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WEST BLOOMFIELD from page 13

SOUTHFIELD from page 13

Added Dr. Seymour
Gretchko, superintendent of
West Bloomfield Schools, "It's
significant to honor a man of
peace who taught love at a time
when young people elsewhere in
the world are being taught to
hate."
The event was co-chaired by
West Bloomfield Township
trustees Stuart Brickner and
Debbie Macon, and the Rev.
Bruce Quatman.
"It was a marvelous event that
celebrated our diversity; the
whole community was well-rep-
resented," Brickner said.
"In the aftermath of the Sept.
11 events, people have more of a
need to come together," said
David Gad-Harf, West
Bloomfield school board member
and executive director of the
Jewish Community Council of
Metropolitan Detroit. "The
Jewish community is sending a
significant message by having the
students and faculty from the
Jewish Academy of Metropolitan
Detroit (JAMD) and Hillel Day
School here."
According to Rabbi Aaron
Bergman, JAMD director of
Jewish studies, attendance at the
United We Walk event was
mandatory for students and fac-
ulty.
Ilana Goldberg of West
Bloomfield, JAMD 11 th-grade
class ,president, said, "We came
to be part of the greater commu-
nity, and to help fight racism
and discrimination and every-
thing that separates us."
The 1.5-mile walk on Orchard
Lake Road was followed by a
complimentary lunch donated by
local businesses and served by
volunteers.
After lunch, a one-man show
entitled "You Don't Know Me
Until You Know Me" was per-
formed by New Jersey-based Dr.
Michael Fowlin, who works on
issues of prejudice, racism and
cultural diversity.
The performance was followed
by individual dialogue sessions
for adults and students.
"It's a wonderful day to cele-
brate the diversity of our com-
munity," said Beth Borson,
West Bloomfield school board
member. "I've been involved for
eight years, and it just keeps get-
ting bigger every year. We love
it."

ing of student essays. Kuhn, who
retired as postmaster of Gary, Ind.,
before moving to Southfield, received
the city's 15th annual Martin Luther
King Jr. Service Award.
Jennifer Granholm, Michigan's
attorney general, came to the event
with daughters Kate and Cecelia
Mulhern, 12 and 10, of Northville,
and Britney Cole, 10, of Detroit. "I
am committed to making them
appreciate the work of those who
have come before," Granholm said.
"Dr. King is one of those whose
shoulders we stand on."
Also in the crowd was Father
Manuel Boji of Southfield's
Chaldean Catholic Church. "I am
here because I am part of the city;
part of the community:" he said. "I
always felt that variety is the strength
and tradition of Southfield."
Mayor Brenda Lawrence, the
city's first black mayor, reminded
the festive audience of the very real
struggles of the civil rights move-
ment. "I want you to remember the
struggle that brought us here
today," she said. "Let us not forget
— the struggle still goes on."
Mayor Lawrence said she was aware
of the limited number of Jewish
participants, but promised "we'll do
something about that by next year."
Said Judge Cooper: "In the last
election, Southfield elected a black
mayor, and elected or re-elected
council people who are Jewish,
Chaldean, Polish, Italian and Anglo-
Saxon. The city clerk is Armenian.
In the [Southfield] Optimists Club,
everyone — black, Jewish, whatever
gets up to work together to
sponsor programs."
He also pointed to participation
by the Jewish clergy in Southfield's
Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.
Guest speakers in past years includ-
ed Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg of
Young Israel of Southfield and
Rabbi David Nelson of
Congregation Beth Shalom of Oak
Park. This year, Cantor Norman
Rose of Temple Emanu-El in Oak
Park was slated to sing "The Star
Spangled Ban-ner" but, since he was
suffering from pneumonia, his
wife, Eunie, sang in his place.
Among the Jewish walkers in the
event was Amanda Dechter of
Huntington Woods. "I wanted to
honor the message of Martin Luther
King," she said. "Whether to be here
today is an individual choice. The
point of today is not to label yourself
as Jewish, or white, or black. The
point is we're all here together." ❑

❑

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2002

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Above: Jessica Edwards, 17, _Jeffrey
Nusholtz, 18, and Marlon Bell,
17, students at Southfield-Lathrup
High School's Fine Arts Academy,
produced a video for the
Southfield observance Monday.

Left: Eunie Rose of Southfield
sings the Star Spangled Banner
after the Southfield walk.

Above: Nicole Goldman, 16, and Dana
Fowler, 17, both ofWest Bloomfield,
reflect on a speaker's words Monday
at the West Bloomfield observance.

Left: Co-chair Stuart Brickner and
anet Montgomery at the candlelight
vigil Sunday in West Bloomfield.

Below: Sanford Turbow and Wendy
Kohlen Berg, both ofWest Bloomfield,
carry Hadassah banners during the
West Bloomfield walk Monday.

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