Aaron Ahlquist

Director of Policy
Anti-Defamation League, Southern Division

Aaron Ahlquist serves as ADL's Director of Policy for the Southern Division, and previously served as the regional director of ADL's South Central Region. In his role as Divisional Policy Director, Aaron helps guide strategy and advocacy while leading the Divisional Engagement Team in supporting the work of ADL in the Southern Division.  Prior to his joining ADL, after obtaining his JD from the University of Richmond School of Law, Aaron began practicing law in New Orleans in 2004 where he focused his efforts on national level mass torts and class actions, including among other cases, helping lead effort against the BP and Transocean Defendants following the Gulf Oil Spill, and as part of leadership on other pharmaceutical and products liability mass torts across the country.  Following his graduation from the University of Wisconsin, and prior to his attending law school, Aaron spent three years on the Legislative Staff of Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) in Washington, DC.  Aaron lives in New Orleans with his wife and children, where he is an active member of the community, having served on a number of boards and campaigns, and where he loves to enjoy the music and culture of his adopted home.  

Gila Axelrod

Editor in Chief
New Voices Magazine

Gila Axelrod (they/she) is the Editor in Chief of New Voices Magazine, an independent, justice-focused online magazine by and for Jewish college students. Gila is a queer Jewish writer, educator and speaker who studied Jewish Thought and Sociology at Columbia University and The Jewish Theological Seminary.

As Editor, they work with emerging writers and artists to hone their craft and speak out on issues they are passionate about. They run a yearlong fellowship for emerging media-makers - teaching journalism skills, mentoring fellows, and facilitating a speaker series. During their time at New Voices so far, they have brought art, poetry, and fiction to the forefront of the magazine, and have created a series on “Queer Jewish Joy”. 

In their own work, Gila explores topics such as technology, grief, relationships, education, queer identity, spirituality, and more. They have been an outspoken advocate of body liberation within the Jewish community, writing to change the conversation on topics such as fasting and food rituals.

Gila has hosted a support group for the parents and grandparents of LGBTQIA+ teens. They also run body acceptance workshops for people of all ages, using music, art and writing to unpack our societal conditioning. Through their social media platforms, they teach about radical acceptance and body liberation. 

As a City Year Americorps member, Rosh Hodesh leader, and B’nei Mitzvah tutor, they have spent years teaching and mentoring students of all ages, guiding them to discover their unique voices, and providing spaces where they can bring their full selves. 

During her time at the Hartman Institute, she managed research groups on race and class in the American Jewish experience, facilitated college student learning groups, and organized dialogue sessions between community leaders on pressing local issues.

Gila can be found in Brooklyn: hosting Shabbat dinners, open mics, and minyanim, writing songs, and dancing to MUNA in her apartment.

Arnie D. Fielkow

Former CEO
Jewish Federation of New Orleans

From 2017-2022, Arnie D. Fielkow served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. The Federation serves as the umbrella organization for the Jewish community throughout the greater New Orleans area.

His tenure focused on the building and strengthening of relationships with synagogues and other community partners, as well as expanding the big tent under which the Federation operates, by creating: JNEXT, a program for Gen-X Jewish New Orleanians; LGBTQ outreach through JP NOLA; a professional mentoring program designed to retain top talent in New Orleans; and two landmark external relations centers: the Goldring Family Foundation Center for Jewish-Multicultural Affairs, and the Sherry and Alan Leventhal Center for Interfaith Families.

Previously, Fielkow served as President and CEO of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), the official association for all former NBA, ABA, WNBA and Harlem Globetrotter players. With an all-time high in membership, tremendous support from both the NBA and National Basketball Players Association, a full menu of member programs and new youth-based national community service initiatives, the NBRPA experienced unprecedented success under Fielkow’s corporate leadership.

After six years spent in public service helping rebuild his adopted hometown in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, former New Orleans City Council President Fielkow returned to the sports industry as NBRPA Chief Executive Officer in 2011. Fielkow was additionally named President of the official alumni association for professional basketball.

Fielkow, twice elected as New Orleans Councilman-at-Large post-Katrina, possesses an extensive background in government, professional and intercollegiate athletics, and law. He help rebuild New Orleans following 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, introducing legislation to improve education, economic development, public safety and youth recreation across the storm-ravaged city.

Prior to holding public office, Fielkow served as Executive Vice President of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, from 2000-2005. In this role, he served as the top senior management official presiding over all administrative and business departments for the organization, including marketing, sales, regional development, governmental affairs, community relations, business media relations, and youth programs.

