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Bringing Joy To Beaumont

Josh Levinson's snack cart is now
his own enterprise.

ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

Mark your calendar now
Wednesday, June 26, 2013 7:30 PM

Allan Nahajewski

Contributing Writer

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The Monist Organization
of America

Presents

Jihad in America -
The Grand Deception

The Grand Deception, a 70-minute award winning film by the
Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), traces the roots of
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Islamism inside the United States. The film examines the extent
of Islamist influence within the United States and highlights the.;
danger it poses for all Americans.

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This documentary is based extensively on primary source
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materials from the IPT's vast archives, including original Muslim
Brotherhood documents.

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Location:

The Corners

2075 Walnut Lake Rd, West Bloomfield
Township, MI 48323

$8 per ticket

22 June 20 • 2013

For details contact:
248.661.6000 or
Kobi@mizoa.org

he staff members at
Beaumont Hospital in Royal
Oak can't help but smile when
they see Josh Levinson come around.
One reason is Josh's happy, pleasant
demeanor. The other is that he's bringing
along their favorite snacks.
Josh, 33, has Williams syndrome,
a neurodevelopmental condition that
affects one in 10,000 people. The condi-
tion is caused by a microscopic deletion
on a chromosome, resulting in a multi-
tude of physical, behavioral and cogni-
tive issues. However, it doesn't keep him
from doing the job he loves.
"When Josh was still in school, we
were able to arrange a placement at
Beaumont doing various things:' says
Dr. Marty Levinson, Josh's father and a
pediatrician on staff at the hospital.
"We spent a lot of time thinking out
of the box to figure out how to take
advantage of his strengths, which include
his personality and people skills, to do
something that was both enjoyable for
him and of value as well. We came up
with the traveling snack care'
A few hours each weekday, Josh makes
his rounds throughout the hospital, sell-
ing candy, peanuts, crackers and snacks
to doctors, nurses, staff and visitors,
accompanied by Kim Tosolt, his job
coach from Jewish Vocational Services.
"We have a good time together:' she
says.
Josh started the job as a volunteer
seven years ago and has logged 3,000
volunteer hours, but as of this month,
the activity is officially a business
venture. He now has ownership of the
snacks and is running his own micro-
business under the name of Josh's Noshes
with new signage and a new shirt, both
of which include a drawing of his face.
"People love the new sign:' he says.
"They sure do," adds Kim, "and
they're asking if they can buy a shirt:'
"He's one of the most popular people
here:' Dr. Levinson says. "I've been on
staff for almost 33 years — nobody
knows me, but everybody knows Josh:'
When Josh arrives on the sixth floor of
the hospital, his presence is announced.
Three years ago, Josh suffered a stroke.
"Luckily, he retained his wonderful
personality, but was left with weakness
in one leg and paralysis of his right arm:'
Dr. Levinson says. "When he was recov-
ering in the hospital, Josh's popularity

Josh Levinson (center) now runs his
own company — Josh's Noshes. With
him are his job coach, Kim Tosolt
of Jewish Vocational Services, and
Rabbi Aharan Amzalak, hospital
chaplain and a regular customer.

became an issue. He was in intensive
care, and so many people here were call-
ing to find out how he was doing:'
Before the stroke, Josh had a second
job feeding, bathing and cleaning the
animals in the Friendship Circle Life
Town pet store. However, his addi-
tional disabilities have precluded him
from working there. He is undergoing
therapy and beginning to make prog-
ress with the use of his right arm.
As a business owner, Josh buys his
own candy from Costco, Target, Meijer
and at Doc Sweets' Candy Company,
where he has an account. On a good day,
he can sell $50 worth of snacks.
His favorite part of the job? "The
people he says. While not a candy lover
himself, he knows that many doctors have
a sweet tooth, and he knows the specific
candy indulgences of his customers.
During our interview, a customer
stops by, marveling at Josh's new sign
and shirt.
"You look very professional:' she says.
"Thanks. I try to be," he says.
"One of his weaknesses was money
skills, but he's gotten very good at mak-
ing change and knowing what the prices
are Dr. Levinson says. "He couldn't do
this independently; he needs to be kept
on task, but he knows his way around
the hospital better than I do:'
Launching a new business has Josh and
his father thinking about future plans.
"Who knows?" says Dr. Levinson. "He
may expand his hours. This new venture
is a few weeks old; we're just getting
our feet wet. He may expand beyond
the hospital, perhaps special events. We
bought him a mobile cart for use down
the road:'

❑

