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Dialogue, Diversity, and Direction:

A BLEWS Black-Jewish Leadership Initiative

in memory of Ruth Wolf Rehfeld
with support provided by the Rehfeld Family
and the William L. & Victorine Q. Adams Foundation

The Black-Jewish Forum of Baltimore, Inc. is pleased to announce that the 2007 class of Dialogue, Diversity, and Direction: A BLEWS Black-Jewish Leadership Initiative has been selected and will run from January to June of 2007. This BLEWS program, now in its second year, is dedicated to the memory of Ruth Wolf Rehfeld, BLEWS first Executive Director and the initiator of the first BLEWS leadership development program nearly two decades ago.

During this six month period, successful applicants will participate in a six-month program of semi-monthly meetings that will increase their awareness of their own and the other group's culture, history, and present-day challenges. They will have the opportunity to learn about the history of Black-Jewish relations locally and meet established and future leaders in both communities. Last year, panelists included the Honorable Kurt L. Schmoke, former Mayor of Baltimore, Marc Steiner, founder of WYPR Public Radio, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, UMBC President, and the Honorable Barbara Hoffman, former Maryland State Senator.

BLEWS, the Black-Jewish Forum of Baltimore, Inc., was established in 1978 by leaders in both communities dedicated to continuing and perpetuating the Black-Jewish partnership that flourished during the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s. The organization has carried out many programs over the years, including programming directed at high school students through its Calvin W. Burnett Youth Initiative.

Dialogue, Diversity, and Direction: A BLEWS Black-Jewish Leadership Initiative is being carried out with support from the Rehfeld Family and William L. & Victorine Q. Adams Foundation.

Please look for updates on our participants and panelists for the 2007 class. For more information, call the BLEWS office at 410-951-4199 or e-mail to BLEWS1@yahoo.com.