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Our Team

The allmep Team

Click on a staff member to read their bio.

 

Staff

Nick Acosta

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Wasim Almasri

Director of Programs

Tania Eprem

Director of operations

Natali Levin-Schwartz

Director of Impact & Policy Research

Rachael Liss

Policy Coordinator

John Lyndon

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Brian Reeves

DIRECTOR OF strategic relations

Kari Reid

U.S. DIRECTOR

Rana Salah

Regional office manager

Nivine Sandouka

Regional director

Doubi Schwartz

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP RELATIONS

Susan Seely

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS

Luisa Siemens

european advocacy manager

Board

Avi Meyerstein

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

Anne Kaplan Spar

Chair

Giorgio Gomel

PRESIDENT, ALLMEP EUROPe

Max Shulman

Ibrahim AlHusseini

Deanna Armbruster

Maysa Baransi

Michal Caspi

Jean-Daniel Cohen

Rana Fahoum

Lisa Zola Greer

Danny Hakim

Ruth Jarmul

Nancy Kaufman

Charles Kremer

Yuval Lion

Rafiq Masri

Katia Mrowiec

Greg Rack

Tal Recanati

Mark Zivin

1725 I St NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006

202 618-4600 | info@allmep.org

©2022 Alliance for Middle East Peace

Nick Acosta

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Nick Acosta is the Director of Communications for the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), where he oversees all digital communications and outreach activities in support of ALLMEP and its member organizations.

Before joining ALLMEP, he worked as a graphic designer and communications professional for the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy and as a Politics Research Fellow for G Strategies, LLC. He has also worked on major design contracts for digital marketing agencies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Denver, Colorado.

He holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from St. Norbert College, as well as M.A.s from Yale University in Theology and Georgetown University in Arab/Islamic Studies. He also holds a professional certificate in Digital Marketing from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Nick is an avid rock climber, published fiction novelist, and visual artist.

Wasim Almasri

REGIONAL PROGRAM MANAGER

Wasim is a third-generation Palestinian refugee, born and raised between Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. He studied information technology in Chicago before moving to Gaza to work for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Wasim worked with civil society and international institutes in Ramallah on projects aimed to develop practices of democracy and transparency for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. He has over 10 years of experience in cross-border and civil society work with a focus on grassroots, alumni, and leadership program development. Before joining the ALLMEP team, Wasim served as the Director of Communications for the OneVoice Movement in Palestine.

Tania Eprem

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Tania  Eprem started her career in 2016 as a sales manager from Brooklyn, NY. After working in the private manufacturing sector for three years and missing the spark she once had, she moved to a small town in northern Armenia and took a job as Operations Manager for Nor Luyce, a local youth nonprofit. After establishing their foundational systems and helping elevate the organization, she stepped down from her role and joined Children of Armenia Fund as their Operations and Development Manager in New York City, initiating their CRM migration and overall streamlining of their programs. Tania joined ALLMEP in July 2022 as Operations Manager before being named Director of Operations in 2024, and supports the organization’s financial, operational, and developmental needs. 

Natali Levin-Schwartz

Director of Impact and Policy Research

Natali is the Director of Impact and Policy Research for the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP). In this role, she develops and executes research initiatives that inform policy decisions, enhance peacebuilding efforts, and educate diverse stakeholders about the impact of peacebuilding programs.

Before joining ALLMEP, Natali completed her PhD at the University of California, Santa Cruz, focusing on the practice of testimony and the role of civil society in responding to sexual violence. She mentored and taught undergraduate students in courses about social justice, theories of social change, and critical political theory. During her time there, she also worked in the Title IX office to improve sexual violence and harassment policies and prevention programs on campus. Natali also holds an MA in Political Science from Tel Aviv University, where she studied the ethical and political implications of witnessing the injustices of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and co-created a comprehensive program to support Arab Israeli students in the department.

Born in Russia, raised in Israel, and now based in the U.S., Natali is fluent in English, Russian, and Hebrew, and she loves cooking Russian and Mediterranean food to feel connected to her roots.

