Inspired by those in the civil rights movement who risked everything to expand freedom and equality, Emily Zimmern has devoted a major part of her life to advancing community-building, equity, and integrity. Throughout her career, she has built bridges, pursued fairness, and worked to ensure that all people have the opportunity to live fully and with dignity. After beginning her career as a teacher in Baltimore, Emily moved to Charlotte in 1982 and quickly emerged as a respected civic leader. She served as President of the Charlotte Jewish Federation and Co-Chair of United Jewish Appeal’s National Young Leadership Cabinet to strengthen both local and national Jewish communities. In 1995, Emily became Executive Director and later President of Levine Museum of the New South, where she led for two decades. Under her leadership, the museum became a national model for using history to spark community dialogue and engagement.  Conversations tackled tough issues, such as race, immigration, gender equality, and LGBTQ rights.

Long active in the civic life of Charlotte, Emily served on the leadership team that created the Community Building Initiative and co-chaired the City of Charlotte’s Immigrant Integration Task Force.  In retirement, her public service continued as Chair of the Niner Nation Remembrance Commission at UNC Charlotte, guiding the university’s process of healing and remembrance after the 2019 campus shooting. She also served as Chair of the City of Charlotte’s Legacy Commission, which reviewed monuments and street names tied to slavery and white supremacy.  Currently, she serves as Co-Chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte’s Outshine Hate initiative to combat antisemitism. Through all her work, Emily Zimmern has embodied integrity, compassion, and courage. She reminds us that shared stories build community and that confronting the unvarnished truth about the past can empower us to create a more just future.