Team & Board
Team
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Founder / Executive Director
Naomi, the founder of Advot, was born in New York City and raised in Beer-Sheva, Israel. She graduated from Hebrew University and David Yalin Teachers College and attended the renowned Nisan Nativ acting studio.
With over thirty years of experience as a storyteller, actress, consultant, facilitator, professional clown, and stilt walker, Naomi creatively and innovatively promotes peace and dialogue in various international and interfaith settings.
She encourages self-empowerment through interactive workshops, performances, and community events.
Naomi wrote, directed, produced, and still performs the critically acclaimed one-woman show "Flowers Aren't Enough." The show has been presented over 2,500 times globally, including at the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women (CSW), and has been translated into four different languages. Flowers was the seed for the creation of Advot.
Naomi's work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the KCET and Union Bank Local Heroes Award, the International Women Achievers Award for Community Leadership, and the Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
She is honored to be a Speranza Foundation Lincoln City fellow and an AJWS (American Jewish World Service) Global Justice Fellow.
Naomi is the proud mother of three magnificent daughters - Zohar, Ella, and Hadar.
My remarkable mom empowered me to find my voice because she loved me fiercely and believed I could be, do, and become anything I wanted to be.
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Steven has been involved in the field of moral development and spiritual education for nearly forty years. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of California, Davis, two Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California and the Hebrew Union College, a Certification in Aging and Human Development from the University of Georgia, a Ph.D. in Religion from Sierra University, and two honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. He was ordained as a rabbi in 1976. Rabbi Reuben is the recipient of numerous community awards including the Micah Award for founding the largest full-service homeless shelter in Los Angeles, and the Unsung Heroes Award from the Youth Law Center of San Francisco. He is a recognized expert on moral education, who has appeared on numerous television and radio talk shows and lectured on character education and how to successfully meet the challenges of interfaith relations. He currently serves as Rabbi Emeritus of Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation in Pacific Palisades, California, and is past president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. He is married to Didi Carr Reuben and is stepfather to Gable.
Being a rabbi has empowered me to use my voice to inspire others to know that what they say matters, what they do matters, and who they are matters.
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Visionary Trainer Assistant
Enrique was born in the Chicagoland area. He is a painter, musician, and actor. Enrique is leveling up as a multifaceted artist at the Homeboy Art Academy as an artist in residency since moving to Los Angeles, starring and directing in his first film, creating a body of paintings, and giving vocal performances for the community.
Music empowered me to find my voice because it showed me what was possible.
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Visionary Trainer
Camille was raised in St. Paul, MN, and attended Carleton College in Northfield, MN. During college, Camille embraced her love of the arts by acting in and directing theater shows, performing in an a cappella group, traveling to New Zealand and Australia to study printmaking, and more. After graduating as an English major, she was accepted into Teach for America and moved to sunny Los Angeles. She taught English Language Arts at Manual Arts High School and earned her credential in Special Education. After a brief stint as a Project Manager in the private sector, she became an Assistant Principal at a high school in East LA. Most recently, she served as Assistant Principal of Alliance O’Donovan Middle School in South LA. She then took some time off to be a stay-at-home mom and is now thrilled to be working for the Advot Project. She loves that she can combine her education background with her passion for the arts to help students learn strong communication and advocacy skills.
My elementary teacher, Ms. Zemur, empowered me to find my voice because she encouraged me to be my quirky, unique, creative self and find joy in learning and life!
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Consultant
Judy, a native New Jerseyian, worked as a high school teacher and youth director in the early 1960s. She worked for several years at United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and then spent 15 years as Executive Director of National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section, then the largest section in the United States. It was there, in 1985, that her passion for working in the arena of relationship violence was ignited. She moved to Los Angeles in 2000 and within 3 years found herself happily back in that field. For more than a decade Judy’s bailiwick was education and training and she worked with the LA Fire Department, LA WorkSource, continuation schools, high and middle schools, PTA groups, domestic violence shelter agencies, and many other organizations and groups. It is with enormous pleasure that Judy is taking her work to end relationship violence to another level with Advot.
