Glenda Bernhardt and Emily Zimmern Named Co-Chairs of Federation's Outshine Hate Initiative

The Charlotte Jewish News, October 2022

With the recent increase in reported local antisemitic incidents, Federation is committed to putting an end to antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred by educating and uniting the local community through our Jewish Community Relations Council’s Outshine Hate initiative.

We are pleased to announce that Glenda Bernhardt and Emily Zimmern will serve as co-chairs of this vital initiative. In their roles, Glenda and Emily will lead Federation’s efforts in working with our local community to put an end to the antisemitism and anti-Israel hate.

“I think we have the opportunity to make a significant and sustained impact in the Charlotte Jewish community,” stated Glenda Bernhardt. “We must ensure that members of our community — teens, parents, educators, and others — are equipped with the information they need to respond thoughtfully and accurately when faced with challenging situations.”

Glenda Bernhardt is chief executive officer of Freedom School Partners in Charlotte and previously served as the executive director of Temple Israel. Glenda takes great pride in being involved in the community and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community. As a longtime leader within the Jewish community, Glenda looks forward to co-chairing the Outshine Hate initiative together with Emily to connect with the wider Charlotte community to create positive change by fighting antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred.

“The work of Outshine Hate is urgent and important,” added Emily Zimmern. “By proudly living our Jewish values, we will contribute to a thriving, dynamic Jewish community and play an important role in shaping an inclusive Charlotte where all residents are free from fear of hatred. In the challenging work ahead, I foresee great possibilities and invite all members of the community to take part in this initiative.”

Growing up in Louisiana in the segregated South of the 1950s and 1960s, Emily Zimmern was inspired by the courageous example of participants in the civil rights movement who took great risks to bring freedom to places it had never been before. From 1995 to 2015, Emily served as the CEO and executive director of Levine Museum of the New South and became an active participant in the civic engagement of Charlotte.

Long active in community affairs, Emily has held leadership positions on numerous local and state nonprofit boards and civic commissions. She is the former president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte and cochair of United Jewish Appeal’s Young Leadership Cabinet. She currently serves on the board of the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community and a committee of the start-up Heart of a Nation.

If you are interested in becoming involved with Outshine Hate, please contact Tair Guidice, chief impact officer.

Emily Zimmern

Glenda Bernhardt