DOWNTOWN LIVING

Detroit fuels their need to make a difference.

J

ackie Victor and Ann Perrault came
to Detroit 10 years ago to play a
role in revitalizing the city. They live
in the Cass Corridor near Wayne State
University (now called Midtown). They
also work there and raise their 3-year-
old daughter, Rafaella, there.

Seven years ago, they opened
Avalon International Breads on Cass
and Willis. Today, professors, workers
and students gather at the bakery for
its award-winning organic baked
goods.
On workday mornings, Jackie and
Ann split their time between taking
Rafaella to nursery school at Temple
Emanu-El in Oak Park several times
a week and opening the bakery,
which is around the corner from their
stately remodeled Victorian.
The women like living in a place

Avalon International Breads owners Jackie
Victor and Ann Perrault with daughter
Rafaella in their Detroit garden.

where they can make a difference. So
far, Avalon has spawned four other
businesses on their street and more
than 1,000 guests attend Avalon's
yearly birthday street party.
What they love about Detroit is the
people, the diversity and energy of
the city.
What they say still needs to
change is the high pollution, the
poverty and the need for more parks
and shopping centers.
"It's sad to see such disparity
between the suburbs and the city,"
says Jackie, 39, who grew up in West
Bloomfield.
Yet she has found in her Jewish
upbringing the values that draw her
to living in the city.
"Community is such an important
value in Judaism," she says. "It's liv-
ing in partnership with other human
beings. And Jewish teachings
give you the mechanics to go
into the community and
translate these values into
action."
Ann says there are many
stories of how appreciative
and supportive the communi-
has been of Avalon.
"On our best selling day of
the year three years ago, our
stove wouldn't fire," Ann
recalls. "The dough for the
bread was made, but no
oven. Jackie put a sign on the
door that the Grinch stole
Christmas — there was no
baked bread."
But Ann rolled out their
racks of unbaked bread and
told people to just take them
and bake them at home. "But
people gave us money
more money than if we had
baked and sold the bread,"
Ann says.

With her strong sense of Judaism,
Jackie says the Jewish connection is
still stronger in the suburbs where her
father, Steven I. Victor, and brother,
David Victor, the past regional chair-
man of AIPAC, and his family live.
The couple is still debating where to
send their daughter to school.
Jackie is fond of sharing her Jewish
business roots. Her grandfather, Ben
Victor, opened his own department
store on Hastings Street in the old
Jewish neighborhood in Detroit.

— Sharon Luckerman

DETROIT

Population: 951,270
Square miles: 138.7
Became a city: 1701
Claims to fame:
Detroit Institute of Arts, Wayne State
University, Greektovvn, Comerica Park,
Ford Field, New Center area, casinos,
Ambassador Bridge, Belle Isle

Jewish institutions:
Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue

CrIZOSSE

POINTES

Population: 47,780 includes
G.P. Woods, Park, Farms and Shores
Square miles: 24.78
Became a city: Grosse Pointe City
was incorporated as a village in 1879
and became a city in 1934.
Claims to fame: excellent schools,
homes of auto barons waterfront

Jewish institutions:
Grosse Pointe Jewish Council

Favorite Community
Hangout:

"Eastern Market," says Jackie.
"It's where I most easily get in touch
with the real rhythms of the world
it's very authentic, and it's where we
always run into people we know."

2004-2005 Community Directory ■

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