Who We Are

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.