A rts Fo rce

outside the box — many children are
not having that opportunity.
"There are lots of problems in this
country',' she said, "and a lot of people
don't feel worrying about the arts is
important. In the end, we want out chil-
dren to have an enriched education, and
the arts are a very important part of that
education.
"It's a great honor and pleasure to
serve on this committee. I look forward
to working with an interesting group of
people."
Berman currently serves on the board
and executive committee of Americans
for the Arts and the boards of the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michigan
Opera Theatre and Detroit Zoological
Institute.
The President's Committee on the
Arts and Humanities (w-ww.pcah.gov)
began service in 1982. It is committed
to cultural philanthropy and engaging
the public and private sectors. It focuses
on arts and humanities education, cul-
tural diplomacy, economic revitalization
through the arts and humanities, and
special events.
It works primarily with the White
House and its cultural partners, the
National Endowment for the Arts and
the Institute of Museum and Library
Services. 1

Madge Berman joins
Obama committee to
heighten awareness.

ect of the Jewish Federations of North
America, the National Opinion Research
Center at the University of Chicago and
the North American Jewish Data Bank
— found that one in six residents of the
local communities in the study moved
to their current community within the
past four years.
The issue of Jewish movement is
somewhat a personal one to Berman.
He lives in Metropolitan Detroit,
where the Jewish population has dwin-
dled to approximately 65,000, according
to his estimates.
"We're losing people at a startling
rate," he says.
"Where are they going? What's hap-
pening to the communities they leave
behind?"
To address the not-so-pleasant
effects of Jewish mobility, the Jewish
Federations of North America launched
its New Moves program this past spring,
the first large-scale donor information-
sharing effort.
"Since federations maintain their own
databases of donors, New Moves consol-

idated data on donors who moved from
one area to another, and began shar-
ing that information with the affected
federations:' says Adam Smolyar, senior
vice president, strategic marketing and
communications.
So far, 69 federations have participat-
ed, and more than 65,000 people have
moved to 148 federation territories.
"Many federations have begun reaching
out to these constituents as a result,"
Smolyar says.
The New Moves project also provided
federations with information such as
birthdates and e-mail addresses, to help
federations tailor their outreach more
efficiently, Smolyar added.
The goal is to get all federations
involved eventually.
"My Dad believes that if we don't
know what was really happening statis-
tically, we can't plan for it and we'd be
doomed to repeat the same mistakes:'
says Ann Berman.

This article appeared in the New York

Jewish Week on Nov. 2Z

IVI

adeleine "Madge" Harris
Berman of Franklin
has been named to the
President's Committee on the Arts and
Humanities for a second tour.
Her husband, Mandell, was with her
as she was sworn in at the White House
by Vice President Joe Biden on Nov. 4.
Others on the 25-member committee
include Edward Norton, Sarah Jessica
Parker, Forest Whitaker, Teresa Heinz
Kerry and Yo Yo Ma. First Lady Michelle
Obama is honorary chair.
Berman previously served on the
committee in 1994 during the Clinton
administration.
"The object of the committee is to
raise the consciousness of the American
people about art and humanities:'
Berman said.
"I have been working for arts and
humanities almost all adult life.
"I believe arts in the schools is very,
very important and that too many
schools are completely eliminating the
arts. I believe children must have arts in
their lives, and it's up to schools to see
to it. The arts create a point of view of
creativity and provide a chance to think

Story Development Editor Keri Guten Cohen

contributed to this story.

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