Barrett Holman Leak
Barrett Holman Leak is an internationally recognized educator, coach and passionate spiritual leader dedicated to empowering individuals to be reslient, cultivate confidence, and live meaningful lives. As a consummate professional with a solid background as a journalist, spiritually based business coach, curriculum designer and public speaker, she powerfully motivates people to be authentic. tell their story and thrive. Rooted in strong African American and Jewish values of resilience, lifelong learning and tikkun olam, Barrett is the proud founder of non-profit Playing Together Project- a unique social justice organization positioned to build bridges between African Americans and Jewish Americans to defeat antisemitism and racism. Barrett provide spiritual eaddership at Playing Together Project Shabbat dinners, leading prayers and blessings and explaining Shabbat to participants. She practices the Reform Judaism tradition, is dedicated to creating the beloved community. Barrett leads with joy, resilience and grace, guided by African and Jewish values, inspiring individuals to grow their resilience, stand proudly in who they are and do the same for others. She spreads a contagious culture of love, joy, growth, abundance and positive action that inspires both individuals and communities to be resilient and thrive.
Annick Salas
Annick Salas is a globally connected women who uses her administrative nd organizational skills to bring success to individuals and communities. With a solid background in logistics, administration and project management, Annick exemplifies the keys to success. Rooted in strong Afr0-Latino and Jewish values of community, family, resilience, tikkun olam and lifelong learning Annick is the consummate team player. In teh early days of Playing Together Project, she joined Barrett Holman Leak in building bridges through Black-Jewish Shabbat dinners to build bonds and defeat antisism and racism. Annick is practices in the Conservative Judaism tradition and is also dedicated to lovingly creating and supporting the beloved comunity. Annick leads with patience, grace, resilience and joy, guided by African, Latino and Jewish values, inspiring people to be their best. She enjoys handling the details behind the scenes and helping events and projects work toa succcessful conclusion.
Miriam Reitman Ruchman
Miriam Reitman Ruchman is a joyful, detail-oriented leader who uses her many skills to help the community thrive and grow in resilience. FOcused on bruidlig bridges and caring for people, she organizes not only her family but her local community. Living in the Conservative Judaism tradition, Miriam beieves in finding commonalities and facilitating peace. Greatly skilled as a connector, she brings together individuals to support each other in various settings, Within the Jewish comunity she is active in sisterhood groups and activities in her Conservative Judaism synagogue and comnunity as well as across various Jewish groups. Upon hearing Barrett Holman Leak share about the shabbat dinners and Jewish solidarity tent at the Juneteenth Freedom Festival, she enthusiastically joined Playing Together Project. Together with Barrett Holman Leak, she meets with rabbis and Black ministers to help them learn how they can be part of this exciting community social justice project.
Helen Broady
Helen Broady is a passionate, articulate and well-educated member of the Playing Together Project team who brings humor, history and connections. A former librarian of the New York Public Library, she knows how to connect the details and incorporate the powerful and effective methods of the civil rights movement that is part of American history. Rooted in her lifelong Jewish practice, traditions and values, she is a joyful member of Playing Together Project who understands the assignment. She fosters a sense of inclusiveness, thoughtfulness and motivation to approach problem-solving with logic and patience. Helen naturally facilitates bridge building among individuals and commuities.
Rabbi in Residence
Rabbi Sandra Lawson
We are deeply grateful that Rabbi Sandra Lawson is our advisor and rabbi-in-residence. She is an ouotstanding African American Jewish clergywoman who understands tikkun olam. Rabbi Sandra works as the Inaugural Director of Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Reconstructing Judaism. She previously served as Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life at Elon University. Lawson became the first openly gay, female, and black rabbi in the world in 2018. She is an activist, a writer, public speaker, musician. veteran, vegan, sociologist, personal trainer, food activist, weightlifter, author and musician.