Ties That Bind

ity

Special insert sustains momentum

Childeen News

of Chaldeandewish initiative.

The Building Community publication you are reading
marks a continuation and extension of the initiative
launched by the Chaldean News and the Jewish News in
April 2010 to bring our communities closer together
through a combination of shared knowledge and people-
to-people interactions.
This publication and its upcoming digital companion
will be produced four times in 2011. In addition to print
versions appearing in the Chaldean News and the Jewish
News, it will be distributed to churches, synagogues,
schools and community centers. Its content will focus on
the interactions between individuals and organizations
within our respective communities. Continuing on the
groundbreaking path of this initiative, we believe this to
be the first example in the region of two distinctive eth-
nic/niche communities conceiving and producing a joint
publication.
While content will continue to be a key ingredient for
the Building Community Initiative, we intend to rein-
force what our communities read with opportunities
that stimulate intergroup and one-on-one interactions.
Quite simply, the connective tissue for creating enduring
friendships and business relationships is getting to know
each other better.
Chaldean-Jewish workgroups — focusing on arts and
culture, business and entrepreneurship, education, social
action, and health and wellness — will help drive the
Building Community Initiative by providing story ideas
for the publication and developing events and activities
that engage additional members of our communities. We

are appreciative of our workgroup chairs, Mary Romaya,
Bunny Kratchman, LeeAnn Kirma, Jeannie Weiner,
Saad Hajjar, Howard Rosenberg, Ron Asmar, Nancy
Welber Barr, Vinos Kassab and Dr. Nahid Elyas, as well
as their committees for their embrace of this initiative.
And we are pleased that Florine Mark and Judge Diane
D'Agostini will be the initiative's 2011 honorary chairs,
building on the legacy of leadership provided by our
2010 honorary chairs, Michael George and Dr. Conrad
Giles.
The Building Community Initiative would not be
possible without the vision and support of our spon-
sors. We are pleased and honored that Bank of America
is returning as presenting sponsor. As you encounter
representatives of Bank of America and the rest of
our sponsor organizations, Wayne State University,
Meijer, Providence-St. John Health System, Lawrence
Technological University, Beaumont Hospitals, Hospice
of Michigan, Walsh College, Henry Ford West Bloomfield
Hospital, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, Ann Arbor
Offset, University of Michigan-Dearborn College of
Business and Detroit Medical Center, please thank them!
When we asked the University of Michigan-Dearborn
College of Business to track data points about the Building
Community Initiative, we were hopeful our overall efforts
would "move the dial."A summary of the research is con-
tained on page 10 of this publication. However, one finding
in particular fuels our enthusiasm for this project ... you
want us to continue it! And we are.
With appreciation,

Martin Manna, co-publisher
Chaldean News

Arthur Horwitz, publisher
Jewish News

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Presenting Sponsor

Bank of America.

Gold Sponsors

WAYNE STATE
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NIVeEi R iSeiTy
Um

gjOHN
PROVIDENCE

liKALTH SYSTEM'

Silver Sponsors

Lawrence
Tech

CCI

.

Beaumont

HENRY FORD
WEST BLo0r4FIELD HOSPITAL

HOSPICE

of rrtichigar ■

A Well-Rooted Friendship

The potential for relationship building between Metro
Detroit's Chaldean and Jewish communities is immense
given their total population of 186,000 in the region —
121,000 Chaldeans and 65,000 Jews. Strong family ties
remain the core of both cultures.
So it's not surprising that the Building Community
Initiative, which debuted with fanfare but uncertainty 13
months ago, enters its second year with plenty of power
Robert Sklar
in the energy cell supporting it. People and organizations
Contributing
have
stepped up to lend their minds and money to making
Editor
this fragile venture the best that it can be.
I've covered Building Community since its inception in
April 2010. I've watched it blossom from a novel idea to a growing pursuit.
The second year of any enterprise is crucial. How well Building Community
does in nourishing the roots of its tree of opportunity will go a long way
toward determining whether the initiative becomes a national model for mul-
ticulturalism.
Chaldeans and Jews in Metro Detroit have supported each other for years.
But they've only scratched the surface toward realizing the full potential. BC

INSIDE

; COLLEGE
OF BUSINESS

DEAREORN

Honorary Co-Chairs
Cover Story
Social Action
Survey Says
Education

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Cover Design: Deborah Schultz,
Renaissance Media Solutions
Inside Design: Michelle Sheridan,
Farago & Associates

Published jointly by the Chaldean News, 29850
Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 250, and the Detroit
Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 110
— Southfield, MI 48034. Created by Renaissance
Media Solutions, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Ste.
110, Southfield, MI 48034. F. Kevin Browett, COO,
(248) 354-6060.
Copyright May 2011, Renaissance Media Solutions.

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OEtROIT MEDICAL CENTER

Workgroup Chairs

Mary Romaya,
Barbara Kratchman,
LeeAnn Kirma, Jeannie Weiner,
Saad Hajjar, Howard Rosenberg,
Ron Asmar, Nancy Welber Barr,
Vinos Kassab, Dr. Nahid Elyas

May 2011

CHALDEAN NEWS I JEWISH NEWS 3