Publisher's Notebook
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PRESENTS
: YOUNG ADULT COMMITTEE
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AN EXCLUSIVE SCREENING OF
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In Search Of Leadership
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t starts with leadership, people willing to:
ing grandparents would have gagged hearing them speak that
• Step out of their respective comfort zones to imagine way!). While there are opportunities to diversify the economy,
a Michigan with tremendous possibilities, not just bur-
especially in the areas of health care, water and renewable
densome liabilities;
energy, they cited one common thread compounding prob-
• See Detroit as the economic, educational and cultural
lems and limiting solutions — a lack of leadership.
hub of Southeast Michigan, not just a magnet for cronyism,
We need more Max Fisher and Roger Penske types, they
despair and separation;
said. We need our news media outlets to hold our leaders
• Engage in the political process at
— elected and business — more accountable and we need to
all levels and in all ways to stimulate
mobilize the collective voice of the people so it is louder and
change, not just to shrug and accept
clearer than ever. And, they added, we need the business com-
local, regional and state shortcomings
munity to speak up about what's going on in Detroit.
as inevitable and irreversible;
Phil Power, the visionary who founded the Center For
• Speak and act directly with hon-
Michigan and attended the Jewish News "community conver-
esty and integrity, not just with avoid-
sation:' was impressed by the group's collective intelligence,
ance, self-interest and ignorance.
passion and ideas — one of the best of the dozens of conver-
With some exceptions, there has
sations he has attended.
been, and continues to be, an absence
The individuals comprising the group are a sampling of the
of leadership in our public and pri-
Jewish community's best and brightest leaders. They, and oth-
vate sectors. This has contributed to a
ers, must step forward and assume more positions of influ-
downward economic spiral that has us ence throughout the region and state. In conversations I have
moving our assets elsewhere as our children and grandchil-
with people from other communities, they want and need the
dren relocate to other cities and states to start their families
Jewish community to assume leadership roles.
and careers.
Are you ready to step up to
It is essential as a Jewish
the
plate?
There are many people in the Jewish
community very worried
If so, here are some ways to
about self-preservation that
get started:
community who are knowledgeable
we continue to focus on our
• The Jewish Community
own people's needs, here in
about the state's and region's problems Relations Council of
the Detroit area, in Israel and
Metropolitan Detroit is iden-
around the world. However,
and willing to help fix them.
tifying boards and commis-
not to help lead the transfor-
sions that strategically address
mation of the region and state
issues of concern to both the
in which we live is myopic and assures our own numbers, and Jewish and greater communities. If you are interested in serv-
vitality, will continue to diminish.
ing on a municipal, county or state board or commission
For decades, Detroit has been a breeding ground for Jewish
or civic organization where representation from our corn-
communal leadership. The list of Detroiters who led, or cur-
munity would be appropriate, please contact Robert I. Brown
rently lead, local, national and international Jewish organiza-
at rbrown@harvarddruggroup.com or Mikki Grossman at
tions and agencies is disproportionate to our numbers. And
grandmic@yahoo.com;
while there have been, and continue to be, notable individual
• The Michigan Jewish Conference supports many legisla-
exceptions, the Jewish community has not provided dispro-
tive positions in Lansing that benefit the Jewish and general
portionate governmental and non-governmental leadership to communities, including health, welfare, education, energy and
a region and state in dire need of it.
transportation. There are opportunities to participate at hear-
If a recent "community conversation" at the offices of the
ings, lobby legislators, serve on task forces, etc. Contact Susan
Jewish News is a barometer, then there are many people in the
Herman at mjc5@prodigy.net ;
Jewish community who are knowledgeable about the state's
• The recently organized Michigan-Israel Business Bridge
and region's problems and willing to help fix them.
is introducing Michigan businesses to Israel and Israeli busi-
Through the Ann Arbor-based Center For Michigan, more
nesses to Michigan. Its focus is opening markets in Israel for
than 1,500 residents have participated in more than 180
Michigan businesses and enticing Israeli businesses to invest
"community conversations" statewide to develop a grass roots
in job-creating ventures in Michigan. Contact Ron Perry at
defining-moment agenda for changing and reforming the
rperry@michiganisrael.com .
ways in which Michigan conducts the public's business. The
• The Center For Michigan is interested in hosting a second
Jewish News "community conversation" participants, the only
"community conversation" this fall with another representa-
one comprised of members of the Detroit Jewish community,
tive group of the Jewish community at the Jewish News. If you
were Michael Egren, Jeffrey Schlussel, Karen Alpiner, Richard
are interested in being considered, please e-mail me at
Simtob, Mindy Soble, Maurice Pagoda, Dr. Robert Goodman,
ahorwitz@thejewishnews.com.
Robert Heinrich, Jeffrey Garden, Lea Luger, Mark Milgrom,
Alan Kaplan, Eugene Sherizen and Michael Layne.
0 : Is
As a group, the participants were upset by a new business
• the Jewish community too provincial in
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its leadership outreach?
tax that was driving investment away, rather than to, the
state. They also lamented the overall business climate in the
Z What more can the Jewish community do
state and laid a chunk of the responsibility at the feet of the
P
to help the central city?
i
a
labor unions (some of their Franklin Delano Roosevelt-lov-
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•Is HERE•
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frARING
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LUKE WILSON
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THIS SUNDAY
AUGUST 3
1:30 PM
: BIRMINGHAM 8 THEATER
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• 111 SOUTH OLD WOODWARD AVENUE •
t MERRILL
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$18 PER TICKET
Includes Q&A with film producer •
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and Detroit native Gary Gilbert
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following the screening
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• LIMITED SEATING. EVERYONE WELCOME 40 .
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PURCHASE TICKETS
ONLINE
www.jarc.org
OR AT THE DOOR
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July 31 • 3008
A5
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