Rachael Fried

Last updated
Rachael Fried
Born1987 (age 36–37)
United States
Alma materYeshiva University
OccupationNonprofit executive
EmployerJQY
Known forQueer Jewish advocacy

Rachael Fried is an American LGBTQ+ advocate, artist, and nonprofit leader, recognized for her work within the Jewish queer community. She currently serves as the Executive Director of JQY (Jewish Queer Youth), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering LGBTQ youth from Orthodox, Chasidic, and Sephardic/Mizrahi backgrounds. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Fried was raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, in a traditional Orthodox Jewish home. [2] She attended Yeshiva University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Stern College for Women. During her time at Stern College, she served as the president of the student body and was recognized as a Presidential Fellow. [3] Fried furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Social Work (MSW) in Community Organizing from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Transdisciplinary Design from Parsons School of Design. [4] Her MFA thesis, "Critical Creature Cards," focused on designing media to facilitate discussions about race and racism between white parents and their children. [5]

Advocacy and impact

Fried is widely recognized for her advocacy work at the intersection of faith and queer identity. [6] She has been a vocal leader in promoting the rights and inclusion of LGBTQ individuals within the Jewish community. [7] Fried has spoken at numerous prestigious conferences and events, including at Harvard Law School, [8] Columbia, Barnard, [9] and NYU. [10]

Fried has written about the high levels of suicidality among LGBTQ teens from Orthodox backgrounds and has advocated for tailored support programs that address the specific needs of these individuals. [11]

In addition to her nonprofit work, Fried is an artist known for her "MonsterHearts" series, which seeks to destigmatize marginalized communities through visual storytelling. [12] Her creative projects often intersect with her advocacy work, using art as a means to challenge biases and promote inclusivity. [13] [14]

Awards and recognition

Fried has been recognized with several awards for her contributions to both the Jewish and LGBTQ communities. She is a Wexner Field Fellow, [15] a Schusterman ROI Community member, [16] and a Ruskay Institute alum. In 2022, she was honored with the JPro Young Professional Award, which recognizes outstanding professionals in the Jewish nonprofit sector. [17] [18] Fried has been recognized by the Jewish Week as a 36 Under 36 [19] [14] and is also on the "36 To Watch" list. [20]

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References

  1. ↑ JQY. "Our Team & Board". JQY. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  2. ↑ gayishpodcast (2023-02-23). "Gayish: 321 Queer Jews (w/ Rachael Fried)". Gayish | Award-Winning Gay Podcast about Stereotypes. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  3. ↑ "Presidential Fellows Give Back to the University While Studying Community Leadership". Yeshiva University. 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  4. ↑ "Rachael Fried". Transdisciplinary Design. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  5. ↑ "Thesis Project : Critical Creatures". Transdisciplinary Design. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  6. ↑ NY, Jews of (2020-07-13). "Rachael Fried, Executive director at JQY, an organization that supports LGBTQ youth". Jews of NY. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  7. ↑ "Jewish LGBTQ group says it will fund Yeshiva University student clubs". Washington Post. 2022-09-23. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  8. ↑ "CONF: "Trans/Gender and Religious Law" at Harvard Law School (March 29 and 30, 2017) | H-Net". networks.h-net.org. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  9. ↑ "An evening with Rachael Fried of JQY". Columbia Barnard Hillel. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  10. ↑ "Amanda Gelb on LinkedIn: Quick Q: All male panel are "manels" but what do you call a panel of…". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  11. ↑ Fried, Rachael (2020-10-27). "Why Don't Orthodox LGBTQ Teens Just leave Orthodoxy?". eJewishPhilanthropy.com. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  12. ↑ "Presenters". events.limmud.org. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  13. ↑ "Our Values". The Wexner Foundation. p. Featured Artists. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  14. 1 2 Clark, Amy Sara (2017-05-25). "Rachael Fried". NY Jewish Week . Jewish Telegraphic Agency . Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  15. ↑ Katzner, Dara (2022-08-12). "Aiming for Wistful". The Wexner Foundation. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  16. ↑ "Member Community". community.schusterman.org. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  17. ↑ "JPro22". jpro22.org. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  18. ↑ "Past Recipients - JPro". jpro.org. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  19. ↑ "36 Under 36 2017". NY Jewish Week . Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2017-06-02. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  20. ↑ "Rachael Fried, 36, Jewish Queer Youth executive director". NY Jewish Week . Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2024-09-02.

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