The Jews of Color Initiative has announced four projects for their New York Incubator Initiative, which supports Jews of Color (JoC) in developing projects that engage and support other JoCs in Jewish life. The Incubator is from February - August 2022 and includes a range of learning opportunities. In collaboration with UpStart, Incubator learning sessions cover “Articulating Your Values,” “Budgeting Basics,” and “Win Win Partnerships.” Participants also will reflect and resource-share as a cohort to co-create a brave and cross-pollinated community of JoC colleagues.
“We are excited and inspired by these four projects, led by talented leaders committed to centering Jews of Color in Jewish communal life,” says Riki Robinson, Program Director of the Jews of Color Initiative’s New York Hub. “Collectively and individually, each of the projects chosen for the Incubator will create change we need so that Jewish communal life reflects the diversity of our community.”
All Incubator projects are housed at organizations led by Jews of Color, and serve Jews of Color. Each project leader serves an audience in New York City. The four projects accepted into the program are:
Black Mussar Va’ad - Black Jewish Liberation Collective
Black Jewish Liberation Collective is a 5-6 year-old volunteer-based organization working to sustainably build and grow. The Black Mussar Va’ad Project is a program of the larger BJLC project and is specifically focused on offering leadership with Mussar practice, collective study, and reflection.
Kamochah
Kamochah supports Black Orthodox Jews and engages with the broader Orthodox community, including through their New York chapter. They aim to normalize the presence and experiences of Black Orthodox Jews in all sectors of Jewish communal life, including, camps, schools, and shuls. Additionally, Kamochah hopes to serve as an accessible entry point into Orthodox Jewish life for Black Jews across denominations.
LUNAR
LUNAR: The Jewish-Asian Film Project creates media content about the experiences of Asian Jews and holds community events in three strategic regions and virtually. Currently, LUNAR has a Community Organizer on the ground in Manhattan.
The Workshop
The Workshop was created as a premier Jewish and Arts fellowship to ensure the best experience possible for JoC participants, collaborating with four Jewish institutions and creating infrastructure for JoC artists. Through the Incubator, The Workshop will focus on JOCISM Artists’ Residency which is a professional arts fellowship centering the work of JOCISM artists & culture-makers.
