About Us
SOJOURN's Board, Staff, and Advisory Council
SOJOURN was founded in 2001 as The Rainbow Center. Supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, it was a central point to promote change and inclusion for LGBTQ+ Jews and people of all faiths throughout metro Atlanta. As the country’s social and political attitudes evolved, The Rainbow Center experienced enormous growth.
In 2013, the Rainbow Center was renamed SOJOURN: the Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity. We think of our work as a "sojourn," a temporary stay, and we are home on the journey to full inclusion.
In 2015, SOJOURN was honored as the Grand Marshal at the Atlanta Pride Parade, and was a recipient of the Philip Rush Community Builder Award from Georgia Equality.
SOJOURN remains committed to growing and expanding educational programming, outreach, and advocacy through the South, both in the Jewish and general communities. Our website and social media continue to be a destination for support and resources for LGBTQ people and their families. We have reached over 20,000 people since our inception and have organized the Jewish community at Pride to increase solidarity, partnerships, and inclusion.
Rebecca Stapel-Wax,
Executive Director
Rabbi Joshua Lesser,
Founder
SOJOURN'S Board of Directors
Simone Bonnejonne, Board Chair
Rebecca Leary Safon, Vice Chair
Elizabeth Chesnut, Treasurer
Harrison Bleiberg, Secretary
Members at Large
Eric Miller
Jen Slipakoff
Julia Kunis
Zen Neer
Janet Ziffer
Jenni Person
Vivienne Diaz
Staff
McKenzie Wren
Special Projects Manager
Lisa Stoch
Director of Development
Rose Kantorczyk
Communications and Legislative Affairs Coordinator