Maria Friedman is a licensed social worker (LCSW) and the Executive Director of Rhode Island Coalition for Israel (RICI), a non-profit with the mission of combating Jew-hatred (antisemitism), educating about Israel, and promoting democratic values. Maria is a proud 1st generation American to parents who grew up in the Soviet Union (who experienced first hand the dangers of communism). Throughout her career, Maria has pursued advocacy in many forms, whether with sexual assault and domestic violence survivors, with the Latino community, with college students, for community health initiatives, or with the Jewish and pro-Israel community. She does this all with a passion for community organizing, organizational development, education, policy advocacy, program design, and collaboration with local, national, and international groups. Through her activism with RICI, she continues to speak the truth even when it’s hard, and brings critical and innovative education, programming, and advocacy at a time when antisemitism keeps rising and our western values are under attack. For more information on RICI, go to ricoalitionforisrael.org and follow @ri4israel on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.