My parents empowered me to find my voice because they always told me to "speak up and speak the truth."
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Visionary Trainer
A native of New Orleans, LA, award winning actor, Allyson Lee Brown received her MFA in Acting from the University of Washington School of Drama and is a proud graduate of the illustrious Spelman College where she received her BA in Theatre/Drama. Her professional credits include The Tempest, Beauty and the Beast, Once on This Island, her original one woman show, SBW 365: The Myth and the Mule, as well as Guilty Party on Paramount+. In addition to her passion for acting, Allyson enjoys mentoring, teaching, and encouraging youth to tap into their greatness by providing arts accessibility, creative freedom and fostering a nurturing environment for growth and exploration.
My family empowered me to find my voice because they always encouraged me to be my most authentic, driven and charismatic self!
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Probation Manager, Project Leader
Jarvis is an actor and dancer from Dallas, Texas. He received his BA in Theatre from Prairie View A&M University and also graduated from Columbia University's MFA Acting program. He started training as a dancer with the Classic Dance Ensemble Company in the styles of jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, ballet, and modern dance. He has been teaching hip-hop and theatre for over 3 years and is passionate about teaching the arts in any capacity to youth. His past credits include Broadway Bares, 3 years; Three Hours by Laura Zlatos; Ware Arts Theater Festival / Othello; Classic Stage Company / Our Town by Thornton Wilder; Columbia Thesis / Blue Window; Columbia Thesis.
My theatre professor from undergrad helped me find my voice because I wasn't confident in my abilities, and she empowered me by letting me know I'm more than enough.
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Visionary Trainer
Kaci is a Jamaican actor, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles. She holds a BA in Literature from the University of Alaska Southeast, an MFA in Poetry from Hunter College, and completed the William Esper Studio conservatory program. She has performed extensively in regional theatre, most recently with Antaeus Theatre Company and South Coast Repertory, while her screen projects have been featured in the Toronto Black Film Festival, Essence Fest, and Cucalorus. As a writer, her work has appeared in various publications, from Killer Verse, to Interview, to Islands. Kaci has always had a passion for working with kids and sharing her love of the arts. She has worked as a drama teacher and mentor with Antaeus and Commonwealth Shakespeare Theatre, and in 2022 she launched her own podcast, Jamaican Me Sleepy, narrating classic bedtime stories for little and big kids alike. She is eager to inspire this next generation of youth with Advot!
Wayne, my creative writing teacher, empowered me to find my voice because he called me “a poet.”
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Visionary Trainer
Danielle is a graduate of Emerson College with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She is a behavioral therapist and also works with an organization called Babyfingers with their sign and song program for babies, toddlers, and parents. She is an acting and vocal coach, director, puppeteer, singer/songwriter, and screenwriter. She has been working with youth for over 12 years and loves to support and encourage communication, empathy, and expression through as many art forms as possible. She is so grateful for the opportunity to work for and with the amazing Advot team! She has two fur babies, Dolores and Ted, and her "shero" is the one and only, Dolly Parton.
My mom and dad (former special education teachers) inspired me to find my voice because they empowered their students to find theirs.
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Managing Director
Annie is originally from Brooklyn, NY, but has also lived in Cambria, CA, Berkeley, CA, and Boston, MA, before she moved to Los Angeles in 2015. Annie received her undergraduate degree in Theater and Performance Studies from UC Berkeley, and her Master's of Art in Theater Education from Emerson College in Boston. After graduating with her MA, she spent almost five years as the Director of Visual and Performing Arts at the West End House Boys and Girls Club in Allston, MA, where she helped significantly grow the program and worked with nearly 300 kids every day. After moving to Los Angeles, she served as the Manager of Visitor Experience at the Hammer Museum in Westwood, where she hired, trained, and supervised hundreds of college students who make up the majority of the museum's part-time employees. At Advot, her work is focused on mentoring and training our diverse team, cultivating and maintaining our deep partnerships, and developing our expansive curriculum.
