The Future Is
For The Young
Federation's newest division expands
the focus on the next generation of
Jewish Detroiters.
Jacob Kohn of Detroit and Leora Flaitso
of Chicago dance at the 2011 Latke
Vodka, which drew close to 800 young
Continuum Of Engagement
Marty Maddin
Josh Levine
I
n "Grand" style, the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit is combining
three of its young adult programs into
a single division.
The formal launch of the NEXTGen
Detroit division will take place during the
March 10 EPIC Event at the MGM Grand
in Downtown Detroit.
The long-term strategy is to attract,
engage and retain the next generation of
Jewish Detroiters.
NEXTGen Detroit brings together three
existing programs: Young Adult Division
(YAD), Community Birthright and
CommunityNEXT. The division also will
be developing a new model for building
community within the 21- to 45-year-old
age group, supported by a range of new
programs and initiatives.
Larry Wolfe
"It is clear the welfare of Jewish Detroit
depends not only on meeting the needs of
the community today but also on creating
a vibrant home for the next generation,"
says Scott Kaufman, Federation CEO.
"That means creating a breadth of
social, cultural and professional oppor-
tunities. We realize we need new tools,
new technologies and, ultimately, a new
structure in our organization. That's what
NEXTGen Detroit is all about."
Larry Wolfe, Federation's 2012 Annual
Campaign co-chair, adds, "Younger Jews
certainly aren't the only ones we are trying
to reach, but they're critical. We can only
hope to grow and sustain our community
into the future if we effectively reach the
next generation."
build the NEXTGen
community. Everyone
will be there to have
a great time, but
Campaign. By attending, new donors
they'll also be there
will be committing to a first-time
as young leaders in
pledge, and previous donors will
our community.
commit to meet or exceed their 2011
"Many will have
Jeffrey Ross
donation.
already been
"This event is similar to a model
involved, but, for
that other cities, such as Chicago and
others, this will be a first opportunity
Toronto, have used very successfully,"
to get to know Federation and its mis-
says Matt Ran, EPIC co-chair with Leah
sion in Detroit. We thought this was
Bold. "Not only will we hope to raise
the perfect venue to officially launch
significant dollars for the campaign,
NEXTGen Detroit."
but at the same time we'll be helping
Rachel Wright, YAD Campaign co-
EPIC Event March 10
he upcoming NEXTGen Detroit
EPIC Event to be held at 8:30
p.m. Saturday, March 10, at the
MGM Grand Hotel in Downtown Detroit,
will consist of a number of events,
including a dessert/cocktail hour, a
main event featuring the well-known
comedian "Roastmaster General"
Jeffrey Ross and an after-party spon-
sored by local synagogues.
EPIC also is a fundraiser for
Federation's 2012 StepForward Annual
T
Community Birthright is Federation's
arm of the national program, offering free
10-day Israel experiences for Jews ages
18-26. CommunityNEXT, Federation's
social engagement initiative begun in
2010, is creating a sense of Jewish com-
munity among young Detroiters by focus-
ing on their interests and passions, such
as the revitalization of Detroit.
Both Birthright and CommunityNEXT
are outreach programs, providing connec-
tions to the Jewish community for a new
population. For those already engaged,
the well-established YAD division offers a
platform for sustained leadership oppor-
tunities.
By coordinating the three programs
under a single banner, Federation aims to
create a seamless continuum that meets
its audience on its own terms, using its
own unique language and mode of com-
munication. Beginning this summer, the
name YAD itself will no longer be used,
and the group will be identified simply as
NEXTGen Detroit.
"After years of maintaining a highly
successful YAD program, we know the
time is right to transform the identity to
NEXTGen," says current YAD President
Josh Levine. "These days, 'Young Adult'
professionals.
means teenagers, as in 'young adult fic-
tion: Our focus now is on transforming
the division to meet the needs of our con-
stituency.
"'Customer-centric' is a term you might
not have heard used for Federation groups
before, but it very much describes the
strategy we're implementing:'
Desire To Connect
NEXTGen Detroit Director Miryam
Rosenzweig, a recent transplant to Detroit
from New York, where she ran the global
next-generation program at World ORT as
well as the national next-generation pro-
gram at the Jewish Federations of North
America (JFNA), agrees.
"What we think of as `next gen' is actu-
ally a very broad group of young people,
from their early 20s to their early 40s,
both single and married, with and without
kids," she says.
"What they all have in common is a
deep desire to connect, both with their
peers and with their community. But they
don't necessarily relate to the Federation
The Future on page 12
chair with Steve Migliore, says, "The
power of an event like this is getting
everyone together in the same room.
We'll be unveiling our new campaign
video that offers a very fresh message
geared specifically for this audience.
We want people to participate not
just because their parents did and not
just because it's the right thing to do.
We want them to participate because
they care about Detroit and about the
Jewish community here.
"This event is a great way to build
that personal connection."
To register, go to jewishdetroit.org/
epic/.
J14
March 1 6 2012
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