>> ... Next Generation ...
Wonder Woman
Bracha, a blessing living up to her name.
VIVIAN HENOCH I SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
M
eet Alyssa Bracha
McMillan, 27, Detroit
renaissance woman to
watch: Jewish Community
Relations Council staffer, community
activist, master of social work in progress,
role model, mentor, journalist, artist,
photographer, beautiful dreamer.
By any standard of measure or
achievement, Alyssa McMillan is a
wonder woman.
Her resume reads like a seasoned
professional. Generous with her time and
energy as a community volunteer, her
interests range over a broad spectrum of
social service organizations, working with
young children, teens and older adults.
She's worked as a member of
AmeriCorps as a housing support
specialist and case manager liaison
providing services to the homeless. She's
been a music tutor, a personal trainer, a
fitness instructor and a fashion model.
She's earned two prestigious internships
and a handful of community and
scholastic honors. She's a board member
of Hillel Metro Detroit (HMD); and all
that's only for starters.
McMillan describes herself as a non-
traditional student; what she doesn't tell
you is how exceptional her education
has been and how driven she is to help
others. For the past three years, McMillan
has worked part-time at the JCRC as an
administrative assistant — all the while
accelerating her course work at Oakland
University to earn her B.A. in journalism
and minor in Judaic studies.
With the goal to turn her passion for
community work to a professional career,
she now is pursuing her master's of social
work at Wayne State University, while still
working at the JCRC.
McMillan grew up in suburban Detroit
and graduated from Berkley High School.
Her Jewish connections deepened as
she became involved with Hillel Metro
Detroit, joining the Taglit-Birthright
Israel trip in May 2008. After Birthright,
she was a Hillel Grinspoon Israel
Advocacy intern with a focus on Israel's
multicultural dialogue.
Most recently, she returned to Israel as
JCRC's representative to the Diplomatic
Seminar for Young Jewish Leaders, a
study program conducted annually by the
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs for young
Jewish men and women of outstanding
leadership potential.
44 October 31 • 2013
What lights Alyssa's fire?
We recently caught up with
her to learn more.
A: As a family, we've
always been involved in
community service. My dad
is a recreational therapist for
the state of Michigan and
On Choosing
Henry Ford Hospital, working
Judaism
Q: Alyssa, you've chosen
in mental and behavioral
Judaism and converted as
health with adults and
a family. Please share with
children. In high school, I
us how and when you and
remember completing more
your parents were drawn to Alyssa Mc Milian
than 100 hours of community
Judaism.
service, and my mom helping
A: Let me start with the fact that we
me. I even received an honor cord for
are an extremely close-knit family and
graduation rewarding my service.
basically began our journey to Judaism
Q: What brought you to JCRC?
together.
A: I ran into a friend who told me about
I can't wait until my parents renew
an opening at the JCRC, and it sounded
their wedding vows and have their official
like a perfect fit for me. Along with Hillel
Jewish wedding. My parents have been
of Metro Detroit, the JCRC has become
married for 31 years and have been
my family.
together for 35 years.
Q: Why Judaism?
On Israel
A: I can't say whether we chose Judaism
Q: Through your involvement with Hillel
or Judaism chose us, but it's something
and JCRC, you've been to Israel twice.
that felt right and meaningful to us.
What have your experiences been?
Actually, when you think about the black
A: My first trip was overwhelming! Just
American experience, Christianity was
being away from home for the first time
not the religion we were born to; it was
in a different country without my parents,
imposed by our slave masters. So you
and being someone who was not born
could say in a sense we were originally
Jewish, made me connect in a new and
"Christians by choice."
different way — because I really wanted
Choosing, instead, to be Jewish has
to absorb it all, really live and breathe
given me something to call my own. As
Israeli culture.
a black American Jew, I have a very
The second time I went was for the
particular and rich set of values and
Diplomatic Seminar in Jerusalem this past
morals and a tradition to pass down
summer —12 days of intensive work
to my kids. Judaism is a religion that
with 36 representatives from all over
makes sense to me and my family. I'm
the world. Our purpose was to connect
continuing to deepen my commitment
and take that spark back to the various
to Judaism and study regularly with an
agencies in the community. It was a
Orthodox rabbi.
transformative experience, nonstop every
Q: Your middle name is Bracha. Tell us
day — I took mounds of notes and came
about that.
back with more knowledge as well as a
A: I'm my parents' only child, born two
further interest in politics and diplomacy.
and a half months early, 2 pounds 15
ounces. So my parents always say I was
Alyssa's Favorites
like a miracle baby, a blessing.
On Community Service
Q: From Altrusa of Greater Birmingham
and Gleaners to Focus: Hope, from
the Multiple Sclerosis Society to the
Alzheimer's Association, from Habitat for
Humanity and Maple Grove Substance
Abuse Clinic to the Greening of Detroit
... you have associated with more
than a dozen nonprofits and service
organizations over your "short" career as
a volunteer. How did you get started?
On Detroit
Q: What would you tell someone
thinking of moving back to Detroit or to
the city for the first time?
A: I'd tell them to get in touch with
Federation. You couldn't ask for a
better, quicker connection to the Jewish
community, its services and resources.
On Inspiration, Hopes, Dreams
Q: If you could start your own nonprofit
someday, what would it be?
A: I have a dream for a nonprofit: to start
an organized black community that works
like the Jewish community. In the Jewish
community, you have Yad Ezra, a food
bank; you have Jewish Family Services,
Project Chessed; you have classes, schools
and tutoring; you have apartments and
eldercare; a whole support system with
services that are available to help your
people — help your community. Whereas
in the black community, we're not close
like that; you don't have those services.
So that would be my dream, to see a
federation for black Americans someday.
Q: That's a big dream and tall order. What
keeps you going?
A: I'll tell you two of the biggest
cheerleaders are my parents, George and
Camille. They're the reason I am who I
am. They're my inspiration and the source
of my drive — especially my mom. She
was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
in 1995, but that did not stop her from
working as a journeyman electrician for
General Motors. She was one of the few
black females in the trade. Dealing with
her MS and working in a male-dominated
workplace made her even stronger, so she
taught me to be strong. ❑
Vivian Henoch edits myjewishdetroit, where
this story first appeared.
Restaurant: Oak City Grille in Royal Oak, a great place to meet friends for
drinks
Hangout: MGM Casino
Favorite building in the Detroit skyline: Fisher Building
Favorite place to take kids: (No children yet, but when I have kids) the
Science Center and Comerica Park
Favorite sport: Football (My dad used to play college football.)
Favorite Jewish food: Tzimmes and potato kugel
Favorite Jewish expression: When you choose to be a Jew, you end up
absorbing the culture and the expressions, so "Oy" just comes out.
Reading now: How to Keep a Jewish Household, To Be a Jew, To Pray as a
Jew – along with social work books for school.