At Tribefest 2012 t Photos cour tesy NEXTGen Detroit rtes fu Je el e at Ariana Blumenfeld of Berkley displays the Jewish Erica Riba and Emily Silver, both of Ann Arbor, Becca Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's poster that Steinman of Flint, Tamara Steinman of Flint and Sari showcases the Olde English D of the Tigers. Gordon of West Bloomfield huddle. National co-chairs Jason Rubinoff of Toronto and Rachel Wright of Birmingham rally the throng at Sheldon Adelson's Venetian resort and casino. Our Jewish Future from page 28 generation of community leaders"). He talked with gusto about how it takes time, passion and creativity to be an ambas- sador for YAD, Federation and our Jewish community — about how you don't lead from the sidelines. Following the EPIC Event, Levine talked about changing how we as a community commit to inspiring young adults to come together to celebrate and express their Judaism and Jewish ideals. In reading JN coverage of the epic experience at the MGM Grand Detroit, I was struck by what NEXTGen President Marty Maddin said: "The Marty Maddin EPIC Event was an abso- lute home run — and further proof that young Jewish Detroit is alive and full of possibility:' Therein lies the core takeaway from that notable evening: It was full of possibility. It certainly gave flight to what could be done with a united young-adult legion helping clear the obstructive brush and bollards. No one is understating the epic achieve- ment. But neither should anyone think it was an end point. The hard work is now at hand. Federation leaders say they'll com- mit the resources — namely, the time and money — to secure the investment neces- sary to, as Federation President Douglas Bloom put it, "bring into the fold the young people of Metro Detroit." Valuable Support Beams Meanwhile, the IN held a March 28 party in Birmingham for 200 people, many from the generation that NEXTGen Detroit speaks to, to mark the first anniversary of Red Thread, the edgy, monthly supplement geared to that demographic. Red Thread plays an important transfor- mative role in reshaping the narrative about the Jewish community and Metro Detroit. Its focus is on younger adults, but Red Thread also serves as a generational bridge, provid- ing their parents and grandparents with a glimpse at how they work, play and engage with each other and the general community "Similarly, because Red Thread is a part of the Jewish News, younger readers remain connected to the news and events that impact the broader Jewish commu- nity;' JN Publisher Arthur Horwitz said. "This platform complements the growing number of initiatives that are helping to redefine Detroit as a great place to live, and a great place to live Jewishly" Another prime example of young- adult engagement is Torah on Tap (TOT), served up by Federation's YAD. The aim is to reach out to young professionals with a program "that is fun and social while also providing good Jewish knowledge and identity in a non-threatening envi- ronment:' said TOT director Rabbi Leiby Burnham of Southfield-based Yeshiva Beth Yehuda. "We launched TOT with the philosophy that when young people are not going to synagogues or other places of Jewish learning, we need to go to them:' TOT has grown from 12 attendees five years ago to up to 115 per event thanks in part to an anonymous donation that helped extend the reach. Typical atten- dance at the 10 yearly events is near 80. "The buzz in the community about TOT is great:' Burnham said, "and every time we do one, we see some new faces!' The Way Forward Bolstered by those and other companion communal building blocks, the EPIC Event was a prelude to something special. It was the beginning of guaranteeing our Jewish gic NEXTGen plan that looks not only a future. Electric as it was, the next step and year ahead, but also three and five years other follow-up ultimately will be more out. Short-range accomplishments won't pivotal to assuring our Annual Campaign, endure without a long-term vision with which commands national stature for its benchmarks of opportunity. per-capita prowess, has a community- Jewish Detroit is one of America's great focused corps of young donors to obliter- Jewish communities. Its future certainly ate seams in fundraising. clings to restructuring our Federation into To that end, NEXTGen has debriefed a sustainable model. Ideally, that model with table hosts and updated its database would capture the best of our chief plan- to keep all EPIC participants abreast of ning and fundraising agency while replen- NEXTGen events, Annual Campaign news ishing young leaders and donors so there's and our collective Jewish future. still a Jewish community to build up from, To cultivate young leadership, the enjoy and take pride in. NEXTGen transition plan agenda includes drilling into the ideas OINCE-UP CALL and dreams of YAD/ NEXTGen leaders as well as developing SEWS BEING WAS THE a board to critically ATTACKED ON THE NIGHTMARE shape the direction of STREETS OF OF THE 20TH NEXTGen. Newcomers EUROPE CENTURY. identified through the EPIC Event will be invit- ed to the January 2013 version of Entree, the YAD leadership develop- ment program. From a Campaign standpoint, adds YAD director Jessica Goodwin, "We are mak- ing personal phone calls to everyone who did not make a pledge at the EPIC Event to invite them to 'Step Forward' to support our com- munity." Unmistakably, the Detroit Jewish commu- nity would benefit in a big way from a strate- ❑ Dry Bones AwArd /MA prii 2012 29 I