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Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) African-American Alliance Manager Dazia Wallerson was among the more than 100 leaders from across the United States who participated last week in the inaugural National Convening of the Black-Jewish Alliance in Miami, Florida.
Hosted by the Exodus Leadership Forum and Redstone Family Foundation, the forum — the first-of-its kind in more than a quarter-century — drew together clergy, organizers, artists, philanthropists, educators, civic leaders, and cultural figures with the aim of strengthening relationships, confronting rising antisemitism and racism, and developing a shared national strategy for renewing and revitalizing the historical Black-Jewish partnership.
Keynote speakers at the three-day summit included TV personality Van Jones, media executive and philanthropist Shari Redstone, and civil rights icon Dr. Benjamin Chavis, among others.
“We are living through a period of crisis of rising antisemitism, rising racism, and growing division in our nation,” Chavis said. “But history shows us that movements are born in moments like this. This convening is not simply about remembering past solidarity — it is about building a participatory national strategy that allows millions of people to join in the work of justice, repair, and shared liberation.”
The agenda included a Shabbat celebration, artistic performances, interactive workshops, and facilitated discussions on movement-building, narrative change, and civic participation, as well as difficult “wedge” issues.
The forum produced a draft National Strategy for Black and Jewish Partnership, centered on five pillars:
— Promoting Awareness and Historical Understanding
— Deepening Relationships and Building Trust
— Shaping a Public Narrative around Black-Jewish Allyship
— Coordinating Efforts Across the Field
— Expanding Partnerships for Collective Advocacy and Action
The convening was “about love over hate and creating space for our collective humanity,” Wallerson said.
“Sitting in a room with more than 100 leaders who have dedicated themselves to this exact work, I felt genuinely seen, with my identity, my mission, and my belief in the power of this alliance all reflected back to me,” she noted. “It was a vision coming to life. We produced a living document, designed to grow as the alliance grows. To witness that in real time, surrounded by practitioners who are building this from the ground up, was extremely powerful.”
Read more:
Robert M. Beren Bridge Builders Student Fellowship Program Launched to Revitalize Black-Jewish Ties
