Jews of Color Initiative

D.C. Pro Network: The Great D.C. Kickoff
2025-11-07 16:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York)
Join the Jews of Color Initiative’s first-ever D.C. JoC Professional Network and discover a new opportunity to cultivate personal and professional relationships, as well as leadership skills, with JoCs in the region.

We’ll use this first session to share and understand visions for this group and dream up what we want to build together.

Registration closes on Tuesday, November 4th at 5pm ET!*

NY Pro Network: A JoC Lens on Identity, Purpose, and Power
2025-11-13 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for an engaging panel discussion and interactive mini-workshop exploring leadership, identity, purpose, and power through the lens of JoC leadership. Hear from Dr. Imani Chapman, founder and director of imani strategies, Maryam Chisti, Co-Executive Director of LUNAR; and Arya Marvazy, Senior Director of Programming at JoCI, as they share personal stories and leadership journeys. Together, we’ll explore how identity shapes leadership, and how you can harness your own purpose and power to lead with intention and impact.
About the Facilitators:

Dr. Imani Romney-Rosa Chapman, the founder and director of imani strategies, llc, is a powerful, dynamic, faith-filled, compassionate, change leader for equity. She has more than 30 years of experience developing curriculum, organizing, and educating for social justice. As her name suggests, Imani/Emunah [faith], her faith drives her to co-create brave and inclusive environments for learning, growth and justice.
Maryam Chishti is the Co-Executive Director of The LUNAR Collective. She is interfaith, with an Indian/Muslim father and Jewish American mother who raised her in both religions and cultures. Maryam is a graduate of the Ruskay Institute of Jewish Professional Leadership and the Jews of Color Initiative’s inaugural Leadership Fellowship.
Arya Marvazy is the Senior Director of Programs at the Jews of Color Initiative. 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.

JoCI Listening Tour: LOS ANGELES
2025-11-18 17:00 - 18:45 (America/Los_Angeles)
The Jews of Color Initiative’s CEO, Ilana Kaufman, is visiting communities across the country for an interactive Listening Tour to engage in open dialogue with local leaders, grantees, partners, and community members. Through these conversations, JoCI aims to listen deeply, learn from local experiences, and shape the next chapter of our work together.
Join us for dinner and be part of the LA conversation around Jews of Color in the United States on Tuesday, November 18 at IKAR’s mid-city office space (address and parking will be sent to confirmed registrants).
After the event, we invite you to join our team at IKAR for their event with Rabbi Sharon Brous and Jewish Studio Project’s Rabbi Adina Allen for a night of creativity!
Registration closes at 5pm PT on Thursday, November 13th
Learn more about the JoCI Listening Tour.

JoCI Listening Tour: SAN DIEGO
2025-11-20 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
The Jews of Color Initiative’s CEO, Ilana Kaufman, is visiting communities across the country for an interactive Listening Tour to engage in open dialogue with local leaders, grantees, partners, and community members. Through these conversations, JoCI aims to to listen deeply, learn from local experiences, and shape the next chapter of our work together.
Join us and be part of the conversation around Jews of Color in the United States on Thursday, November 20 from 5-6:30PM in San Diego. Location will be shared with confirmed registrants.
Email programs@thejoci.org to register!
Registration closes 5pm PT on Monday, November 17
Learn more about the Listening Tour

The JoC Bay Area Pro Network Attends Rabbi Angela Buchdahl "Heart of A Stranger"
2025-12-03 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Join the Bay Area JoC Pro Network community and the JoCI team for a gathering with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, the first East-Asian American rabbi and first woman congregational leader of Central Synagogue in NYC! We’ll begin with a brief JoC reception before the event at Temple Emanu-El in Presidio Heights to listen to Rabbi Angela discuss her new memoir, “Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging,” with Emanu-El’s Senior Rabbi, Ryan Bauer.

The first 20 registrations will receive free tickets to the book discussion, which include’s a copy of the Rabbi’s new book, covered by the JoCI! Additional ticket purchases through our Bay Area Pro Network may use a discount code, which will be provided to confirmed registrants.

JoCI Listening Tour: PORTLAND, OR
2025-12-11 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
The Jews of Color Initiative’s CEO, Ilana Kaufman, is visiting communities across the country for an interactive Listening Tour to engage in open dialogue with local leaders, grantees, partners, and community members. Through these conversations, JoCI aims to to listen deeply, learn from local experiences, and shape the next chapter of our work together.
Join us and be part of the conversation around Jews of Color in the United States on Thursday December 11 from 5-6:30PM in Portland, OR. Location will be shared with confirmed registrants.
Email programs@thejoci.org to register!
Learn more about the Listening Tour
