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Seeds Of Community

HAVEN project helping garden
developer deepen her Pontiac roots.

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56

March 25 . 2010

lanting a garden is as
Hershel Stuart,
soothing as it is reward-
Kaplan's late
ing — working with one's
father, was chair-
hands, reaping the harvest
man of the board
of one's hard work, all while being
at Oakland Family
invigorated by sunshine and fresh air.
Services at its
This spring's HAVEN Garden
peak and was
Project will provide these benefits
responsible for
and more as it builds community
the founding and
among people who are trying to
reconstruction of
Allison Stuart
rebuild their lives.
its main offices at Kaplan
Led by Haven CEO Beth Morrison,
the former Elks
AsklnYourFace.com founder Allison
Temple in down-
Stuart Kaplan, her son Benjamin
town Pontiac and its expansion to
Gluck, a senior horticulture student
other communities in Oakland County.
at Michigan State University, and
"As far as we go in this world, we
coordinator and educator Alexis
always come back to our roots," says
Bogdanova-Hanna, the project is
Kaplan. "Not only is this my fam-
intended to develop a community gar-
ily tradition — it's a Jewish value to
den in Pontiac for residents to create a repair the world, tikkun olam. Pontiac
healthy, sustainable environment.
has changed so much since my
"I am honored to be a part of this
great-grandparents started devel-
incredible mission," says Kaplan,
oping it — and it is an honor to be
whose family helped develop Pontiac
involved in its rebuilding."
in the early 20th century. "The HAVEN
Kaplan also continues the family
residents, as well as community
legacy by partnering with her son in
members and volunteers, will come
this effort. Ben Gluck helped launch
together to plant, nurture and harvest
the Michigan Young Farmer Coalition,
the fruits and vegetables of their labor which is dedicated to empowering
— and they'll build relationships with
Michigan communities through viable
one another and with the Earth at the
agricultural stewardship.
same time."
The HAVEN Garden Project
HAVEN is a nationally recognized
includes cultivating and growing food,
nonprofit providing solutions and
making weekly deliveries of fresh pro-
programs promoting violence-free
duce to Pontiac recipients and edu-
homes and communities. Its mission
cating HAVEN clients and neighboring
is to eliminate domestic violence and
youth about community gardening.
sexual assault across Oakland County
Veteran fitness industry leader
and surrounding communities through Allison Kaplan created www.
treatment and prevention services.
AsklnYourFace.com in 2008 as a
The HAVEN Garden Project involves way to empower women. With a
local groups, schools, HAVEN of
growing national readership, www.
Pontiac, the Michigan Young Farmer
AsklnYourFace.com offers daily
Coalition, AsklnYourFace.com and
articles from experts in fitness, health
Abundant Succession, an ecological
and wellness, nutrition, relationships,
education firm.
animal activism and more. Kaplan is
Gardens will be located on HAVEN
based in Bloomfield Hills.
property with groundbreaking tak-
"My goal is to inspire women
ing place this month. Donations are
by providing solid information in
needed to make the project happen;
a direct way — if you sugar-coat
they can be made at www.haven-oak- something, it's received lightly," says
land.org . Follow the garden's progress Kaplan. "That's why I'm in-your-face
at www.AsklnYourFace.com .
— because you can't make change
Kaplan was born into a family of
without really pushing buttons!"
community-builders: In the early
She adds, "I really believe women
1900s, her great-grandparents,
can change their lives, emotion-
Joseph and Rachel Barnett, were
ally and physically. I am dedicated
the founders of the Jewish Pontiac
to informing and inspiring women
Temple and also developers of early
to become fit for their future — on
commerce in Pontiac.
every level." H