“Fall Impact Forum: Jewish Women and the Arts.” Wednesday, September 27th from noon – 1:30 p.m. @ The Temple. Pre-registration required by September 22nd. Click here to register now!

Join Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta as we kick off a new year at our Fall Impact Forum on Wednesday, September 27 from noon – 1:30 pm! The program includes kosher lunch and a panel discussion focused on Jewish Women and the Arts. Our esteemed panelists include (bios below):

• Jody Feldman, Alliance Theater Casting Director
• Cathy Fox, Former Art and Architecture critic at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and founder of ArtsATL.org
• Leslie Gordon, Breman Museum Executive Director
• Fay Gold, contemporary art expert and former gallery owner
• Pamela Gold, actress, singer, dancer

In addition to sharing their personal experiences, the conversation will delve into the rich history of art and Judaism, gender equity in the arts community and the intersection of arts and activism. All impact forums also include dynamic conversations and updates on JWFA’s impactful work.

This event is open to current JWFA Trustees, Associate level donors, and members of the 2023-2024 ACT cohort. If you are not yet a JWFA Trustee or Associate, we would love to have you join us! Become an Associate today at the registration link above. If you are interested in becoming a JWFA Trustee, please email rwasserman@jwfatlanta.org or call 678-222-3716.

Speaker Bios:

Jody Feldman, Alliance Theater Casting Director, began her career as an actress before joining the Alliance Theater in 1991. Since then, she has casted and produced more than 250 shows including The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Aida, The Color Purple and Sister Act: The Musical.

Cathy Fox, Former Art and Architecture critic at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and founder of ArtsATL.org: During her 27 year tenure at AJC, Ms. Fox was honored as Cox Writer of the Year and won multiple Green Eyeshade Awards for criticism as well as awards from the Atlanta chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the City of Atlanta Urban Design Commission and American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors.

Leslie Gordon, The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum Executive Director: Prior to joining The Breman Museum in 2019, Ms. Gordon led the Rialto Center for the Arts for more than 15 years. She has also held leadership roles at the National Black Arts Festival and the Arts Festival of Atlanta.

Fay Gold, contemporary art expert and former gallery owner: A former artist, Ms. Gold pioneered one of the nation’s top art galleries for more than 30 years. A trailblazer in the contemporary art world, she hosted exhibitions of renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Robert Mapplethorpe and Robert Rauschenberg.

Pamela Gold, actress, singer dancer: A native New Yorker raised in Georgia, Ms. Gold has been performing professionally for more than 30 years. She made her Broadway debut as an original cast member in How to Success in Business Without Really Trying, co-starring Matthew Broderick.

Year-End Showcase: A Community Event. June 8, 2023. 9 – 10:30 a.m. at 42 West. $36 per person. Register here.

Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta invites the community to our first annual Year-End Showcase. Join us on Thursday, June 8th for a festive breakfast by A Kosher Touch and jam-packed program, including:

• Announcement our latest grant docket, including the first-ever Women’s Leadership Grant recipients
• A panel discussion on Food, Feminism & Philanthropy with caterer extraordinaire, Sandra Bank; Jenny Levison, aka Souper Jenny; and Dale Gordon DeSena, Founder and President of Taste of Atlanta
• Graduation of the 4th class of our Agents of Change Training Program (ACT)
• A fond farewell sendoff for our outgoing Chair, Linda Davis, and a welcome to new executive committee members

The program takes place on Thursday, June 8th from 9 – 10:30 a.m. at 42 West (1088 Huff Rd NW). Registration is required by June 5th. If you cannot attend but would like to celebrate our outgoing and incoming leaders with a donation in their honor, you can do so here. 

Speaker bios:

Sandra Bank is President of Added Touch Catering and A Kosher Touch Catering. A native of South Africa, she got her culinary start at a very young age, cooking for her parent’s dinner parties. Thirty years ago, she decided to “break-out” and start her own catering empire. With inventive food selections and her dedication to perfection, she has a loyal following and ,is known throughout the Atlanta area for her innovative food style.

Dale Gordon DeSena is the founder and President of Taste of Atlanta, Inc. Now in its 23rd year, Taste of Atlanta is recognized as one of the longest running local festivals and one of the leading food festivals in the nation, attracting thousands of people from Atlanta, southeast and beyond. In addition to her year-round schedule planning Taste of Atlanta events, Dale is also a past board member for the Georgia Restaurant Association and Les Dames D’Escoffier Atlanta Chapter, as well as a Jewish National Fund (JNF).

Jenny Levison, is well known as, “Atlanta’s Soup Diva.”  She opened her first location of the Atlanta institution, Souper Jenny, in 1999 after an 18-month trip around the world learning to cook. Today, She is the sole owner of five Atlanta locations of her popular cafe. In 2018, Jenny started a 501c3 wing of her restaurant, creating, The Zadie Project, to prepare and package nutritious and delicious soups and get them into the hands of families in need in Atlanta. The Zadie Project currently donates 800 quarts of soup a week and just passed their 120,000 quarts of soup donated mark. The project currently has 12 partners including Chis180, The Fulton County School System, The Dekalb County School System, Wellspring, Free99 Fridge, The Zaban Shelter, PAW Kids, east Atlanta Kids Club.

Surviving and Thriving in College: Virtual Workshop with Kimberly Wolf. April 19, 2023. 7:30 – 8:30 pm on Zoom. No cost to attend. Register here.

The end of high school and beginning of college in a time of major transition in the life of a teen girl. It’s a period filled with new and exciting experiences, as well as obstacles and challenges that can be especially tough to navigate. A solid mental health toolkit is crucial to a successful move toward independence.

JWFA is thrilled to welcome back Kimberly Wolf, author of Talk With Her, for an interactive, online workshop for self-identifying girls who are high school juniors and seniors, as well as first-year college students, focused on how they can get the help they need to survive and thrive during this critical timeframe. Themes covered include key communication strategies, stress management tools and relationship skills geared toward this particular stage of life.

“Building a Bigger WE: Cultivating Belonging and Connection in Our Jewish Community,” Spring Impact Forum featuring special guest speaker Ginna Green. March 15, 2023 at Congregation B’nai Torah. Noon – 1:30 pm. Register here.

Ginna Green is a Fellow of the Kogod Research Center at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. She is a political strategist, writer and consultant, and, until June 2020, the Chief Strategy Officer at Bend the Arc: Jewish Action. There, she led the work of the communications, advocacy, electoral, rapid response and racial equity teams from 2018-2020, a period of unprecedented white nationalism, antisemitism and authoritarianism in American life.

Prior to Bend the Arc, Ginna was Managing Director of the Democracy Collaborative at ReThink Media. At ReThink she strengthened the communications capacity of groups working on money in politics, fair and diverse courts, and voting rights. Before joining ReThink, Ginna worked at the Center for Responsible Lending for several years, including during the Great Recession and foreclosure crisis, and worked to pass the California Homeowner Bill of Rights and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. She has also worked for Full Court Press Communications, The OpEd Project, SPIN Academy, and the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center.

Ginna is a frequent speaker and writer on democracy, race, racism in the Jewish community, Jewish community diversity, and leadership, and has been published in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Salon, and more. Ginna sits on the boards of Women’s March, Political Research Associates, the Jews of Color Initiative and Bend the Arc: Jewish Action. An alum of the Jeremiah Fellowship and the Selah Leadership Program, and a 2019 Schusterman Fellow, Ginna is a native southerner and the mother of four amazing kids.

This event is open to current JWFA Trustees and Associate level donors. If you are not yet a JWFA Trustee or Associate, we would love to have you join us! Become an Associate by clicking here. If you are interested in becoming a JWFA Trustee, please email rwasserman@jwfatlanta.org or call 678-222-3716.

Change the Culture Summit II: The Work Continues. February 28, 2023. 9 am – 1 p.m. Register here. 

