On June 2 ADL Los Angeles held its Annual Meeting of the Regional Board and Executive Committee. Held virtually via the Zoom platform, the jam-packed event featured keynote remarks from Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer and Congressman Ted Lieu, as well as an emotional farewell to outgoing Regional Director Amanda Susskind.
ADL Los Angeles Board Chair Scott Harris hosted the call, attended by nearly 90 current and former Board members, staff, and friends and family. He spoke of Amanda’s 18-year tenure at ADL as a beacon of light helping to lead the LA community through the difficult challenges of fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate and bigotry.
Nominating and Advancement Committee Chair Ivy Kagan Bierman welcomed new Executive Committee members Keith Gregory and Jill Ratner and new Regional Board members Jen Baranoff, Ali Brodie, Nicole Gertner Bronfman, Eric Schrier, and Loren Stephens.
City Attorney Feuer and Congressman Lieu gave poignant remarks about the city and national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest related to the May 25 murder of George Floyd. Both expressed appreciation for the work of ADL and Amanda’s leadership.
Tributes to Amanda kicked off with ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt who remarked, “We are in your debt for the service that you gave, and we owe it to you to live up to that legacy in the years ahead.” Member of ADL’s National Board of Directors Nicole Mutchnik spoke on behalf of the regional lay leadership, stating, “This is a time to be grateful to the world’s bridge builders, and Amanda you have been a world-class bridge builder.” Her remarks were followed by a heartfelt video tribute created by ADL staff.
Amanda thanked ADL LA’s lay leadership and colleagues, saying, “If I could choose my legacy in this position, it is the fine leadership we have cultivated, the world-class staff we have assembled, and the coalitions we have built in the community. I hope the choices we have made together endure. The challenges ahead are considerable.”