Prior to joining the Saints, Fielkow was involved in Major League Baseball’s player development system, serving as President and General Counsel for the historic Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs.

Previously, Fielkow served as Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel of the Continental Basketball Association, then the official developmental league of the NBA.

Fielkow began his professional career as a practicing attorney in Chicago, where he co-founded the law firm of Grossman, Solomon, & Fielkow, P.C. A member of the Illinois and Wisconsin Bar Associations, Fielkow has authored several legal and sports-related articles/publications, including “Civil RICO: The Insurers Fight Back,” and “CBA: A World of Opportunity.” He is a frequent public speaker at national and local sports industry events.

Fielkow’s work in New Orleans has always included fostering new community relationships, including: the Urban League of Louisiana; area Chambers of Commerce; GNO, Inc.; the New Orleans Business Alliance; Baptist Community Ministries; the World Trade Center of New Orleans; the Port of New Orleans; the University of New Orleans; Xavier University; Dillard University; and Southern University New Orleans.

Another focal point of his Federation tenure was sound fiscal management—the Federation has come in under budget each of the last two years—and the growth of Federation resource development. He also emphasized community security, creating the first ever Jewish community security committee and working on grants relevant to protecting Jewish communal structures.

A native of Appleton, WI, Fielkow is a 1981 graduate of the University of Wisconsin – School of Law. He earned his BA degree with honors (Phi Beta Kappa) from Northwestern University. He and his wife, Dr. Susan Fielkow, have three sons – Justin, Michael, and Steven–and two daughters–Yana and Svetlana.

Lindsay Baach Friedmann

Regional Director
ADL South Central Region

Lindsay is the Regional Director for ADL's South Central Region serving Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Since joining ADL in 2013 Lindsay has brought great innovation and energy to the region – expanding No Place for Hate®, establishing an A World of Difference® Institute cadre, launching the Fighting Hate for Good Art and Poetry Contest, leading the Glass Leadership Institute program, and hosting a Summer Educators Conference. She also led New Orleans’ inaugural ADL In Concert Against Hate (2019), has reshaped the A.I. Botnick Torch of Liberty Award reception, and is building out a Corporate Partners Against Hate initiative to better engage the business community in ADL's fight against hate and extremism. Lindsay’s leadership has been vital to the region’s continued growth during such challenging times. 

Ellen Futterman

Editor in Chief
St. Louis Jewish Light

A native New Yorker, Ellen Futterman began her journalism career as a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. After a short stint at the Belleville News-Democrat, she joined the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 1982 and spent 25 years there working as a news reporter, feature writer, columnist, Arts and Entertainment Editor, critic-at-large and Features Editor.

In late 2007, Ellen took a buyout at the Post-Dispatch, and joined the St. Louis Jewish Light in 2009 as its editor, where she is responsible for overseeing editorial operations, including managing both staff members and freelancers. Under her editorship, the Light has won more than 30 Rockower Awards, which are the highest awards given for Jewish journalism. She personally won the Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary in 2012, 2014 and 2018 for her News & Schmooze column, which runs weekly in the Light.

Adele M. George

Owner
A.M. George Marketing 

With over two decades of experience in casino marketing strategy, media planning, and buying, Adele M. George is a seasoned marketing specialist who understands what drives consumer behavior. She has a wealth of experience in casino media buying as well as other diverse categories such as, legal, tourism, healthcare, and automotive.  Her success lies in her ability to identify what motivates consumers to buy products or services and how to reach them most effectively.

Adele is a media master, her expertise extends beyond traditional forms of advertising. She has a wealth of knowledge in traditional media: television, radio, print and outdoor advertising. In addition, she takes pride in staying up to date on the latest advertising technologies and trends, such as social media and digital advertising. 

Joseph I. Giarrusso III

New Orleans City Councilmember, District A
New Orleans City Council 

Joe is in his second term as the New Orleans City Councilmember for District A. During his time in office, he has stressed two basic principles: government should make residents' lives easier and the best policy decisions are where efficiency intersects with equity. 

During his first term, Joe is most proud of his work helping residents. Through his tax plan, he saved taxpayers more than $60 million over four years. One of his top priorities was bringing more accountability and transparency to the Sewerage and Water Board. As Chair of the Public Works Committee, he ensured the Council and public received quarterly reports from SWBNO, publicized summaries of its Board meetings, and was instrumental in the SWBNO substation which is under construction.