Join Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta as we welcome our Grantee Partner, Ta’amod, to Atlanta to continue the work we began at our Change the Culture Summit in 2020 addressing sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination in Atlanta’s Jewish workplaces and communal spaces.

Organizational culture is the #1 predictor overall organizational success.

Organizational culture is also the #1 predictor of harassment.

Ta’amod helps Jewish organizations and the professionals working in those spaces, exist in alignment with our community’s professed values. Our training equips organizations with frameworks and concrete tools to proactively construct the environment you wish to see in your work and communal spaces, beyond simply responding and reacting to issues when they arise.

Throughout the day, Ta’amod professionals will train different audiences. We invite you to attend any and all sessions based on the many hats you may wear:

9 am – 1 pm: Active bystander training for professionals and lay leaders (includes breakfast and snacks)

5 – 6 pm: Special session for JWFA Trustees

More information about all trainings and registration is available here.

Winter Impact Forum, featuring special guest speaker Fay Twersky, in conversation with Elise Eplan. January 19, 2023. Trustee session at 9 am; main program 9:30 – 10:30 am; AA Synagogue. Register here.

As president and director of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Fay Twersky is a trusted, values-aligned leader, working with the Blank family, defining areas of giving and directing philanthropic resources in service of a better world. Fay also serves on the Executive Leadership Team of the Blank Family of Businesses – the full portfolio of socially minded enterprises, including the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, PGA TOUR Superstore, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, Paradise Valley Ranch and West Creek Ranch.

Fay joined the Blank Family Foundation in February 2021 from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in Menlo Park, California, where she served as Vice President. Fay created, launched and led Hewlett’s Effective Philanthropy Group, an internal team dedicated to organizational effectiveness and responsible for guiding strategy, evaluation and organizational learning. In this position, Fay promoted effective philanthropic practices well beyond Hewlett and among her notable contributions to the field, was serving as the founding Co-Chair of the Fund for Shared Insight, a $63 million dollar funding collaborative of more than 100 funders supporting more than 500 nonprofits who are committed to amplifying voices of those least heard in our communities and responding to their preferences, ideas and insights.

Fay spent one year working in Jerusalem, as a Senior Advisor to the Managing Director of Yad Hanadiv (The Rothschild Family Foundation), the largest independent foundation in Israel. She advised on issues of strategy, organization and learning. Prior to that, Fay served as director and member of the leadership team of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, developing the impact planning & improvement division. While at Gates, Fay co-founded Youth Truth, a breakthrough student feedback system focusing on the student experience in schools. Before joining the Gates Foundation, Fay was a founder of BTW – Informing Change, a strategic consulting firm working with nonprofits and philanthropy nationally.

Fay is a frequent author and commentator on trends in philanthropy. Her publications include several Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) articles including, “Time for a Three-Legged Measurement Stool,” about balancing monitoring and evaluation with feedback from community members at the heart of our work; “How Philanthropic Collaborations Succeed and Why they Fail,” on the value of funders working together on intractable problems but also some of the pitfalls in doing so; “The Artful Juggler,” on what it takes to be a successful foundation CEO; and “Listening to Those Who Matter Most, the Beneficiaries.”

Elise Eplan is a co-founder of Be Philanthropy Partners, a boutique philanthropic advisory firm. Prior to her consulting work, Elise was Vice President for Special Initiatives at The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. As one of the Foundation’s first two staff members, Elise led the trustees in developing the vision, direction and processes for the Foundation. Over a period of 11 years, she oversaw the discretionary grantmaking for the trustees and over $10 million in Foundation grants for parks and greenspace in Atlanta. Elise was instrumental in the founding of Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta.

This event is open to current JWFA Trustees and Associate level donors. If you are not yet a JWFA Trustee or Associate, we would love to have you join us! Become an Associate by clicking here. If you are interested in becoming a JWFA Trustee, please email rwasserman@jwfatlanta.org or call 678-222-3716.

Talk with Her, featuring guest speaker Kimberly Wolf. Sunday, November 6, 2022. Teen program: 5:30 pm. Parent program: 7:30 pm. 5200 Northland Drive. $18 for an individual ticket; $36 for a family pass. Click here to purchase individual or family tickets.

The relationship between teens and their parents is nuanced, complex, and often fraught with challenges. Today’s teens are struggling in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the level of anxiety and depression they are experiencing is off-the-charts. As with their adult counterparts, teen girls are grappling with a variety of gender-specific issues that are daunting, even for the most seasoned parent or professional.

Author and educator Kimberly Wolf has spent her career teaching girls how to move forward in a way that maximizes their potential, preserves their dignity, builds confidence, and gives them the tools to approach difficult conversations with parents and peers. Her new book, Talk with Her, is a veritable how-to manual, designed to help fathers navigate their relationships with their daughters and create lasting bonds that foster resilience, honesty, and positive social connections.

On November 6, 2022, Kimberly joins JWFA here in Atlanta for two interactive workshops – one for self-identifying high school girls, and the other for the adults in their lives – that will provide a blueprint for tough conversations, meaningful interaction, and concrete tools to help us strive for excellence rather than perfection.

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Interactive workshop for self-identifying high school girls; 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Interactive adult workshop.

Discussion themes include:

• The connection between mental health, self-esteem and body positivity
• Maintaining a focus on human strengths and qualities rather than gender-related goals
• Establishing boundaries and reasonable expectations
• Navigating a world steeped in social media, social activism & social justice
• Fostering inclusivity and acceptance
• Parenting by example as an ally

The adult workshop features Kimberly in conversation with journalist and acclaimed speaker, Josh Levs, author of the award-winning book, All In: How Our Work-First Culture Fails Dads, Families, and Businesses–And How We Can Fix It Together. The United Nations has called Josh a “Global Champion of Gender Equality” and The Financial Times named him one of the world’s top 10 male feminists. His expertise in assessing the realities of today’s dads has led him to speaking engagements around the world and at top universities including Yale, Harvard, Stanford and The Wharton School of Business. His writing has been published extensively and he previously served as a reporter for both NPR and CNN. To read more about his work, visit his website, here.

Community partnerships and sponsorships are still available. For more information, contact Dina Fuchs-Beresin, JWFA Director of Strategic Programs at dberesin@jwfatlanta.org

Kimberly Wolf has been championing the health and wellbeing of teenagers since she was 18, sitting on the quad at her Los Angeles high school, talking with my friends through broken hearts, crises in body confidence, fights with friends, and battles with perfectionism.

She has an undergraduate degree from Brown University, where her thesis on the history and evolution of sexual health content in SEVENTEEN earned honors in gender studies, and a have a master’s in human development and psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her approach blends integrative wellness with positive psychology and entrepreneurial leadership frameworks to equip today’s young people with the wisdom and skills they’ll need to succeed in their personal, academic, and professional lives after high school. 

Kimberly’s work has been featured and promoted by platforms including Huffington Post, Forbes, NPR, The Representation Project, and DrGreene.com. Lately, she has been focused on closing the gender gap: teaching Kimberly Wolf’s Love Class (TM), an exploration in self-love, relational communication, and sexual health for high schoolers; helping fathers communicate more effectively with their teenage daughters, so young women are more prepared to succeed in their personal and professional lives; and collaborating with other media producers and entrepreneurs promoting gender equality around the globe. 

Talk with Her: A Dad’s Essential Guide to Raising Healthy, Confident, and Capable Daughters is her first book.

Sponsors and Partners

Presenting Sponsor: JF&CS Atlanta

Community Sponsors: Atlanta Jewish Academy, The Epstein School, Perspectives, The Powerful Project, Temple Sinai, The Weber School

Community Partners: Congregation Or Hadash, In the City Camps, jGirls+ Magazine, JumpSpark, Linda Davis

 

Fall Impact Forum, featuring guest speaker Ruth Messinger. September 7, 2022 at noon. Congregation Or Hadash. Registration now closed; unfortunately, we cannot accommodate walk-ins.

