2
Michigan, where he's working
on joint degrees in public poli-
cy and law. As he rides the bus
or his bike downtown from his
home in Royal Oak, he passes
Summer in the City projects.
"The positive impact
is everywhere in Detroit
— murals and gardens, new
houses, play structures. It's
very encouraging."
Earlier this year, Falik bested
400 other applicants to earn
one of six BRICK Awards
from the New York-based Do
Something Foundation. He'll
put his prize — a $10,000
community grant — back
into Summer in the City. Other
grants and donations give the
group a $40,000 yearly budget.
Falik grew up in Bloomfield
Hills, graduated from Andover
High School and went to New
York to earn his urban studies
degree at Columbia University.
He could've gone anywhere to
work, but he chose to come
back to Detroit.
"I believe strongly in
Summer in the City and in this
region, otherwise I wouldn't
have come back:' he said. "I'm
here with a mission. After
school; I plan to pursue public
leadership in some capacity:
I think real change happens
through good government and
public policy."
Does this mean politics?
"If it's where I could do
the greatest good;' he said. "It
would mean following in the
footsteps of other Jewish lead-
ers. Hopefully, you haven't seen
the last of me!'
Meanwhile, it will be a busy
summer, but he'll still find
time to marry Andrea Jill "A.J."
Rosenzweig of West Bloomfield
, on July 29 at Temple Israel and
go on a honeymoon, too. ❑
To find out more about Summer
in the City or to volunteer, go
to www.sitc-det.org or call Ben
Falik at (248) 790-1000.
Robert A. Sklar
Editor
F
or a lot of young people,
the organized Jewish
community simply isn't
on their radar screen — there's
no sense of urgency driving them
yet. For some, the desire to work
in the Jewish community is there,
but they dismiss the idea because
of financial reasons or a perceived
lack of opportunity for professional
growth.
And that puts the danger needle for
future Jewish communal professionals
pointed straight toward high.
"We need to do a better job of con-
necting young people so they understand
what the Jewish community is, does and
has the capability to achieve says Julie
Zuckerman, 31, associate director for
campaign and community development
at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit in Bloomfield Township for the
past five years.
"Once people understand what we do
and how it affects them personally, it's
hard not to find something that excites,
motivates and draws them in:' the
Birmingham resident said.
Zuckerman represents Detroit Jewry
in the 80-student freshman class of
LiveNetworks, a yearlong Jewish com-
munal leadership workshop. The kickoff
was held this spring in Los Angeles,
part of the Professional Leaders Project.
Philanthropists including Detroiters
Communally
Connected
these experiences available. It's
very special!'
Zuckerman earned a bach-
elor's degree at the University
of Maryland and a master's of
social work degree from the
University of Michigan/Sol
Drachler Program in Jewish
Communal Leadership. The
New York native was active in
Jewish life as a teen and in col-
lege, including volunteering in
Israel through Project Otzma.
She teaches in the Temple Israel Religious
School in West Bloomfield.
She pursued a Federation career path
while a Hillel/Steinhardt Jewish Campus
Services Corps fellow at the University
of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1998 and
1999. •
"A student asked me to explain what
Federation was," Zuckerman said. "I
didn't have the answer.so I began to ask
questions. I realized that virtually every-
thing in my Jewish life could be directly
connected to Federation: BBYO, Jewish
camping, religious school, Otzma, my
trips to Israel. I realized that working at
the Federation was the best way to make
a difference for the entire Jewish com-
munity."
Jonathan Goldstein, director of
Federation's Young Adult Division, says
Zuckerman is successful because she
melds boundless energy with a passion
for the Jewish community and Judaism.
"Being such a people person, Julie plays
to that strength in a field where she's
working with so many different people
and personality types;' Goldstein said.
"I'm doing exactly what I want to do:'
Zuckerman said. "My role might change,
but for me, there's nothing better than I
can do. with my time than work to make
my community a better place, especially
for those who might not be able to do it
for themselves: There are lots of ways to
make that happen."
Federation has helped her
make a difference in
the Jewish communit
Bill Davidson and Eugene and Marcia
Applebaum have funded the L.A.-based
PLP to develop a training ground for tal-
ented 20- and 30-somethings to become
engaged in lay or professional Jewish
leadership positions.
LiveNetworks will provide her new
ways to look at and challenge not only
the Detroit Jewish community, but
also the worldwide Jewish community,
Zuckerman said. "Participation will pro-
vide me with opportunities to mentor
and be mentored, to grow professionally
and personally, and to have one-on-one
interactions that will help me to refine
my personal career and volunteer path;'
she said.
Former Detroiter Rhoda Weisman Uziel
is PLP's executive director. She has high
praise for Zuckerman's ability to integrate
Jewish values and knowledge while creat-
ing a culture of inclusion and excellence.
"Not only did I reach out to Julie
immediately to join us and help us build
a shared vision," Uziel said, "but I will also
ask her to become a mentor's
mentor — to advise and guide
new leaders coming up the
pipeline!'
Zuckerman takes particular
joy in bringing others into the
communal pipeline. When she
worked in Federation's Israel
and Overseas Department, she
led groups to Detroit Jewry's
Partnership 2000 region in the
Central Galilee and to Kiev. Just
last week, she led a Grosfeld
Leadership Mission of 18 Metro
Detroiters, ranging in age from
31-42, to Poland and Israel.
"One of the most exciting
things is watching people realize
how what they give in Detroit
makes a difference around the
world:' Zuckerman said. "It's
spectacular helping people
make that connection. We're
lucky enough to have people like
Nancy and Jim Grosfeld making
❑
For more information about the
Professional Leaders Project: www.
jewishleaders.net. Robert Aronson, CEO
of the Jewish Federaton of Metropolitan
Detroit, is'another PIP founder as
are the Charles & Lynn Schusterman
Family Foundations and the Jewish Life
Network/Steinhardt Foundation. Michael
Steinhardt, chairman of the JN's parent
company, Jewish Renaissance Media, also
is a funder.
June 15 • 2006 15