Los
Angeles Woman is the First African American to Head a Jewish
Organization
Cookie
Lommel
Los Angeles,
CA (BlackNews.com) - How can understanding the Passover
Celebration of Liberation in the Jewish tradition inspire
us to honor the diverse cultural traditions of our global
community? Ask Cookie Lommel, she is the Executive Director
of the Western Region for the Jewish Labor Committee, and
also the first African American to lead such a group. Lommel's
specialty is cultural understanding, she has been described
as "a one woman bridge," by The Los Angeles Times.
The Jewish Labor
Committee is an independent secular organization that helps
the Jewish community and the trade union movement work together
on important issues of shared interest and concern.
"African-American
women are at the nexus of multiple forms of oppression,
which puts us in the unique position of being able to
engage diverse communities, in understanding our global
society," Pamela Brooks, Assistant Professor of African
American Studies at Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH,
explained. "These natural abilities stem from who we
are."
Before
Lommel's work with the Jewish Labor Committee, she was
the founder of "Operation Unity," (www.operationunity.org),
a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles - its
mission to promote cultural understanding in urban youth
through international and national programs. "Operation
Unity" uses the model of the successful Israeli Kibbutz
system as a vehicle to change the lives of young people.
Youth Capturing Cultural Diversity is the traveling
exhibit that features photographs taken by youth who
participated in the kibbutz program and essays that
highlight their experiences in Israel.
The exhibit
has traveled from California and is now going to cities
throughout Ohio. The sponsors are The Samuel H. and
Maria Miller Foundation and Forest City Enterprises,
Inc. "This exhibit tells a great cultural diversity
story. It paints a visual and verbal picture of how
youth can help bridge racial gaps and work together,
promoting harmony through diversity," explains Lommel.
Lommel
is also the author of several books about notable African
Americans such as Madame C.J. Walker and Johnnie Cochran.
She has earned a number of awards for her outreach efforts
and has worked in various media capacities as a journalist
and editor.
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