Ruth Messinger is a tireless visionary and advocate for social change in both in the Jewish and secular communities. As the head of the American Jewish World Service (AJWS) for nearly 20 years, she mobilized American Jews and others to speak out about injustice, give generously, and advocate for poor, oppressed and persecuted communities around the globe. In addition to her nonprofit work, Ruth spent many years in the political arena, notably as the first woman to secure a major party nomination for mayor of New York City. She is one of the most well-known and respected Jewish women, once named the sixth most influential Jew in the world by the Jerusalem Post.

Ruth joins Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta in person at our Fall Impact Forum on September 7th at noon, to discuss her history of activism as part of a candid conversation with longtime friend and fellow activist, JWFA Trustee Lois Frank.

This event is open to current JWFA Trustees and Associate level donors. If you are not yet a JWFA Trustee or Associate, we would love to have you join us! Become an Associate by clicking here. If you are interested in becoming a JWFA Trustee, please email rwasserman@jwfatlanta.org or call 678-222-3716.

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Quarterly Impact Forum featuring guest speaker Paige Alexander, Chief Executive Officer, The Carter Center. June 9, 2022 at 9 a.m. Open to JWFA Trustees and Associates. 

The Quarterly Impact Forum is a time for self-identifying Jewish women to learn from experts in the field, connect with one another in meaningful ways, and be inspired by JWFA’s grantee partners. Our summer event in the series will feature special guest speaker Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center.

Alexander has had a distinguished global development career, with over two decades of experience spanning the government and nonprofit sectors. She has held U.S. Senate confirmed senior leadership positions at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was senior vice president of IREX, an international civil society, democracy, and education nonprofit organization in Washington, and executive of EUCORD, a nonprofit in Brussels and Amsterdam working to bring market-led solutions to marginalized farmers in Africa. Earlier, Alexander was associate director of Project Liberty at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a consultant to institutions including the C.S. Mott Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Open Society Institute. Alexander currently serves on the boards of the Romanian-American Foundation, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, the ADL Southeast Region, and as a member of several human rights organizations.

We will also hear from a JWFA grantee partner, currently working in the field to promote gender equality and social change. More details to come.  

Quarterly Impact Forums are open to JWFA Trustees and Associates.

Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta Celebrates 10 Years! April 27, 2022 at 7:30 pm.

Join us as we celebrate our 10th anniversary and JWFA Impacts! We are thrilled to welcome honoree and keynote speaker, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, in conversation with Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent. This event will take place both in person in Atlanta and virtually via livestream. Dessert and coffee will follow the in person event.

Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, is the 19^th Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the ninth Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. She is an influential scholar whose pioneering research has helped advance the national and global response to HIV/AIDS. Dr. Walensky is also a well-respected expert on the value of testing and treatment of deadly viruses.

Originally from Maryland, Dr. Walensky received her Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis, her Doctor of Medicine from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and her Masters in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health.

For 10 years, JWFA has utilized strategic grantmaking to enrich organizations and communities, while actively engaging women as leaders and philanthropists. We invite you to learn about the many facets of JWFA, including our Agents of Change Training (ACT) program, groundbreaking research, work combating gender-based discrimination in the workplace, and our Signature Grant addressing the harmful Superwoman Complex and other mental health challenges for women and girls in Atlanta’s Jewish community. This celebration is not to be missed!

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Civil Rights through a Gender Lens Day Trip to Selma and Montgomery. Sunday, May 15, 2022. $360 per adult (includes all meals); $300 per teen (all teens must accompany an adult). *Register by clicking here.*

Women have always been at the forefront of creating social change and the Civil Rights Movement is no exception. We invite self-identifying women and girls to join Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta on an exclusive one-day journey to walk in the footsteps of the heroic men & WOMEN who fought for racial and gender equality during this pivotal time.

With the help of Etgar 36, we’ll travel to Montgomery, Alabama, exploring the historic town where Rosa Parks boarded the bus for her famous ride, and hear about the many unsung women who also played integral roles in the bus boycott. We’ll go back in time to revisit key moments in the Civil Rights Movement, including the lunch counter sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, and the March on Washington.

In Selma, we’ll “pray with our feet,” tracing the steps of those who marched on what became known as ”Bloody Sunday.” We’ll meet with a woman who was just a child when she participated in that march and hear her first-hand account of that day and the impact of the marches that followed.

We’ve planned this trip on a weekend to encourage you to share the experience with female-identifying teens in your life – your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, neighbors – creating an opportunity to embrace the Jewish concept of L’dor v’dor, passing these lessons on from generation to generation.  We invite you to take part in this deeply meaningful day as we witness how the past connects to the present and learn how we can continue the work of these brave women who came before us, to fight for equality and justice in our own community.

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Quarterly Impact Forum featuring guest speaker Andrea Young, Executive Director, ACLU of Georgia. March 29, 2022 at noon. Registration coming soon.

International Women’s Day: Supporting Women’s Leadership. March 8, 2022. Breakfast briefing @ 9 am, pop-up giving circle @ 7 pm. Register for the pop-up giving circle here.

Quarterly Impact Forum featuring guest speaker Nancy R. Mansfield, Director of the Women Lead Program and Senior Faculty Associate for Women’s Leadership Development at Georgia State University. January 27, 2022 from 9 – 10:30 am on Zoom.

Quarterly Impact Forums are open to JWFA Trustees and Associates. If you are not yet a Trustee or Associate and would like to join us, we would be thrilled to have you! Click here to get started. 

“Caring for the Caregivers.” November 16, 2021. 12 – 1 pm EST on Zoom.

Book discussion group: “Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver.” November 2, 2021. 12 – 1 pm EST on Zoom. There is no cost to attend; register here.

Rachel likes to think of herself as a nice Jewish girl, dedicated to doing what’s honorable, just as her parents raised her to do. But when her husband, David, survives a plane crash and is left with severe brain damage, she faces a choice: will she dedicate her life to caring for a man she no longer loves, or walk away? Crash tackles a pervasive dilemma in our culture: the moral conflicts individuals face when caregiving for a disabled or cognitively impaired family member.

“Women’s Empowerment, Feminism, and Gender Fluidity.” October 26, 2021 at 12 pm EST. Register here.

In honor of Pride Month, we explore the complicated dilemma – What does it mean to be a woman when gender is fluid? Where does the binary fit into the equation? What do we mean when we talk about “women’s issues?” As gender identity continues to evolve and challenge old modes of thinking, we’ll delve into how this shift impacts the ways in which self-identifying women are upending long-held norms and expectations. We’ll also discuss the intersection of gender and Jewish identities and how these deeply personal viewpoints inform and enhance the way in which women see themselves. Join our esteemed panelists for a candid conversation about this eye-opening topic. Guest speakers include:

Fran Benjamin is the Managing Partner of Good Works Consulting, an organizational strategies consulting firm specializing in equity, diversity, and inclusion. As a non-binary, queer identifying executive, Fran previously served as Chief of Staff for Deloitte’s Leadership Center for Inclusion and has led held key roles at Airbnb and GRAIL, Inc. one of the world’s fastest growing Life Sciences Technology startups. Fran and husband, Rabbi Jason Rodich, previously lived in Israel where they worked in the field of conflict resolution, peace and reconciliation. Fran currently lives in San Francisco with Jason and a daughter and is a certified yoga instructor, performer, and the author of the upcoming book, My Daddy’s a Queen.

Miryam Kabakov is a national leader who has worked for more than three decades on the inclusion of LGTBQ+ individuals in the Orthodox world. She is Executive Director and ​co-founder of Eshel, a national organization that supports LGBTQ+ Orthodox individuals and their families. Prior to being a leader at Eshel, Miryam was the New York and National Program Director of AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, Director of LGBT programming at the JCC Manhattan, and was the first social worker at Footsteps, the only organization in the United States providing comprehensive services to people who have chosen to leave their ultra-Orthodox communities and begin new lives.