Robbie, my mentor, helped me find my voice because she taught me about working in communities different from mine and I felt safe to be myself in her company.
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Visionary Trainer
Along with directing theater, Isaiah is a creator and storyteller at heart. Isaiah currently studies at the University of California, Los Angeles in the School of Theater, Film, & Television for a Bachelor of Arts in Theater, emphasis in Directing. He specializes in heightened text, experimental theater, realism, Viewpoints, and movement for the stage. Isaiah has served as one of the founding members and Executive Artistic Director of Anew Theater Company 501 c(3) non-profit in Los Angeles California and as the Student Representative on the Board of Directors for Ghostlight Theater Ensemble 501 c(3) non-profit in Brentwood, California. Along with board positions, Isaiah has taught musical theater at El Campanil Theater, East Bay Dance Company, East County Performing Arts Academy, and Liberty High School. Directorships have included Ghostlight Theater Ensemble, El Campanil Theater Company, Anew Theater Company, The Creative Collective, and Color Box Production Company. Isaiah has had the pleasure of interning as the Education Intern at the Latino Theater Company as well as at Center Theater Group as the Executive Office Intern under the direction of Executive Director Meghan Pressman and Camille Schenkkan, Deputy Executive Director.
Helen, my old theater director, empowered me to find my voice because she always believed I would be the leader I am today.
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Visionary Trainer
Mara is a Los Angeles-based actress and writer who began her career at the age of seven, performing at New Conservatory Theater Center of San Francisco. She attended Emerson College in Boston where she received her BA: Acting degree, before moving out to Los Angeles. She’s a current member of Theatre of Note and spends a large amount of her time pretending to be children and creatures in various Voice Over roles. Some of her theater credits include acting in three immersive JFI productions of CreepLA, including LORE an Amazon Prime Production; as well as 26 Pebbles, performed at Above the Curve Theatre, which won her a Valley Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2019.
My mothers helped me find my voice because they always gave me the freedom to be who I wanted to be — and I hope to have the opportunity to pass on that blessing to others.
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Operations and Executive Assistant
Sara is an actor from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. She studied Theatre and Media Studies at Pomona College and supplemented her training at: The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute (NY), Fordham London Dramatic Academy & Universidad de Puerto Rico Rio Piedras. Sara is an alum of Warner Bros TV's Actors In Training Program. While at Pomona, Sara mentored students in speech & dialect, focusing on productions with Spanish-language elements.
My parents empowered me to find my voice because they're the perfect mix of strength and gentleness - a lawyer and a psychologist - and they've always encouraged me to be kind, be brave, and be true to myself.
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Visionary Trainer
Claire completed her M.F.A. at the Old Globe/ USD Shiley Graduate Theater program and her B.F.A. in Theatre from the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. She is an actress, director, and educator. Her New York credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Harlem Shakespeare) and Please Bring Balloons (NYCCT). She has appeared regionally in the acclaimed U.S. premiere of Clue (Bucks County Playhouse), Twelfth Night (Old Globe Theater), and Safe House (Cincinnati Playhouse). Ms. Simba’s television and film credits include Madam Secretary, Shadow of Doubt, Les Pirogues des Hautes Terres (Monte Carlo TV Festival), and Morbayassa (Cannes Film Festival). As a director, she has worked with The Old Globe Theater, Scripps Ranch Theater, and Theatricum Botanicum, among others. She is honored to join the Advot Team!
Theater empowered me to find my voice because I experienced being celebrated for using it!
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Operations Manager
Carly moved early in life from New Jersey to Los Angeles. Growing up in a family of musicians, it was natural that she gravitated toward the arts. Carly graduated as a theater major from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and went on to study theater at The Pacific Conservatory for Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA. Carly then started working in administration and project management where she learned to love the beauty of keeping things organized and streamlined. She exercised those skills as a mother of two and is now sharing her skillset with Advot. After taking a break from theater, it’s refreshing to be reconnected again, where she can bring both her love of the arts and her passion for organization.
