Sixth & I 2022 Annual Report

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2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Sixth & I Wall of Fame

from our leadership Dear Sixth & I community, 2022 was an exceptional year for our organization. After more than 18 months of serving people in their living rooms and navigating the ever-changing landscape of the pandemic, we welcomed audiences back to Sixth & I with open arms and a robust slate of arts, entertainment, and Jewish life programming. It was so good to see new and familiar faces around our sanctuary!

Sixth & I was proud to provide comfort, inspiration, and connection this year and to find new ways for you to engage in thoughtful dialogue and spiritual experiences. Whether navigating safe and responsible ways to fill our sanctuary during the High Holidays, finding exceptional guest speakers and moderators to share new ideas and perspectives with curious audiences, or remaining nimble and innovative in the face of a changing programming landscape, we pushed ahead and sustained our position at the forefront of cultural and spiritual engagement in Washington, DC. And your generosity is what makes all of this possible.

It is nearly impossible to capture every touchpoint our community had with us or to share all of the amazing work that our staff, clergy, and board accomplished this year. But we’ve done our best to share some of our greatest highlights from 2022 in this report. We hope that the stories, photographs, and reflections enclosed fill you with a sense of pride and a thirst to learn more. We cannot thank you enough for all that you do to support Sixth & I and look forward to seeing you soon.

Gratefully,

Heather Moran CEO

Ilyse Fishman Lerner Board Chair

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2022 by the numbers

45,919 418 18,553 people served

programs produced

5,549 11,424 donations

books signed

first-time attendees

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lifecycle events

32,501 531 6,600 downloads of our podcast, Sixth & I LIVE

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Shabbat meals served

High Holiday attendees

Kamasi Washington Trivia

Dana Bash

Rabbi Aaron Potek

Marlon James

CELEBRATING

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18 YEARS to life!

Daveed Diggs

It all started in 2002 when a historic synagogue-turned-AME church was on the brink of being sold and converted into a nightclub. When our founders took a leap of faith and purchased the building, rededicating it as Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in 2004, no one could have imagined what the organization would go on to become.

18 years later, Sixth & I continues to break the mold by reimagining how culture, community, and Judaism can enhance people’s everyday lives.

Our 18th anniversary brought our community back together after being separated for over two years due to the pandemic and set the stage for what’s to come. We reconnected with Sixth & I’ers past and present, reflected on all that we’ve accomplished, and laid out a clear vision for Sixth & I’s role as a vital cultural and spiritual resource in Washington, DC. L’chaim!

“

Sixth & I is a sense-making institution where we come together not individually, but as part of a community, and try to figure it out.

”

Fiona Apple

Purim

– Bestselling author and Sixth & I guest Daniel Pink Hasan Minhaj

JEWISH

We opened our doors for dynamic and resonant programs led by Senior Rabbi Aaron Potek and Rabbi Nora Feinstein, all designed to help people meaningfully connect to one another and explore big questions through a Jewish framework.

happier holidays For the first time since closing our building in 2020, we brought back monthly Shabbat dinners, providing a space for our 20s and 30s community to build new relationships over some of the best Israeli-inspired food in DC. Our social justice Shabbat series—including Pride Shabbat, National Refugee Shabbat, and MLK Shabbat—offered an opportunity to lift up shared values and embody a spirit of radical welcoming.

Sixth & I’ers also embraced unexpected ways to engage with Jewish holidays this year, whether dancing in the streets for Simchat Torah or dancing like no one’s watching at our music festival-inspired Purim party. The second annual Sinai Slam, our alternative Shavuot experience, raised up the voices of people who have chosen Judaism as an adult. And more than 6,600 people of all ages embraced new intentions for the New Year during the High Holidays, joining us in person in our sanctuary and at Calvary Baptist Church and tuning in virtually from home. These expanded services marked a welcome return to our roots as a hub for community building and celebration.

