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Nate Shapiro sets the standard for JCCouncirs
new award at its annual meeting.
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
27676 Franklin Rd.
Southfield, Michigan 48034
Fax: (248) 354-6069
E-mail: sluckennanethejox islmew s.com
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
5/18
2001
20
T
HARRY KIRSBAUM
Lorio Ross Entertainmen
Call (248) 398-9711
Activist Of The Year
he night belonged to Nate.
Some 175 people,
including many members
of the African American
community, attended the Jewish
Community Council's annual meeting
at Temple Beth El on May 10, as Nate
Shapiro of Southfield received the first
"Activist of the Year Award."
The award was created to
pay tribute to someone who
best exemplifies the mission of
the Council by acting upon
Jewish values to create a better
community.
The Council's selection
committee was faced with the
challenge of choosing someone
'who would set the standards
for all future recipients of this
award," said Council's execu-
tive director, David Gad-Harf.
"No one better fits the title
of Jewish ambassador to
Detroit than our awardee,
Nate Shapiro."
Shapiro, 81, who grew up
with the late mayor of Detroit
Coleman Young, spent months
feeding Detroit's homeless last
year and still works full time
for the engineering firm he
founded.
Shapiro, who holds many
awards for his work with the
African American community,
was introduced in a powerful
speech by close friend the Rev.
Wendell Anthony, president,
Detroit Branch-NAACP.
"If you want to want to project the
historic relationships between mem-
bers of the Jewish community and the
African American community, then
Nate Shapiro conveys that message,"
the Rev. Anthony said.
"If you want to reflect the best in all
of God's people, regardless of race,
ethnicity sex, age, chronology or phi-
losophy, Nate Shapiro reflects the best
of all of them. You don't honor him by
making him the activist of the year,
you really honor yourselves, for he
represents the best of all people."
In a short but thoughtful speech, an
overwhelmed Shapiro said that in the
past the African American and Jewish
communities were very close and sup-
portive of each other. It is important
that this relationship be revived, he said.
The Southfield resident told a story
about a trip to Washington, D.C. for a
civil rights march on a bus that broke
down. He met a young African
American man who wondered why a
white man was on the bus.
Shapiro told the young man about
Hitler and the Jews in World War II, and
how Hitler knew other groups wouldn't
Above: David Gad-Half
presents Nate Shapiro with the
Activist of the Year Award.
Left: The Rev. Wendell Anthony
introduces Nate Shapiro.
Below: New Council
president Ann Zousmer.
help the Jews, just
like no other groups
had helped prevent
the Armenian geno-
cide at the turn of
the century
"I told this young
man that if ever
anyone tries to
eliminate any group, including African
Americans, that I would do everything
in my power to organize major groups
to oppose this action," he said.
"I will be there for you and I damn
well expect you to be there if anyone
tries the same thing to me."
After the speech, the Council's new
officers were installed, including Ann
Zousmer as Council's president. She
took the reins from Kathleen Straus,
whose presidency was marked by
accomplishments in areas of advocacy,
intergroup relations and community
solidarity. Education was a central focus
of her term, and included a successful
fight against school vouchers. El