Rachael Liss

Policy Coordinator

Rachael Liss serves as the Policy Coordinator for the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), working on the design and implementation of ALLMEP’s European and UK advocacy and policy strategy. Her key role is in developing and managing relationships with stakeholders in the UK, France and the European Union to further the growth and development of ALLMEP’s European strategy and presence. Prior to ALLMEP, she worked at Encounter Programs, an ALLMEP member, focusing on Jewish leadership on the Israeli-Palestinian reality, doing programs and operations.

Rachael holds a MSc in International Relations from the LSE and a Masters in International Security from Sciences Po Paris, as well as a BA in Political Science from Amsterdam University College. She is fluent in English and French, loves London’s food scene, and frequents new exhibits.

John Lyndon

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

John was ALLMEP’s first European Director, founding its new office in Paris in 2018, before becoming the organization’s Executive Director a year later. He brings with him over a decade of experience leading NGOs concerned with conflict resolution and international development, with a particular focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the pivotal role civil society can play in any lasting resolution.

A regular contributor and commentator on events in the Middle East, his writing has featured in numerous international publications, including The Independent, Newsweek and TIME Magazine, and he is a frequent analyst on the BBC, CNN, France 24 and Sky News.

John received a BA in English Literature and History from University College Dublin, and an MA in International Relations from the University of Sheffield, where he won the 2007 Bethan Reeves Prize for his research on the Middle East. A former member of the Under 35 Steering Committee at the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House, John is also a Visiting Fellow at King’s College London’s Department of Middle Eastern Studies, and has delivered guest lectures at the London School of Economics, Sciences Po Lille, and the University of Hull.

Brian Reeves

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC RELATIONS

Brian Reeves is ALLMEP’s Director of Strategic Relations. In this capacity he works with local and international stakeholders in the region to advance ALLMEP’s strategy, provides consultations to members on MEPPA and fundraising, and manages ALLMEP own fundraising operation. Before joining ALLMEP he worked as the Donor Relations Director at Appleseeds, an Israeli NGO empowering the country’s periphery through technology learning. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Development and External Relations at Peace Now, Israel’s longest-standing peace movement. He has also worked as a Senior Research Assistant at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Middle East Policy, and as a Visiting Fellow at the Mitvim Institute, an Israeli think-tank for a progressive foreign policy. 
 
Brian holds an M.A. in International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a B.A. in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies from Brandeis University. He lives with his wife and son in Tel Aviv.

Kari Reid

U.S. DIRECTOR

Kari is the U.S. Director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace, where she serves as ALLMEP’s chief operations officer and senior advocate in the United States. As a core member of the global executive team, Kari works with the Executive Director and regional team in implementing ALLMEP’s worldwide initiatives, including the establishment of a multi-million dollar International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, following the successful enactment of the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA).

Kari has worked as a foreign policy professional and non-profit leader in Washington, D.C. for fifteen years, serving as a foreign affairs advisor in the U.S. House of Representatives and as a policy expert at NGOs focused on global development and international relief efforts. Kari joined ALLMEP from Mercy Corps where she served as Director of Policy and Advocacy, leading the agency’s humanitarian policy work in the Middle East.

Kari holds a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Minnesota and a master in public affairs degree from the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. She recently completed a certificate for leaders in the foreign policy community at MIT’s Center for International Studies. Kari lives with her husband and two children in Washington, D.C.

Rana Salah

Regional Office Manager

Rana Salah works as ALLMEP’s Regional Office Manager. She was born and lives in Jerusalem where she studied Hotel Management. Previously, Rana worked for 10 years in tourism doing operations and reservations. Rana holds a certificate in Human Resources and Administrative Assistant, and a vocational certificate in handicrafts. She also started and owns her own small business.

Rana is a board member at Hoqoqona ‘our Rights’ NGO. After October 7th, 2023, she decided to change careers and find a job working in peacebuilding. She is a mother of two daughters and believes in creating a better future for the region.

Nivine Sandouka

Nivine Sandouka is the Regional Director  with the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) . She is leading in the field of peace programming, and gender mainstreaming. Previously, she worked with the German Association for Development Cooperation – AGIAMONDO, as well as Oxfam GB, CARE International, IPCRI, and the Regional Organization for Peace Economics and Security – ROPES. She also runs an online-based initiative called ‘Judi- from me to you’ that aims to connect women together and volunteers in several civil society organizations. 

