Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi (born May 8, 1964, in Durham, North Carolina) is an American disability rights activist and an advocate for Israel.[1] She was the founder of the disability advocacy non-profit RespectAbility. She is also the co-founder and director of the Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund.

Co-founder, Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund (2000–present) President, RespectAbility (2013–present) Columnist, Times of Israel, New Normal, The Mighty Founder, Laszlo Strategies, Inc. 1964 in Durham, N.C.

She has published articles on disability and criminal justice reform,[2] inclusion in Hollywood,[3] philanthropy,[4] and inclusion in faith communities.[5]

Career

Mizrahi is a writer and co-founder of multiple organizations. She writes columns for the Huffington Post,[1] Times of Israel,[2] and The Mighty and has published on inclusive philanthropy in various publications.[6][7][8] She co-founded The DCJCC Community Services Program, Laszlo & Associates, The Israel Project, and Laszlo Strategies.

In 2002, she co-founded the Israel Project and served as its president for 10 years.[3] In 2012, she re-established Laszlo Strategies and advised clients on medical research and education.[4]

Mizrahi’s transition from working on Israeli and Jewish issues to disability issues was widely covered in the Jewish media.[9][10][11] She serves on the board of several organizations and co-founded RespectAbility, a disabilities-focused non-profit organization, in 2013. She is the co-author of Disability & Criminal Justice Reform: Keys to Success.[12]

During the 2016 election, Mizrahi and RespectAbility raised awareness of the importance of disability. Their publication, The RespectAbility Report, covered presidential candidates and swing races. Mizrahi has advocated for inclusion in Hollywood to reduce stigmas surrounding disability and promotes diversity for people of color with disabilities. She has published op-eds on employment for people with disabilities in more than 30 states.[13][14] RespectAbility runs the National Leadership Program to advance a diverse leadership talent pool for the disability movement. However, Mizrahi has faced criticism from some within the disability community for perceived racist commentary on the 2016 election.[5]

Recognition

The Jewish Forward has named Mizrahi as one of the 50 most influential Jews in North America three times, each time for a different body of work. In 2018 they listed her as the second most influential Jew in North America.[15] She was also profiled in a chapter of the book Jewish Sages of Today.[10]

In 2017, she was given a major award for being a role model for women by Culver Academy.[16] In June 2018, she was honoured by Sulam.[17] In September 2019, she was named as one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by The Jerusalem Post.[18]

During the 2018 ReelAbilities Film and Art Festival in Houston, she was presented the Bettie and Bernard Farfel Jewish Family Service Award by Jewish Family Services of Houston.[19][20]

Personal life

Mizrahi is dyslexic and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[18] She is married to Victor Mizrahi, who heads the company Mizrahi Enterprises. She completed her BA at Emory University in Jewish Studies and International Studies.[5] She was profiled in the Emory Alumni Magazine.[21] She did her Junior Year Abroad at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She also has completed executive training at Harvard.

References
  1. "Longtime Israel advocate Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi shifts focus to disabilities". Jewish Journal. February 6, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  2. "Disability and Criminal Justice Reform" (PDF).
  3. "The RespectAbility Guide to Inclusion in the Entertainment Industry". Respect Ability. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  4. "How Foundations Can Ensure Diversity Efforts Include People With Disabilities". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  5. "A Primer on Making the Jewish Community Inclusive". ejewishphilanthropy.com. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  6. "How Foundations Can Ensure Diversity Efforts Include People With Disabilities". 20 December 2016. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  7. "The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Unprecedented Opportunities for Philanthropists". 17 April 2015.
  8. "A funder asks potential grantees: "How Inclusive are you of People with Disabilities?"". eJewish Philanthropy. April 6, 2016.
  9. "Longtime Israel advocate Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi shifts focus to disabilities". 6 February 2015.
  10. "R-E-S-P-E-C-T". jewishtimes.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  11. "Prominent Jewish Activists Unite for RespectAbility, An Organization Dedicated to Empowering People With Disabilities – Tablet Magazine". www.tabletmag.com. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  12. Jun 20, RespectAbility Staff; comments, 2016 Press Releases 25 (June 20, 2016). "Disability and Criminal Justice Reform: Keys to Success". Respect Ability.
  13. MIZRAHI, JENNIFER LASZLO. "Iowans with disabilities want to work". Des Moines Register.
  14. "North Carolinians with disabilities want jobs and dignity | the Herald-Sun". Archived from the original on 2015-08-16. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  15. "Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi". The Forward. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  16. "CWC honorees voice similar themes". Culver News. Archived from the original on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  17. "Sulam". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  18. "Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi: Empowering people with disabilities - Israel News - Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  19. "Inclusion advocate receives JFS award during ReelAbilities". jhvonline.com.
  20. "Inclusion advocate receives JFS award during ReelAbilities". jhvonline.com. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  21. "Changing the World with Honest Communication | Emory University | Atlanta GA". www.alumni.emory.edu. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
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