Liz Wolfson is the Managing Director of Changemaker Strategies, designed to help visionary leaders help their teams navigate growth and change while staying true to their mission and purpose. With a focus on gender lens and social impact investing for individuals, teams, organizations, and foundations, Liz has consulted with entrepreneurs and philanthropic organizations around the globe, including the Jewish Funders Network. Prior to her current role, Liz envisioned, founded, and expanded a game-changing educational model (Girls Athletic Leadership Schools, Inc.) focused on positive gender identity and integrated movement.

McKenzie Wren is the Program Director of SOJOURN: the Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity. At SOJOURN, she helps synagogues, institutions and communities be more welcoming to all people – especially members of the LGBTQ+ communities. McKenzie is also an independent diversity, equity and inclusion consultant specializing in culture and is immediate past president of Congregation Beit Haverim in Atlanta.

 

Quarterly Impact Forum featuring guest speaker Jill Savitt, President & CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. October 13, 2021 at noon. Zoom.

The Quarterly Impact Forum is a time for self-identifying Jewish women to learn from experts in the field, connect with one another in meaningful ways, and be inspired by JWFA’s grantee partners. Our first event in the series will feature special guest speaker Jill Savitt, President & CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. 

We will also hear from Terri Bonoff, CEO of JF&CS Atlanta, who will provide an update on our first-ever Signature Grant, a $225,000 3-year initiative to address the Superwoman Complex and mental health challenges in for women and girls in Atlanta’s Jewish community.  

Quarterly Impact Forums are open to JWFA Trustees and Associates.

Jill Savitt, the President and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, is a human rights advocate with expertise in genocide and atrocity prevention.  She assumed the role in March 2019, but has been involved with The Center since 2010 when she curated the Center’s exhibit on global human rights. Previously, Savitt was the Acting Director of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.  The Center stimulates global action to prevent genocide and to catalyze an international response when it occurs. In 2007, Savitt founded and directed Dream for Darfur, a high-profile advocacy campaign that pressed the Chinese government to take specific actions regarding the genocide in Darfur in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Games. The New York Times Magazine profiled Savitt and the initiative. Savitt was the Director of Campaigns at Human Rights First from 2001 to 2007, where her team ran the campaign to assist a group of retired military leaders to speak out against torture.  The campaign also worked with Hollywood to present a more accurate portrayal of interrogation in movies and TV shows. She began her career as a reporter for WAMU, the NPR affiliate in Washington, DC.  Savitt graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

MJCCA Book Festival in Your Living Room features “2020 Hindsight.” Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 7 pm EST. There is no cost to attend this virtual program.

Hosted by Holly Firfer, Program Director, Reach-TV. Purchase the book here.

Panelists include anthology authors: Terri Bonoff, CEO of JF&CS; Dina Fuchs-Beresin, Program Manager of Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta; Hazel Halitsky, third grade student at Davis Academy; Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus, Senior Associate Rabbi at The Temple; and Debbie Sonenshine, Agent with Coldwell Banker

Join us for a very special evening with an esteemed panel of local women and girls who will be discussing essays they wrote for this beautiful anthology. 2020 Hindsight: A pivotal moment in history, through the eyes of Atlanta’s Jewish women and girls is the first publication of its kind to capture the experiences of Jewish women and girls during this historic moment in time. This poignant collection of stories and poetry exudes a profound sense of personal discovery, depth and hope, recalling candid reflections of the struggles endured by women and girls in Atlanta’s Jewish community during a most challenging year. Writers ranging in age from 7-90, pulled back the curtain on their innermost thoughts to illuminate what’s really going on in their lives and offer powerful and provocative testimony. This program is in partnership with the Breman Museum.

“Speaking Her Truth.” July 28, 2021.

A panel of female-identifying faith leaders confront our assumptions about what it means to be a female leader in today’s Jewish community. This candid discussion engages a diverse group of local leadership, exposing deep and sometimes controversial truths that affect them as women, in both their personal and professional lives. Told in their own unique voices, these five dynamic leaders will share their stories, offering an intimate perspective of how their Jewish and female identities inform their ongoing work and the challenges they continue to navigate, both on and off the pulpit.

Panelists include:

• Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder, PhD., Director of Education, Be’chol Lashon
• Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus, Senior Associate Rabbi, The Temple
• Talya Gorsetman, Director of the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning
• Amy Robertson, PhD., Director of Lifelong Learning, Congregation Or Hadash
• Beth Schafer, Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair, Temple Sinai

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Impact Investing through a Gender Lens. June 3, 2021. 12-1 pm EST on Zoom. 

• David Angel, Director of Strategic Partnership at Ogen
• Christy Eckoff, Chief Foundation Officer at Atlanta Jewish Foundation
• Beth Sirull, President and CEO of Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego

Celebrate the Power of Women’s Voices! Virtual book launch party. May 20, 2021. Get your copy of the book here.

“Make Your Words Count: The Art of the OpEd.” Three-part series: April 6, 13, 20. 1-2 pm EST on Zoom.

It’s true that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it takes effort and talent to voice your opinion on the written page in a way that compels editors and readers to sit up and take notice. If you’ve ever felt you had something meaningful to say and wanted to share it publicly, now is your chance to learn how to make that dream a reality.

This three-part virtual workshop will teach women the basics of writing an impactful OpEd – choosing your topic of discussion, writing challenges and goals, and working with the media. Each interactive session will be led by Laura Adkins, Opinion Editor for Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) and professor of journalism at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women.

Space is limited. This workshop will take place via Zoom from 1-2 p.m. on three consecutive Tuesdays in April: 6, 13, 20. The cost is $72 per participant for the general community. Current Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta Trustees receive a rate of $54. Limited scholarships are available; email us to inquire.

Laura E. Adkins is Opinion Editor of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and an adjunct professor of journalism at Yeshiva University. She was previously Deputy Opinion Editor at the Forward, where she wrote about data, orthodoxy, kosher wine, and built interactive maps. Laura has also served as the editor of Jewish Insider and an assistant blogs editor at The Times of Israel. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, SELF, Glamour and elsewhere.

“Advocacy in Action: An International Women’s Day Program.” March 8, 2021 on Zoom. 12 pm EST.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we are pleased to bring together three of our Israeli grantee partners for an online, roundtable discussion about their advocacy efforts. Learn how they are working within the legal and governmental systems to create real change on a policy level. Additionally, we are thrilled to welcome Anat Sultan-Dadon, Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States, as the moderator of our panel. She will also share her experience as a foreign diplomat during a global pandemic. (Did you know she hasn’t been back to Israel in over a year?!)

Consul General Sultan-Dadon joined the Israeli diplomatic corps in 2004. She has extensive experience working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has held various posts and positions in Israel and abroad. She has held positions at the Israeli embassies in Cameroon, Germany, the Netherlands and most recently in Canberra, Australia. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem she has held positions in the Euroasia Division and the Asia-Pacific Division. Consul General Sultan-Dadon has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and education from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem as well as a masters in criminology from the same institution.

The conversation will include representatives from:

Center for Women’s Justice – Defends women’s rights to equality, dignity, and justice whenever they are compromised in the name of religion.

Mavoi Satum – Works to spearhead long-term, transformational community impact by increasing the presence of women at all levels of the rabbinical court system to bring about equality and a supportive setting for Jewish women denied a divorce.

Women’s Spirit – Enables women survivors of violence to overcome professional and occupational barriers, establish economic independence, and regain control of their lives while working to change fundamental Israeli policies and laws that undermine, destabilize, and weaken all women but especially victims of violence.

Pull up a seat at our virtual table and join us to hear more about these important programs and how they are empowering women in Israel and paving the way for a more equitable future.

“Caring for the Caregivers: Supporting others without losing sight of your own well-being.” December 2, 2020. 12 pm EST on Zoom. No cost.

