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Leslie Gordon
Leslie Gordon, Executive Director, joined the Breman in February 2019, bringing with her a wealth of arts management experience. Since her arrival, The Breman began new programming streams in visual and performing arts and expanded the virtual footprint through digitization of archives and oral histories. An acclaimed cultural leader in Atlanta, Ms. Gordon served as director of the Rialto Center for Arts at Georgia State University from 2003 to 2019. Under her leadership, the Rialto evolved into a thriving, international cultural center and a hub of multicultural activity. Prior to directing the Rialto Center, Ms. Gordon played leadership roles with the Arts Festival of Atlanta, the National Black Arts Festival and the 1996 Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad. Her awards and honors include the Georgia Governor’s Award in the Arts and Humanities, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from Georgia State for her contributions to intercultural relations, the Treen Award by South Arts for service to the field and she was named a Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters by the Government of France in 2012.
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Erica Greenblatt
In a world that often feels divided, Erica Greenblatt has always connected people and communities. A relationship builder whose work is grounded in the values instilled by her Holocaust survivor family, she is passionate about tikkun olam, supporting the most vulnerable, and perpetuating Jewish tradition.
Now a Director of Strategic Partnerships at JDC, Erica is proud to represent an organization that brings those values to life every day—whether by saving lives in the former Soviet Union, strengthening Jewish communities, or responding to global crises with humanitarian aid. “As Jewish people, shining a light is what we do,” she says. “And for me, there’s nothing more meaningful than helping people connect with that mission.”
For Erica, joining JDC is the natural continuation of a lifelong engagement with Jewish tradition—paired with deep involvement in the arts and community service. She most recently spent over a decade at ADL, ultimately as Senior Director of Philanthropic Engagement for the Southern Division, and prior to that served as Director of Young Leadership at March of the Living. Known for her tailored approach to donor engagement, she received ADL’s national Senn-Greenberg Award in 2021, recognizing her excellence in building trusted relationships and driving meaningful philanthropic outcomes.
Erica holds an MPA in Nonprofit Management from the NYU Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, and a BA in Art History and English from NYU. When she is not exploring communities around the world, she makes her home in in Atlanta, Georgia, where she continues to be active in local Jewish and civic life.
At JDC, she brings her strategic insight, empathic approach, and creative drive, helping to shape a more compassionate, connected Jewish future.
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Samara Minkin
Samara Minkin serves as executive director of The Spring, a Jewish cultural and community center taking shape in Midtown Atlanta. With 25 years transforming arts and culture across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, she also collaborates with Asha Advisory to bring large-scale art installations into public spaces.
During her tenure in Atlanta's Mayor's Office under three administrations, Samara developed arts and cultural policy initiatives, establishing the city's largest public art acquisitions program. This effort brought internationally recognized sculpture to Atlanta while creating new pathways for the city to participate in the global art world. When COVID-19 hit, she pivoted to direct the City of Atlanta's Vaccine Equity Outreach Campaign ground teams, coordinating interdepartmental teams and public-private partnerships to deliver 80,000 vaccinations to underserved communities.
Her museum experience spans the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Paley Center, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. She has advised corporate clients on art acquisition and collection management while creating programs that foster genuine community engagement.
Samara currently serves on boards and committees for the Freedom Park Conservancy, L5P Alliance, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, and the Paideia School. She co-leads a learning circle on the Israel-Palestine conflict and participates in Atlanta's Contemporary Art Study Group. Previous board service includes Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in New York City, the New Israel Fund/New Generations, and the Jewish Education Project. She is an active Wexner Heritage Fellow Alumna and member of Congregation Shearith Israel.
A graduate of Brandeis University who studied at Tel Aviv University and holds an M.A. in art history from American University, Samara lives down the street from her parents along Freedom Park in historic Inman Park. She, along with her husband, daughters, and dogs, loves their easy access to the BeltLine and Midtown—keeping favorite food, culture, and community all within an easy stroll or bike ride.
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Cantor Tracey Scher
Cantor Tracey Scher is a mezzo-soprano from Nova Scotia, Canada. Cantor Scher has created several multi-generational choirs, bands and Arts programs throughout the years, believing strongly in the enrichment of Judaism through music and the Arts.
Cantor Scher holds a a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Acadia University, a graduate degree in Opera Performance from Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University and studied extensively with the world-renowned tenor Carlo Bergonzi at the Accademia Verdiana in Busetto, Italy. Cantor Scher has performed lead and supporting opera roles as well as major oratorio roles with orchestras around North America and abroad. Deciding to lead a life where relationships could be nurtured through music, she pursued the cantorate and was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in NYC with a Master of Sacred Music Degree in 2003. In 2010, Cantor Scher, along with twenty other Cantors from the American Conference of Cantors, performed at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome, Italy.
In addition to performing and creating meaningful Jewish musical programs, Cantor Scher also dedicates her time to sustaining the cantorate as a whole. She has served as a member of the Executive Board of the American Conference of Cantors from 2007-present and also serves on various committees of the ACC. Prior to her appointment at The Temple, Cantor Scher served as cantor at Larchmont Temple in New York from 2013-2022, Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, VA from 2008-2013 and at Temple Beth Or in Washington Township, New Jersey from 2003-2007.
Passionate about finding ways to deepen relationships through education, pastoral work, travel and face-to-face meeting, she continues to create and study multiple modalities that lead to strengthening connection to Judaism and spirituality.
Cantor Scher is married to Christopher Lewis and they have two children, Isaac and Maya.
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