“

Mardi Gras Shabbat

Musician Aaron Shneyer

I have never in my life enjoyed services as much as this year. The intimacy, the thought-provoking sermons, and the beauty of the music made all services very memorable and meaningful.

– High Holidays attendee

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LIFE

Purim Party

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class act Our low-barrier, accessible approach to Jewish education allowed hundreds of people to see Judaism as a value add in their lives. Our core series classes—Basically Jewish, the Jewish Welcome Workshop, and Interfaith Couples Workshop—continued to help Sixth & I’ers build community connections and explore Judaism in more sustained and substantial ways. Next Level, a new class series, offered a safe space to engage in nuanced conversations around difficult subjects such as ethical dilemmas and Israel. Other drop-in style classes approached timely topics through a Jewish lens like reproductive rights, friendship, guilt, gossip, and social media.

With an eye towards helping people rebuild their social circles after a prolonged period of deep isolation, we offered a variety of ways to connect socially including a series of intimate salon-style gatherings, happy hours at locations throughout the city, and the return of our popular trivia night at Wundergarten.

“

Excellent class, as much for the community building as for the content. Made me feel as if I could belong in Judaism and specifically, at Sixth & I. – Basically Jewish participant

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”

Trivia

Jewish Welcome Workshop

SPOTLIGHT ON JWW

Panel Discussion at the Adas Israel Mikvah In February, members of our 5782 Jewish Welcome Workshop (JWW) cohort attended a special panel discussion at the Adas Israel mikvah. We invited six class alumni to meet with current students, share their personal journeys integrating into the Jewish community, and discuss how JWW has helped shape their Jewish lives since. The group toured the mikvah, where their own conversions may take place, giving them a sense of ease and comfort with the space. Our panel was deliberately diverse, including Jews of color, Jews from patrilineal backgrounds, and queer Jews. This unique opportunity highlighted Sixth & I’s inclusive approach to building community and making connections for our 20s and 30s community. “[JWW] was absolutely one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in my life, and certainly the most impactful spiritually. I feel I have grown into notofonly Judaism but my full humanity JWW was absolutely one themymost meaningful experiences I have had through this course.” – Jewish Welcome Workshop participant

“

in my life, and certainly the most impactful spiritually. I feel I have grown into not only my Judaism but my full humanity through this course.

– JWW participant After completing the Jewish Welcome Workshop, participants said they:

100% 88%

Have an increased understanding of Jewish culture and traditions

Plan to light Shabbat candles regularly

83%

Plan to spend time with Jewish friends regularly

92%

Plan to attend High Holiday services annually

”

83%

Have a greater desire to continue Jewish learning

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TALKS “

As of 2022, we have hosted:

TALKS

I describe this place to friends outside of DC as the premier book event venue.

”

– LGBTQ activist and Sixth & I moderator Charlotte Clymer

talk of the town

At a time of continued unpredictability and uncertainty, our 2022 talks series was a vehicle to expose audiences to new perspectives and help them make sense of the world around them. We hosted Netflix stars and Nobel Laureates; rock and roll’ers and roboticists; Pulitzer Prize winners and poets; minimalists and Master Sommeliers; and so much more.

Audiences engaged with their favorite pop culture influencers for experiences that couldn’t happen anywhere else, like singing “People Have the Power” with Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith, learning the dos and don’ts of online dating with Hinge Director of Relationship Science Logan Ury, and dreaming up an Afrofuturist utopia with actress and singer Janelle Monáe.

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#1 New York Times bestselling authors

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Emmy winners

21

Pulitzer Prize winners

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Nobel Laureates

They were also hungry to hear from their favorite food personalities. James Beard award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi took audiences on a culinary journey of the African Diaspora, and events with pastry chef Claire Saffitz and “Somebody Feed Phil” star Phil Rosenthal sold out before you could say “preheat the oven.”