The pandemic has laid bare the ongoing struggle many women face as the primary caretaker, both within their household structure and increasingly, to aging family members. Our recent Community Study specifically identified challenges related to the so-called “sandwich generation” – women juggling the needs of elderly parents while simultaneously caring for young children. Join us as we discuss the importance of supporting the needs of caregivers and offer concrete tools and resources that will enable women in a caretaking role to prioritize their own well-being.

Licensed clinical social worker Michelle Goodloe will interview a panel of local Jewish women about their personal experiences with caregiving, while offering practical advice for managing compassion fatigue.

Michelle Goodloe is a licensed clinical social worker and an experienced project manager; dedicated to helping others develop healthy relationships with themselves and with others.

With a professional background in providing clinical interventions, compassion-based services and statewide advocacy for people impacted by domestic violence, child abuse and stress-related conflict, the focus of Michelle’s career has been to develop and institute accessible and resourceful avenues of support through her agencies: The Essence of Healing LLC and gmichelle.com.

Michelle is the owner and psychotherapist with The Essence of Healing LLC, a private therapeutic practice based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Essence of Healing LLC provides individual and couples psychotherapy to adult residents of Georgia and Illinois.

She is also the creator of Self Explore, Self Restore, a guided self-care journal, and the host of the wellness-resource website, gmichelle.com. Gmichelle.com offers busy, caring professionals the opportunity to make self-care a practical part of their lives. Michelle facilitates interactive workshops for non-profit and private organizations that experience challenges with addressing self-care, compassion fatigue and professional burn out.

To learn more about Michelle, check out her blog at gmichelle.com.

JWFA Impacts Virtual Celebration

Thank you for joining our virtual celebration on November 10, 2020! If you missed it, the recording is available here.

Click here to make a donation in Lisa’s honor.

We were thrilled to hold our virtual celebration, Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta Impacts: There’s Even More to Us Now, honoring Lisa Haynor on November 10, 2020. While we did not charge for this event, any donation is greatly appreciated and will support our work for gender equality. We are grateful to the generous sponsors of JWFA Impacts!

As we came together virtually to celebrate, we honored and thanked Lisa for her passionate leadership, both as a professional and a volunteer. As a Founding Trustee and past chair of JWFA, Lisa has demonstrated her tireless devotion to women and girls. As a partner at Aprio, Lisa has spent her career going above and beyond for her clients. At the same time, she has held significant leadership roles in many community organizations, including Atlanta Jewish Foundation, The Davis Academy, The Jewish Federations of North America, and Temima, The Richard and Jean Katz High School for Girls.

In addition to celebrating Lisa, we heard from Rebecca Minkoff, founder of the Female Founder Collective, a network of businesses led by women that invests in women’s financial power across the socio-economic spectrum by enabling and empowering female-owned businesses. Rebecca, an industry leader in accessible luxury handbags, accessories, footwear, and apparel, is dedicated to bringing women together to enact positive change and hosts the “Superwomen” podcast. Rebecca was be interviewed by Atlanta’s own Brittany Tenenbaum from WSB-TV.

“Deconstructing the Myths: A Talkback Series.” November 12 (7 p.m.), 2020. No cost. Registration link below.

Earlier this year we welcomed special guests Ada Calhoun, Nadia Bilchik, and Dr. Lisa Damour, who spoke about the “Superwoman Complex” and anxieties and stresses women and teen girls face as we try to do it all. The response to this webinar (recording available here) was overwhelming, and many of you reached out to tell us how the topic deeply resonated with you.

We heard from the experts. Now it is your time to talk!

Through a series of talkback sessions, we will play clips from the original webinar and give you a chance to discuss your experiences. Think of this as book club without the book! Better yet, there’s no homework in advance. Whether or not you watched the original webinar, you can join us for 1, 2, or all 3 of these talkback sessions. Register with friends, or use the time to meet new women who have a story to share.

September 16, 2020 at 12 p.m.: “Redefining What’s ‘Normal’: Stress in Today’s World.”

October 15, 2020 at 9 a.m.: “Next Generation Woes: How Can We Help Our Teens Better Navigate Stress.”

November 12, 2020 at 7 p.m.: “Does Work/Life Balance Really Exist: The Added Stress of Being a Working Woman.”

While we welcome participants personal stories and emotional input, this discussion should not be viewed as therapy or a substitute for guidance from a licensed professional. If you need more personalized counseling or support from a trained clinician, please contact Jewish Family & Career Services at 770-677-9300.

“Rules of Engagement: Maintaining Dignity Amid Political & Pandemic Discord.” October 22, 2020. Recording available here. Slides available here.

Have you resorted to unfollowing close friends and family members on social media because you have diametrically opposing viewpoints on key issues?

Have differing ways of dealing with the pandemic driven a wedge in your personal and professional relationships?

Does the constant barrage of divisive rhetoric give you heart palpitations each time you turn on the news?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is your chance to tune out the noise and tune in to methods that will help you better navigate today’s culture of debate and division.

Now more than ever, opposing viewpoints are leading to discord that threaten to disrupt our relationships with friends, family and colleagues. How can we, as a culture and as women, maintain a narrative of respect and dignity, particularly at a time when most of our dialogue is taking place in the virtual world, rather than in-person? How can we reconcile differences of opinion, engage in difficult conversations, make sense of news and social media, and hold tight to the Jewish imperative to “love thy neighbor as thyself?” As we approach the 2020 election, join us as experts Laura E. Adkins and Rosalind Wiseman discuss these relevant topics.

Laura E. Adkins: Opinion Editor of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and an adjunct professor of journalism at Yeshiva University. She was previously Deputy Opinion Editor at the Forward, where she wrote about data, orthodoxy, kosher wine, and built interactive maps. Laura has also served as the editor of Jewish Insider and an assistant blogs editor at The Times of Israel. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, SELF, Glamour and elsewhere.

Rosalind Wiseman: From where we learn to where we work, Rosalind Wiseman fosters civil dialogue and inspires communities to build strength, courage and purpose. She is the founder of Cultures of Dignity; an organization that shifts the way communities think about our physical and emotional wellbeing by working in close partnership with the experts of those communities–young people, educators, policy makers, and business and political leaders.

She is the author of two New York Times Best Sellers: Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World—the groundbreaking, best-selling book that was the basis for the movie and Broadway Musical Mean Girls, and in 2016 was fully revised for a third edition. And Masterminds & Wingmen: Helping Our Boys Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World, which addresses the social lives of boys and was awarded Best Parenting Book by Books for a Better Life in 2014.

National media regularly depends on Wiseman’s expertise on ethical leadership, conflict, media literacy, youth culture, parenting, and bullying prevention. She has been profiled in The New York Times, People, Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and USA Today. Wiseman is a frequent guest on national media like The Today Show, CNN, and NPR affiliates throughout the country.

Wiseman speaks throughout the US and abroad including, South by Southwest, Microsoft, The Royal Society for the Arts, the Association for the Advancement of International Education, the American School Counselors Association, the Game Developers Conference, the American Association of School Administrators, at the White House many times and numerous schools, governments, organizations, and corporations throughout the US and abroad. She lives in Colorado with her husband and two sons.

Women, Money, and Power. Bold Philanthropy in the Age of COVID.” August 26, 2020. 12 pm EST on Zoom.

Why is funding women and girls still crucial, even with everything else going on in the world right now? How can you be bold with your giving and make a statement about your values through philanthropy? Our expert panel will explore these issues and more. Panelists include:

Jamie Allen Black, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Women’s Foundation, oversees all activities of the Foundation including grantmaking, development, advocacy, and operations. She has shepherded the organization into a new strategic direction – supporting Jewish women social entrepreneurs and leaders who are using a gender and Jewish lens to solve intractable problems facing women and girls throughout the world. She brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience to the Foundation and has a long history of promoting inclusive, diverse Jewish communities and mentoring lay leaders and professionals in leading through authenticity. In 2015, Jamie co-founded, with Naomi Eisenberger of The Good People Fund, Ta’amod: Stand Up! – the Jewish communal action to create safe respectful workplaces that are ethical and compassionate. Jamie graduated from New York University from which she was awarded the NYU Dean’s Alumni Award for Humanitarianism in 2010. She sings in the Community Choir at Central Synagogue and has a not-so-secret life as a voice actor.