To pursue her passion she is the Board Director of a newly established NGO called ‘Our Rights- Hoqoqona’ in Jerusalem, focusing on the civic and political rights of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, especially women. In addition, she currently sits as a board member for ‘The Jerusalem Center for Women’. She gives lectures to many international and national groups focusing on the political situation and East Jerusalem. She participated in many conferences  including J Street, and Cannan Project in Berlin among others. She has written many articles focusing on the situation of women in EJ, youth, and finally around normalisation for the Palestine Israel Journal. 

Doubi Schwartz

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP RELATIONS

Doubi is a highly qualified and experienced professional in the fields of management, peace and reconciliation, education, and social change within a variety of civil society organizations. Between 2013 and 2016, Doubi was the Israeli Co-CEO of the Parents Circle – Families Forum (PCFF). He is the founder and editor of OnePlace, an online, Hebrew-language multidisciplinary resource center on the Arab citizens of Israel.

Doubi has served as the Arab Citizens of Israel Desk Director at ECF – Economic Cooperation Foundation, in charge of policy planning, project and strategic processes management, coalition building and track II activities. Prior to that, Doubi was the Senior Educational Director at Melitz, an informal leading organization, focused on values, identity, inter-societal relations and democratic education within the Israeli educational system

Doubi holds an MA in international relations from Hebrew University, Jerusalem and a BA in political science and sociology from Tel Aviv University. Doubi is a trained facilitator and holds a civic education teaching diploma. Born in Israel, Doubi lives with his family in Hod Hasharon.

Susan Seely

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS

Susan Seely is the Director of Partnership at ALLMEP, with a wealth of experience in nonprofit management, organizational development, and regional conflict education. She previously worked as National Executive Director for NA’AMAT USA, a national social and service organization providing support for women and youth of all backgrounds in Israel. Prior to NA’AMAT, she was the Director at UC Irvine of the Olive Tree Initiative.

Susan received her undergraduate degree in Political Science/International Relations from UC Santa Barbara, and a Master of Arts degree in Middle East Studies from the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. After working briefly on the Hill in Washington D.C. for Senator Harris Wafford, Susan worked as the Director, Middle East and Africa, at the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment under Governor William Weld.

Susan has studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and at the University of Haifa in Israel. She is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow and the ADL Steinberg Leadership program. She is a certified Rodefet Shalom through Pardes Institute. She has been on her local board of the National Conference for Community and Justice, a board member of Congregation B’Nai Israel in Tustin, CA, is a founding member of the OC Community Scholars Program, and is on the Executive Board of Women In Leadership. Susan is passionate about promoting peace, environmental sustainability, and women’s empowerment. She lives in Newport Beach, CA and is mother to two adult children. 

Luisa Siemens

EUROPEAN ADVOCACY MANAGETR

Luisa works as the European Advocacy Manager after preciously working as European Outreach Coordinator and a regional policy fellow within the organization. In 2023, she opened ALLMEP’s Berlin Office and manages relationships with stakeholders in Germany and the European Union. Prior to that, she interned with various NGOs and media outlets in Germany and abroad, and worked as a student assistant in the “Dynamics of Security” project, focusing on processes of securitization and desecuritization in international trusteeship administrations. She has also worked on major projects as an independent illustrator.

Luisa holds an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies from Marburg University and a BA in Political Science and Law, with a specialization in international law and French Law from the University of Muenster. She also holds a professional certificate in Trial Monitoring of international criminal law cases. She is fluent in German, English, and French.

Avi Meyerstein

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

Avi Meyerstein is the founder and president of the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP). Starting in 2003, Avi brought together dozens of NGOs to build an umbrella coalition that would significantly expand resources, scale up Israeli-Palestinian grassroots partnerships, and create a growing, interconnected community of peacebuilders.

ALLMEP’s advocacy strategies initially supported over $130 million in annual U.S. funding for Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding. Avi also developed and launched the initiative to create an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace. ALLMEP’s global campaign to create that fund led to the bipartisan passage of the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act of 2020 (MEPPA), which provides $250 million for joint economic and people-to-people partnerships.

