FOR JEWISH FAMILIES OF COLOR
Vision:
To build a community where Jews of Color and culturally and ethnically diverse Jews experience a sense of belonging, membership, equity, and affirmation.
Mission:
Building on our jkidphilly experience in family engagement, jkid4all strives to bring together families who identify as Jewish Families of Color and culturally and ethnically diverse Jews through social gatherings and Jewish educational programming. These gatherings offer families the opportunity to build relationships with others who similarly identify, enabling people of all ages to see themselves in others while in Jewish spaces.
Learn more:
Check out our growing list of Anti-Racist Resources!
Program Description:
jkid4all designs and delivers family-oriented, multi-age programming, virtually and in-person, as well as develops and delivers professional development to education directors and teachers to help work toward making all Jewish spaces inclusive and welcoming. jkid4all programs are both intended to serve the broadest demographic – any family who self-identifies as a Jewish Family of Color or as a culturally or ethnically diverse Jewish family and specific to the various needs of a truly diverse population, that serves specific age groups; racial, ethnic, or cultural groups; or family make-up. Programming is focused on bringing families together, in-person and/or via Zoom, for fun and educational Jewish experiences while also being intentional about re-centering Jewish representation away from white Ashkenazi to racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse representation. jkid4all has created a Parent Advisory Committee that is helping to guide the direction of the program.
We Belong at the Table | Highlighting traditions and history through food
This initiative by jkid4all of Jewish Learning Venture aims to center Sephardi, Mizrahi, and Jewish Families of Color’s diverse stories through culinary and cultural traditions. We hosted two multigenerational cooking programs; one led by expert chef Jackie Jonas, the other by author Shoshana Nambi. Across both programs, participants shared stories, received take-home recipe kits, and learned to make Jewish food from all over the world. Additionally, community members are invited to share recipes and the stories behind them, culminating in a virtual ‘Recipe Box of Tradition’ to be shared widely. This initiative is funded by a grant from the Jews of Color Initiative.
WATCH: Sephardic and African American (Passover) Cooking with Jackie Jonas; find recipe card here.
WATCH: Little Cooks with Books: The Very Best Sukkah: A Story From Uganda with Shoshana Nambi. Click to find the recipe card and additional Sukkot Resources from the publisher.
Meet Sarah, Director of jkid4all
Sarah Kolker, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Moore College of Art and Design, was born and raised in Philadelphia. She has extensive experience providing healthy creative learning environments for youth in Philadelphia, Jamaica, SF Bay Area, and New York City. Her use of art and social justice-centered educational practices have been employed by both private and public institutions. Sarah continues to teach and support community art with Mural Arts in Philadelphia, which is the nation’s largest public art program that engages the community to ignite change through mural-making.
Sarah lives in Germantown with her two children. When she is not busy supporting youth and families, she enjoys spending time in her garden or creating nourishing food in the kitchen and artwork in the studio or in the community.