Barrett Holman Leak
Barrett Holman Leak serves as the founder and director of PTP. As a Jewish leader, she is a community organizer, bridge-builder and storyteller with bi-coastal American roots. She leads with humility, joy, compassion and a systems lens shaped by lived experience as a multiethnic Jew of Color and 14 years of non-profit experience. Barrett powerfully and creatively 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, she powerfully motivates people to be authentic. embrace their spirituality, tell their story and thrive, Barrett holds a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Encounters and Psychology from Roskilde University (RUC) in Denmark, clinical chaplaincy training, a masters degree from Eden Theological Seminary and training in community organizing from Don't Kvetch, Organize, and leadership training from Pauline Foster Leadership Institute of Jewish Federation of San Diego. She is consummately shaped by motherhood, her passion for uplifting others and her desire for inclusive community. Her goal is to foster cross-cultural connection and authenticity, as well as to confront and dismantle racism and antisemitism through authentic connection, cross-cultural values, and shared legacies. Barrett collaborates withthe Jewish communal world through the cooperation with Hillel of San Diego, StandWithUs San Diego and House of Israel.
Speaking Services: Would you like Barrett Holman Leak to speak about or do a training on African American/Black Jewish experience, Black-Jewish bridgebuilding, Jews of Color, inclusion, antisemitism or offer educational training, a day course or trainingetc? Send an enail to
barrett@playingtogether.org
Annick Salas
Annick Salas is a globally connected woman who uses her administrative nad 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 antisemitism and racism. Annick is practices in the Conservative Judaism tradition and is also dedicated to lovingly creating and supporting the beloved community. 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 successful 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 buildng bridges and caring for people, she organizes not only her family but her local community. Living in the Conservative Judaism tradition, Miriam believes 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 community she is active in sisterhood groups and activities in her Conservative Judaism synagogue and community 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,a love of the arts 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 communities.
Rabbi-in-Residence
Rabbi Sandra Lawson
Sandra Lawson is a nationally recognized leader, visionary strategist, and community builder working at the intersection of Judaism, justice, and community transformation. As the Executive Director of Carolina Jews for Justice (CJJ), she brings her passion for equity, her commitment to grassroots organizing, and her visionary leadership to Jewish communities across North Carolina.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, sociologist, and rabbi, Sandra has spent her career lifting up marginalized voices, building bridges across differences, and helping communities live out their deepest values. She previously served as the inaugural Director of Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Reconstructing Judaism and was named one of the Forward 50, and one of the 22 Faith Leaders to Watch by the Center for American Progress.
Under her leadership, CJJ is expanding its reach and deepening its impact in North Carolina.
Sandra holds a graduate degree in Sociology from Clark Atlanta University, a Master of Hebrew Letters (MHL), rabbinic ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School, focused on strategies for organizational success.
