Naomi Sage, Director of JCC Harlem, has spent her professional career working in Jewish community leadership. Naomi spent 16 years at the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian agency, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Her work at JDC took her to diverse communities across the world, from the Former Soviet Union to Africa, Israel and Latin America, an experience which informs her understanding of both Jewish and global diversity. A Harlem resident for over a decade, Naomi has deep involvement and community leadership in the neighborhood. When JCC Harlem opened its doors, Naomi became a founding member of the Advisory Board. In December 2021, together with her husband, Sage Ramadge, Naomi founded Embrace, a non-profit dedicated to building open, inclusive, family-centered Jewish community in Harlem. Naomi has a BA Cum Laude in Near Eastern Studies from Cornell University and an MPA in nonprofit management from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. She lives in Harlem with her husband and three children. In her home, Naomi and Sage’s children are learning about their multi-racial Asian-American identity alongside Jewish history, culture, and tradition.

Rabbi Mira Rivera (she/siya/Ella), Rabbi-in-Residence, is the first Filipina-American woman to be ordained at The Jewish Theological Seminary. At JCC Harlem, Rabbi Mira leads monthly open, inclusive, musical Beloved Community Shabbat services for adults and families. She is also rabbi-in-residence with The LUNAR Collective, a Gen-Z founded organization by and for Asian American Jews and a mentor to young adults in the Jews of Color Initiative Leadership Fellowship. In May 2023, Rabbi Mira was honored with the Rabbinic Human Rights Hero Award by T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights ‘for ensuring that the gifts, voices, and experiences of Jews of Color are seen, heard, and known by all in the wider Jewish community.’ She was also named by New York Jewish Week as one of ‘36 to Watch’ for contributions in the arts, religion, culture, business, politics, and philanthropy.

Lenora Wednesday Sharpe (she/her), Children + Family Programs Manager, has strong roots in Harlem, is a parent of two beautiful children, and loves all things arts and culture. She is a proud graduate of CUNY’s City College. Lenora is dedicated to providing children’s programs that are enriching and accessible. Her short-term aspirations are to create a space that supports maternal health, finish her book, and complete her master's in educational leadership.

Mara Tucker (she/her), Community Outreach Consultant, has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Mara recently founded Maratu Consulting to work with social impact organizations to increase their capacity. Mara has built deep roots in our Harlem community, starting nearly 10 years ago when she organized a weekly new parents happy hour at Harlem Tavern. Since then, she has served as a Co-President of the Parent Association at PS 125, The Ralph Bunche School, and is currently the Co-Chair of Neighbors for a Greener Harlem, an organization that cultivates collaboration between the residents of Morningside Gardens and Grant Houses by supporting and advocating for sustainable practices to address quality of life issues and foster a safer and more inclusive neighborhood.

Previously, Mara was the Chief Development Officer at Beginning with Children, a Brooklyn-based educational nonprofit and was also the founding Director of College Guidance & Programming at the Urban Assembly Institute of Math & Science for Young Women. Mara holds a BA from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Public Administration from NYU's Wagner School of Public Service.

PROGRAMMING HOURS

Mon: 8 am–8 pm

Tue: 8 am–8 pm

Wed: 8 am - 7 pm

Thu: 8 am–7 pm

Fri: 8 am–7 pm

Weekends: Hours vary depending on programming
 

OFFICE HOURS

Mon–Fri: 9 am–5 pm