Metro

ON THE COVER

1

Keri Guten Cohen

Story Development Editor

B

The trio found Detroit proj-
ects, mostly run by overworked
and under-funded non-profits,
and offered to help. Volunteer
work ranges from haul-
ing debris from demolished
houses to creating mural parks
from vacant lots to mentoring
young children. Jobs are low-
skill, high-energy so people
can just jump in and succeed.
"We want to really ben-
efit these groups': Falik said.
"These non-profits are critical,
scraping together money to do
what needs to be done.
"I think the mental before-
and-after pictures leave more
of an impact on the volunteers.
When you see Detroit on the
11 o'clock news, it's guns and
fires. We get to see the Detroit
of striving neighborhoods, ice cream trucks and
parks. We're seeing changes from what we do. It's
tikkun olant. There really is a rightful feeling of
saving the world — starting in Detroit."
Many of the volunteers are Jewish and hear
about Summer in the City at synagogue or sum-
mer camp. And satisfied volunteers return and
bring friends and siblings.
Falik has that same sense of satisfaction and
that same desire to return and make a difference
in the city. He's currently working in downtown
Detroit in the Mayor's Office of Community
Affairs on an internship through the University of

Focused
Energy

en Falik, 24, exudes
an intense energy
and passion that's
contagious.
Over the last five summers,
he's been a Pied Piper for
Detroit, luring more than 750
youthful suburban volunteers
to the city to complete 15,000
hours of community service
through Summer in the City.
The non-profit organization
he started with Neil Greenberg
and Michael Goldberg, two
buddies he's known since
Temple Beth El nursery school,
truly allows volunteers to
make a difference in Detroit
— with no strings attached.
From June 20 to Aug. 25, carpools will leave six
suburban sites each Tuesday and Friday at 9 a.m.
and return by 2 p.m. No advance sign-up required.
Just show up and go. Volunteers even earn corn-
munity service credits.
"When I was home from college in the summer,
I was eager to find an outlet for my energy:' Falik
said. "I realized there were all these young people
with all this energy — we have to harness it.
"It's supply and demand. There is a lot to do and
there's a huge supply of volunteers with time and
curiosity. Rather than a one-hit mitzvah day, why
not come with a small group over a sustainable time?"

Ben Falik
harnesses
suburban
youth power
to be
Detroit.

Meet young
leaders who
are making
a difference
in our
community.

Ben Falik, 24, of

Royal Oak is a

super volunteer

in Detroit who

brought others

along through

Summer in the

City.

14 June 15 • 2006

