Racial Diversity and Inclusion

Our recent Jewish community study indicates that 25% of Jewish households in the Bay Area include someone who identifies as a race or ethnicity other than white. As the racial justice conversation evolves nationally, our local community is wrestling with how to ensure that Jewish spaces are diverse, equitable, and inclusive, particularly for Jews of Color. While there have been ongoing efforts to understand diversity, recognize biases, and develop anti-racist and inclusive practices, we recognized the need for more.

The Federation designed an initiative with a request for proposals—offering grants of up to $25,000 to Jewish organizations in the Bay Area committed to making Bay Area Jewish communities more racially diverse, inclusive, and equitable environments where Jews of Color are thriving.

We are pleased to announce that 13 organizations listed below will receive grants totaling $250,000 to support a variety of activities such as organizational assessments, leadership development by and for Jews of Color and People of Color, education and training, consultations, and action plan/policy development. Organizations will also participate in a Community of Practice facilitated by The Jewish Social Justice Roundtable to allow for support, exchange of ideas, collaborative problem solving, shared learning, and potential cross-organizational collaboration. 

Building a Leadership Pipeline
The Federation is committed to amplifying voices of people of color in Jewish communal leadership, and supporting a pipeline of leaders that is reflective of our diverse Bay Area Jewish community through support of these programs:

Bend the Arc – Project Shamash: Sparking Leadership of Jews of Color in the East Bay
JIMENA – Bay Area Sephardic Leadership Circle