Avi has led ALLMEP through several stages of growth and organizational development and is actively involved in its strategy, operations, and advocacy. In 2021-22, he is working on the ground with ALLMEP, its members, and other key stakeholders to help prepare the field for large-scale growth.

Avi is a former national law firm partner and a business co-founder. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Georgetown University Law Center. He recently returned from a year of living in Israel, where, while serving as a Fulbright Global Scholar and Visiting Fellow at the Mitvim Institute, he spent most of his time working with ALLMEP’s NGO members, funders, and policymakers to prepare to leverage the moment created around MEPPA. He and his family live in the Greater Washington area. 
 

Annie Kaplan Spar

Chair

Anne Kaplan Spar graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Philosophy in 1986 and in 1991 completed her MBA at New York University. After a career in marketing, Anne moved into the philanthropic world, most recently working as COO for The Social Investment Consultancy.

She currently serves on the President’s Advisory Council at Vassar. Anne has served as a trustee of a number of organizations including The Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in New York, The British Friends of Hebrew University and One Voice Europe. Anne devotes most of her time to her three children: Ben, Daniel and Lily. Anne, her husband Elon, and their children live in Beverly Hills, California.

Giorgio Gomel

PRESIDENT, ALLMEP EUROPE

Giorgio Gomel, Italian economist, has been the Head of research and international economics at the Bank of Italy. Among the cofounders of JCall, an association of European Jews committed to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on two states, he is the President of Alliance for Middle East Peace Europe. He is the European representative in the Coordinating Committee of J-Link, an international Jewish progressive network Besides professional publications, he has written extensively in Italian and international publications on Israel and Jewish affairs.

Max Shulman

TREASURER

Max “Bud” Shulman is a retired litigation partner at the law firm of Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP where he had a broad practice that included representing clients in major securities fraud, antitrust, insurance coverage and M&A litigation. Bud was recognized as a leader in securities litigation by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He was also named in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in commercial litigation.

Currently, Mr. Shulman serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the School of American Ballet and on the Board of Trustees of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation.

He received an A.B. cum laude from Harvard University in 1967 and a J.D. cum laude from Culumbia Law School in 1970, where he was both a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a James Kent Scholar. After graduation, Mr. Shulman clerked for two years for Hon. Charles M. Metzner of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Ibrahim AlHusseini

Ibrahim is a family office principal, venture capitalist and philanthropist dedicated to advancing social and environmental change globally and particularly in emerging economies.

Ibrahim has spent his early career as a sustainability-focused serial entrepreneur, with significant experience in operations, sales and finance and realized multiple exits. His first investment in climate technologies was back in 2002 and is considered an expert in the space as well as a credible resource to family offices and angel investors for clean and climate technology investments.  He also speaks publicly about the need to transition to a low carbon economy.

Prior to launching FullCycle Climate Partners, Ibrahim launched FullCycle Energy, LP to help address urgent need for waste solutions by investing in technologies that can revolutionize our relationship with waste.

Ibrahim is also the founder and managing partner of Husseini Group LLC, a firm dedicated to facilitating, financing, and guiding ventures that embrace social enhancement and ecological sustainability.

Deanna Armbruster

Board

Deanna Armbruster is the Executive Director of Valley Bar Mediation Center in Los Angeles. VBMC is committed to educating the public about the benefits of mediation, and building community through mediation and peace building. Her work enhances understanding among diverse groups to manage problems and work toward lasting solutions.

Prior to joining VBMC, Ms. Armbruster served as the Executive Director of the American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, and the U.S. Director of the Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam World Peace College supporting the work of the “Oasis of Peace” community in Israel. Her work with the only community in Israel where Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians live, work and educate their children together focused on raising awareness, bridging differences and improving relations in Israel-Palestine through people-to-people, grassroots initiatives.

Maysa Baransi

Maysa Baransi is a passionate social entrepreneur and has extensive experience in business development in high-tech and civil society organizations for over 20 years, 10 years of which have been at board level.  Since 2003, she has served in executive positions, in addition to fundraising, mentoring, multi-cultural relations, and she has advised a number of local and international organizations, looking to empower entrepreneurs and bridge communities.