Barbara Dobkin: A pioneer in the Jewish community as a donor-activist for programs to empower women and girls, Barbara Dobkin is one of the most visible and committed advocates for social change. She was the Founding Chair of Ma’yan, a program of The JCC in Manhattan, the Jewish Women’s Archive in Boston and the Hadassah Foundation. She was a founder of Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community and was board chair of American Jewish World Service. She also served on the boards of The Women’s Funding Network, The White House Project, the Women Donors Network and Lilith Magazine.   A frequent speaker on women’s philanthropy and leadership, she is a significant supporter of and adviser to a variety of not-for-profits, both Jewish and secular in the U.S. and internationally. Barbara has been recognized by several organizations including the New York Women’s Foundation, the Jewish Funders Network and the Council on Foundations for her innovative philanthropic work.

Naomi Eisenberger, Founding Executive Director of The Good People Fund. Naomi assumed her role in 2008 after more than 10 years as the Managing Director of the Ziv Tzedakah Fund. Her diverse background as a high school history teacher, kosher caterer and small business entrepreneur have prepared her well for the many hats she wears as GPF’s chief executive. Prior to her work at Ziv, Naomi ran a family retail business for 14 years. For the past thirteen years, she has drawn on her extensive business and non-profit experience to mentor grantees and help them build their own successful organizations. Naomi’s involvement in the issue of sexual harassment in the Jewish communal world began in 2016 when grantees shared several incidents of abuse. Today, The Good People Fund partners with the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York to sponsor Ta’amod, which provides training, consultation and resources for the establishment of safe and respectful Jewish workplaces.

Lesley Grady (moderator): Lesley Grady is a Principal with Chrysalis Lab, a premier social equity consulting firm. Lesley is described by her colleagues as a “catalyst,” “connector,” “synthesizer,” and “strategist.” Holding an MA in Public Policy and Economic Development, she has provided strategic and visionary leadership for over three decades as a senior executive within major philanthropic and economic development organizations. A highly respected and sought after advisor, Lesley’s professional and civic experiences have profoundly equipped her to leverage her capacities, relationships, and passions to establish and sustain authentic connections with a cross-section of diverse leaders to facilitate positive social change. Lesley served in executive leadership at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta (CFGA), a $1.3 billion organization, from 2000-2019. As Senior Vice President (SVP), she oversaw a comprehensive community impact strategy for CFGA’s more than 1,000 donors; managed CFGA’s $18.5 M discretionary grantmaking and scholarship programs; and managed complex, place-based community initiatives. Lesley regularly represented CFGA on local and national philanthropic, civic, and cross-sector boards, among other leadership initiatives including providing testimony before the US Congress Ways and
Means Committee.

Coffee Talk with Dr. Yael Zamir. August 4, 2020 at 9 am EST.

On August 4th at 9:00 AM EST, joined Jewish Fertility Foundation, Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta, and Embryonics for a Discussion and Q&A with Dr. Yael Zamir.

Hear Dr. Yael Zamir’s story of becoming one of the FIRST Female Haredi Doctor in Israel and learn about how she has used her power as a CEO to uplift other young women in STEM and revolutionize fertility treatments.

Yael Gold Zamir is a mother of 4, medical doctor, and CEO of Embryonics, where she and her team develop AI algorithms to improve the process of in vitro fertilization.

“Deconstructing the Myths: Good Girls, Super Women, and our Desire to Have it All.” July 29, 2020. 12 pm EST on Zoom. No cost. Recording available here.

Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta and Brandeis University recently concluded a community study that uncovered critical new details regarding challenges faced by Jewish women and girls – challenges that have no doubt been exacerbated by the tumultuous events of the last few months. One of the most significant findings was the ongoing, inter-generational struggle women and girls face in their quest to “do it all” and maintain a façade of perfection throughout their lives. Join us for a conversation that will delve further into the dangers of this anxiety-inducing phenomenon and uncover ways in which we can begin to enact systemic changes that will address this detrimental trend. Our panel of experts includes:

Dr. Lisa Damour is a bestselling author, CBS News contributor and a practicing psychologist. Her award winning books include Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions Into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. She also pens a monthly adolescence column for the New York Times.

Ada Calhoun is the author three books, including the bestseller, Why We Can’t Sleep: Women’s New Midlife Crisis. As a journalist, her work has appeared in The New York Times, Time, National Geographic Traveler, O:The Oprah Magazine, The New Republic, New York Post, Cosmopolitan and Redbook.

Nadia Bilchik is a former editorial producer at CNN and President of Greater Impact Communication. She is a sought after keynote speaker and has worked in front of the camera for multiple CNN networks and Mnet Television in South Africa.

A conversation with Jacqueline Novogratz and Pat Mitchell. July 16, 2020. Recording available here.

Just as Jacqueline Novogratz’s groundbreaking new book, Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World, makes its way to readers, a series of major social and health crises have thrown into sharp relief the gaping wounds of our era, from a broken health system to climate change and skyrocketing inequality and growing divisiveness. Our inadequate systems and institutions are slumping beneath a host of modern crises. Most urgently, moral leaders are proving a scarce commodity. In America and across the world, an anxious public is hungry for clear, conscientious guidance. The stakes are higher than ever.

Please join Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta for a conversation with Jacqueline and Media Executive Pat Mitchell about the how we might use this moment of extreme uncertainty to reimagine our institutions and enact a moral revolution – a revolution of character, moral imagination, moral courage, and leadership that acts for the benefit of all of us.

Manifesto for a Moral Revolution is currently available for purchase wherever books are sold in the United States. To learn more about the book, upcoming events, and Acumen’s online course that accompanies the book, as well as to sign up for Acumen’s newsletter, please visit acumen.org/moralrevolution.

Who better to interview Jacqueline than Pat Mitchell, groundbreaking media icon, global advocate for women’s rights, and co-founder and curator of TEDWomen? Raised in a small town in Georgia with no money or connections, Pat went on to become a consummate media game-changer. She was the first woman president of PBS and of CNN productions, and also a visionary, award-winning TV and film producer, fully engaged on the front lines of cultural change.

This conversation is presented by Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta, in partnership with AJC Atlanta; Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Women’s Philanthropy; Jewish Women’s Foundation of Broward County;  Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh; Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York; Women’s Amutot Initiative, Women’s Impact Initiative, and Women’s Philanthropy of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation; Jewish Women’s Foundation of San Diego; and the Women’s Philanthropy Network at Georgia State University.

Free Virtual Film Screening and Panel Discussion: Nevertheless. Film available June 17 – 24. Panel Discussion June 24 at noon EST.

Taking a look behind the headlines of #MeToo and Time’s Up, NEVERTHELESS follows the intimate stories of individuals who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace or school context. From a writer’s assistant on “Friends” to a Tech CEO and 911 dispatcher, the film shines a light on the ways in which we can shift our culture and rebuild.

As part of Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta‘s Change the Culture Initiative, we are excited to bring you this FREE film screening and panel discussion from the comfort of your own home!

Our panel of experts includes:
Moderator: Cynthia Good, Journalist and Founder of Little PINK Book
Panelists:
Emily S. Borna, Esq./Attorney at law, Jackson Lewis P.C.
Elana Wien, Executive Director of Safety Respect Equity Network
Ken Winkler, Attorney at Berman Fink Van Horn P.C.
Ula Zusman, Counselor at JF&CS Atlanta

View the trailer here: https://vimeo.com/355029333.  Learn more about the film at https://www.neverthelessfilm.com.

Change the Culture Summit.  

