Avi Edelman

Avi Edelman (he/him/his) creates environments of warmth and empathy for transformational dialogue about the forces that shape how we see the world and how the world sees us. He has over a decade of experience as an experiential educator, dialogue facilitator, and diversity and inclusion trainer. He currently serves as Columbia University’s Associate Director of Multicultural Affairs and Manager of Diversity Education, where he leads intercultural dialogue programs for students and develops and implements trainings for thousands of students, staff, and faculty. His areas of expertise include unconscious bias, privilege and oppression, LGBTQ solidarity, anti-racism, disability justice, and more. For nine years, he has led an annual civil rights pilgrimage for teens through the U.S. South to explore the history of social justice in Black and Jewish communities. As an independent trainer, he has worked with individuals and organizations across the country to develop inclusive practices, build spaces of trust and understanding, and foster a culture of dialogue. He was featured in National Geographic's documentary series America Inside Out, leading a workshop convened by Katie Couric. He is an above-average juggler with waning professional circus aspirations.