Join leaders from the Northern Israel Center for Arts and Technology (NICAT), the Akko Center for Arts and Technology (A-CAT) and Manchester Bidwell Corporation for a discussion on how these organizations foster a hopeful future, provide economic opportunities and break-down ethnic, religious and cultural barriers for youth and adults in Israel while improving the socio-economic status of the region’s diversified community.

About the Speakers
Mark Frank is the Chair of NICAT, helping to bring Israeli Arabs and Jews in the Western Galilee together to learn technical and life skills. Frank served as the President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Jewish Committee; Chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Community Affairs Committee; Board Member of Trustees of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh; Chair of the Pittsburgh Black/Jewish Dialogue; and Member of the National Board of Directors of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Naim Obeid is the CEO of ACAT. As CEO, Obeid offers programs that advance social cohesion and economic development for Arab and Jewish youth and adults in northern Israel. He is a Board member of the Akko Conservatory of Music and a founding member of "Keshet" – an Arab-Jewish community leadership council in Akko. He is an experienced business entrepreneur, consultant and a dedicated member of the Akko community, volunteering in various local organizations and supporting a shared society in his city.

Bill Strickland is the President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, and the Bidwell Training Center in Pittsburgh. He is nationally recognized as a visionary community leader with success in community adaptation and revitalization. Manchester Bidwell is a nonprofit that provides job training and arts education for adults and mentoring to youth. It has become a successful model for social change, noted for its organizational culture fostering innovation, creativity, and integrity.

The event is brought to you by: Temple Sinai, NICAT, ACAT, Congregation Beth Shalom, Derekh, and Manchester Bidwell.