“As the #MeToo movement has grown and spread across industries and sectors, it has laid bare an inescapable truth: the Jewish community is subject to the same kinds of issues, inequities, and power dynamics that exist in other communities.” -Safety Respect Equity Coalition

Over the past year, Jewish communities have begun engaging in a systematic effort to address sexual harassment, sexism, and gender discrimination in our workplaces and communal spaces. This includes congregations, day schools, and community-based nonprofits. National organizations and coalitions – such as the Safety, Respect, Equity Coalition and Ta’amod – have been founded to guide this work, and a special emphasis is being placed on the ethical – not only the legal – standards that we as Jews owe to each other.

Now it is Atlanta’s turn.

 Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta (JWFA) promotes social change and creates positive opportunities for Jewish women and girls. Since 2012, we have tackled gender inequality throughout our Jewish community. We are uniquely positioned to spearhead the Safety, Respect, Equity effort in Atlanta and are proud to announce the launch of our Change the Culture Initiative.

We are kicking off this initiative with a Change the Culture Summit on February 24, 2020 and are excited to welcome national experts to Atlanta who will provide invaluable information and training.

Dr. Guila Benchimol is the Senior Advisor to the Safety, Respect, Equity Jewish coalition to address sexual harassment and gender discrimination. She is also a research associate at the Centre for the Study of Social and Legal Responses to Violence where she works on projects related to homicide and domestic violence deaths. Guila holds a PhD in Sociological Criminology and an MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy. She brings over ten years of experience as a Jewish educator to her work with various faith communities on gender based violence.

Nicole Nevarez is the inaugural National Director of Ta’amod: Stand Up!, a multi-pronged initiative dedicated to ending gender abuse, harassment and toxic culture in the Jewish communal space. Ta’amod brings this work to the Jewish community with a lens of creating respectful workplace culture rooted in Jewish values. A Jewish educator, trainer and facilitator, Nicole has held Director roles for both local and National Jewish organizations and nonprofit NYC theaters. Most recently, she served as New York Director for Moving Traditions, helping Jewish communities provide safe spaces for teens to find their own authenticity through both a Jewish and a gender lens. In addition to her work with Ta’amod, she provides independent consulting to mission-critical organizations to support them with efforts to create positive internal culture. Nicole believes that when we do the work to reflect on ourselves and our organizations, we have the power to impact deep systemic change.

The summit is specifically geared toward the unique dynamics and norms in Jewish communal spaces and will address all stakeholder groups, including professionals, clergy, board members, donors, and volunteers. Like all social change, correcting inequity and unhealthy power dynamics takes time, and this summit will be an important first step.

The summit is being offered at no charge and will be most successful if a broad cross-section of our community is in attendance. We would like to see representation from every Jewish institution and organization in the Greater Atlanta area. Please consider sending a team that includes your top professionals, board members, and volunteers.

We hope you will join us in our commitment to making our Jewish communal workplaces and communal spaces safe, respectful, equitable places where we can all thrive. Please join us as we begin this work together as one united community. It takes all of us together to create systematic change. 

Click here to submit a personal story about discrimination, harassment, or assault in a Jewish organization or space. 

“Women in Israeli Society Today: A Diplomat’s Perspective.” February 4, 2020. Registration is now closed.

Join us for a breakfast briefing with Consul General of Israel, Anat Sultan-Dadon. Pre-registration is required by February 3, 2020.

“Working together. Using our power. Becoming visible.” with Jamie Allen Black. October 16, 2019. 3:00 p.m. 1440 Spring Street.  

Join Jamie Allen Black, CEO of Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York, for a conversation on how we can work together, use our power, and become visible.

Recently, Jamie co-authored “The Week That All Jewish Women Turned Invisible,” which not only went viral, it actually broke the internet! Learn how raising the visibility of JWFNY affected their work and made it possible to increase impact, and how the increased impact affected their visibility.

POW! Power of Women Pop-Up Giving Circle. November 10, 2019. 7:00 p.m. 5645 Dupree Dr. NW 

Get a taste of what it’s like to be a JWFA Trustee! Over the course of one dynamic evening, women who contribute to this “pop-up” giving circle will hear live presentations about a select group of proposals* and work together to allocate the pool of money among the organizations. Open to all women; $180 per person (bring your high school daughter with you for no additional cost). You must be present to vote. 

You might be asking yourself, “what IS a pop-up giving circle?”

A pop-up giving circle is a standalone event that requires no pre- or post-work by participants. It is a quick and easy way for groups of people to amplify their impact by pooling their resources and deciding together how the money will be distributed. All money raised at this event will be given out that night!

Pop-up giving circles are not a new phenomenon, but to our knowledge this is the first one for the women of Jewish Atlanta. Please join us and see what the buzz is all about!

*Come hear presentations from the following:
Atlanta Jewish Academy Young Women in STEM Career Fair and Mentoring Program – This program will increase access to and interest in careers in STEM for Jewish women and includes a one-day career fair with year-round mentoring opportunities for female high school students in Greater Atlanta. It provides access for the students to meet with women who have a variety of careers in STEM fields and to learn about STEM-based college curricula and career opportunities with the additional benefit of mentorship opportunities.

JumpSpark ATL Strong Women Fellowship: Building on the success of last year’s pilot, this program provides female-identifying Jewish teens in Atlanta access to strong female leaders, connection with peers, and empowering learning. By grappling with the myriad issues facing women today, this fellowship prepares teens to be strong leaders and advocates while incorporating a peer training model.

Sojourn: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity Comprehensive Sex Education for Jewish LBGTQ Teens – This pilot program will empower participants to make informed and responsible decisions about sexual health and behavior by providing age-appropriate, medically-accurate, comprehensive sex education that is targeted specifically for members of the LGBTQ and Jewish communities. A broad range of topics will include human development, relationships, contraception, and disease prevention.

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Thank you to our sponsors, Atlanta Jewish Academy Board of Trustees, Linda Davis, Ilene Engel, and Michal Hillman. Sponsorships will help underwrite the cost of this event and are available when you register.

Conquer Your Fears. September 12, 2019. 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. 

Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta and Kim Normand Dobrin invite you to conquer your fears!

Learn specific tools to assess, access, and release your fears.

Fear is an aspect of each of us that is often neither discussed nor addressed in a focused manner that gives specific guidance, skills, and tools to use on a daily basis.

As women, we are juggling so much; this in itself can bring anxiety and fear.

We will look at living with intention. What does this mean? How can you use these skills daily?

Space is extremely limited. Open to all women. $36 includes lunch and a workbook.

Human Trafficking: A Jewish Issue. March 28, 2019. 7:30 p.m. 

DID YOU KNOW? Currently, 12,400 men in Georgia purchase sex from a minor every month. In Israel, thousands of women are trafficked every day. Every human being has the right to make their own decision about their body, life, and future. No one should be forced to work or engage in a sex act against their will. As Jews, it is our duty to eliminate this modern-day slavery, and Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta wants to partner with you to make that happen. 

Join us on March 28, 2019 as we address this crisis with experts in the field locally, nationally, and in Israel. The program includes:

• Lauren Hersh, former prosecutor and national expert on sex trafficking, online safety, and workplace harassment.  
• Ouleye Ndoye Warnock, Senior Human Trafficking Fellow for the Office of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms 
• An update about our groundbreaking efforts in Israel and recent significant successes in this arena.

By sponsoring this event, you are publicly stating that there is no place for human trafficking in today’s world. Contact us for more information. 

Coffee & Conversation: Racial & Ethnic Diversity in the Jewish Community. March 12, 2019. 10 – 11:30 a.m. Free. 

Racial and ethnic diversity is both a historic and contemporary reality of Jewish life. Join us to learn from three Atlanta women with distinct stories and backgrounds about their experiences. Participate in engaging conversation about what diversity means for Jewish women in Atlanta. This unique opportunity to talk and learn together is being held in partnership with Be’chol Lashon, a national organization that celebrates ethnic and racial diversity in the Jewish community.