Joe believes in the importance of consistent communication with residents and maintains a publicly facing dashboard illustrating the concerns of residents who reach out to his office. He assured meaningful public engagement by requiring virtual, telephonic, or in-person informational meetings for major land use issues, ensured residents could receive updates on permits near their homes, and passed legislation lowering the application fees for certain types of housing. He currently chairs the Budget Committee and his commitment to transparency and communication continues as he established quarterly budget hearings to keep the public informed on spending and progress made by key departments and outside agencies. 

Joe grew up in District A, graduating with honors from Jesuit High School. He graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2001, he finished in the top 5 percent of his law school class at Louisiana State University. He is married to fellow attorney, Cassie Giarrusso, and together they have two daughters. 

Lonny Goldsmith

Editor/Director of Communications
TC Jewfolk

Lonny Goldsmith is the Editor of TC Jewfolk and Director of Communications for its parent organization, Jewfolk, Inc. Lonny is an award-winning journalist who is involved in his third Jewish community after growing up in Michigan and spending a three-year stint in Chicago. He likes to write, cook, and watch sports (sometimes in that order).

Jo Ellen Green Kaiser

CEO
J. The Jewish News of Northern California

Jo Ellen Green Kaiser is CEO of J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Before coming to J in 2022, Jo Ellen served as Executive Director of The Media Consortium from 2012 to 2018, and was the principal at JGKSF Consulting, a boutique agency supporting independent news outlets, from 2018-2022. She is a member of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in San Francisco.

Lev Gringauz

Associate Editor
Jewfolk Inc.

Lev Gringauz (he/him) is the Associate Editor for Jewfolk, Inc, operating both in Minnesota and in Cincinnati. He was born and raised in Plymouth, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2021 after several years traveling in Israel, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Lev is an award-winning contributing writer and podcaster for Jewfolk, as well as a freelancer for publications ranging from eJewishPhilanthropy and The New York Jewish Week, to New Voices Magazine and MinnPost (a nonprofit newsroom in Minnesota).

Faygie Holt

Journalist and Children's Author

Faygie Holt is the bestselling author of two books series for Orthodox Jewish girls, Achdus Club and Layla's Diaries series from Menucha Publishers. Her kidlit career which began with the release of The New Girl in 2015. Since then she has published seven books, most of them for third- and fourth-grade readers. Her books tackle significant social issues facing young readers, including learning challenges, bullying, economic worries and friendship.

Faygie is the former communications director at Friendship Circle/LifeTown, an organization that aims to change the way society views individuals with special needs and that everyone has a role and purpose in life.

For seven years, Faygie served as the executive editor of a magazine dedicated to women’s fiction and the publishing industry. There she interviewed many bestselling authors including James Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark and Debbie Macomber. 

Her Jewish journalism career began at JTA where she worked as an editorial assistant before joining the Jewish Exponent as a reporter. She quickly moved up the ranks, and was eventually promoted to News & Special Projects editor where. among other things, she oversaw the paper’s coverage of the September 11 terror attacks and the 2004 presidential elections. Her work has appeared in Jewish newspapers around the world.

Currently, you can find her freelance journalism at JNS.org, Chabad.org, and select other media outlets. 

Faygie has won several awards for her work, most recently three 2021 Simon Rockower Awards from the American Jewish Press Association. Other awards include a Philadelphia Press Association award and a Keystone chapter Society of Professional Journalism award. Faygie is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and a board member of the American Jewish Press Association. She also serves on the executive committee for the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah and a board member of Mikvah Chana both in Livingston, N.J.

Kaylene Ladinsky

Editor & Managing Publisher
Atlanta Jewish Times

Kaylene Ladinsky has served the Atlanta Jewish Times since January 2011 as a writer, business manager, associate publisher, currently is editor and managing publisher. In January 2023, she was asked to add President to her list of titles for the Southern Israelite LLC, publishing company. She is a recipient of multiple Simon Rockower Jewish Journalism Awards, nationally recognized as a Marquis Who’s Who of America, Who’s Who of America’s Women of Influence, and most recently named as 2023’s Top Editor & Managing Publisher by the International Association. Currently she serves as an executive board member for the American Jewish Press Association and Atlanta Jewish Life Foundation, as well as an active member of the National Newspaper Association, and the Atlanta press Club. News and community relations took priority when becoming the founder and president of Americans United with Israel Corporation, a charitable 501(c)3 NGO based in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2009.

