Our Founders
Yael Denbo
Yael Denbo is an elected Community Education Council District 3 School Board Member on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. In this role, Yael spearheaded a groundbreaking Resolution on Antisemitism, which was unanimously passed in October and featured in the New York Post article titled “NYC parents at war over ‘antisemitism’ concern at their children’s schools.” This resolution marked the first of its kind to be passed by any NYC School Board.
In addition to her work on the School Board, Yael collaborated with the Congressional House Education Committee to help prepare for the Hearings on Confronting Pervasive Antisemitism in K-12 Schools in May 2024. Locally, she served as the PTA president for two school years at PS 165 in Harlem, advocating for parents. On a national level, Yael played a pivotal role in political campaign efforts, including organizing get-out-the-vote phonebanks for Joe Biden’s 2020 Presidential campaign and working as part of the Advance team for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 Presidential campaign. The Advance team is tasked with overseeing all logistics surrounding events like town hall meetings and rallies. This includes managing travel arrangements, event schedules, media connections, and ensuring appropriate security.
Additionally, Yael served as the Manager of Special Projects at The Creative Coalition, a leading national nonprofit advocating for the arts and entertainment industry. There, she managed media and public relations and led a team in the planning and execution of high-profile events, including the 2006 White House Correspondents’ Dinner and several events for the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Yael has also consulted for organizations such as the Glasshouse New York and the Charity Network of New York. Before her nonprofit work, Yael spent a decade as a development executive in the film industry, working with top-tier companies such as Madonna’s Maverick Films and MGM Pictures.
Yael holds a BA from Brown University and spent her junior year studying at the London School of Economics. A lifelong New Yorker, Yael is a proud graduate of Riverdale Country Day School and Rodeph Sholom Day School. She has two children, one of whom currently attends public school on the Upper West Side.
Johanna Lindsay
Johanna Lindsay has built a diverse career in entertainment, specializing in production, publicity, marketing, and communications. She previously worked as an Associate Producer at The Second City, where she contributed to the development of live comedy performances. She also served as core leader in developing Radio 3 at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), honing her expertise in media relations. In the world of Broadway, she played a key role in public relations and marketing efforts for major productions, including The Producers, Hairspray, and Little Shop of Horrors.
Johanna served as the Co-New York State Legislator Leader for Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America. In 2020, she launched a popular weekly phone bank for the Biden/Harris campaign called Badass Babes. Recently, she collaborated with BC Lev Echad to organize an event that provided much-needed supplies for the Israel Defense Forces. Johanna is also a member of the NYC JP Leadership Council for independent schools.