Get To Know Us

Sera Bonds, MPH + founder

Sera is a Queer, Jewish social justice writer + activist committed to balancing the scales of access and equity. Her community organizing background range is dynamic and diverse, having been involved in public health actions in over twenty countries and raising over 25 million dollars. She is the founder of a leading feminist global aid organization, Circle of Health International, and two social impact companies, Waking Giants + Better Union. She recently served as Interim Executive Director at Congregation Beth Israel. She lives in Austin, TX, with her two adventurous teenage sons and her loving husband, where they can be found creating their wild + wonderful lives together.

Rabbi Lev Baesh, Faith + Health Collaborator

Rabbi Lev Baesh’s greatest joy is creating and celebrating meaningful life-cycle events for Jews and for interfaith couples and families. His life is devoted to inclusion and welcoming into dialogue seemingly disparate elements of our religious and secular worlds. This passion is a thread that runs through his choice of studies and work throughout his life both as a Rabbi and as a hospice and palliative care nurse. His role at Waking Giants is as a facilitator of conversations regarding Jewish ancestry, ethics, and community as well as the host of Shabbat services and Passover Seders rooted in equal parts joy and justice. Lev lives in Antigua, Guatemala with his adoring husband.

Jen Sarduy, DEIJ Collaborator

I’m Jen, a a community organizer, communications and creative professional with a commitment to producing innovative storytelling campaigns that move change forward. I collaborate with people and teams to get to the root cause of conflicts and tensions while prioritizing mission-based work. As a facilitator, writer, and relationship manager, I use all my skills in order to tell better stories and strengthen narratives. I’m skilled at event-based organizing, using details and stories to create atmospheres that cultivate deep learning and relationship-building, while prioritizing rest, play, and art. In 2021, I ran for City Council in Fort Worth, Texas using a community created platform demanding collaboration over clout, growth over gentrification, justice over jails, and housing over harassment.

Emily Weerts, Community Support Specialist

Emily (she/her/hers) is a community builder and facilitator with over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector. Building on her work in the museum and education sector, Emily is dedicated to increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion through justice and joy. Emily is expanding her coordination skills to manage Graduate Medical Education Fellowship programs for Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Years of managing STEM programs has helped Emily be as comfortable behind a screen as she is around a conference table. When she’s not facilitating a workshop, Emily is probably sewing, cooking, or planning the next adventure with her chosen family.

Abdallah Salha, youth Community Building Coordinator

Originally from Gaza, Palestine, Abdallah has joined numerous organizations abroad to further explore human rights, solidarity and conflict resolution including work in interfaith, diverse environments, which have shaped his perception of the world and commitment to a safe, peaceful and prosperous future for all. His interest in international relations was ignited at an early age upon being selected to represent Palestinian refugees to international organizations and high-ranking officials. He is an incoming student at Concordia College intending to major in International Affairs and Business Economics. Earlier, he graduated from Red Cross Nordic United World College, Norway, followed by his Global Citizen Year bridge year program in Senegal where he received a full grant to apprentice as a co-producer of an English educational podcast and as a teaching assistant in its support. He is collaborating with Waking Giants to develop programming centering marginalized communities in the stories that are told about them.

Samantha Huggins, Structural architect + facilitator

Samantha (she, her, hers) uses her background in lichenology, museum sciences, education, and doula work to co-create imaginative and equitable scaffoldings in our communities. From organizations to social networks and neighborhoods, she knows that we are always stronger together. Her skills at work includes risk assessment + emergency preparedness response planning, curriculum development, sustainability master planning, facilitation, education shares, website mapping and development and so much more! Samantha works from her heart-space and her work is always rooted in Justice and in Joy. When she is not working, Samantha loves domestic and international travel, exercise, laughter, friends, family and a good long swim on a warm summer day.

Eric Talbert, Philanthropic + Communications Strategist

Eric (he/him) has over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience as a philanthropic advisor, board member, and executive director. He has worked with hundreds of humanitarian aid organizations globally and has been a part of local disaster responses as well as infectious disease outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19. In addition to philanthropic, fundraising, and nonprofit governance acumen, he has also been a national spokesperson interviewed by numerous media outlets.