Jordan Palmer

Chief Digital Content Officer
St. Louis Jewish Light

Jordan Palmer worked at KSDK from 1995 to 2020. Jordan is a three-time Emmy award winner who produced every show from news to specials during his tenure, creating Show Me St. Louis, The Cardinal Nation Show. He started ksdk.com in 2001 and won three Edward R. Murrow Awards journalistic and website excellence in 2010, 2014 and 2020.

Jordan has been married 24 years and is the father of two college students. He is an avid biker, snowboarder, and beer lover. He created the blog drink314.com, focusing on the St. Louis beer community in 2015. Jordan has an incredible and vast knowledge of useless information and is the grandson of a Cleveland bootlegger. 

Mark Schleifstein

Environment Reporter
The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate | NOLA.com

Mark Schleifstein is an environment reporter for The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate | NOLA.com, and a member of its four-person environment reporting team. Schleifstein's stories on Hurricane Katrina were among the Times-Picayune's stories honored with 2006 Pulitzer Prizes for Public Service and Breaking News Reporting. He's the co-author of the 2006 book "Path of Destruction: The Devastation of New Orleans and the Coming Age of Superstorms," about Katrina. He’s co-author of the award-winning 2002 series, "Washing Away," which warned that New Orleans could be flooded by hurricane storm surge. He also was co-author of the 1996 series, "Oceans of Trouble: Are the World's Fisheries Doomed?", which won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Two other series he co-authored were Pulitzer finalists: "Home Wreckers: How the Formosan termite is devastating New Orleans," published in 1998, for national reporting; and "Louisiana in Peril," about the state’s petrochemical industry, published in 1991, for explanatory journalism. He worked for The Times-Picayune between 1984 and 2019, when the paper was shuttered, and since July 2019 has worked for The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate, which is the renamed New Orleans edition of the Baton Rouge-based The Advocate. Prior to that, he worked for five years for the Jackson, Miss., Clarion-Ledger; four years for the Norfolk, Va., The Virginian-Pilot; and one year for the Suffolk, Va., Suffolk News Herald. Mark is a member of the board of directors of Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation and heads its “M’sadrim Team”.

James W. Stewart

Secure Community Network (SCN) Community Security Director
Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans (JFGNO)

James Stewart is the Secure Community Network (SCN) Community Security Director for the
Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans (JFGNO). In this role, Mr. Stewart serves as a security advisor, liaison, and training coordinator to provide direction and ensure the development, organization, implementation, and monitoring of the greater New Orleans area Jewish community security operations and program. This includes providing guidance and strategic direction to ensure the safety and security of all member institutions of the community and surrounding region. He also serves as a liaison during crisis response and mitigation efforts and coordinates on behalf of SCN with federal, state, and local law enforcement, non-profit, public, private, and other stakeholder organizations in the region on community safety and security matters.

Based in New Orleans, and with more than 38 years of law enforcement experience, Mr. Stewart joined SCN in 2021.  Previously, Mr. Stewart served with the FBI for 22 years, including assignments in New York and Central Louisiana working all FBO criminal programs.  Following the 9/11 attacks, and as part of the FBI Evidence Response Team, Mr. Stewart was deployed to New York.  In 2004, Mr. Stewart was promoted to supervisor at the FBI's Counter-terrorism Center. He also served as a detailee to the CIA in Islamabad, Pakistan. In 2005, following hurricane Katrina, Mr. Stewart was deployed to New Orleans to assist NOPD. In 2007, Mr. Stewart was promoted to Resident Agentin Charge of NW Florida. Before to the FBI, Mr. Stewart served as a detective with New Orleans Police Department for 13 years.  Following his retirement in 2016 from the FBI, Mr. Stewart was a police chief in Hammond, Louisiana, for two years, managing 100 officers and staff. Mr. Stewart has been NCAA football official for 13 years.

Toby Tabachnick

Editor
Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

After practicing law in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, Toby Tabachnick began her career in journalism in 2007 as a staff writer for the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. In 2020, she was named editor of the paper and is responsible for managing its print and digital editorial operations. She has written more than 100 articles related to the 2018 antisemitic attack at the Tree of Life building in Pittsburgh.

Toby has received numerous Simon Rockower Jewish Journalism Awards as well as Golden Quill Awards from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania, which honored the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle this year with its Service to Journalism Award.