Like the overall U.S. population, Jews appear to be growing more racially and ethnically diverse. This observation is a “key finding” from the recent Pew research survey of Jewish Americans(1). The data matches my experiences as a native Jewish Atlantan, and I would imagine diversity in sexual/gender identity and other areas is growing as well (which is touched on in Pew(2)).

Increased diversity demands greater levels of inclusion by Jewish Atlanta. But what does that mean? Over the past few weeks leading up to Federation’s JEDI Night, our planning team has developed a shared language for D&I efforts:

  • Diversity reflects the breadth of the Atlanta Jewish community, encompassing, and appreciating the broad tapestry of people, life experiences, and perspectives.
  • Inclusion fosters a communal spirit of belonging, fairness, and respect by centering, valuing, and amplifying the voices, perspectives, and styles of all Jews and their loved ones with an emphasis on those who experience barriers based on their identities.

By clearly outlining the values that guide this work, we can align our expectations among partner agencies and better serve all of Jewish Atlanta and their loved ones. JEDI Night is a community gathering space for us to find common ground and develop relationships with other forward-thinking allies. It is not a one-and-done program; though we’ve made remarkable progress on diversity and inclusion, there is still much attention and intention needed to ensure a more equitable and just community.

I hope you will join us at JEDI Night, Thursday, January 27 (7-9 PM), to learn about our Justice and Equity definitions and participate in this community conversation. Register to participate virtually here. And preview our JEDI Night presenting partners here.

  1. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/05/11/10-key-findings-about-jewish-americans/
  2. https://www.pewforum.org/2021/05/11/jewish-demographics/

 

 

 

 

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