We met Stacey at the Boulder Jewish Festival, held just days after a violent attack on Run for Their Lives, a nonpolitical group that walks weekly in silent solidarity with Israeli hostages and their families. Amid communal pain and complexity, Stacey’s voice stood out: clear, compassionate, and rooted in radical empathy.
On this episode of Storytellers of Color, Clark reflects on what it means to navigate the world as a Black Jewish woman, especially at a time when identity, grief and belonging feel more fragile and more necessary than ever.
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Holding the Broken Pieces: Stacey Aviva Clark on Storytelling and Solidarity Rossana Longo-Better
Stacey Aviva Clark is a writer, Jewish educator and community builder who serves as Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Jewish Federations of North America’s Jewish Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Initiative. With roots in public policy, urban planning, and interfaith dialogue, Clark weaves personal history and collective memory into a powerful call for healing and justice.
“We are often trying to come at one another with facts and figures. But what we need is to tell each other how we feel. You hurt me. You took my story. You weaponized my trauma. We have to take our stories back.”
Clark’s multiracial lineage—she is a descendant of U.S. Senator Henry Clay —deeply informs her understanding of America’s complex legacy and the radical potential of truth-telling.
She reminds us that storytelling isn’t just personal; it’s spiritual and political. “I will not compromise on our shared humanity,” she says. “I will not let anyone put a wedge between me and another human being.”
Clark holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati, a Master’s in Urban Planning and Public Policy from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and certificates in Jewish Leadership and Jewish Education from Spertus Institute. Her career has spanned policy work with Chicago’s Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, affordable housing development, and leading initiatives in economic justice.
“We are put here to help put the broken pieces of our hearts back together,” she says. “I can’t do that by myself. I need you. And you need me. Together, we rise.”
She currently serves on the boards of the MOED network, Jewish Family Service of Colorado, and the Jewish Life Committee of the Rose Community Foundation. She is also a Mandel Executive Leadership Fellow and the proud mother of two and caretaker of her beloved grandmother, whose recent passing adds a layer of depth to her reflections on legacy and love.
Rossana Longo-Better, producer and host of Storytellers of Color
Tune in to Storytellers of Color, airing every second Monday of the month on KGNU Community Radio.