Baransi has leveraged her experience in investment management, start-up and accelerator programs, executive coaching, and family business consultancy to launch her own operation, navigating her clients through the complexity of family businesses and providing speculative opportunities in high-tech solutions.

In addition, Baransi’s social-impact ventures and initiatives have been recognized by international bodies and has received a number of prizes and awards.

Michal Caspi

Michal is Director General of the Olivestone Trust, where she has served for over a decade. In her work, Michal also serves as a philanthropic consultant to international donors for activities in Israel and Europe.

Michal is involved in several social initiatives. Among others, she has been involved in the establishment of the Israeli branch of Planet Finance, serves as a member of the Board of the Association for Education, Culture & Sports in Nir Tzvi and is a member of the General Assembly and Audit Committee of Etz Harimon Foundation.

Michal holds a professional certificate in management of non-profit organizations from the Israeli Center for Management and a professional certificate from the Israeli College of Management for NPO directors and board members.

Rana Fahoum

Rana Fahoum is the Director of the Center for shared society at the Shalom Hartman Institute. In her most recent role, she served as the CEO of the Jerusalem International YMCA, and its subsidiary, Three Arches company. Rana founded and ran a Junior High school for girls in a seamline neighborhood in East Jerusalem and was later appointed by the Ministry of Education as superintendent responsible for all elementary education in East Jerusalem. 

Subsequently, Rana taught in the Hebrew University’s English Language and Linguistics departments and served as a research assistant. Rana has a masters degree in English linguistics from the Hebrew University and a masters degree in political and public leadership from Tel Aviv University. Rana is a graduate of the Mandel School of Educational Leadership and a member of the Maoz network.

Rana is a member of the Israeli Council for Culture and the Arts and a member of the Arab Culture Committee. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Lavi, the Municipal Association for the Development of Education in Jerusalem. 

Rana was born in Nazareth and currently lives in Jerusalem, with her spouse and 3 children.

Lisa Zola Greer

Lisa Zola Greer is a philanthropist, nonprofit advisor, convener, and the author of the bestselling book “Philanthropy Revolution”. Over the last decade, the Greer home in Beverly Hills has been home to nearly 200 charitable salons and events connecting nonprofits with donors and the community. Several of these events have been in support of ALLMEP and its members.

Currently, Lisa serves as commissioner of the California State Commission on the Status of Women and Girls where she sits on the Executive Committee. She also serves on the international board of the New Israel Fund as well as the Executive Committee of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors. She has also served as Commissioner and Chair of the Beverly Hills Cultural Heritage Commission and Trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles and as a board member of many organizations, including the L.A. District Attorney’s Crime Prevention Foundation, Make-a-Wish of Greater Los Angeles, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, and others. She has recently been appointed to the City of Beverly Hills Community Charitable Foundation.

Earlier in her career, Lisa was a studio executive at NBC and Universal Studios, and she founded and led several companies including a management consulting and strategic advisory firm specializing in digital media and entertainment businesses. Lisa co-founded and sits on the board of Tandem Careplanning, a new business that elevates the home care experience for both care seekers and caregivers. A native of Los Angeles, Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in History from UCLA and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She is also the proud mother of three Millennials, two Gen Zs, and two dogs.

Danny Hakim

Danny Hakim, a two-time world Karate silver medalist and philanthropist, is both the Founder and Chairman of Budo for Peace- an Israeli NGO member of ALLMEP.  He founded the organization in 2004 as the translation of his vision to create a society in which socially constructed rivals can conquer their cultural, social, and political differences through the universal language of sport. In 2018 Budo for Peace was awarded 2018 Regional NGO of the Year by the Prince of Monaco’s organization Peace and Sport.

Danny has represented Australia, Israel and Japan in several international Karate competitions and is was inducted in the Maccabi Australia Sports Hall of Fame.

Danny’s belief in social change is evident not only in his passion for martial arts but also his interest in and talent for film-making. His international award-winning documentary, Shadya, was endorsed by the PBS network for their educational women’s empowerment series. In addition, several of his works on the subject of martial arts and social reform have been published including “Budo’s Potential for Peace: Breaking down barriers in the Israel-Palestinian Conflict.” Bennett, A. (2005). Budo Perspectives (Vol. 1). Kendo World Publications.

