BENJAMIN MERTZ

Benja is originally from Hackensack, NJ and has been based in California's SF Bay Area since 2008. He serves as the Director of Diversity & Inclusion at the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute (BECI) and is on the board of directors of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, an immigration rights and anti-incarceration nonprofit org.. Benja is also the founder and director of the Joyful Noise! Gospel Singers, a nonprofit community choir. He is a human rights and racial justice activist, advocating through writing, speaking, music, and fostering interfaith and interracial alliances. Benja has been teaching civil rights and Black Spiritual music for over 15 years.. He lives in Richmond, CA, .