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Jonathan Van Ness

Jen Psaki

Roxane Gay

Audience Q&A

Clint Smith

Patti Smith

Jon Meacham

Some of our top political and historical minds visited Sixth & I to ideate on current events and engage in meaningful dialogue with our audiences. Whether combatting disinformation with former White House senior staffers Dan Pfeiffer and Jen Psaki, chronicling the life of Abraham Lincoln with acclaimed biographer Jon Meacham, or examining antisemitism with ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, we offered a variety of viewpoints on issues impacting today’s world.

Across all these experiences, we continued to honor our commitment to accessibility by offering virtual attendance options for most events and providing American Sign Language interpreters and real time closed-captioning. These services allowed our community to stay connected to their favorite authors, entertainers, and thought leaders in the ways that are most comfortable for them.

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music to our ears Call it a comeback: live music struck a chord in 2022 as audiences returned for heart-pumping concerts with bluesy-rock duo The War and Treaty, jazz virtuoso Kamasi Washington, and British pop star Calum Scott.

We also welcomed back some of your favorite performers including reggae artist Matisyahu, who set a new record by returning to Sixth & I for the sixth time, and comedian Russell Howard, who reflected: “This is the best gig in the world. I’ve [performed at] this synagogue three times and every single time it gets better.”

The War and Treaty

Thanks to community support, we had the freedom and flexibility to take risks and pursue compelling new entertainment opportunities, harnessing the spirit of experimentation that has guided us since our founding. We took a chance on cult favorite podcast “Normal Gossip,” hosting one of their first live shows, which sold out within a matter of days. We also explored new and creative uses of our space, positioning ourselves as a destination for film and TV screenings thanks to partnerships with National Geographic and CNN.

“Normal Gossip”

“

Sixth & I is like no other place I have seen before.

It is a real treasure and makes DC more enjoyable.

”

– Julian Lage concert attendee

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

As part of our commitment to better reflect the city we serve, we prioritized lifting up the voices of people of color and marginalized communities in 2022. Across our talks series, authors and moderators of color represented 43% of the talent on our stage and 17% of speakers identified as LGBTQ+. At National Refugee Shabbat with HIAS, activist and educator Aziz Royesh spoke about his family’s experience immigrating to the United States from Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal and his continued efforts to safeguard school-aged girls and others through resettlement efforts.

We also sought to broaden the range of topics represented in our programming, from voting rights to antiracism, offering opportunities to put ideas into practice whenever possible. Leading up to the midterm elections, for instance, a talk on the history of the vote with former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was complemented by a letter-writing campaign to historically disenfranchised voters with the voting access organization VoteRiders.

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Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Eric Holder

Kat Chow and Ocean Vuong

Holiday donation drive

Food distribution

Our 20s and 30s community engaged in a variety of direct service and learning programs to turn ideas into action and inspire those around them. At an interactive workshop with UC Berkeley faculty member and social entrepreneur Alex Budak, participants gained skills and developed resources to help guide them in generating positive change. During Purim, we amplified the work of local partners Capital Area Food Bank and the DC Fridge Collective, who combat food insecurity in the District, and also hosted additional food distribution events throughout the year.

Behind the scenes, Sixth & I’s internal Change Team, led by Imani Chapman and composed of representatives from all levels of the organization, continued to engage in authentic and meaningful conversations around the direction of Sixth & I’s equity efforts, spearheading such initiatives as a new compensation transparency policy designed to mitigate bias and increase pay equity for current and future staff. Staff members also participated in a six-week training on building racial stamina, conceived of and led by Dr. Deitra Reiser, with the goal of making our community more inclusive for Jews of color and people of color and promoting antiracism in all aspects of our work.

serving our city For our neighbors in need:

event attendees come from all 8 Wards of DC

280 50 90 produce bags packed

toiletry kits assembled

hot meals distributed

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invest in us Philanthropy is vital to our success.

