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InSolidarity, a partnership between the Jewish Community Foundation and Greater Washington Community Foundation is a 2-year initiative to fight hate and extremism in all forms by strengthening community and relationships across Greater Washington’s religious, racial, and ethnic groups. Our work aims to deepen relationships and understanding between the Jewish Community and broader world, to change the narrative about solidarity in our community by raising up and celebrating stories of solidarity, and also strengthen and amplify the solidarity work already happening in our community to create a thriving DMV. InSolidarity will create space for relationship building, learning, and meaningful engagement across differences via learning communities and regional events for coalitions, nonprofits, donors, and congregational leaders.
Our goals are to build strong alliances between our Jewish community and other religious and ethnic communities that will help facilitate a thriving DMV, equip leaders with tools and practices to amplify their work, and help change the narrative that solidarity is possible.
Given our nation’s history rooted in anti-Black racism and the rise of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate, Jewish Community Foundation and Greater Washington Community Foundation committed (in 2022) to supporting community solidarity and began a dialogue between interfaith leaders to encourage listening and relationship building between and among different communities in our region. By engaging in meaningful conversations and listening to community leaders, we understand that several key ingredients are necessary to build deep authentic relationships and make available the opportunity for nuanced conversations that lead to understanding, healing, and an ability to pursue shared ambitions. You can read the original statement on solidarity and justice below.
For more information or to share your interest in participating email foundation@shalomdc.org.
Over the course of many months, the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the Jewish Community Foundation by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers have been in dialogue about ways in which our region’s Black and Jewish communities can operate with greater alignment, solidarity, and allyship, building on the historic ties of these communities.
As community leaders, we recognize the interest and imperative for strengthening communal relationships generally, and more especially are committed to this pressing opportunity to address antisemitism, anti-Black racism, and bigotry more broadly. We are committed to combatting all forms of hate and extremism in our region. Recognizing the parallel missions and convictions of many of our donors and partners, we believe now is the time to deepen the understanding between our communities and our commitment to action, starting with an interfaith lens.
In February 2023, we co-hosted a small gathering for Black pastors and rabbis to break bread for mutual understanding. Our intention over time is to expand these conversations to other sectors, faiths, and communities of color. We recognize there is a need to seed and catalyze solidarity through place-based strategies and transformational relationships between Black, Jewish, and other peoples as we engage in grantmaking and work together towards a racially just future. In addition, you can expect a specific body of work that deliberately explores this topic with institutional philanthropy, donors, and nonprofit partners.
You will hear from us about opportunities for engagement that will deepen our historical relationships to accelerate social action efforts already underway and identify new opportunities for collective action.
Sincerely,
Sara Brenner Executive Director, Jewish Community Foundation by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
Ruth LaToison Ifill President & CEO, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers
Tonia Wellons President and CEO, Greater Washington Community Foundation