Carla Friend

Carla Friend with a guitar

Carla Friend is the Founder & Executive Director of Tkiya, a nonprofit organization that uses participatory music experiences to help thousands of families find their unique connection to Jewish culture and community through an educational approach. Carla holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from NYU, a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College, and has extensive experience in both the teaching and engagement ends of the field. She has taught and researched music and dance across a variety of cultures including locations such as Uganda, Japan, and the Middle East. Carla’s passion lies in community music education and connecting with culture through music and dance. She is a 2018 recipient of the Young Pioneers Award from the Jewish Education Project, a 2019 recipient of 36 Under 36 from the Jewish Week, graduated from UpStart Venture Accelerator’s Cohort 11, and is on the board of JPRO New York. Carla just came out with her first album of family-friendly Jewish music called Challalalah.

Kids concert with audience and someone playing guitar
WRJ YES Fund Grantee

Wee Jam for Justice: It's Never too Early to Start

Carla Friend
 May 31, 2022
In 2014, I founded Tkiya to create participatory music experiences that meet families where they are - physically, psychologically, and spiritually – and find their unique connection to Jewish culture and community. One thing I’ve always been proud of is Tkiya’s reputation for making Judaism welcoming, accessible, and inclusive. However, it wasn’t until a few years ago that we started to learn how to articulate and incorporate JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) in a more intentional way. This year, we received a grant from WRJ to deepen this work through our Wee Jam for Justice program. The learnings that we’ve had through this experience have had an incredible impact on Tkiya and the communities that we serve in such a short time.