Just Doing It JARC's Social Action Committee provides opportunities for inclusion. JULIE EDGAR SENIOR WRITER Y vonne Vandenberg re- members the chalk-art booth in downtown Detroit as her favorite project with the Jewish Association for Resi- dential Care's (JARC) Social Ac- tion Committee. As a member of the committee, Vandenberg recruited children to make drawings at Detroit's recent centennial celebration. It was the first time in her life that anybody asked her for advice, like how to spell a word. "I taught kids how to do certain things. It made me feel good," she said. Richard Graff, a fellow member of the Social Action Committee, was terrified at the prospect of hosting a packaging party at his apartment last Valentine's Day. He'd never entertained before and he didn't know what to do. After successfully hosting the party, at which committee mem- bers put together 250 care pack- ages of cards and candy for the Pontiac Rescue Mission, he looks forward to next year's gathering in his home. "He shone. For him, this was a huge step. Growing up, they were often berated, and they never re- ceived anything for Valentine's Day," said Shoshana Rubinstein, a social worker with JARC's In- dependent Living Program and the impetus behind the Social Ac- tion Committee. JARC operates three Indepen- dent Living Programs, which serve 60 people with develop- mental disabilities who, like Graff and Vandenberg, can live on their own but require some services. The pair, employees of the Jew- ish Community Center in Oak Park, are clients of JARC's DeRoy Independent Living Program and part of the Social Action Commit- tee, which sets its sights on any- one in need. Its activities for the past 3 1/2 years have ranged from visiting isolated nursing home res- idents in Detroit to labeling cans at a food bank to putting togeth- er care packages for American sol- diers in Bosnia. Committee mem- bers also participate each year in the Martin Luther King Jr. Walk. "We had finger cramps by the time we were finished," quipped committee member Elaine Gold- man about the Bosnia food pro- ject. Although she prefers to at- tribute the committee's success to its members, Rubinstein went to Washington on Thursday to ac- cept the 1997 Elizabeth Monroe Boggs Young Leadership Award for her work on the project. The President's Committee on Mental Retardation bestows the award annually on future leaders in the field of developmental disabilities. Rubinstein, who is in her mid- 30s, also presented a report on the committee's work which she heard will end up on the president's desk. After graduating from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania with a de- gree in social work, Rubinstein stayed in Philadelphia to work with indigents and runaways. JUST DOING IT page 10 Shoshana Rubinstein, founder of JARC's Social Action Committee, with committee members (from left, back row) Richard Graff, Yvonne Vandenberg and Denise Anderson, and (second row) Elaine Goldman and Harold Folkoff. Detroit's Original Discounter LEVIN'S BEAUTY SUPPLY In-line Skating & Skateboarding Skating Session with DJ Saturday, August 23rd 7:30-10:30pm RAND OPENING AUGUST 22, 23, & 24 SEE TOP AMATEUR SKATERS in ASA Regional Competition Closed for skating Sat. 6/23 and Sunday B/24 9-6 for ASA-Comp. Come Watch the Competition from 1 2-6pm. 52 for Spectators Features: Mini Spine, 11 ft. Half Pipes, Pyramid, 1/4 Pipes, Rails OPEN 7 DAYS LOOK GOOD SMELL GREAT FEEL SENSATIONAL AND SAVE!! Professional Beauty Supplies Designer Fragrances and Cosmetics ROLLE/WE:LADE...16 Special Membership Promotion Now Thru Sept 15, 1997 PLAN YOUR NEXT PARTY HERE 28070 HAY ES •ROSEVILLE, MI P PRINI AR E K X810)776_7500 AR All at Discount Prices West Bloomfield 851-7323 Orchard LakePad In The West Bloomfielii Plaza Oak Park 547-9669 24695 Coolidge At 10 Mile Road Open M-Sat. 9-6 • Closed Sun. • Thurs. Til 8 p.m.