Meet the People Behind The Agora Initiative

Jo-Ann Mort is a writer and strategist who lives in Brooklyn, New York. She has been engaged in peace activities related to Israel/Palestine for decades. She is a well- egarded and widely published analyst, writer, and journalist on these issues and also advises NGOs in Israel and in the Palestinian controlled areas on communications, fundraising, and strategic positioning.

Naseer Abboushi is a Palestinian businessman, educator, and activist whose family comes from the Jerusalem area of Palestine where they maintain their home and close ties to family. Based in California, Naseer studied International Policy Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, where he specialized in International Economics and Trade. This educational foundation set the stage for a career in business and consulting, which has seen him work across various markets, including the United States and the United Arab Emirates, where he lived for three years.

Naseer also harbors a deep-rooted love for language education which is work he does as a passion for learning and meeting people around the world. Recognizing language as a powerful tool for bridging cultural divides, he has studied Hebrew, Spanish, and French. He combines this linguistic enthusiasm with a longstanding commitment to peace activism, particularly focused on justice for the Palestinian people.

Rachael Klayman is a nonprofit leader with experience driving organizational growth and operational strategy. She brings expertise in strategic planning, resource development, and team leadership—helping mission-driven organizations grow their impact through cross-sector partnerships, smart systems and inclusive people-centered practices.

The granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Rachael is deeply committed to building a more just and peaceful world—one rooted in dignity, liberation, and the flourishing of all people.

Sharon Saad Dragich is a physician specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She lives and practices medicine in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sharon was born in Nazareth to a Palestinian family with Israeli citizenship, she was trained both at Technion Institute of Technology in Haifa and specialized in Bronx,NY. Her father pastored a Baptist Arab church in Haifa, and her mother was an Arabic teacher. Sharon’s perspective has been shaped by her experiences as a Palestinian, a Christian, and a citizen of Israel. Her passion for helping people led her to become a doctor, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza has both broken her heart and motivated her to become more involved in defending human dignity.

Ami Dar is the founder and Executive Director of Idealist.org, an organization that connects 150,000 NGOs around the world with people who want to work or volunteer with them. He was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Peru and Mexico, and lives in New York with his wife and two daughters.

A former Middle East policy advisor at the Pentagon, Jasmine has served for over 25 years in public and private-sector organizations covering issues related to national security and international affairs, including as a consultant to the United Nations and the European Union.

During her tenure at the Pentagon, Jasmine served three Secretaries of Defense, advising on the Middle East, including post-war Iraq, the Arab Spring, the war against ISIS, and Syria. She served as the Acting Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy and Special Assistant to three consecutive Under Secretaries of Defense for Policy, where she supported the leadership in crafting national security and organizational strategies; managing 700+ employees; and leading interagency coordination efforts on policy, legal, and legislative priorities.

Additionally, Jasmine is a media analyst on US policy and the Middle East, appearing regularly on CNN, BBC and other major outlets.