Melissa is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Resetting the Table. Melissa is a veteran social entrepreneur and peace-builder, having founded and built two successful non-profit organizations (RTT and Encounter Programs) that open up transformative communication across divides; overcome dehumanization and distrust; and work toward shared societies and democracies. Melissa was also the founding director of Encounter, an organization dedicated to strengthening the capacity of the Jewish people to be agents of change in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Melissa spent two decades working on people-to-people initiatives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; for her work with Encounter, she was awarded the Grinnell Prize Innovator for Social Justice Prize “for extraordinary accomplishment in effecting positive social change.” A noted speaker and educator, Melissa has lectured and taught in hundreds of public forums on four continents. She was ordained as a Conservative Rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary and graduated from Harvard University summa cum laude.

Eyal is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Resetting the Table. A mediator, facilitator, coach, and trainer, Eyal co-created RTT’s unique methodology for communicating across divides and oversees RTT’s conceptual framework and practice. Prior to Resetting the Table, Eyal trained hundreds of corporate and non-profit professionals, philanthropists, and community leaders as an independent consultant. In addition to his work on Israel, Eyal has partnered with national and local non-profits to design multi-stakeholder deliberations on polarized issues from abortion to elder abuse. A published author and certified mediator, Eyal has worked as a private and community mediator in civil and criminal court. After completing his B.A. at Brown University and PhD in Sociology from UCLA, Eyal served as an Assistant Professor at Wesleyan University and Baruch College, where he taught courses on conflict transformation and democratic theory and practice.

A social worker, educator, and performer, Leah's diverse professional background and expertise inform Resetting the Table’s unique methodology for effective communication and facilitation. Most recently, Leah served as a clinical social worker in the Treatment Center for Trauma and Abuse at Westchester Jewish Community Services. Leah formerly worked as program director for LitWorld, a global literacy non-profit, building social-emotional literacy-based empowerment programming. In this role, Leah created and implemented arts- and mindfulness-based programming at the Hand in Hand School: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Jerusalem. Leah holds an MSW from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, where she graduated with honors, with an emphasis in Global Social Work and Practice with Immigrants and Refugees. She also has a professional background in theater: she toured with the national Broadway production of Mamma Mia! and holds a BFA from The Boston Conservatory, where she graduated as salutatorian. Leah lives in Westchester, NY, with her husband, Daniel, and their two children.

As Resetting the Table’s Senior Director of Operations, Justin oversees HR, finance, and organizational administration to support staff to do their best work and ensure that organizational culture remains a top strength as RTT grows. Justin most recently served as the Executive Director for Organizational Transformation at AdventHealth, a $15B health care system operating facilities in nine states. While at AdventHealth, Justin served as the planning lead for the system-wide, cross-disciplinary command center responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Justin served as a school principal for two private, Christian high schools, where he led significant transformations to multi-campus program delivery through video-connected classrooms. Throughout his professional experience, Justin has led organizations through critical transformations to meet challenges, achieve greater impact, and fulfill their missions. Justin holds an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a BA in Mathematics and English from Union College.

Rebecca is an educator and facilitator committed to the intersection of pluralistic community building, creative arts, and social change. As Resetting the Table's Program Director, Rebecca brings RTT's methodology to communities across the country while also overseeing RTT's program management team. She formerly served as the Student Activities Director at Harvard Hillel, where she oversaw undergraduate student life and integrated several Resetting the Table programs into the campus community. She has also worked as an educator at Roundabout Theater Company, Capital Camps, and the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Rebecca received her Masters in Experiential Education & Jewish Cultural Arts at GW and a B.A. in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley. She will always be connected to her California roots, but currently lives in Chicago with her husband and two children.

Cicella is a training and development leader with over a decade of experience designing and facilitating interactive, participant-centered training for in-person and online audiences. Most recently, as Training Director for Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) International, she was responsible for training the organization’s diverse leadership spanning 6 continents and over 120 nations. Previously at BSF, Cicella served as a Regional Director (eastern US and Canada), area advisor (Florida), teaching leader (Michigan and Florida), and field training manager (global). Cicella is a Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner and has “Train the Trainer” certification from The Bob Pike Group. As a lifelong learner, her goal is always to facilitate an experience that results in transformation for both the participants and the trainer. Her passion is to help people live authentically in community, and she wholeheartedly believes the principles of RTT are foundational in that vision being fully realized. A native of Chicago, she currently lives in the Dallas area with her husband, where she enjoys reading, and long walks when life allows.

Michele is dedicated to empowering people to create change for themselves and in their communities and to bringing people together across divides and difference. An experienced facilitator, trainer, and community builder, Michele most recently served as the Associate Director of National Young Leadership at ADL (Anti-Defamation League), where she engaged and mobilized young professionals across the country to address issues of bias, discrimination, and hate. Before her time with ADL, Michele was a Fellow at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies supporting the foundation’s North American Jewish communal portfolio and leadership development work. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Psychology and Judaic Studies and a minor in Community Action and Social Change. Her facilitation, program development, and training experience spans multiple frameworks of dialogue, intergroup relations, and community building, including experience with Resetting the Table, ADL’s World of Difference Institute and The Program on Intergroup Relations at the University of Michigan. Based in Michigan, Michele loves playing basketball, exploring national parks, and cheering on the US Women’s national soccer team.