As a non-profit organization, Sixth & I relies on our extended community to provide critical funding which fuels every aspect of our work. With your generosity, you are:

Building a unique community rooted in cultural and spiritual engagement Providing a platform for timely discussions from diverse and compelling viewpoints Safeguarding the future of American Judaism by serving the next generation of 20s and 30s Jews Inspiring action and engagement in important social justice issues Catapulting the careers of rising musicians and comedians Maintaining and restoring our beautiful historic building in the heart of our nation’s capital Enabling our hardworking staff to take risks and think creatively Investing in the future of this radically welcoming, multi-faceted organization Other earned income 1% Contributions and grants 73%

Ticket sales 26%

Income

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Administrative and support services 17%

Financials are reflective of fiscal year 2022, ending June 30, 2022.

Fundraising 14%

Expenses

Programming 69%

Phil Rosenthal

Trivia

Hannah Giorgis

Julian Lage

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our supporters Sixth & I is deeply grateful to the community members who made all of our work possible through their generous support in 2022. $100,000 and above Charina Endowment Fund Marcy and Neil Cohen DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Department of Homeland Security Dweck Philanthropies, Inc. Shelley and Allan Holt Arlene and Robert Kogod Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Robert Pollin and Sigrid Miller Pollin Shelton and Rory Zuckerman $25,000 - $99,999 Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Lois and Richard England Family Foundation Galena-Yorktown Foundation Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Foundation Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation Molly Levinson and Josh Wachs The Morningstar Foundation The Nussdorf Family Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation Revada Foundation of the Logan Family Elliot and Evonne Schnitzer Shapiro Family Foundation Max Zuckerman

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$10,000 - $24,999 Henry and Carole Berman Bernstein Family Foundation EJF Philanthropies Esther and Bert Foer Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Patricia Karp Bruce and Karen Levenson Linda and Larry Mann Jeffery Menick Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation Julien and Adam Teitelbaum Carolyn and Bill Wolfe $3,600 - $9,999 Anonymous (2) Gary and Pennie Abramson Wolf and Lynn Blitzer Robyn and Bill Collins Durbin Family Fund Diane and Ron Eichner Melissa and Steven Garfinkel Lois Hall Avital Ingber Jewish Emergent Network Herb Lichtenstein and Barbara Hylander Jacob I. Melamed and Robert A. Baker Sabina Menschel and Bill Priestap RFI Foundation Edwin and Sondra Schonfeld

Tina and Albert Small, Jr. Stanley E. and Sally Harris Wertheim Family Foundation George Wasserman Family Foundation Laura Wertheimer and Andrew Pincus Cindy and Rick Zitelman $1,000 - $3,599 Anonymous (4) 3rd Coast Contractors, Inc. Jillian Andrews Jules Bernstein and Linda Lipsett Kathleen Borschow Alexandra Burns Dorothy Canter Gil and Claudia Carpel Adam and Debra Cohen Jean and Harrison Cohen, in honor of Shelton and Rory Zuckerman Rose and Bob Cohen Joel Croft Arielle and Han Cronig Nancy and Morris Deutsch Bradford and Debra Dockser Adam and Shelley Ducker Mark Ellenberg and Nancy Abramowitz Fred and Starr Ezra Johnathan W. Feldman and Jill Vigdor-Feldman, in celebration of Senior Rabbi Aaron Potek

Ginny Feldman Jill A. Fields, in memory of Barbara Pastor Patricia and David Fisher Rebecca Fitch Amy and Eric Forseter Chris Foust and Shayna Cherry Michael and Risa Freedman Richard and Marcia Gale Kathryn Gansler The Garchik Family Foundation Mary R. Gasner Mea Geizhals and Charles Plummer Matthew Gever and Karen Livingston Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Susan S. Goldman Chris Gray and Emily Rosenblum Peter Greenberg Rabbi Arthur and Lauri Gross-Schaefer, in honor of Rabbi Nora Feinstein Marisa Guzman-Aloia and Gerri Pozez Marian Horn Carol and Phil Horowitz Aaron Hutman Carl Hutzler David and Malka Karr Susan and Stanley Katz Sara Keller Kimberly Klaiman and Peter Sattler Leslie Kogod and Laurie Goldberger Bruce and Marilyn Kressel Barbara Kurshan Mark and Terri Laks Elisabeth and Russell LaMotte