Danny holds a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from the University of New South Wales, Sydney and a Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Swinburne University, Melbourne.

Ruth Jarmul

Ruth Jarmul has served as a member of the Management Committee and Board of ALLMEP since 2015.  She joined the board with the conviction that supporting people-to-people work is the key to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Long involved with the Jewish community, she has served as an officer as well as member of the executive committee and board of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City and a board member of Brown University Hillel.  She also serves on the board of the Hyde Leadership Charter School, the largest independent charter school in New York City.  Before she retired, she was vice president of administration of the New York Stem Cell Foundation, a principal of Quantum Media, co-head of the media practice of the Mitchell Madison Group, media advertising manager of the Wall Street Journal and director of planning of Dow Jones.  She received her BA from Yale College and MBA from Harvard Business School.

She lives in New York City with her husband, Irvin Rosenthal. They have three daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren.

Nancy K. Kaufman

Nancy K. Kaufman has had a distinguished career as a public servant, advocate, and non-profit leader. Kaufman now runs a strategic consulting and coaching practice having stepped down as CEO of National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) where she served for eight years. At NCJW she reenergized this 125- year-old legacy organization of volunteers and advocates that turn progressive ideals into action and advances social and economic justice for women, children, and families. 

Prior to joining NCJW, Kaufman served as the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Boston for twenty years, where she led the social justice, Israel advocacy, and governmental affairs agendas for Boston’s Jewish Federation and its agencies. She has also held a variety of positions related to health and human services delivery in state and local government and in the nonprofit sector. 

Kaufman is a graduate of Brandeis University, received an MSW in community organization and social planning from Boston College School of Social Work, and a mid-career MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Among other honors, she is a recipient of an honorary doctorate in public service from Northeastern University; the Alumni Achievement Award (1987) and the Bernard Reisman Award for professional excellence (2011) from Brandeis University and the Albert C. Chernin award from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (2019). She was recognized four times as a “Forward 50” outstanding Jewish leader. 

Charles Kremer

Charles Kremer grew up in the UK, where he became a Chartered Accountant, and moved to the US in 1977 with his Israeli born wife Naomie. He is the President and founder, since 1984, of Access Leasing Corporation, a company that acquires various types of leased transportation, energy and industrial equipment. He has had a variety of other business interests and, in addition to being on the board of J Street since 2012, has served on a number of university and other non-profit boards.

Yuval Lion

Yuval is a filmmaker, funder and values-aligned investor who lives in New York City. 

Yuval had a 15-year career as an international news producer, working for the AP, NBC News, and PBS, mostly covering the Middle East. Highlights of his reporting include the Rabin assassination, the 1996 and 1999 Israeli elections, the 2000 Camp David Peace Talks, the 2nd Intifada, and the war in Iraq. He was twice nominated for a News Emmy. 

In 2010, Yuval co-founded MYLKmedia, a production company located in NYC that produces award-winning advocacy films for nonprofits, foundations, and causes, as well as family legacy and tribute films. Yuval has made films for a number of pro-Mideast peace organizations, such as, J Street, ALLMEP, OneVoice, and the NIF. In 2017, MYLKmedia won a DoGooder video award for a film about Hand in Hand, the bi-lingual network of schools in Israel. 

Yuval, who was born and raised in London to Israeli parents, is a funder of several organizations that promote Middle East peace and democracy building in Israel. He is a founding board member of Kanaf and on the J Street Finance Committee. Yuval is also a values-aligned investor, with a focus around climate change, sustainable agriculture and gender equity. 

Yuval served a year in the IDF as an artilleryman and holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. He is an avid footballer, hiker, reader and gig-goer… and a long-suffering supporter of Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Rafiq Masri

Rafiq Masri joins us as an accomplished entrepreneur and technologist. He is the founder and CEO of Network Management, Inc., Chairman of PALECO, and is on the board of numerous organizations. His interest in our work, alignment with our mission, and unique problem-solving abilities make him a wonderful addition to our Board. He believes in the power of young people and places heavy importance on empowering local Palestinian free enterprise.

