Publisher's Notebook
Not-So-Silent Jewish Heroes
Sta ff p hoto by Ang ie Baan
T
here is no shortage of depressing news to entice cov-
erage from our major news-media outlets. General
Motors. Chrysler. Home foreclosures. The Lions.
Unemployment. Detroit's City Council, Public Schools, Pension
Board and, of course, Kwame. When we add a dose of shoot-
ings, fires and automobile accidents, it can sap the optimism
from even the most cheerful of souls.
Yet, far away from the "if it bleeds,
it leads" mindset that permeates the
assignment desks at many of our
television stations and metropolitan
quasi-dailies, everyday people are
doing acts of kindness that are heart-
warming, inspirational and chang-
ing lives in Detroit and throughout
Southeastern Michigan.
Twenty of these everyday people
were honored last month at the Detroit
Opera House as Silent Heroes. Their
good deeds and uplifting personal sto-
ries generated a warm glow of possi-
bilities and hope ... but not the stuff to warrant the embrace
of the mass media.
The brainchild of Bankole Thompson, my media colleague
at the Detroit-based Michigan Chronicle, Silent Heroes brought
together black and white, Christian, Jew and Muslim, young
and old to be recognized for their good work and serenaded
by gospel vocalist Bill Moss Jr., jazz great Lester Williams and
hip-hop artist Khary Frazier.
Looking for inspiration? There's Yusef Shakur. He spent
nine years in prison for crimes he committed by age 20 and
left a changed man, serving as a community organizer, Head
Start teacher, mentor to other young men recently released
from prison and author. Watching tears of joy and pride streak
down his face as he received recognition — and thanked fam-
ily and friends who stood by him through his ordeal — was a
true Kodak moment.
There's Sainee Hawkins. Energetic, engaging and youth-
ful, she is responsible for the Detroit Public Library's
"Grandparents Upgrade Project." That's a fancy way of saying
she teaches senior citizens how to use personal computers.
In fact, she literally wrote the book used in their instruction.
She has many, many more eager students than computers.
Because almost none of her graduates have personal comput-
ers at home, they take public transportation to the library,
waiting for hours to get 20-30 minutes of computer access.
Some of her graduates were in the audience to see her receive
her award.
There's Sheila Clifton. A federal Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms (ATF) special agent by day, Sheila runs the Zeta
Stork's Nest Foundation, which provides support and resourc-
es to low-income mothers with newborn children. With dia-
pers and clothing and other necessities, she helps to provide
stability and a warm embrace.
And then, there are Ben Falik, Neil Greenberg and Michael
Goldberg. The still-youthful founders of Summer in the City
(they are in their mid-20s) have brought more than 1,200
teen volunteers — largely from the Jewish community — to
Detroit to do more than 22,000 hours of service since 2002.
They have done more than arrange tutoring for elementary
school children, clear debris from trash-infested lots, build
mini-parks and paint uplifting murals on the sides of aban-
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LIMBS ON THE
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F THOSE STRONG
NOUGH TO EMBRACE IT;
Ben Falik and Ayubu Tellis, 7, of Detroit last summer.
doned buildings. They have stripped away generalizations
many of our Jewish teens would otherwise have about Detroit
and Detroiters. In return, they have shattered generalizations
and assumptions Detroiters have about the Detroit Jewish
community.
"These guys are doing this? Your Jewish community is
doing this? Your kids are doing this? For us and with us?"
These were typical of the comments I received from Silent
Heroes honorees and attendees. "We had no idea. Thank you
for bringing them to our attention." Some were eager to be a
part of Summer in the City's upcoming plans.
I found myself explaining the concept of tikkun olam
and how Ben, Neil and Michael are links in a long tradition
— and obligation — Jews have to repair the world.
While the news will continue to be glum in the weeks and
months ahead, there are many more silent heroes in our midst
doing important work. Let's hope our major media outlets will
shine some light on these people and their stories ... inspir-
ing others throughout our region with their good deeds.
A postscript: A few paragraphs ago, I introduced Sainee
Hawkins and how her ability to train senior citizens is con-
strained by a lack of personal computers. During a recent
conversation with my friend and neighbor Jon Lowe, I
shared Sainee's challenge. Jon gave me Dave Lieberman's
phone number. An attorney by profession, Dave refurbishes
personal computers as an avocation and donates them to
worthy causes. When Dave heard of Sainee's work, he eagerly
agreed to provide computers for her program and students.
Dave is another "silent hero" from our Jewish community
doing tikkun olam.
❑
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May 28 2009
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