Sciences at Elon University. Dr. Longmire-Avital is a member of the Psychology Department, the founding director of the Black Lumen Project, an equity initiative, and is currently serving as the Faculty Administrative Fellow for Mentoring in Meaningful Relationships.

Buffie Longmire-Avital (she/her), PhD, is a diversity, inclusion, and racial equity (D.I.R.E ©) scholar-educator. She recently became the first Black-identified faculty promoted to the rank of professor in the College of Arts & Sciences at Elon University. Dr. Longmire-Avital is a member of the Psychology Department, the founding director of the Black Lumen Project, an equity initiative, and is currently serving as the Faculty Administrative Fellow for Mentoring in Meaningful Relationships. She previously served as the coordinator of the African and African American Studies interdisciplinary minor program. Longmire-Avital received her PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. For nearly two decades her research has focused on how systemic injustices in combination with various psychosocial factors contribute to health inequities that impact racial and sexual minorities. Longmire-Avital’s secondary research explores virtual interventions tailored for Black American women living with chronic health conditions to prioritize well-being and increase self-care and self-compassion. In 2023 she was one of 11 scholars awarded a fellowship through the Race, Religion, and American Judaism Project. Dr. Longmire-Avital has published numerous articles and served on the editorial boards of multiple academic journals. As the Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) Scholar, she contributed thought leadership on how to generate and sustain critically conscious, equitable approaches that support underserved and invisiblized students’ engagement through reparative mentorship. Longmire-Avital has received numerous awards in recognition of her excellence in mentorship as well as leadership service. She is also a recipient of the prestigious National Institutes of Health, Loan Repayment Program for Health Disparities and National Research Service Award.

Mendel Davis

Menachem Mendel Davis is a Co-Founder of Nova Risk Transfer and a former Financial Planner who resides in Baltimore, Maryland.

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.

Thor Kaslofsky

Thor has been a key player in the urban development world for over 20 years, specializing in social impact and catalytic real estate development and community revitalization.

Thor has been a key player in the urban development world for over 20 years, specializing in social impact and catalytic real estate development and community revitalization. He previously worked on the development of the Parkmerced project and the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, where he served as a liaison between the community, the Mayor’s office, the Navy, and the developer.

Thor (he/him) has been a key player in the urban development world for over 20 years, specializing in social impact and catalytic real estate development and community revitalization. He previously worked on the development of the Parkmerced project and the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, where he served as a liaison between the community, the Mayor’s office, the Navy, and the developer. He also helped lead the workforce development of public housing revitalization known as HOPE SF.

Outside of work, Thor contributes to his community by serving as a board member of the historic Bayview Opera House, the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Potrero Yard Modernization Project Working Group, and the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society.

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. 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.

Evan Traylor

Evan Traylor is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and a Jewish community builder, educator, activist, and writer.

Evan Traylor is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and a Jewish community builder, educator, activist, and writer. He serves as the rabbinic intern at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, and he previously served as the rabbinic intern at the 92nd Street Y.

Evan Traylor (he/him) is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and a Jewish community builder, educator, activist, and writer. He serves as the rabbinic intern at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, and he previously served as the rabbinic intern at the 92nd Street Y. Evan is a Wexner Graduate Fellow, a Tisch Fellow, and a Ko’ach Fellow, and currently serves on the boards of Encounter and JOIN For Justice, and on the Leadership Team of the HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen. 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, Evan 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. Evan lives in Brooklyn with his wife Lindsey and their tiny dog, Ruby Nakia.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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...

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.

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 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.

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. 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.