Expats Rally For
The Motor City

Julia Farber creates a political action committee to give
relocated Detroiters a chance to help their hometown.

Allan Nahajewski
Contributing Writer

0

n July 24 in Washington,
D.C., a small group of ex-
Detroiters gathered to cel-
ebrate the 313th birthday of the city
they once called home. It was more
than just a party. The get-together
was the first official event of Detroit
XPAC, a new political action com-
mittee committed to Detroit's revi-
talization.
Transplanted Detroiter Julia
Farber, 29, co-founded the group
with Michael Dorsey of New York.
Negative national news about
Detroit motivated the two to take
action.
"Bankruptcy, corruption, crime,
Julia Farber
lack of water — this is the pic-
ture painted of Detroit," she says.
"Detroit is one of America's most
cities. Word about Detroit XPAC is
important cities. I refuse to believe
spreading — 356 have "liked" the
that its days of success are over. There
group's Facebook page.
are so many citizens who are com-
Detroit XPAC's mission is "to con-
mitted to seeing Detroit rebound, and
tribute to the revitalization of our city,
several positive actions happening
our first home, our roots, our history,
already."
our heritage, our future: Detroit. Our
Farber grew up in Oak Park
vision is simple. We want Detroit to
and Royal Oak, worshipped at
thrive."
Congregation Beth Shalom, camped
As a political action committee,
at Tamarack and graduated from
Detroit XPAC aims to make a differ-
Kimball High School before earning
ence by backing worthy candidates for
a bachelor's degree in political sci-
public office who are committed and
ence at the University of Michigan
best equipped to help Detroit flourish.
and a master's degree in environmen-
"We collect information through a
tal science and policy at Columbia
survey on our website," Farber says.
University. She currently works in
"We focus on the long-term, includ-
Washington as a senior specialist in
ing the environment. Our idea is that
global government affairs for United
if you build a sustainable community
Laboratories.
where people want to raise families,
"There's a lot of people here and
live, work and play, you're going to
around the country who care about
have a more successful Detroit. We
the city — a lot of energy that's left
just want to make sure policies are
untapped," she says. "They all want to
enacted that support this regrowth."
do something good for our city."
Washington is just the starting point
Detroit XPAC has been a year in
for Detroit XPAC, says Farber.
the making. An initial conversation
"We've spoken to expats in San
between Farber and Dorsey led to
Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, New
further research into PACs. The two
York and along the Eastern seaboard,"
hired a graphic designer to create a
she says. "We'll be launching our next
website, which launched in January. A
group in New York. We're also stay-
six-person advisory board was formed ing engaged with the politicians in
in Washington this spring, with plans
Detroit. We really want to understand
to add other advisory boards in other
what issues they're facing every day.

We want to make sure we're a reflec-
tion of what the community wants."
Farber visits her old hometown fre-
quently.
"I'm a Detroiter at heart," she says.
"I don't think it's ever been more
than two months between visits.
I'm here for showers and weddings,
Thanksgiving and Chanukah, Passover
— I come back whenever I can."
While in Washington, she stays
busy. In addition to her full-time job
and the launch of Detroit XPAC, she
writes reviews of locations around
town for the Spotted by Locals blog.
She also serves on the advisory board
of 2239, a group of young Jewish pro-
fessionals in Washington.
Farber says people can support
Detroit XPAC by helping to spread the
word to other expats, joining the orga-
nization's email list or by donating
through www.detroitxpac.org .
"We feel the expats have been
without a way to channel their sup-
port in a meaningful way," she says.
"Most left because of their work. They
would have stayed if there were other
options. We're trying to bridge the gap
between the people who stayed and
people who left, because we know the
expats have a strong, warm affinity for
Detroit. They want it to do well."
She has high hopes for the future of
the city.
"Detroit will rise again," Farber
says. "Policymakers' decisions today
will impact the city's direction in the
next five to 50 years. We know that
there's a lot of really great work that's
already being done. We know there
are certain plans that have already
been articulated — for example, the
Detroit Future City plan and Greening
of Detroit plan — efforts that have
been created and supported by local
Detroiters. We want to help them real-
ize that vision.
"If it's not designed right from
the start, it will be much harder to
create a community that is sustain-
able, thriving and safe. That's why
it's important that we participate
now, that we support candidates who
deserve to be in office today." ❑

imoupopar

"...to be inspired and
then bring it home to
share with my family."

The Jewish Women's Renaissance
Project is partnering with Aish
Detroit to give Detroit mothers the
opportunity to reconnect in Israel.

IT'S LIKE A BIRTHRIGHT FOR MOMS.

If you are a mom
with kids under 18

JOIN 100 DETROIT MOMS

December 8-17 for our
free* trip to Israel

CONTACT LISA KNOLL

lisak@aish.conn

FOR MORE INFORMATION

OR APPLY AT
WWW.Jwrp.org

OUR
MISSION

AISH Detroit welcomes
all families, regardless of
membership or affiliation
to create a revolution of Jewish life.

By providing exciting experiences
for the Holidays, meaningful life
cycle celebrations, and Torah study
opportunities in a non-judgmental
environment we enable families to
translate Jewish learning
into Jewish living which
strengthens the Jewish
identity of the home and
builds community.

atO

Thank you to The Farber Foundation
and the JFMD for their support.

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July 31 • 2014

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