>> ... Next Generation ...

Meet NEXTGen Detroit

First annual meeting lays out vision for engaging
young Jews in the community.

N

EXTGen Detroit (formerly
known as YAD) launched in
full force on Tuesday, June 12,
as 175 NextGeners gathered
for its first annual meeting at the home of
Marcie and Rob Orley in Franklin.
Joshua Levine, 2011-2012 YAD
president, started the meeting by giving
the annual report.
"The landscape for young adult
engagement has changed and quickly,"
he said. "We have a very strong presence,
participation and campaign compared to
most other communities, but that's not
enough. We need to be better, we need
to adapt, and this is why we created
NEXTGen."
Federation President Douglas Bloom
welcomed everyone along with Lisa
and Hannan Lis, who awarded Rabbi
Leiby Burnham the Mark Family Young
Leadership Award.
Burnham then gave a short, but
empowering D'var Torah as he has done
to successfully engage the young adult
community in Metro Detroit over the past
few years through his successful and
innovative programs including Torah on
Tap.
liana Liss, immediate past president
of YAD, then installed the first NEXTGen
Detroit's 2012-2013 Board of Directors,
including new members such as Jodi
Beals, Adam Blanck, Amy Brody, Michael
Chosid, Matt Cohn, Ryan Fishman, Jordan
Glass, Josh Goldberg, Ryan Landau, Adam
Milgrom, Scott Mitnick, Sara Nelson,
Rabbi Yisrael Pinson, Jason Raznick and
Donny Wohl as well as the- rest of the
returning and executive board.
Liss then announced President-Elect
Rachel Wright, who is slated to be the
next president of the division beginning
in 2013. Lastly, she installed the president
of NEXTGen Detroit, Marty Maddin.
Maddin spoke about his vision for the
coming year: "NEXTGen provides us the
structure and resources to invite all of
the different segments of our young adult
population to the Federation table.
"This new structure helps us
deliver a cohesive, continuous and
relevant experience. By incorporating
CommunityNEXT, Israel Experiences,
Leadership and Development, Campaign
and the NEXTGen Hub into one
organization, we're creating a new path
to connect, engage and support our peers
and community. And, we're leading the
charge nationally in this!" he said.
"There are a lot of moving pieces and

26

June 21 . 2012

Top left: President-Elect Rachel Wright of

Birmingham and incoming President Marty Maddin

of Huntington Woods.

Top right: The NEXTGen Detroit Board.

Bottom left: Rabbi Leiby Burnham of Oak Park

was presented the Mark Family Young Leadership

Award by Hannan and Lisa Lis.

additional constituencies for our board
to represent. We need to make sure
everyone has a voice and understands
how they play a role in moving us
forward."
Maddin said his focus includes
leadership development for board
members, community outreach and
Annual Campaign.
"As we know, every dollar we raise is
important, and we're determined to show
that collectively NEXTGen can have an
epic impact on the Annual Campaign,"

he said.
"Equally important, however, is that we
find a way to help our donors feel good
about the dollars and time they give.
Without them, we have nothing!"
Maddin concluded his address by
saying, "We must reach beyond our
comfortable circle of friends and create
space and a voice for those not currently
at the table. This is not our table; this is
a community table ... and everyone who
wants a seat at it is welcome."
He also announced the creation of

a NEXTGen Hub, a place to connect
people and programs to their interests,
profession and lifestyle.
"Our goal is simple: transformation,"
Maddin said. "We are working to make
our city a vibrant and meaningful home
for young Jews of every age, a place
where meaning can be found in every
facet of life, from professional to social,
religious to cultural and more."
For more information about NEXTGen
Detroit, visit www.jewishdetroit.org/
nextgen.1._!