Furthermore, he recognizes and appreciates the need to engage with Palestinians living outside the region, encourages them to be involved with the promotion of innovation, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding in the sustainable business sector. Additionally, Mr. Masri is working on advancing the growth of Palestinian film ecosystem and the preservation of historic Palestinian manuscripts, art and photography.

Katia Mrowiec

Katia Mrowiec is a writer born in France with strong Polish roots and a graduate of Sciences Po Paris, where she earned a Master’s degree in Soviet and Eastern European Studies. She is also a mother of five. 

While she initially focused on writing books for youth, her current passion lies in the foundation she co-founded called Kaleidoscope. Established five years ago as a family foundation, Kaleidoscope aims to support peace initiatives (among them, many ALLMEP members), combat stereotypes, racism, and anti-Semitism, and promote social cohesion. 

Katia’s drive to make a difference stems from her personal experiences, including growing up during the division of Europe and witnessing Poland’s fight for freedom. Her exploration of diverse cultures and religions in Jerusalem further fueled her belief that achieving peace in the city and the wider region can have a positive ripple effect worldwide.

Greg Rack

Greg is a chartered surveyor by profession and has had a 35 year career in the UK real estate industry.

Throughout his life, he has been involved in helping a great number of charities in both the UK and Israel. In the last ten years, Greg has devoted much of his time and efforts to non-profits, including several ALLMEP members, whose aim is to help end the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Tal Recanati

Tal Recanati is an entrepreneur and non-profit advocate who has spent the past 15 years championing causes that promote dialogue, cultivate leaders, and provide grass-roots solutions to societal issues.  

Tal’s leadership roles have spanned the arenas of public health, democracy, diversity, and education. She currently serves on the Board of  Pollyanna Inc., a non-profit that works with academic and other institutions to achieve their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Tal previously was the vice-chair of the board of Seeds of Peace, where she headed the nominations committee. She also chaired the advisory committee of the Arnhold Institute for Global Health at Mount Sinai Health System’s Icahn School of  Medicine in New York City. She has been a passionate supporter of The International School of Peace on the island of Lesbos, Greece, and served as vice-chair of the UJA Federation of New York’s Civil Society in Israel Committee.

Tal’s interest in dialogue and reconciliation also led her to produce a critically-acclaimed documentary, Germans & Jews, released in 2016 about Germany’s efforts to face its Nazi past. The film received rave reviews in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Village Voice,  and many other publications and has been shown in film festivals worldwide.  

Before shifting her focus to the nonprofit sector, Tal co-founded Judd Waddell LLC, a successful bridal design and manufacturing company. Tal received a BA from Washington University in St Louis and an LLB from University College London.

Mark Zivin

Mark Zivin is a partner in the Chicago CPA and consulting firm of Morrison & Morrison, Ltd. He has been actively involved in the Jewish community for the past 30 years beginning in the 1990s serving on the board of his synagogue, the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston, IL. In 2002, Mark joined the board of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (JRF), the national governing body of the Reconstructionist movement and served as its Treasurer from 2005-9. During that time, he also chaired the Capital Campaign for the first Reconstructionist summer camp, the award-winning Camp Havaya (formerly known as Camp JRF).

Mark has been involved with the leadership of J Street since its inception, serving on its Advisory Board and Finance Committee since 2008. He was integral in developing the Chicago chapter of J Street and served as the chair of its Executive Committee from 2008-2016. Mark was Midwest Regional Chair of the Finance Committee from 2014-16. In 2018, he will be the recipient of the Brit Tzedek v’Shalom award from the J Street Chicago chapter.

Mark is also active on the political side of J Street, having travelled to Israel with a J Street Congressional delegation in 2013 and on a special mission to Israel during the last Gaza War in 2014. He works diligently at maintaining relationships with Members of Congress and Senators and often leads delegations to the Hill during advocacy days.

Mark received an A.B. in Religion from Trinity College, Hartford in 1973 and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Booth School in 1975, where he was an Institute of Professional Accounting Fellow and a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma business school honorary society. He earned his CPA certificate in 1975. He has served on various committees of the American Institute of CPAs and the Illinois CPA Society.