Racial Justice Experience

Amount:
$50,000
Year:
2021
Field of Interest:
Program Name:
Racial Justice Experience
Grant Type:
Reimagine Grants
Grant Website
Visit their site >

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Founded in 2014, Tzedek America’s mission is to transform lives, strengthen Jewish identity, and change the world through immersive social justice-oriented experiences for youth. It offers in-person one to seven-day service-learning travel experiences as well as custom-curated virtual programming for students at synagogue religious schools and Jewish Day Schools. Prior to the pandemic, it worked with 2,000 students (ages 11 – 18) each year, and during the pandemic it worked with up to 500 students a month through its various programs.

GRANT PURPOSE

To expand Tzedek America’s social and racial justice programming to additional synagogues and/or day schools, engaging hundreds of elementary, middle and high school students. The program aims to increase knowledge and awareness of systemic racism among Jewish students in Los Angeles and help them better understand the connection between Jewish wisdom, tikkun olam, and racial justice.

With the generous support of this grant, we are now able to hire the staff and provide necessary racial justice programming to hundreds of Jewish students in Los Angeles. We will introduce them to activists and educators as we elevate the voices of the Black community and new concepts as we provide them with an understanding of the role race and racism have played in the history of Los Angeles and our country. We will be able to provide tools to open dialogue from a knowledgeable grounding and encourage them to continue the work of equality. Simply put, without this grant, we would not be able to offer this programming.

Avram Mandell
Executive Director and Founder