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Parent ambassadors connect PJ Library families

BY DEBORAH MOON books he receives will grow in
PJ Library has hired two part- number, and our home library
time parent ambassadors – So- will have Jewish characters that
nia Marie Leikam and Ilana reflect my son and his life.”
Jaffe-Lewis – to help create Rachel notes that the recent
experiences and connections surge in COVID with the Delta
among the 1,020 young fami- variant has made the in-person
lies across the Greater Portland gatherings the three women dis-
area who receive free PJ Li- cussed initially impractical until
brary books each month. children can be vaccinated.
PJ Library sends more than However, Ilana says she has
230,000 books a month to many ideas that she feels can
families across North Amer- work well in a virtual setting –
ica. Portland was one of the Sonia Marie Leikam Ilana Jaffe-Lewis a monthly Shabbat picnic, story
first communities to adopt PJ hours, mask-making for Purim,
Library when the Harold Grin- 12 who have received PJ Li- and to watch the children of a Hanukkah dreidel tournament
spoon Foundation offered the brary books all the years they these families grow over this and, her favorite, a Rosh Cho-
program nationally. The pro- have been eligible. The older next year,” she says. She adds desh group for moms. Literally,
gram has been run in partner- two are now enrolled in PJ Our connection will be her primary head of the month, the holiday
ship with the Jewish Federation Way since they aged out of the goal: “Parenthood can be lone- of the new moon has long been
of Greater Portland since 2011. PJ Library. ly at times. And parenthood celebrated by women.
“Each ambassador will build “I love connecting people to- during a pandemic has been “Jewish feminists have been
authentic relationships, create gether and hope I am able to very isolating for many. My using this holiday to gather,
new, barrier-free Jewish experi- help bring families together,” hope is to offer opportunities connect and learn together,”
ences, expand communities and says Sonia Marie. for authentic and compassion- says Ilana. “This is something
impart relevant Jewish content She adds her own family has ate connection.” that I think mothers desperately
to Jewish families with children benefited so much from the pro- Ilana worked in Jewish ed- deserve right now.”
receiving PJ Library books,” gram, she felt this role would ucation for 10 years and ear- Sonia Marie plans to use the
says Rachel Nelson. Rachel be a good way to give back. ly childhood education for fall to get to know families and
oversees the local program in “Because we are an interfaith the past four years. Raised in reach out to families new to
her role as JFGP Director of home, PJ Library books have southern California, she has the program. “Due to the vari-
Educational Initiatives & As- allowed my partner the opportu- lived in Portland since 2017. ant, we will be restricting our
sociate Director of Community nity to learn about holidays and Ilana and her husband, Steven, large events, but may be meet-
Relations. traditions alongside my kids and have a 5-month-old son who ing with families at the park if
Sonia Marie will focus on be an active participant in creat- has been receiving PJ Library weather permits,” she says.
families on Portland’s eastside. ing a Jewish home,” she says. books since he was born. PJ Library also is creating
A longtime Jewish professional As the new west side ambas- As a PJ Library parent, she Shabbat bags for the ambassa-
and community organizer, she sador, Ilana looks forward to says, “I most enjoy the element dors to deliver to local families
is currently focused on growing forging new connections. “I’m of surprise that PJ brings into our new to PJ Library.
her family business, Leikam most excited to connect with life. It’s fun to receive a mystery For more information on
Brewing, a Kosher craft brew- and learn from other parents, to book every month. And it’s a PJ Library, contact Rachel at
ery. She and her husband Theo raise my child within a close, gift that we can share together. rachel@jewishportland.org or
have three boys ages 7, 10 and local community of families I also deeply appreciate that the visit pjlibrary.org.

PJA engages diversity, equity, inclusion and access consultant

Portland Jewish Academy has engaged a plore the changes that take place when new fronting specific situations and analyzed
consultant, Heather Clark, Ph.D., to work people are introduced into the culture. real-life scenarios. Heather's work with the
with the school on Diversity, Equity, Inclu- PJA began planning its work with Heath- PJA faculty, staff and board will continue
sion and Access. er in the fall of 2019, but the pandemic throughout this school year.
Heather holds delayed the launch. In the fall of 2020, Undertaken as a follow-up to PJA’s most
a Ph.D. in an- Heather worked with teachers, adminis- recent reaccreditation, the work is a natu-
thropology and trators and board members to reflect on ral extension of previous efforts. In 2015,
serves as a Lec- the impact of the pandemic as well as the the school began to examine its curriculum
turer at the Uni- racial reckoning of the spring of 2020. In through an anti-bias lens. In 2016-17, PJA
versity of Wash- May, Heather met with the same group. identified a need to expand its anti-bias edu-
ington and an Her workshops provided an opportunity cation work, review hiring practices and im-
Instructor in the to discuss key racial literacy terms, estab- prove accessibility. In March 2018, a visit-
Rainier Scholars lishing a shared foundation and language ing team from the Northwest Association of
program. She has on which to base future work. In August Independent Schools spent several days on
broad experience working with schools 2021, Heather joined the faculty during campus and issued a reaccreditation report
and other organizations on DEIA. Her ap- the in-service week on campus to contin- that recommended PJA “clearly define what
proach is to help organizations understand ue important discussions about DEIA. PJA constitutes a diverse school community
their cultural values and norms, and to ex- staff identified their comfort level with con- within the context of a Jewish day school.”
4 Jewish Review Sept. 15, 2021