San Diego, California
AJC San Diego was delighted to welcome Dina Siegel Vann, the Director of the AJC Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs in Washington, D.C., for a visit in January. Dina led a series of programs, including a briefing for the Latino Jewish community in San Diego on AJC’s work in Latin and South America, across the U.S., and in San Diego. The community shared its unique perspectives and experiences with Dina, further helping inform our work across the community.
Dina was also hosted by the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies (based at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy) for a lunch-and-learn with faculty and graduate students. Dina addressed Latin and South American responses to the October 7 terror attacks against Israel and the subsequent war between Israel and Hamas. The briefing and ensuing discussion were fascinating, at times fraught given the horrors of the 10/7 terror attack and ongoing plight of the hostages in Gaza. Attendees came away better informed and bolstered by the work Dina and her team are undertaking across the Latino community.
The keystone Latino Jewish Coalition program was hosted in partnership with the Burnham Center for Community Advancement, an organization focused on fostering a more pluralistic society. For years, the Latino Jewish Coalition served as a cornerstone of cross-community dialogue, cultivating mutual understanding, collaboration, and enduring friendships between Latino and Jewish communities. Following a temporary pause, we were thrilled to announce the Coalition's reactivation under the leadership of AJC San Diego and Chair Tad Parzen, hosting our first working brunch last October. Dina joined us for the January relaunch events and offered a briefing on the 2024 elections, including what the community can expect in the upcoming election cycle and the need for partnership and allyship between the Latino and Jewish communities. Nearly 100 leaders from the Latino community joined us for an impactful evening.
A 2023 AJC study of Latino Millennial and Gen Z leaders in the U.S. highlights the importance of this work in San Diego, where approximately one-third of San Diegans are Latino. Despite the growing number of antisemitic incidents over the past several years, 52% of Latinos ages 18-40, say they perceive that Jews, in comparison to other minority groups, are facing the least amount of discrimination. While 34% said the Jewish community is experiencing significant levels of discrimination, 54% disagreed. Moreover, 42% of young Latinos say the Jewish community is well-positioned to fend for itself, while 39% say Jews need the support and collaboration of the Hispanic community. This troubling disconnect informs our critical work to build meaningful, strong relationships, foster dialogue and intergroup discourse and exchange, and find common grounds for allyship.
Allyship is a cornerstone of AJC’s work and for more than a century, AJC has cultivated interfaith and intergroup relationships across the globe. Here in San Diego, the Latino Jewish Coalition is of great importance, so stay tuned for more information! And if you want to get involved, reach out!
