AJC's Atlanta Black/Jewish Coalition

About AJC's Atlanta Black/Jewish Coalition

In 1982, a group of concerned citizens from Atlanta's Black and Jewish communities came together to campaign for the renewal of the Voting Rights Act. The drive to renew one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history reinvigorated the bond between the two communities. Those involved decided to create a coalition to ensure that open dialogue and partnership between the Black and Jewish communities would continue in Atlanta.

Today, AJC's Atlanta Black/Jewish Coalition has emerged as a central platform for education, outreach and advocacy. As participation reaches new heights, the Coalition continues to build on its original mission by providing a forum for meaningful dialogue and action.

Mission Statement:
Increase the understanding of, interactions amongst, and authentic relationships between those identifying with the Black, Jewish, and Jews of Color communities.

AJC's Atlanta Black/Jewish Coalition advances its mission by:

Responding with definitive education, advocacy, and action to issues of concern
Providing opportunities to combat white supremacy and advance voting rights
Expressing support for the critical issues of each other’s communities
Creating awareness for the work of the Atlanta Black/Jewish Coalition

Initiatives of AJC Atlanta's Black/Jewish Coalition

Black/Jewish Teen Initiative (juniors and seniors in high school)
Marvin C. Goldstein Black/Jewish Project Understanding Emerging Leaders Retreat (ages 25-39)
Black/Jewish Project Understanding for Gen X (ages 40-55)

Information about the Spring 2024 Project Understanding retreat will be released in Fall 2023. Sign up for emails above to receive a notification when the application is released.

2023 Black/Jewish Coalition Co-Chairs

Mark Dawson is Founder and Managing Partner of Benton & Muse Consulting, a firm dedicated to digital business strategy, program management, enterprise solutions, and information technology transformation. He was named one of the “100 Most Important Blacks in Technology” by Black Engineer Magazine because of his consistency in making a positive and lasting impact on the clients, corporations, and communities he is committed to serving. A graduate of Jackson State University and native Chicagoan, Mark grew up engaged in his community and believes education and action are the cornerstones of self and economic empowerment. To that end, the father of three actively serves on the Board of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. He also serves on the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Committee. Dawson is also an active member of the Association for Corporate Growth and the Technology Association of Georgia.

Rabbi Bradley Levenberg serves as one of the rabbis of Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs, a post he has held since 2006. He has been active and involved in numerous community organizations, including the American Jewish Committee and the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. Rabbi Levenberg has also been a fierce advocate for racial equity and justice, finding his passion through the relationships he has with others similarly enlisted in the struggle. He is the spouse of Rebecca Levenberg and the father of Ilana, Evan, and Schnitzel the dog.

Victoria Raggs is the co-founder and Executive Director of The Atlanta Jews of Color Council (AJOCC), an organization that does DEI consulting and advocates for the diversity of the Jewish people. Victoria serves on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Family and Career Services (JF&CS) and sits on American Jewish Committee (AJC)'s Atlanta Board of Councilors. She and her family are members of Congregation B'nai Torah in Sandy Springs.