Coffee & Conversation with Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta: Join us for coffee, conversation, and a greater understanding of our mission and impact. At Coffee & Conversation, the activity or topic might change, but the goal is always the same: introduce women to our mission of promoting social change and creating positive opportunities for Jewish women and girls. From yoga to book club to guest speakers on important topics, Coffee & Conversation will offer something for everyone!

Coffee & Conversation: Human Trafficking and the Jewish Community. January 30, 2019. 12 – 1 p.m. Free. Register here.

Please join us for coffee, a brief information session about our work, and a discussion about human trafficking and the Jewish community. 

Coffee & Conversation with Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta: Join us for coffee, conversation, and a greater understanding of our mission and impact. At Coffee & Conversation, the activity or topic might change, but the goal is always the same: introduce women to our mission of promoting social change and creating positive opportunities for Jewish women and girls. From yoga to book club to guest speakers on important topics, Coffee & Conversation will offer something for everyone!

MJCCA Book Festival, “Three Authors, One Event.” November 8, 2018. 10 a.m. Free. 

Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta is proud to host Susan & Laura Stachler, authors of “Cookie Cure,” Sally Mundell, author of “Packaging Good,” and Ruby Mundell, author of “Kindness Come In” at this year’s Atlanta Jewish Book Festival. After 26 successful years, the Book Festival of the MJCCA has provided our community with a literary extravaganza featuring an exciting lineup of the year’s most exceptional authors, celebrities, and thinkers. 

Volunteer with us. Zaban Paradies Center for Homeless Couples. November 13, 2018. 10 a.m. Free. RSVP required. 

There is never a bad time to give back to your community, but what better time than right before Thanksgiving. Join us as we make packaged lunches for the residents of the Zaban Paradies Center for Homeless Couples. 

Human Trafficking Awareness and Action Training. October 16, 2018. 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Free.

DID YOU KNOW? Currently, 7,200 men purchase sex from a minor in Georgia EVERY MONTH. In advance of the 2019 Super Bowl coming to Atlanta, we are taking action to make change happen.

We are thrilled to partner with the International Human Trafficking Institute to make necessary changes to our local community. In three years, 50,000 metro Atlanta residents will be trained in human trafficking awareness and action. On October 16th at 8:30 a.m., we hosted a “train the trainer” workshop. Those trained will commit to training an additional 300-500 volunteers in advance of the Super Bowl. Click here to register, and contact us for more information.

Coffee & Conversation: Book Club Edition. October 11, 2018. 

Come celebrate International Day of the Girl with Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta! Please join us for coffee, a brief information session about our work, and a guided book discussion with an expert facilitator. We will be discussing “The Female Persuasion” by Meg Wolitzer.

“4 Keys to Longevity” with Alexis Abramson, PhD. August 29, 2018. 

Adulting is exhausting! Let us make it easier. Join Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta and Alexis Abramson, Ph.D. to discover the “4 Keys to Longevity.” Learn which changes to your life can have a positive impact on the aging process and add both quality and quantity to your years. 

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Alexis Abramson, Ph.D. is a leading industry expert and ‘trendspotter’ for those over 50. She is an inspiring speaker, blogger, corporate consultant, author, and award-winning entrepreneur and journalist. Her commitment to baby boomers and mature adults has been featured in many national publications, including TIME, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur and People. Dr. Abramson is an Emmy and Gracie award-winning journalist who has appeared frequently as an on-air expert gerontologist for NBC’s Today show, CNN, CBS, RLTV, MSNBC and numerous other media outlets.

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Community Partners: AgeWell Atlanta, a collaborative with Aviv Older Adult Services of JF&CS Atlanta, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Jewish Home Life Communities, and the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta – MJCCA; Cong. Beth Jacob Sisterhood; Hadassah Greater Atlanta; Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Women’s Philanthropy; MACoM – Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah; and Temple Sinai. 

Coffee & Conversation: Yoga Edition. August 22, 2018. 

Before you know it, summer will be over, a new school year will start, and the Jewish holidays will be fast-approaching. Adulting is exhausting! Take a break from it all and join Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta for a yoga class and information session about our work. 

“RBG” a film screening in partnership with the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. May 10, 2018. 7:30 p.m. United Artists Tara Cinemas 4.

“Wait…YOU’RE the rabbi?” Conversations with three women rabbis.

May 29, 2018. 12 – 1 p.m. Temple Sinai Atlanta (5645 Dupree Dr. NW; Sandy Springs, GA 30327)

Three of our Trustees, Rabbis Loren Filson Lapidus, Lydia Medwin, and Sam Shabman, shared their perspectives on being young, female rabbis. 

JWFA Ignites! 5 Years, 3 Founders, 1 Mission. January 19, 2018. 

Lunch and Learn: “Demystifying Mikvah: Claiming this Traditional Women’s Ritual as our Own.” October 30, 2017

Two JWFA Trustees, Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus and Rabbi Lydia Medwin, led this session at Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah. Mikvah is an ancient Jewish ritual that has infinite contemporary applications. By understanding the concept of mikvah and how it is used in both traditional and innovative ways, we reflected on how the mikvah might fit into our own spiritual practices.

Empowering women as leaders is an integral part of Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta’s mission. We partnered with the Atlanta Women’s Foundation to bring a customized leadership training for women in Atlanta’s Jewish Community. This training is usually offered for $150 per person, but JWFA brought it to the Jewish community for a deep discount. If you are a current or aspiring board member of a school, congregation, or nonprofit, this is the training for you!

Film Screening, “Brave Miss World”: April 4, 2017

Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta and the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival hosted an exclusive screening of “Brave Miss World,” followed by a panel discussion with experts in the field and a delicious dessert reception catered by The Spicy Peach. A portion of all ticket sales went directly to sexual assault prevention. Panelists included: Mariela Romero (Emmy award winning Univision anchor and Community Affairs Director), Esther Panitch (civil and criminal attorney), Judy Spira (clinical social worker and domestic violence expert), and Jessica Caldas (artist, advocate, activist, survivor).

We are grateful to the following organizations for being our Community Partners for this event: Congregation Dor Tamid Sisterhood, Greater Atlanta Hadassah, International Women’s House, Inc., Jewish Family & Career Services, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Women’s Philanthropy, Jewish Women International, MACoM (Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah), NCJW, Partnership Against Domestic Violence, Temple Kehillat Chaim Sisterhood, Temple Kol Emeth WRJ Sisterhood, Temple Sinai Atlanta, and The Temple.

Eating Disorders and the Jewish Community: February 23, 2017

“The food-centric traditions, in conjunction with society’s drive for thinness, strongly influence the development of eating disorders in the Jewish community.” – Dr. Carrie Poline

Eating disorders are a serious and pervasive issue for Jewish girls and women. Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta invited the Jewish community to learn from a panel of experts from the Eating Disorders Information Network about the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. The panel included: Ruth Falkenstein, Recovery Speaker and EDIN Board Member; Jamie Glazerman, MA, LPC, Therapist at Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders; Page Love, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, Registered dietitian and owner of Nutrifit, Sport, Therapy, Inc.; Carrie Poline, DO, FAPA, Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry Medical Director, Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders; and Eileen Shaw, RDN, LD, LPC, Nutrition Expert. Click here for the Power Point presentation from this event.

United We Lead, Lessons from Contemporary and Biblical Jewish Women Leaders: March 6, 2017

Why are so many more leadership positions held by men than women? Rabba Devorah Evron suggests the answer may relate to gender-specific leadership styles. Drawing from the stories of ancient and contemporary Jewish women, Devorah shed light on a particularly female, collaborative approach to activism and leadership for social change and its relevance in the home, community, and society.

Rabba Devorah Evron is an authority on Judaism and gender in Israel and a longtime activist for women’s empowerment. She is the Director of the Elga Stulman Institute for Jewish Women’s Studies at HaMidrasha Center for Pluralistic Jewish Education in Israel.