On September 10th, more than 80 people joined us for "Jews, Race and the Struggle for Justice" a talk and discussion with Dove Kent and Koach Baruch Frazier. We were so thrilled to host these two Jewish spiritual leaders and powerful organizers, whose work has been a great inspiration for DJJ. Check out this video montage by Detroit filmmaker Natasha Tamate Weiss for a taste of the conversation.
Thanks so much to Dove, Koach, Natasha, and all who contributed.
About Dove and Koach:
M. Dove Kent has over 15 years of experience in grassroots organizing, political education, and movement building. As the former executive director of Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (2011 through 2016), Dove supported the organization to triple in size and win game-changing legislative victories for police accountability and worker’s rights through powerful local coalitions. Under Dove’s tenure, JFREJ grew into one of the strongest and most effective progressive Jewish organizations in the country, creating significant culture shifts within the Jewish community, New York and nationally. She has been published in What We Do Now: Standing Up for Your Values in Trump’s America (2017), Towards the “Other America”: Anti-racist Resources for White People Taking Action for Black Lives Matter (2015), in the Guardian, Ha’aretz, Tikkun, and the Forward, among many other media outlets. Dove teaches throughout the country on the intersections of anti-Semitism and racism, historical trauma, and the roles of Jews in the movement for justice. She currently resides in Durham, North Carolina.
Koach Baruch Frazier is a freedom fighting queer, trans Jew whose mission is to dismantle racism and eradicate poverty. By day, KB is an audiologist at a local nonprofit and loves helping people hear better through education, diagnostics and hearing aid dispensing. Over the last year, KB has become a drum major for justice leading actions and protests for change in and around Ferguson, MO. KB serves on the boards of the Missouri GSA Network and Central Reform Congregation.