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AJC Houston hosts 2026 annual fundraiser featuring Emmanuel Acho

The evening will honor the organization’s 80 years of impact.

Emmanuel Acho. Credit: Courtesy.
Emmanuel Acho. Credit: Courtesy.

The American Jewish Committee Houston (AJC Houston) will mark its 80th anniversary on April 15 at 6:30 p.m. with a powerful dialogue on allyship, confronting extremism and advancing interfaith collaboration.

The 2026 Annual Fundraiser will feature Emmanuel Acho, author of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew, alongside Imam Abdullah Antepli, president of Rothko Chapel, and Rabbi Brian Strauss of Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston.

“For 80 years, AJC Houston has stood at the intersection of advocacy, education and interfaith partnership,” said Rachel Schneider, AJC Houston regional director. “At a time when division and extremism are on the rise, this conversation reflects both our history and our future by bringing dedicated advocates together to embody the ideals of true allyship, moral leadership and shared humanity.”

Launched in June 2020, Acho’s groundbreaking digital series “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” has amassed more than 80 million views and earned a 2021 Emmy nomination for outstanding short-form nonfiction or reality series.

A No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, Acho’s most recent book, co-written with Noa Tishby, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew, offers a timely, disarmingly honest and thought-provoking exploration of antisemitism, connecting the harmful tropes of the past to the challenges of today.

Acho is a former NFL linebacker, Emmy Award-winning sports analyst, and the creator and co-host of “Speakeasy.”

Funds raised from this event will support AJC Houston’s mission to combat antisemitism, counter the spread of radicalism and extremism, and unite communities through interfaith understanding throughout the Greater Houston region and beyond.

Individual tickets are $180, with tables starting at $5,000. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. The event location will be shared with registered attendees.

To purchase tickets or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit: ajc.org/houston/80years.

Learn more about AJC’s work at: www.ajc.org.

For media inquiries, email Julia Bernstein: julia@likemindstalk.com.

About & contact the publisher
As a leading global Jewish advocacy organization, the American Jewish Committee is a nonpartisan, nongovernmental entity that works at every level of leadership—from city halls to Capitol Hill, and from the United Nations to global capitals—to advance democracy, human rights, and the enduring values that continue building bridges across communities.
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