Announcing the New Chairs of the LGBT Alliance
We are proud to announce the two new co-chairs of the LGBT Alliance Advisory Committee: Dara Papo and Sam Goldman. The LGBT Alliance was the first of its kind in the country, creating a LGBT-focused body within the Federation to help grow, nurture, sustain and inspire the large and diverse LGBT Jewish community of the Bay Area, while ensuring that voices of the LGBT Jewish community were represented inside the Federation. Under the guidance of Papo and Goldman, the LGBT Alliance will continue to identify new ways to support the needs of the Jewish LGBT population of the Bay Area.
Longtime LGBT Alliance chair and Federation board member Arthur Slepian will remain as an Alliance Committee member and step into the role of vice chair of the Federation’s Israel and Global Committee.
“I am thrilled to be turning the leadership of the Alliance over to Dara and Sam,” said Slepian. “Their commitment, skills and energy will help to make the LGBT Alliance an even stronger and more vital part of the fabric of community.”
“The LGBT Alliance has had a phenomenal impact in the Jewish LGBT community and in our Jewish community as a whole,” said Jim Offel, interim CEO of the Federation. “I’m looking forward to working with Sam and Dara to both continue and celebrate the Alliance’s success.”


- Houses the Fund for Gay and Lesbian Causes, which lends support to programs and organizations in our community.
- Created Pathways to Jewish Leadership, a new program geared toward developing strong LGBT leaders for the Jewish community.
- Awarded a major three-year grant to Keshet to support community-building and engagement for LGBT Jews in the Bay Area. Keshet is a national grassroots organization that works for the full equality and inclusion of LGBT Jews in Jewish life.