My dad empowered me to find my voice because he loved and believed in me and always made space and time to hear what I had to say.
Board of Directors
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Vice President
Shawn LaRe’ is a positive energetic spirit who is most often described as a “people'' person. In her professional life, Mrs. Brinkley is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist in private practice, at Living Loved Pathways to Holistic Healing.
Additionally, she is a Certified Trauma Recovery Specialist, Transformation Coach, Mindfulness Practitioner, Certified Laughter Yoga Instructor, and Speaker/Presenter/Trainer. Currently, Shawn LaRe’ is working on her Doctorate in General Psychology with an emphasis in Performance Psychology, as she considers herself a lifelong learner, as well as a teacher of life lessons she has acquired along the way. Shawn LaRe’ thoroughly enjoys her work as a multi-passionate practitioner, embracing numerous therapeutic modalities, and seeing a diverse and multicultural population in her practice. She specializes in trauma-informed therapy and mindfulness to reduce anxiety and other mental unwellness. She works with all manner of performers, using performance enhancement modalities.
Shawn LaRe’ loves to live life to the fullest and believes love, laughter, and ADHD are her superpowers. Her philosophy is, “When life gives you lemons, you must not just make lemonade, you must suck on them till they taste like chocolate.” Brinkley credits her tenacious spirit to her mantra by which she has lived her life, “every setback is a comeback waiting to happen.”
My parents empowered me to find my voice as a child in elementary school because I grew up being the only Black child in a predominantly white school system in Toledo, Ohio, so finding my voice was important to my growth and allowed me to emerge as my authentic self, unapologetically.
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Secretary
Bryce brings over two decades of managerial expertise to the table, spanning across both the entertainment and nonprofit sectors. With a diverse background that encompasses various roles such as volunteer, donor, fundraiser, manager, and advocate, he has amassed invaluable hands-on knowledge in management, finance, fundraising, event planning, alumni relations, and board governance.
Currently serving as the Senior Director of Development and Operations at the University of Southern California, Bryce leads a team responsible for curating a wide range of in-person and online programs aimed at honoring and engaging alumni and donors. Notably, he played a pivotal role in spearheading the development and implementation of a new software platform, designed to bolster online community engagement.
In his current position, Bryce oversees fundraising efforts and board management, including an advisory board that provides counsel to senior leadership, a philanthropic board consisting of top donors, and an alumni association board that provides support and engagement opportunities to 18,000 alumni.
As an Advot Board Member, Bryce is excited to contribute his wealth of professional and educational experiences, where he aims to leverage his expertise to facilitate the organization's growth and advancement of its mission.
Ms. Williams, my psychology professor and mentor, empowered me to find my voice because, under her guidance, I sparked a fresh wave of confidence to communicate authentically, and fearlessly assert my needs and rights.
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President
Anat is a professional percussionist and pianist, a community activist, an educator, and a volunteer in several non-profit organizations in Los Angeles. She holds a BA in Liberal arts, serves as a Certified teacher of Jewish Education, and holds an MA in Jewish Studies.
Anat served as the CEO and BOD member at MATI (a non-profit organization for Israeli Culture) for seven years. She taught music for over 30 years and currently works as a music director and producer for a musical group of young adults with special abilities. She is a writer and producer of different Jewish community events in Los Angeles and has been a docent at the Holocaust Museum LA for the last 8 years.
She is the USA & Canada representative of ANU, the Museum of the Jewish People in Israel, and a Board of Directors member at Advot for the last 4 years (serving 2 years as the Board Chair).
My parents empowered me to find my voice because they taught me how important kindness and honesty are. Now, working in Advot, I can help others who are less fortunate, to find their voice.
