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MONTAGUE DAWSON BRITISH 1895-1973],
OIL ON CANVAS, 24" X 36'
LE VERRE FRANCAIS
CAMEO GLASS VASE,
C. 1920, H 8"
PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973)
'CHOUETTE' VASE, H 12"
TISCA FRENCH HAND MADE
WOOL RUG, 6' X 5',
ELIEL SAARINEN DESIGN.
WARREN PLATNER BY KNOLL TABLE
WITH GLASS TOP, H 14", DIA 36"
CARTIER 18KT GOLD '-
LAPIS & DIAMOND
LADY'S WRISTWATCH
FRENCH EGYPTIAN REVIVAL MAHOGANY
& D'ORE BRONZE DAY BED, C. 180o, L 78"
409 E. JEFFEIZSON, I )ETROIT, MI 48226
TEL 313.963.6255 \xr\-vw.DUMOART.com
8 August 2011 I
RED TifittliD
RE,_
F
In the
Summer
in the City
By Ben Falik
ummer in the City started in 2002 less
with an idea than with an itch: What if
volunteer work worked better? Better for
the volunteers and better for the communi-
ties they served.
For all the symbolic value of large-scale
service days and sporadic mitzvah proj-
ects, it seemed to Michael Goldberg, Neil
Greenberg and me — fellow nursery school
alumni, then the ripe old age of 20 — that
the itch needed scratching.
Specifically, we sought a creative way
to connect the conspicuous demand for
volunteers, with a virtually limitless supply
of volunteers, to raise the quality of life in
Detroit and build sturdy bridges between
the city and suburbs.
Ten years later, Summer in the City has
made tikkun olam "fun, flexible and fulfill-
ing"for thousands of volunteers (hundreds
daily) who show up during the summer to
"paint, plant and play" in Detroit — at least
those who aren't turned off by our abun-
dant alliteration and "air quotes'
In a defining moment from our first
decade, Focus: HOPE enlisted us to paint a
mural at Glazer Elementary School, named
for a Temple Beth El rabbi and located a
stone's throw from Central High School in
the stomping ground of a previous Jewish
generation. Everything was progressing
smoothly except for these pesky, irresist-
ible students who kept coming to the gym,
distracting our volunteers.
Thus, Project Play was born. Our high
school and college volunteers now have
the opportunity, privilege and challenge of
spending summer days with hundreds of
Detroit's extraordinary elementary school-
ers.
Beyond tutoring, the essence of the
volunteer's role is to be a "buddy."We
wanted to take one of summer camp's
best attributes — the super cool teenage
counselors — and give that experience to
kids in the city.
We thought each and every city kid
deserved — after a school year in an over-
stuffed, under-resourced classroom — a
supportive, enthusiastic buddy to read,
write, draw, paint, dance, sing, dribble, pass,
field trip, laugh and laugh some more with.
In a city often governed by fear, anxiety
and hostility, we have aspired to create a
space where kids (of all ages) can safely be
their sublimely silly selves. And it's been a
blast.
Then — perennially, inevitably — in
the blink of an eye it's back to school in a
district that struggles to engage or educate
them. The statistics say these curious,
empathetic, indefatigable kids ought to
fail. They have every reason to slip through
the cracks and discover firsthand just how
closely connected our urban education and
criminal justice systems are.
But they keep growing up and showing
up, summer after summer.
"Camp Glazer" has become a strong
incentive for students to get good grades.
And former Glazer campers are now some
of our most dedicated volunteers and pow-
erful role models.
And we fought like hell for two years to
keep DPS from closing Glazer. It will remain
open, but as a charter school with great
uncertainty about which leaders, teachers,
students and parents will be back in the fall.
Wanna help? (Because Judaism teaches
that every life has the value? Because you
know that city problems don't stop at city
limits? Or, because you think these kids
have as much potential to be inventors and
investors as indigents and inmates?)
Well, help you can: August is Backpack-
tacular. It's an initiative, back by popular de-
mand, to send our campers back to school
wearing backpacks replete with books,
notepads, crayons and other tools — to let
them know they've got buddies root-root-
rooting for them all year round. Cash is king,
but in-kind donations are also kind.
Visit summerinthecity.com/backpacks for
details and smiles.
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