A systems-builder and bridge-builder who loves connecting the big picture to the operational details, Helen manages impact and strategy for Resetting the Table and also contributes to external partnerships, communications and fundraising. Helen served as an associate producer of RTT’s short film, PURPLE, and managed Resetting the Table's grassroots screening campaign that has reached more than 330 community organizations. Prior to Resetting the Table, Helen worked with diverse peace and dialogue organizations, including the Alliance for Peacebuilding, Interfaith America, and the Sustained Dialogue Institute. Helen is a Humanity in Action Senior Fellow and an Interfaith America Innovation Fellow. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Helen holds a B.A. mathematics and a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies from Oberlin College, where she was awarded the Edward T. Wong Prize in Mathematics and the John Henry Barrows Medal for Interfaith Leadership.

Jen Richards brings decades of experience in Hollywood and nonprofit leadership to expanding RTT’s impact in the entertainment industry. Jen is an actor and screenwriter best known for writing and starring in the web series Her Story, the first independent web series to be nominated for an Emmy and which also won Peabody, Gotham, and GLAAD awards. She has been a writer for HBO, Amblin, and LucasFilm – including serving as a writer on Acolyte, the recent Star Wars series—and has appeared as an actor in The Mayfair Witches (AMC), Mrs. Fletcher (HBO), Tales of the City (Netflix), Better Things (FX), Blindspot (NBC), and Nashville (CMT). She was featured in the documentaries Disclosure and Framing Agnes as well as the docuseries I am Cait and More than T, the latter of which she also wrote and produced. Prior to coming to Hollywood, she had 20 years of experience in advocacy work and nonprofit administration. Jen was born in Mississippi and currently resides in Los Angeles with her wife and two dogs.

Jen is giddily excited by the work of Resetting the Table and the project of translating their powerful techniques and approach to Hollywood storytelling.

DJ Reed is the Assistant Director of Entertainment at Resetting the Table, working with writers, directors, and Hollywood executives on combating polarization and division through creative and courageous storytelling. Having spent years in the industry, he has become an experienced DEIA and TV and film development expert who is deeply committed to authentic narratives that help shift perspective and uplift marginalized and underrepresented communities.  He previously served as the Senior Manager of Entertainment at Define American, consulting on projects for Disney, Netflix, USA, ABC, and more.  He has also worked as a story producer and development manager for networks and production companies such as MTV, 11^th Street Productions, Firelight Films, and Amazon Studios. DJ is a proud graduate of HBCU Morgan State and received his master’s in film at The New School. He is Brooklyn-based, deeply loves horror films, morning runs in the park, and 90’s R&B, and has a puppy named Omar.

Seanne brings two decades of Hollywood experience to her role as Senior Advisor, Entertainment at Resetting the Table. An award-winning writer, director, and producer, Seanne is best known for writing Netflix's hit "Nowhere" and directing "The Falconer," which garnered 14 festival awards. She began her career at Warner Bros., where she served as Executive Producer on "The Lego Movie" and played a key role in franchises grossing over $2 billion. Seanne co-founded The Creative Salon with Dan Lin, an underground community of over 200 A-list filmmakers, and hosts Good Egg Dinners, fostering idea exchange among industry insiders. Seanne is excited to connect her peers with RTT's powerful methodology, helping fellow creatives tell stories that not only entertain but also bridge cultural divides and promote empathy across them.

Driven by her passion for organizational psychology and community building, Dani looks for opportunities to bring people together in ways that transcend barriers and inspire meaningful connection. Dani has worked for various non-profit organizations and schools throughout Manhattan, such as UJA-Federation, MDRC (a social policy research organization), and Quest2Learn, providing research, teaching and programmatic support. A graduate of NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, Dani received a B.S. in Applied Psychology and minored in Creative Writing. During her time at NYU, Dani served as a student leader at the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life, where she was awarded the Student Exemplar of Excellence Award and was involved in many interfaith and cross-cultural initiatives on campus. She is a proud alumnus of Resetting the Table's Campus Internship program.

Claire is committed to building spaces for robust deliberation and the meaningful exchange of ideas by creating organizational systems that drive engaging, high-impact programming. At RTT, Claire oversees operations for all in-person and virtual programs. Most recently, Claire was the Senior Producer of Virtual Programs at the LA World Affairs Council, a nonprofit civic forum that educates the public on pressing issues through engaged nonpartisan conversation. At the Council, Claire developed and produced over 250 expert-led, interactive webinars across all stages of production, including selecting and preparing world-class experts, managing event technical processes, and facilitating audience participation. Previously, Claire worked at Crooked Media where she assisted three of the country’s most listened-to political podcasts, including Pod Save America and Pod Save the World. Claire graduated summa cum laude from Occidental College with degrees in Political Science and Sociology, where she wrote two honors theses focused on political polarization and dialogue on contentious issues. At Occidental, Claire also co-founded two student organizations fostering community across ideological and identity-based differences, and twice won Occidental’s Student Program of the Year.

