More than 250 community leaders, philanthropists, educators, students, and advocates gathered at Greenhill School’s Marshall Performing Arts Center Rose Hall for AJC Dallas’ inaugural AJC in Conversation, an evening that reflected both the urgency of the current moment and the enduring power of dialogue across differences.
Hosted as part of AJC Dallas’ 80th anniversary year, the program featured a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation between CNN political commentator and social entrepreneur Van Jones and former Texas State Senator Florence Shapiro.
The evening opened with a video highlighting AJC’s global impact and mission as the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. The presentation emphasized AJC’s work building trusted partnerships with leaders around the world to combat antisemitism, strengthen democratic values, support Israel, and ensure Jews and Israel are safe and thriving.
AJC Dallas Regional Director Joel Schwitzer followed by bringing that global mission closer to home, sharing how AJC Dallas is advancing relationship-building and coalition work locally. He highlighted the newly formed AJC Dallas Black-Jewish Coalition and its partnership with Van Jones’ EXODUS Over Dinner initiative, which brings Black, Jewish, and Black-Jewish leaders together for meaningful conversations rooted in listening and shared understanding.
AJC Dallas President Tina Wasserman spoke about the importance of supporting AJC’s work at a time of rising extremism and division, noting that the evening represented a new format and season of fundraising for the organization locally.
Event co-chairs Staci Shapiro Rubin and Paul Rubin then offered warm and deeply personal introductions of the featured speakers. The audience was especially moved as Staci reflected on watching her mother, Florence Shapiro, lead with conviction, grace, and service throughout her life, sharing not only the public legacy so many in North Texas admire, but the example of leadership, integrity, and compassion she experienced firsthand as a daughter.
Throughout the conversation, Jones and Shapiro explored bridge-building, civic leadership, the Black-Jewish relationship, and the importance of engaging across differences with honesty and respect. Jones shared personal reflections on the people who shaped his worldview, including his godmother, civil rights activist Dottie Zellner, a Jewish woman who worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement. Jones described Zellner’s influence as emblematic of the historic Black-Jewish alliance in America and spoke passionately about the importance of rebuilding those relationships in the present day.
From the moment guests entered Rose Hall, the evening carried a spirit that felt increasingly rare in today’s climate: openness, curiosity, and genuine engagement. Audience members remained deeply attentive throughout the conversation, which balanced moments of humor and personal reflection with candid discussion about antisemitism, democracy, Israel, and the responsibilities of leadership in fractured times.
Greenhill School, a sponsor of the event, hosted the evening, with school leadership and staff helping facilitate the program along with student AV support. As guests lingered after the program, many continued the conversations begun on stage, a fitting reflection of an evening centered on connection, dialogue, and the belief that communities grow stronger when people choose engagement over division.
