Revitalized
The Young Adult Division is doing an "Extreme Makeover"
TAD Changed
My Life
ROBIN SCHWARTZ
Special to the Jewish News
I
The YAD board discusses the new allocation project.
ROBIN SCHWARTZ
Special to the Jewish News
y
ou could call it "Extreme
Makeover." Like the popular TV
show where homes are torn
down to their foundations and rebuilt,
the Young Adult Division of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit is
renovating, reconstructing and reinvent-
ing itself. YAD, which serves the Jewish
community's 20- and 30-somethings, is
changing its programming and market-
ing plan, and also wants to change the
way people think about it.
"We were this singles organization and
now we're catering to couples, to parents
with children. We're expanding, we've
recreated ourselves," said YAD's presi-
dent, Brian Satovsky of Birmingham.
The need for change came with the
economic downturn a few years ago,
declining participation in singles mis-
sions to Israel in the wake of the intifada
(Palestinian uprising) and the 9-11 ter-
rorist attacks on America. The missions,
which once had as many as 150 partici-
pants from Metro Detroit, were the pri-
mary source of new members for YAD.
The group had to re-think how it
attracts young adults and cultivates
future community leaders who will sup-
port the Jewish Federation and its
Annual Campaign.
"I think it's important for young
adults to be involved in the community
because we're all responsible for each
other," said Gayle Gold of Huntington
Woods, YAD's president-elect, who is
preparing to lead the organization next
year. "I think it's important for everyone
2/24
2005
34
to give back and its fulfillinc, on a whole and give them a better understanding of
host of levels," she said.
what Federation does and where the
After 150 hours of collective discus-
Campaign goes. The "Lunch with a
sion, YAD members developed a strate-
Legend" program is being revived so
gic plan followed by an action plan to
young adults can have intimate discus-
gradually change their focus. YAD still
sions with community leaders. A lunch
holds its regular bar nights for singles,
with Florine Mark of Weight Watchers
but it also is hosting a smaller number of took place in early January.
more substantive events like a Chanukah
An alternative mission to places like
cooking demonstration with Chef Keith
Cuba, Budapest or Argentina is being
Famie and an upscale ArtSeen cocktail
discussed.
party at the Detroit Institute of Arts,
"We're in a transitional period, but
which included a private showing of the
we're making significant progress," said
Murano glass exhibit.
Scott Kaufman of Huntington Woods, a
There are new programs for parents
former YAD president and member of
and children, like the Jan. 23 party at
the strategic planning committee. "I
the Jewish Community Center in West
think all and all it's been an amazing
Bloomfield that drew about 150 people.
year," he said.
"I commend everyone for helping
YAD's "home improvement" project is
achieve so much success this past year in
being done to strengthen Jewish identity
seeing the action plan through," said
and secure the community's future.
Amy Schlussel of Huntington Woods,
"The leaders that have come from
former YAD president and chair of the
YAD have risen to the highest ranks of
strategic planning committee. "The plan
community leadership, including
is a fluid document that should continue Federation and [the United Jewish]
to be re-evaluated and reviewed," she
Foundation presidents, agency presi-
said.
dents, and heads of other organizations
Other changes are invigorating the
within our community," reads the YAD
group. At a recent board meeting, YAD
action plan.
members approved an allocation project
The group will continue to revamp
that will allow money raised by young
and revise until YAD is "the central
adults in the community to go directly
address for young adults in the commu-
to an elder care program in Metro
nity," said Gold.
Detroit and to a program that distrib-
`Are things going in the right direction?"
utes food to low-income Jewish seniors
asked Satovsky. "I think they are." ❑
in Kiev.
The under-40 crowd typically donates
Under-40 adults can learn more about
more than $700,000 annually to
YAD's sociah educational and volunteer
Federation's Annual Campaign.
programs by contacting YAD Director
A revitalized "Entree" program also is
Jonathan Goldstein, (248) 203-1471 or
in the works to recruit young leaders
goldstein@JFMD.org.
t may sound overly draniatic to
say joining an organization
“
changed my life." But in my case,
being
of the Young Adult Division
of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit truly did.
Of course, I didn't know that would
be the case when, unbeknownst to me,
my mother called the Jewish Federation
from Philadelphia and gave them my
unlisted home phone number. As a
hardworking and responsible college
graduate trying to make it on my own,
I was furious when I found out.
When I moved to Detroit to pursue
my TV reporting career with Fox 2
News, I didn't know a single person in
town. Hence, my mother's "parental
interference." But her phone call and
my subsequent participation in YAD
have resulted in a lot of good things:
I met my husband, Jonathan
Goldstein, who just happens to be the
YAD director. I participated in a young
adult mission to Israel. I traveled to
Poland and Kiev as part of the Grosfeld
Leadership Program and got to see
firsthand how money donated to the
Jewish Federation helps people in other
parts of the world.
I've participated in two national lead-
ership conferences in Washington,
D.C., and two regional conferences in
St. Louis and Pittsburgh. I've served for
three years on the YAD board, chaired
events, done volunteer work, met won-
derful people and made many friends.
All of these things are a direct result
of my participation in YAD.
The moral of the story: I'd encourage
any 20- or 30-something looking for a
connection to the community to give
YAD a try. Go to an event, put yourself
out there, volunteer.
You might just meet the man or
woman of your dreams, travel to a new
part of the world, do a good deed, or
get an extra sense of fulfillment and sat-
isfaction out of being part of your com-
munity.
And if you're a concerned Jewish
mother thinking, "I wish my child
would get involved," I'm sure my mom
would tell you that a little "nudge"
never hurts.
❑