Friends,

I’ve always found it fitting that we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the top of the year. Doing so allows us to rededicate ourselves to building a thriving and inclusive Jewish community and broader world.

That’s why this MLK Day, the Jewish Community Foundation is proud to highlight some of the exceptional work led by and in support of Jews of Color in our community. We’ve asked local leaders to share descriptions of their work and how it’s helping to honor and engage the full breadth of our community so that everyone feels included and represented.

Read on for some snapshots — or find their full pieces here — and consider giving through your Donor Advised Fund to support their efforts in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Belonging is an essential element of Jewish peoplehood. And yet, as our colleagues share, initiatives focused on belonging too often go underfunded. To achieve its full potential, this work needs continual support. Thank you for considering how you can make a difference in this essential space.

NOTE: We welcome the news of a hostage and ceasefire agreement in Gaza and will continue to find effective ways to support long-term recovery efforts in Israel. We are also supporting wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles. Explore an expanded list of giving opportunities for L.A.

With gratitude and wishes for a meaningful MLK Day,

Sara Brenner

Executive Director

Jewish Community Foundation

From Yolanda Savage-Narva
Vice President, Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)

Communities of Belonging EIN 13-1663143
According to a 2020 Pew Study, 15% of American Jews between the ages of 18-29 identify as people of color. In another study conducted by the Jews of Color Initiative, a minimum of 12-15% of the Jewish population in North America identify as people of color.

As a Black Jewish woman with multi-racial family members, my vision for the Jewish community and the community at large is an ecosystem that embraces everyone through the lens of B’Tzelem Elohim (in the image of God) and is one in which every person feels a true sense of belonging. Which is why I am truly excited about our work this year.

The URJ Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Communities of Belonging team is working locally to engage Jews of Color through Shabbat dinners, retreats, and community town halls. We will also be working nationally with select congregations and summer camps to pilot an equity indicator to help us strengthen the foundational elements of a community of belonging.

From Joshua Maxey
Jews of Color Affinity Group organizer and SEA Change leader, Washington Hebrew Congregation

Community Juneteenth Celebration EIN 53-0196646
In 2021, my colleagues at Washington Hebrew Congregation and I helped create an annual Juneteenth celebration in partnership with other area synagogues and support from the Jewish Community Foundation. This event gathers Jews of all backgrounds and members of the broader community for a meaningful Shabbat service and a community film screening. The event is a unique opportunity to reflect on the history of African American freedom, while also elevating the lived experiences of Jews of Color.

Jews of Color often hold dual identities as both Jewish and members of marginalized racial groups and can find themselves invisible in predominantly white Jewish spaces. The goal of the annual celebration, therefore, is to educate and provoke conversation about the diverse realities of Jewish identity. Yet, efforts to promote belonging often go underfunded. By investing in this initiative, you can help ensure Jews of Color are empowered to create lasting change across the Jewish world.

Washington Hebrew Congregation is also part of the JOIN SEA Change DMV Network that engages community members, staff, and clergy in initiatives to make our congregations and our community safe places of belonging for all, with an emphasis on historically marginalized groups, including Jews of Color.

The number of SEA Change congregations in the network is growing, and in 2025, the JOC Affinity Group at Washington Hebrew Congregation aspires to collaborate with Jews of Color from other SEA Change synagogues to share common challenges and successes and create opportunities for fostering belonging and community.

From Dee Sanae
Founder, Mosaic Visions

Mosaic Visions EIN 85-2310242

Mosaic Visions embodies Dr. King's belief in the power of personal narrative to transform society. We create unique spaces where historically overlooked voices, particularly Jews of Color, unite with diverse community members to share experiences and wisdom across generations. Through our Spirit of Humanity program and other initiatives, we weave together cultural and artistic expression, interfaith dialogue, and social action to build lasting coalitions. 

We're now working on developing virtual gatherings and fellowships to ensure vital connections across diverse communities grow between events. And we are continuing to find ways to help our community connect through action-oriented projects and important national and international community-building initiatives. Your support will help expand programs like Spirit of Humanity throughout the DMV area and beyond, ensuring our community can hear, honor, and act on vital perspectives.

From Jess Greenblatt Seeley
Co-Executive Director, JOIN for Justice

The Jewish Organizing Institute and Network (JOIN) for Justice EIN 04-3617885
JOIN is a national effort at the forefront of developing the next generation of Jewish leaders, especially Jews of Color, through its groundbreaking Jews of Color Organizing Fellowship (JOCOF). The year-long program provides the training, mentorship, and community support Jews of Color need to become effective leaders of Jewish communities and social justice organizations.

The program combines virtual and in-person training, Jewish learning, and livable wage positions at leading organizations. Importantly, JOCOF builds powerful networks between Jews of Color, deepening their connection to their Jewish identity, and establishing a lifelong community of leaders. With your support, JOCOF can continue to grow its impact across the country.

Give through your Donor Advised Fund Donor Web Portal Today

Our goal is to make your giving as effective and meaningful as possible. Please let us know how we can support your philanthropic vision. Reach out to us to share feedback and for individual support. 

The Jewish Community Foundation
by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
6101 Executive Boulevard | North Bethesda, MD 20852 US

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