When asked for a bio in a professional setting, I usually send along something like this:

Sonia Marie Leikam (she/her/elle) is a versatile professional who brings a deep understanding of non-profit operations, systems, programs and fundraising to the table. She brings experience as an educator, advocate for social justice and community organizer to her work. As the grandchild of a partisan in the French resistance, and a first generation American, she spent her youth traveling between the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern France. Bilingual and multicultural she lives with her husband Theo, 3 children and 4 cats in beautiful Portland, Oregon.

I affectionately call myself a Cashew. I grew up with a Catholic dad and a Jewish mom, first generation American, born at the beginning of my parents American Dream, when they came to the United States. I grew up with a Christmas Tree with a Magen David on it, a house with only French spoken within its walls, dented cans in the cupboard and a lot of books on the shelves.

Having chosen to immerse myself in Judaism in my late teens, every part of my practice is self directed. I have never had family to fall back on for a honey cake recipe or Shabbat candlesticks to inherit. I have gotten to define exactly what kind of Jew I want to be.I am a practicing Jew, who finds comfort in the familiarity of mass and I strive to see the divine in all that I find around me. Being a Jew in the Pacific Northwest, and Oregon in particular is different. It really is a bit of the wild west out here and raising a bilingual Jewish family, with a non-Jewish partner is a part of my journey I share openly. A first generation immigrant, my family of origin is mostly far away, creating a family of choice, has been critical.

If I have a cat in my lap and a cup of good chai in hand, I’m happy. In between work, community gatherings and parenting, I paint watercolors and dabble in crafting as much as I can. I attempt to exercise, love going to the farmers maket and am a hardcore couponer- but not one of those you see on extreme couponing shows. One of my favorite things to do is feed people and I hate food waste. I usually show up to a potluck with an entire meal, as I show people I love by giving them nourishment. I also LOVE cheese! Having spent summers on our family farm in France helping make and sell cheese, hands down my favorite thing to bring to a potluck is an assortment of stinky cheeses with nuts and dried fruit. Add homemade sourdough boule with a 6-pack of Leikam Brewing beer and we are good to go.