Dr. Bruce Haynes Reflects on His Research and Recent Webinar Panel
“It took me [20 years] to map out the kind of broad boundaries of the different people who said that they were both Black and Jewish, and that long to decode what I was looking at,” Haynes explains. “I spent a lot of time trying to piece together the historical context that shaped the categories of Black and Jewish in the United States.”
Q&A with Grace Osborne, JoCI’s LA Program Coordinator
“I think of the work I do in our community more as being a facilitator, steward, or caretaker. I know what it feels like to be disconnected from community and I know what it feels like to be nourished by community.”
Advancing JoC Community and Leadership in the Midwest
“The Midwest tends to be a really underserved region for Jews in general, but specifically for Jews of Color,” Crichlow Silva explained. McKinney-Baldon and Crichlow Silva—as well as the rest of the Edot team—are Midwesterners themselves, and believe that uplifting JoC leaders in the Midwest is essential for a thriving future for the region’s Jewish community.
Shabbat as a Place of Belonging: The Inclusive Vision of the Sephardic Mizrahi Q Network
SMQN’s Shabbat dinners create an environment where folks do not need to check any part of their identities at the door—where people’s Sephardic and Mizrahi heritage will be embraced, along with their queer identities. The dinners are also a time when we can take ownership of, and reclaim, our connection to Shabbat in a welcoming and affirming space.
How Shalom Curriculum Project is Bridging Gaps in Jewish Early Childhood Education
Aweku Michal Avera Samuel, an Ethiopian Israeli educator, is pioneering research and initiatives to integrate racial justice into Jewish early childhood curricula. As a key figure in the Shalom Curriculum Project (SCP), she collaborates with the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to create engaging materials that reflect the ethnic diversity of the Jewish community.
Sumner Lewis: Championing Climate Justice and JoC Leadership in the Jewish Community
Lewis envisions a future where JoC have more agency within the Jewish Climate Movement, creating resources and opportunities for leadership. Meeting with rabbinic fellows at Dayenu, she aims to empower JoC to initiate their circles, ensuring their voices are valued. This lifelong pipeline of opportunity is crucial for impactful change in the Jewish and climate justice community.
Exploring Philanthropy: Our Fellows’ Transformative Visit to Baltimore and D.C.
During October, our three dedicated Philanthropy Fellows—Ilana Ybgi, Santy Barrera, and Maya Katz-Ali—embarked on a visit to Baltimore and Washington, D.C, to gain hands-on experience meeting with funders and grantees from philanthropic organizations including Crown Family Philanthropies, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.
Amplifying Voices: New Research on Jewish Adoptees of Color
Not only will this research shine light on the experiences of adoptees of color, it will allow Jewish adoptees of color to connect with one another through recognition of their unique shared experiences.
Nurturing Community Voices: Research on Jews of Color in the Pacific Northwest
To gather this knowledge of communal needs and interests, Metasabiya (Tammy) Habteyes, Program Director at TischPDX, created the 2023 Cultural Shift Survey. This grassroots survey aims to gather hyperlocal data to gain a comprehensive understanding of JoC experiences in the PNW.
Embracing Growth and Impact: My Experience as a JoCI Leadership Fellow
Accessing a space where I once felt so uncomfortable has helped me recognize the power of embodying my Jewish identity, whether in JoC spaces or any other Jewish spaces. Overall, this fellowship has given me the clarity that my power does not only come from one facet of my identity. From redefining my presentation, to evolving how my confidence and self determination presents itself when I engage in different social circles, I am proud to show up as my full self.