Ellen and Bob Leibenluft Edward Lenkin and Roselin Atzwanger Robin and Brian Levenson Edward R. Levin, in memory of Susan Levin Frederic Levy Geralyn and Martin Lobel Jay B. Lurie and Rachel Schwerin Jim & Marcia Rosenheim Carol and Richard Margolis Marlene and Ken Markison Scott Meisler, in honor of Charlie Meisler Joshua Meyer and Andrew Wheeler John Mintz and Emily Yoffe Melanie and Joshua Olds Kathryn and Robert Pincus Juan and Deborah Prawda Garrett Preis and Jacqueline Mackey Isaac Privitera Anita and Matt Rechler Reinsch Pierce Family Foundation Amy Rifkind and Bruce Brown Elizabeth and Meghan Robins Leslie Rogoff Jeremy Roschelle and Audrey Garfield Daniel Rosenbaum and Mila Kagan Pamela Rosenberg and Daniel Gottlieb Vanessa and Daniel Sacks Bill and Ellen Sandler Jason Scheff and Simon Jerome Marissa Schlaifer Schneider’s of Capitol Hill Schnitzer Family Foundation Eric Schultz

Estelle Luber Schwalb Rhea S. Schwartz and Paul Martin Wolff Dan and Teresa Schwartz Susan Brett and Robert Shesser Jerry and Judy Shulman Howard and Marilyn Silver Richard and Susan Silverman Beth and Barry Simon Rachel Snyder Les and Ashley Starck Susan and Scott Sterling Marsha Swiss z’’l and Ron Costell Peter and Carol Tannenwald Jodi Tirengel Susan Wedlan and Harold Rosen Carol and Michael Winer Rachel Wolkowitz Jean and Jeffery Yablon Rita and Jay Yurow

This list reflects contributions made to Sixth & I between January 1 and December 31, 2022. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this listing. For more information, please contact Amelia Stanley, Senior Director of Development, at 202.266.3232.

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Board of Directors

Chair: Ilyse Fishman Lerner Vice-Chair: Max Zuckerman Secretary: Hannah Dweck Treasurer: Evan DeCorte Immediate Past President: Marcy Cohen Chair Emeritus: Shelton Zuckerman Henry Berman Reverend Thomas Bowen Inna Dexter Alana Eichner Esther Foer Avital Ingber Molly Levinson Sabina Menschel Robert Pollin Yolanda Savage-Narva Elliot Schnitzer Julien Teitelbaum

Staff

Sara Barrack Alli Beard Shirley Cooper Kira Doar Michelle Eider Robin Farber Rabbi Nora Feinstein Nora Fitzpatrick Brian Graber Joshua Kagan Ian Keener Irella Lawless Jackie Leventhal Amanda Loerch Linda Lombardi Eve Lustig

Heather Moran Nixon Olaso Mark Perkins Rabbi Aaron Potek Molly Schantz Shannon Segovia Amelia Stanley Joshua Villalobos

Photo credits: Ari Strauss, Josh Brick, Karlin/Villondo, Derek Baker, Richie Downs, Corpora Studios, Elliott O’Donovan

Creative Council

Chris Albert Wajahat Ali Lacey Schwartz Delgado Liz Dolan Jamie Gangel Sandy Girard Kristen Meinzer Daniel Pink Sean Plater Anthony Shop

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Jewish life team at Purim

OUR MISSION

Sixth & I is a center for arts, entertainment, ideas, and Jewish life in Washington, DC. We inspire more meaningful and fulfilling lives through an unexpected mix of experiences that embrace the multi-faceted identities of those we serve.

Click here to see us in action.

Sixth & I Wall of Fame

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600 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202.408.3100 sixthandi.org