One of two new members on the Jews of Color Initiative’s Board, Kai Mishlove brings decades of experience in Jewish communal leadership, advocacy, and coalition-building. With a career spanning social services, mental health, and community engagement, Mishlove has fostered inclusion, empowered marginalized voices, and created spaces where diverse perspectives thrive. Her leadership reflects a commitment to collaboration, resilience, and the development of future Jewish leaders, setting the stage for her contributions to JoCI’s efforts to advance racial equity in Jewish communal life.
After a few years away from the JCRC at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Mishlove returned in 2025 as its Director of Advocacy and Alliances. Mishlove describes her return as a homecoming. “I love Milwaukee. I love everything that it has to offer. Even though it’s a segregated city, similar to other urban areas, I also see a lot of promise and inroads that can be made in this city between different groups.”
Mishlove began her path to Jewish leadership as a volunteer and has been shaped by experiences that bridge community, identity, and advocacy, while allowing her to draw on her professional skills from other fields. Mishlove is proud to bring her unique perspectives to the Jewish community, creating opportunities for marginalized perspectives to shape communal dialogue—a responsibility she takes seriously. “If you’re not in communication with people, then decisions are going to be made that affect you. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu!” Her experiences in leadership roles have reinforced the importance of collaboration and meaningful dialogue, especially for Jewish leaders dedicated to supporting diverse communities in and beyond the Jewish community.
Building a network that affirms belonging is also central to Mishlove’s journey. She participated in a number of powerful cohort experiences, including Jewish Women of Color Resilience Circle, Elluminate, Leading Executives, and one of the first Bend the Arc Selah cohorts, and shares JoCI’s belief that cohorts are a powerful tool for cultivating leaders. She notes, “In these cohorts and meet-ups with other Jews of all hues, identities, and allies, I felt very seen and appreciated.” These networks provided mentorship, inspiration, and a model for inclusive leadership rooted in collective learning that continues to shape her leadership.
Today, Mishlove connects her prior experience with social services, healthcare, and advocacy to the Jewish community. “Bringing all that knowledge into the Jewish communal space is a win-win, almost like I’m coming full circle,” she explains. Her work emphasizes not only achieving organizational goals but also supporting colleagues’ wellbeing: “Realizing staff are dealing with personal issues, with workplace issues, and with bigger communal issues…the best I’m able to do right now is to remind my co-workers to take time out of the day to destress and maybe take a break from the news cycle for a moment.”
At the heart of Mishlove’s leadership philosophy are three core values: B’tzelem Elohim (in G’d’s image), Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), and a commitment to maintaining a sense of optimism. “Always remember you are where you’re supposed to be; everyone is of value as we are all created divinely in G-d’s image with an important purpose for being on this planet,” she says. “There’s a reason or a lesson to be learned. You should look for the positive in everything. Keep optimism alive, even when it seems everything is burning around us.”
She also believes that leadership is a continuous learning process. “Leadership needs to be viewed as an ongoing learning opportunity. You’re leading but you’re also learning from other leaders in the process. All ships rise together—keep that in mind.” She also emphasizes the responsibility of using privilege to uplift others: “As a Black Jewish woman, I may not have the same privilege as someone who is not Black or someone who is white, however I may have privileges that other people don’t have, such as being born in the U.S. as an English speaker and without a disability…It’s on me to use my privilege to help uplift them so they can become the leaders they already are.”
For Mishlove, serving on the JoCI’s Board of Directors is both an honor and a wonderful responsibility. She feels deeply valued and supported, noting that “everyone on the Board, no matter their identity, has the opportunity to feel seen.” From celebrating small gestures of inclusion on the recent Staff and Board Retreat in New Orleans to envisioning mentorship models for the next generation of leaders, Mishlove says that leadership is as much about sustaining others as it is about guiding an organization.
Her appointment to the Board aligns beautifully with JoCI’s commitment to making the work of equity tangible in every action. “My vision for the Jewish community is to not allow previous disagreements, disappointments, or conflicts to prevent us from being forward looking and being in dialogue with one another,” Mishlove says, highlighting the need for building bridges across difference within the Jewish community and in relationship to other communities. “If we are to be the light unto the nations, that means sharing the light as well as allowing the light of others to come in and embrace us.”