Please join in our new initiative to give bock to the community that has given us so much. PR, 1E.,,,,SS DREAM Donate your previously enjoyed party dresses, prom gowns and bridal dresses. Shore the dream with someone who deserves to feel beautiful and special too. Dresses will be shared with young women who are not able to afford to purchase them. Don't have a dress? Monetary donations will also be accepted. All money raised will be donated to Alternatives for Girls in Detroit. Dresses will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The prom is only two months away. Bring dresses by May 1st to Topper's Diamonds and Fine Jewelry Orchard Mall, West Bloomfield MI So far, she doesn't have a dress. 1AMONDS.& FiNE: (E\VELRY Michigan 's most misted jeweler since 1.977 Orchard Mall . West Bloomfield. MI 4322 248-932-7700 . 800,337-G1FT MAKE T HE. CONK E.C1 ION 0 WWW. FAIVERS.CONI 829760 size "The Wiindows Door icucdtor 20-60% OFF Sale ends Wednesday Ask for Kari Kovack or Michelle Ben-Ezra BRING YOUR CUSTOM DESIGNS TO LIFE We Specialize in all custom doors: , •Wood • Fiberglass • Steel •Interior 248-737-3700 33084 Northwestern Hwy. 4/ 9 2004 22 between 14 Mile & Orchard Lake Road 807990 (between. Home Appliance & In Style Furniture) Trusting Atmosphere Challenge Day program helps break down barriers between people. Hard Times KAREN SCHWARTZ Special to the Jewish News Ann Arbor F our Ann Arbor B'nai B'rith Youth Organization members stepped out of their comfort zones March 21 as part of Challenge Midwest's Community Challenge Day. The six- hour program, held at Clague Middle School, is designed to break down barriers and promote under- standing. The BBYO chapter, Echad, voted to take part in the activity after hearing about it from chap- ter member David Zimet, 15, and his mother, Gloria Zimet, a parent volunteer with Challenge Midwest. Both had participated in a previous Challenge Day event. "This program is out- standing," Gloria Zimet said. "It's an antidote to a lot of the problems we have in our society. What really amazes people is that so much can change in six hours. It's transformative — you can't walk out of there and interact with people in the same way. More than 100 teen and adult participants, representing a cross- I section of Ann Arbor residents, spent the day exploring the way they think about themselves and relate to others through a combination of ice- breakers, large and small group activities and exercises designed to give them the opportunity to get to know and appreciate the people around them. Open, candid conver- sation in a trusting atmosphere was a goal. "We want to plant the seeds to show people they don't have to walk around judging people; we want them to know they can treat people with respect and kindness," said Kekoa Won, a Challenge Day facili- tator. Challenge Day is a 15-year-old concept begun in California. One Echad member said she learned lessons she can take back to her chapter that also apply generally to her life. "They talk about how people, even though they're teased, don't deserve it because everyone's been through hard times and people don't deserve to be treated this way — everyone deserves to be treated the same and everyone should be loved for who they are," she said. "I'm probably going to act a lot differently now — I've teased people before, and I didn't think about it. When you do it, you ' Above top: Kekoa Won, a Challenge Day facilitator, gives instructions to- the crowd Above: Challenge Day participants keep the ball aloft.