Km KOSHER MICHIGAN

Guest Column

KOSHER CERTIFICATION AGENCY

Growing
Together

Congratulations to
New York Bagel in West Bloomfield

Moving from service to collaboration.

Voted #1 Bagels

"If you have come here to help me, then you are
wasting your time ... But if you have come because
your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us
work together"
— Lila Watson

n recent years, the suburban
ect on repurposing blighted property.
Jewish community's participation
While I am proud that WSDS is
in service initiatives in Detroit
moving into its second year, I realize
has been growing rapidly.
that we measured our success by the
There are many great organizations
success of the projects in our first year.
connecting Jewish young
Next year, I want to measure
people with Detroiters
our success by the strength
to work on meaningful
of our partnerships. It means
projects and programs.
setting tangible goals for
I'm excited by this
a more equal exchange
development and have
of service between our
joined it by creating a
Ann Arbor and Detroit
group called We Support
participants.
Detroit Schools (WSDS).
Next year, WSDS
\i\
However, I also notice
participants could learn
that once the project of
how to better receive the
the day is done, many
things
they hope to give to
Bobby Siporin
Jews and non-Jews alike
others: capacity, support
return to their homes
and connection. In order to
outside the city.
do that, high school students we work
Sometimes, the work we do seems
with should be given the opportunity to
one-sided. We ask to be welcomed
offer their own unique expertise to our
into the communities of Detroiters,
communities.
but I doubt that many city residents
Collaboration implies that all
would feel welcome in our suburban
parties contribute and all parties
communities. I'm posing this as a
receive. Positive exposure is a first
question for consideration, not an
step.
accusation. How do we build true
Many programs already in place
urban-suburban collaboration born
provide opportunities for people of
out of service?
different communities to get to know
Growing up in Huntington Woods,
each other and build trust. The next
I always wanted to feel like part of
step is to continue the conversation,
Detroit. As a young adult, service
discovering what both communities
opportunities in the city helped me
can offer each other.
to feel involved. But as I grow a little
When we collaborate, we complete
older, I'm realizing that the assumption the circle: Everyone gives, and everyone
underlying my participation was that
receives. This shift in perspective from
I had something to give to people in
one-way service to collaboration
Detroit, without thinking about what
highlights the strengths and skill sets
people in Detroit might have to give to
of both groups and brings us closer
my community and me.
together.
I welcome collaboration and
Projects Vs. Partnerships conversation with anyone interested
A year ago, I started WSDS at the
in further delving into the complexities
University of Michigan. Jewish partici-
of service-learning relationships in the
pants work on addressing unmet needs Detroit area. ❑
identified by school stakeholders.
WSDS concluded a successful pilot
Bobby Siporin is an alumnus of Teach
year in May, completing projects
for America, a Wexner Graduate Fellow/
with our partners at two Cornerstone
Davidson Scholar, and a master of social
charter schools. We worked with high
work candidate in the Jewish Communal
school students to build raised beds for
Leadership Program at the University of
a garden and to start a research proj-
Michigan. Email: rsiporin@umich.edu.

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June 20 • 2013

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