Ari Fernandez
Founder & Executive Director
Ari Fernandez (they/them/theirs) is a dedicated learner, educator, ritualist, and accessibility advocate who believes in holding open the door for those behind you. Ari grew up in a secular, interfaith home and came to their Judaism in college through their soul-nourishing connections with generous peers, elders, and mentors at the Hillel at Appalachian State University and the Temple of the High Country in rural Boone, NC, USA. Fueled by these relationships and nurtured by community, Ari’s pursuit of the rabbinate through SVARA’s Gemirna Kollel is powered by their deep desire to make Judaism accessible to all.
Ari’s first post-undergraduate job was at Hillels of Westchester in White Plains, NY, USA, where they directed all education and ritual programming, creating and facilitating new cohort-based curricula and helping students to develop countless Shabbat services and dinners. Their work with students at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to assist in the coordination of support services like grocery delivery and mental healthcare confirmed their strongly held conviction to help others as a physical manifestation of their Jewish values. Recently, Ari worked at UpStart as part of their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice (DEIJ) team. They implemented disability justice-rooted accessibility best practices across the organization and additionally consulted on internal and external conferences, plus virtual events.
Ari is excited to be taking the next steps in their career by founding Olam Shelanu to promote a world where every person can thrive. They live on Muscogee land with their found family in what is now called Decatur, GA, USA, where they enjoy trying new recipes, singing with their community, and finding accessible spots in nature to observe the world around them.
Olam Shelanu 