How Kamochah is Supporting Black Orthodox Youth Through Bar and Bat Mitzvah
When JoCI opened a Request for Proposals for projects supporting new and emerging initiatives for Jews of Color in Los Angeles, Rabbi Yonosan Perry and longtime collaborator Chava Shervington saw an opportunity to provide new support for youth in the community. Their idea: a bar and bat mitzvah preparatory program designed specifically for older children in Torah-observant Black Jewish families.
JoC Leadership in the South: Dr. Buffie Longmire-Avital and JoCI’s Expanding Efforts
The Jews of Color Initiative continues to deepen its engagement in the South, supporting leaders and organizations who are shaping vibrant Jewish life—often in places where Jewish identity is powerfully thriving. One such leader is Dr. Buffie Longmire-Avital, whose story offers insight into both the challenges, and the transformative potential, of building Jewish community in the South.
Empowering Impact: Insights from JoCI’s Grant Advisory Committee
The Grant Advisory Committee is an essential component of the Jews of Color Initiative’s grantmaking, helping to foster a more inclusive, dynamic, and equitable Jewish community. Through their service, these leaders are shaping the future of Jewish life and fostering a more inclusive community.
Student Leaders Build Community for Jews of Color at UCLA
At UCLA, two student leaders are creating new opportunities for Jews of Color. Funded by a grant from the Jews of Color Initiative, Aiden Moseley and Jonathan Cohn co-founded the Jews of Color program through Hillel at UCLA—an initiative dedicated to fostering community and amplifying JoC voices on campus.
Sharing Culture Through Food: Emaye’s Kitchen and Tastes of Tradition
Two projects, both supported by grants from our Intergenerational Relationships for Cultural Preservation RFP, beautifully illustrate how food transmits cultural identity l’dor vador — from generation to generation.
Evan Traylor on How Communal Support Fosters Leadership Potential
At the core of Traylor’s leadership is the idea that all humans are created b’tzelem Elohim—“in the image of God”—a concept found in the very beginning of Torah. “If each and every person, not only Jews, but every person in the world, is created in the image of God,” Traylor said, “that calls us to not only be nice to them, but to love them and to fight to ensure they have live a life filled with goodness.”
Sabina Spicer’s Leadership Blooms from Portland’s Cultural Shift Survey
Spicer’s leadership trajectory is an excellent example of putting research into action and can serve as a model for other communities. The survey created a centralized effort for community members to articulate their need for belonging and more leadership opportunities, and TischPDX took the findings seriously.
Connecting Communities Through a Mosaic of Artistic Expression
In the four years since its founding, Mosaic Visions has evolved and grown into a dynamic organization that facilitates community discussions around social justice, inclusion, and spiritual practice.
One Year of JoCI’s Los Angeles Professional Network
This celebratory event brought together JoC professionals and a few dedicated allies to honor a year of connection, growth, and community-building.
Expanding and Diversifying Education: Seeding Change Across the Nation
By making grants to projects that generate new educational efforts and resources as well as continuing our long-standing tradition of community education through key speaking engagements, JoCI and our partners are ensuring racial diversity is reflected in Jewish education.