Rekindle, Cleveland’s Black-Jewish dialogue, last mint graduated 15 more Fellows into its Rekindle community. Since its founding in 2021, the social change organization has now graduated seven cohorts, totaling 103 Fellows, representing a diverse group of black and Jewish leaders from around Greater Cleveland. Each Fellow engages in the 12-hour Rekindle curriculum (four meetings of three hours each), plus numerous one-on-one meetings, readings,assessments, and homework.

Each Rekindle cohort convenes 16 leaders from the two communities to engage in open and honest dialogue about what really matters: race, religion, power, and privilege. The intent is to engage leaders from the black and Jewish communities face-to-face to break down barriers and build new friendships and collaborations that will accelerate social change and increase equity in Greater Cleveland, according to co-founders Matt Fieldman and Charmaine Rice. 

The program also requires a “Rekindle Action Project,” where teams of Fellows are formed with the goal of creating a Black-Jewish collaboration that builds a more equitable and inclusive Northeast Ohio. Those projects are now in progress, with a ”Christma-Chanu-Kwanzakah” party planned for December 9th, a Women’s Healing Circle planned for January 29th, and a teen event and cross-cultural potluck dinner scheduled for February.

Rekindle’s most recent Cohort of graduates completed the program on November 8, 2023.

Fellows are already proven changemakers, and this experience is meant to accelerate their impact through creating new collaborations and partnerships across interfaith and intercultural lines. The new Fellows joining the Rekindle community are:

• Brittany Barron, Associate General Counsel, Cleveland State University
• Jack Bialosky, Managing Principal, Bialosky Cleveland
• Lauren​Calig, Director of Multicultural Curriculum & Co-Director DEIB, Laurel School
• Talise Campbell, Executive Artistic Director, Djapo Cultural Arts Institute
• Lauren​Ehrenreich, Owner, Lauren Ehrenreich LLC
• Sharon​Fagin, Anti-Bias Facilitator, Anti-Defamation League
• Gabrielle Fowlkes, Assistant Director, Urban League of Greater Cleveland
• Antunesia Harris, Management Analyst, HHS
• Yosef Hochheiser, Magistrate, Domestic Violence Department, Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court
• Nicole Worthey, mental health counselor
• Lisa Kollins, CEO, The Superhero Project
• Brett Moore, Teacher, John Adams High School
• Tiffany​Scruggs, VP of Client Services, Greater Cleveland Food Bank
• Glenn Starkman, Distinguished University Professor, Vice-Chair, and Director, Case Western Reserve University
• Laura Vexler, Retired

 

“I found a place that was safe enough for me to be vulnerable,” said Nicole Worthey about her Rekindle 7 experience. “The sessions were thought-provoking and brutally honest.  During the sessions, we laughed, cried, and most importantly, learned that it is okay to say, ‘I don't understand.’ I was able to engage with others and understand their culture. I was also able to better understand where I came from through the voices of others.  This is an experience that everyone should have.”

Applications for the eighth cohort, which will expand to five meetings from four, are open through December 15. Interested adults are invited to learn more and apply online at www.rekindlefellowship.org

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