Juliana, Resetting the Table’s Special Projects Coordinator, is a committed convener with a passion for bringing out the best in communities through deeper recognition and understanding. Before Resetting the Table, Juliana served as an Advance Lead for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, leading complex on-the-ground operations, preparing stakeholder briefings, and convening events showcasing community problem-solving with local, state, and federal partners. Her travel and logistics work brought her to over 35 states and 4 continents, from the northernmost city in the United States – Utqiagvik – to Navajo Nation in the Southwest to McDowell County, West Virginia. Her deep belief in community strength and resilience was fostered in college where she wrote a thesis on theories of social change and how community leaders in Denver convened across differences to combat housing instability. At Harvard, she graduated cum laude in Social Studies, served as one of eight Class Marshalls elected to lead her graduating class, and was awarded the “Spirit of Harvard College” award for her community-building work across broad sections of the campus. Today, she loves cheering on the Denver Nuggets, yoga, volleyball, and dinners with friends. 

A systems builder who enjoys employing logistical precision to create meaningful programming, Carson brings over a decade of nonprofit experience to Resetting the Table’s (RTT) program management team. Before joining RTT, Carson served as Director of Program Operations for the Oklahoma Arts Institute, overseeing all aspects of program implementation for their state-wide educational programming. He has also managed fundraising operations for multiple organizations, including an international ag-tech nonprofit empowering smallholder farmers to lift themselves out of poverty through mobile savings, climate-smart inputs, and agricultural training. Carson graduated summa cum laude with honors from Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a B.A. in Psychology. Carson believes in the power of courageous conversation across divides and is proud to work alongside the program management team to support transformative training experiences.

A strategic communicator and storyteller, Anne supports Resetting the Table’s communications efforts. After working in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a year with Campus Crusade for Christ International, Anne decided to funnel her skills into domestic and international peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Prior to joining Resetting the Table, Anne worked in communications at the Stimson Center – a nonpartisan think tank that enhances international peace and security – and the North Carolina Study Center, a Center for Christian Life and Thought. Anne also served an Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding organization as a volunteer for Embodying Peace, and she helped to launch Embodying Justice to build capacity in Boston-area racial justice organizations. Anne is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received a B.A. in Hispanic Linguistics and minored in German as well as in Communications Rhetoric and Digital Literacy. She seeks to advance peace, justice, and security and uplift human dignity with the goal of mutual flourishing in our beautiful world.

Sarah’s love for learning has led her to work in a variety of program and operations roles in non-profit organizations over the past 10+ years. Before joining RTT, she was the Director of Finance at Learning Equality, an edtech nonprofit supporting equitable access to education. Previously, she was Director of Girard Foundation, a grantmaking foundation, where she supported innovative community leaders focused on improving K-12 education for San Diego students. Sarah is an advisory board member of The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego, where she loves learning with and from other nonprofit leaders. A recent transplant to Brooklyn, Sarah is proud to have roots in both the Midwest and in Bali, Indonesia. In her free time, she delights in stumbling upon live music, extra spicy food, off-street bike paths, and stoop chats with neighbors.

Grace is responsible for supporting all of Resetting the Table’s programs. A recent graduate of UC Berkeley, Grace double majored in Political Science and Legal Studies, with a minor in Journalism. During her time in college, Grace helped build one of RTT’s sister organizations, BridgeUSA, an organization dedicated to mobilizing Gen Z to mitigate polarization by building constructive dialogue across political divides on college campuses across the country. Grace served as the Director of Outreach as well as a Marketing Officer for BridgeUSA’s founding chapter. She also worked as an Intern on Capitol Hill for Congressman John Garamendi, writing policy briefs, conducting legislative research, and tracking constituent correspondence. Her experience growing up in a conservative, rural area and transitioning to the SF Bay Area led her to believe in the importance of seeing people from various walks of American life in all their complexity, with greater accuracy and grace. She believes that such recognition is paramount in preserving the strength of our democracy, sustaining rich interpersonal relationships within and across American communities, and more broadly promoting societal health.

With a background in strategic communications and conflict analysis, Nora supports RTT's development, communications, impact assessment, and research.. Prior to joining Resetting the Table, Nora served as a Communications and Knowledge Management Assistant at the George Mason University's Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, where she produced digital content for publications and managed social media platforms. A certified mediator in Virginia, Nora has a passion for alternative dispute resolution and communicating creatively to reach cooperative solutions. Her multilingual background has brought her to be a lifelong advocate of intercultural communications, and she has trained as an intergroup dialogue facilitator in cross-cultural and interlinguistic settings. Nora holds an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and holds a magna cum laude B.A. degree from George Mason, where she focused on building peace in divided societies and minored in History.