Cecilie Surasky is the Director of Communications and Narrative at the Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI), where she leads an incredible team focused on integrating strategic communications and narrative strategies. With a background in Religious Studies and Semiotics, Cecilie views all narratives as sacred, and believes that leaders, for better or worse, often serve as modern-day high priests. She brings joy and deep expertise in movement-building to the work of growing the Institute's impact and advocating for a world of belonging, free from othering.
Since joining OBI in 2020, Cecilie has played key leadership roles in many OBI initiatives including the Othering & Belonging Conferences, OBIU, arts and culture strategy, youth as architects of belonging, narrative community of practice, 100k Acts of Solidarity, and the Europe-based Democracy and Belonging Forum.
Cecilie’s career spans decades of mobilizing politically marginalized communities. As a former filmmaker, columnist and one of the country's first LGBTQ+ commercial talk radio hosts, she’s proud of her role in building a co-liberation movement as the founding communications and later deputy director of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) where she led impactful campaigns aimed at garnering grassroots support for Palestinian human rights.
Based in Berkeley, CA, Cecilie cherishes her family and actively fosters a diverse community grounded in belonging.
