To Life!

Spotlight

Hoofing It
To Help

Walk benefits building multicultural ties.

pate. David Henig of Sylvan
Lake was instrumental in mov-
ing the day of the walk. Adat
Laurie Kach, team captain, Farmington Hills; Mel Chudnof Kol Ami co-
Shalom Synagogue in
president, Marty Hollander, Terry Hollander and Mindi Silver-Weiss, all of
Farmington Hills and Temple
West Bloomfield
Beth El in Bloomfield Township
were among the Jewish groups
represented.
ore than 2,000 pairs of shoes moved in
"There are a lot of people who care about getting
unison around a three-mile stretch of
along and building bridges and if more people did,
Detroit's Belle Isle — and the people
that would really help the world," said Debbie
wearing those shoes came from different walks of
Portney of West Bloomfield. She attended with her
life. Jews, Christians, Muslims and members of
husband, Steve, and their 15-year-old daughter,
other religious groups walked
Becca.
together side by side at the "Walk
The event helped raise money for NCCJ's youth
As One" walkathon. All got wet
leadership diversity programs, which reach about
in the rain, all felt strongly about
8,000 young people at 70 different high schools.
being there, and all came to cele-
"The amounts of anti-Semitism, bigotry, racism
brate diversity and promote racial
and homophobia decrease because we're getting
and ethnic harmony.
Kol Ami's David Henig with his wife, Bonnie,
kids early, and we're also training kids to be leaders
"I think it's wonderful bringing — not just to be tolerant and politically correct,"
of Sylvan Lake
all of the faiths together," said
said Spreitzer.
Laurie Kach of Farmington Hills.
"I think it's important that students see people of
She walked with a group from
ROBIN
all nationalities, colors and religions can be togeth-
SCHWARTZ Temple Kol Ami in West
er, and we all have the same values and ideals," said
Bloomfield.
Columnist
Steve Strome of Bloomfield Hills, chairman and
"The walk is to lift up Metro
CEO of the Troy-based Handleman Co., one of the
Detroit," added the event's coor-
walkathon co-sponsors.
dinator, Steve Spreitzer. "The beautiful sight of peo-
Also spotted with their walking shoes on at the
ple of all races and religions enjoying one another is
May 22 event were: Sheri Schiff of Birmingham,
just awesome to see," he said.
and Mel Chudnof, Mindi Silver-Weiss and Terry
The walk was sponsored by the National
and Martin Hollander, all of West Bloomfield. The
Conference for Community Justice, a Detroit-based
Schmaltz Klezmer Ensemble provided some of the
human relations organization dedicated to fighting
musical entertainment. ❑
bias, bigotry and racism. The group has offices in 32
states, including Michigan. In the past, the
Philip Talbert of Detroit-based Talbert & Ass o c ia tes
walkathon has been held on a Saturday, during
and
NCCJ leaders Rose Giffen, fund development; Dr.
Shabbat. This year, it was moved to Sunday so
Dan Krichbaum, executive director; and Steve
members of the Jewish community could partici-

NI

Spreitzer, interfaith and Walk as One coordinator

6/23
2005

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