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Treasurer
Recently ordained as a Rabbi, Daniel is on the educational team of Kehillat Israel Synagogue of the Palisades, serving as their Youth & Family Rabbinic Fellow. He is charged with engaging all of KI’s families with children ranging in age from infancy to teens to young adults in the 20s and 30s group.
Daniel was the Director of Camp & Youth Programming for five years at Temple Menorah. He is an expert at creating innovative youth programs and online learning opportunities. Daniel is thrilled to join the Advot board and looking forward to promoting the transformation of the youth Advot serves.
My kids have empowered me to use my voice because if we don’t make this world better for the next generation, who will?
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Board Member
Tony was born in Anaheim, California, and raised in Zacatecas, Mexico, until the age of seven. The child of immigrants, he learned at a very young age the varying degrees of structural oppression that marginalized communities experience. His life experiences sparked a passion for advocacy and social justice; leading with kindness, empathy, and courage as he advocates for his community and his loved ones. Tony currently works for the City of Long Beach Office of Equity, prior to this he was the Director of Health Programs for the LGBTQ Center in Orange County CA. He has chaired multiple healthy equity planning bodies at the local and state levels. Collaboratively, Tony and his team were responsible for creating the first transgender-affirming health and wellness program in Orange County. Tony has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a Graduate Certificate in Theater Arts from UCSC, and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from CSULB.
Ms. Leveck, my elementary school speech therapist, empowered me to use my voice because she believed in my power to create change.
Advisory Board
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Taylor is passionate about designing effective ways to solve people's problems. Taylor is the Head of Customer Success at PairUp, a tech startup creating more connected workforces. Previously, Taylor spent 20 years as an educator, professional, and lay leader in the Bay Area Jewish community. Taylor received her Master’s in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University where she studied how to create optimal learning environments. Her education consisted of in-depth training on Human Centered Design, Design-Based Research, Communities of Practice, and Human Development. Taylor resides in Sonoma, CA with her adorable pup, Bubalah.
Rachel, a former supervisor, empowered me to find my voice by modeling what it was like to be a strong, female leader.
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President of American Jewish World Service (AJWS) from 1998 to July 2016, Ruth is currently the organization’s inaugural Global Ambassador.
Ruth’s remarkable 18-year presidency at AJWS began after a 20-year career in public service in New York City as a City Council member and Manhattan Borough President. A tireless advocate and social change visionary, Ruth mobilizes rabbis and faith-based communities throughout the U.S. to promote human rights. She previously sat on the State Department’s Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group and is currently a member of the World Bank’s Moral Imperative Working Group on Extreme Poverty.
Ruth is also currently doing international human rights work for AIDS Free World and serving as the inaugural Social Justice Fellow at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Additionally, she is the Social Justice Activist-in-Residence at the JCC of Manhattan.
Ruth has been honored for her leadership with awards from many national Jewish organizations and honorary degrees from five major American rabbinical seminaries. In 2015, she was the recipient of the Julia Vadala Taft Outstanding Leadership Award. Ruth was named one of the 10 most inspiring women religious leaders of 2012 by The Huffington Post; the sixth most influential Jew in the world by The Jerusalem Post; and was listed annually on The Forward’s “Forward 50” for nearly a decade.
My mom, Marjorie Wyler, inspired me to find my voice because she knew from experience that women who wanted to be heard and wanted to make a difference had to learn to speak up and speak out.
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Proud father of 3 beautiful girls, Garry is a graduate of Homeboy Industries. He interned and was later hired at LA CADA, providing critical life-saving, healthy-living services in downtown Los Angeles, on Skid Row as a Substance Abuse Counselor for three years. He then came back to Homeboy to work full-time as a Navigator. Navigators serve as mentors who create a sense of belonging, consistency, and guidance that helps trainees move through a new way of life.
He is using his academic accomplishments and experiences to improve the quality of life of those around him and those that he works with who have suffered from the same adversities he has.
Sally on yard 4 asked me when was the last time I was comfortable in my skin, he made me remember who I was before I was a gangbanger, and that gave me my authentic voice to be just me, and that I was enough.