This Week

MJAC's Doubtful Future

After 12 years, Detroit's Jewish HIV-AIDS organization faces a funding shortfall.

to Detroit.
And, with MJAC's uncertain future, planning has
been delayed for the annual Celebrate Life raffle, gen-
erally held in late spring.
Grants had been a way of sustaining MJAC's pro-
gramming.
In 1993, a $15,300 grant from the Max M. Fisher
Community Foundation allowed MJAC to hire Davis
as its first paid staffer, and grants have played a vital
role in keeping the organization afloat for 12 years.
Last year, MAC Cosmetics (Estee Lauder & Co.) sup-
plied a budget-saving $25,000.
However, MJAC did not apply for any grants this
year.
"In the last couple of months, which is the time of
year when you apply for grants, we were in such bad

printer."
Merger discussions are still in the earliest stages.
"Preliminary meetings have been held; now we're
he Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition
getting into the details," said Roth, who joined the
organization two years ago as director of the ECHO
(MJAC) may be facing its final days as an
independent nonprofit organization.
(Educating Our Community About Homosexuality
Through Outreach) program.
"Our lease is over at the end of July,
and we'll not be renewing," said MJAC president
"Kim has been amazing," said board member Linda
Edwina Davis. "We can pay the money we owe every-
Lee of West Bloomfield. "She has assumed every
body, but that's about it."
responsibility that was thrown at her — and more."
For 12 years, MJAC (pronounced "magic") has
A Detroit native, Roth spent 10 years in Portland,
been dedicated to improving the quality of life for
Ore., where she worked as consultant to Mayor Vera
persons infected or touched by the human immunod-
Katz and as staff member for Gov. John Kitzhaber's
task force on youth suicide prevention. She's also been
eficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome) —or by the disease
a senior campaign manager for United Way and assis-
itself.
tant director of the National AIDS Hotline.
Based on the belief that all humanity
To the general community, MJAC's
is created b'tzelem Elohim (in God's
most visible program is ECHO, which
image), the Southfield-based nonprofit
has created and run numerous interactive
organization also functions as an educa-
presentations for parents and children in
tional agency, teaching the community
local synagogues.
about homosexuality. Its third function
ECHO also co-sponsors a discussion
series at the Jewish Community Center of
is supporting and advocating on behalf
of those who self-identify as gay, lesbian,
Metropolitan Detroit about functioning
bisexual and transgender and their fami-
in society as a gay person.
lies.
The final discussion in this year's series,
"Being Out At Home," takes place at 7
"There's absolutely no other organiza-
p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the JCC in
tion doing this kind of work with Jewish
Oak Park. Along with MJAC, co-spon-
values," said Davis, who was MJAC's
sors are the JCC and Jewish News publish-
first executive director. "We know we've
er Arthur M. Horwitz and his wife, Gina.
changed lives."
Over the years, ECHO has received
grants from numerous sources, including
Dollars And Cents
the Community Foundation for
Southeastern Michigan's HOPE fund, the
Like so many other nonprofit organiza-
ARGUS Foundation and the Babson
tions, MJAC has seen a drastic cut in
Foundation.
contributions due to the faltering econo-
The ECHO program is at risk because of a funding shor t fall at MJAC. On March .
A $5,000 grant from the Jewish
my. In addition, Jewish benefactors are
26, MJAC member Marlowe Robinson B'sheart speaks of her experiences as a local
Women's Foundation started the GOALS
sending more of their contributions to
gay high school English teacher. Dr. Don Spivak moderated the session.
(Getting Our Adolescents to Learn About
Israel, "which we fully understand and
Sexuality) program, which brings together
support," according to Kim Roth,
shape that it didn't make sense to apply," Roth
preteen girls, their mothers and grandmothers for
MJAC's last remaining paid staff member.
explained.
frank discussions on societal pressures dealing with
The organization also lost some community sup-
Grants generally are for specific projects, not for
sex, drugs, body image and relationship issues, moder-
port when executive director Arlene Sorkin left last
operational needs, such as salaries and rent.
ated by experienced MJAC-trained professionals.
spring.
"Basically, even with a grant, we still wouldn't be
MJAC would like to begin a similar program for pre-
Former MJAC president and current board mem-
able to pay my salary," Roth said. 'Also, if you apply
teen boys.
ber Michelle Passon of White Lake said Sorkin was "a
for a grant and don't fulfill it, you have to pay it back.
The Jewish Fund began MJAC's program for older
terrific director. Some people left with her, but some
We don't want to be in that situation — we want to
adults, SHARE (Supporting Senior Health through
came back."
AIDS Resources and Education) with a $6,500 grant.
Another factor in declining contributions is the per- fulfill all our obligations."
Despite the perception that HIV-AIDS is a disease of
ception that the threat of HIV-AIDS has diminished
the young, 13-15 percent of all new HIV cases are
and that the general community is so accepting of
Seeking A Partner
diagnosed in people older than age 50, Roth said.
homosexuality that MJAC has outlived its usefulness.
Roth and MJAC board members have met with sever-
In addition, one of MJAC's most important rev-
al Jewish social service organizations to explore a
enue sources will not be available this spring. For sev-
The Need Is There
merger or consortium.
eral years, well-known members of the Actors' Equity
"All we need is a 12-by-12 foot room and enough
Sorkin, who established IlluminArt Productions after
Association appearing in plays in Detroit would
money for Kim, and possibly a part-time secretary,"
leaving MJAC, said she believes the organization's
donate their talents on a Monday night for a benefit
said Passon. "We already have a computer and a
mission continues to be important to the community.
Performance. This season, no Equity play is coming

DIANA LIEBERMAN
StaffWriter/Copy Editor

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4/18
2003

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