MICHIGAN

J-Teens In The D

East Coast Jewish teens accomplish
tikkun olam trip to Detroit.

Michigan Opera Theatre in collaboration

with the Macomb Center for Performing Arts

presents the Midwest Premiere of the colorful

and explosive production of...

Rachel Kleinhandler
and Haley Rogers
Special to Teen2Teen

4

W

e never knew that
spending a few days in
a new city would have
such a meaningful and lasting
impact on us. This was most cer-
tainly applicable to our experience
in Detroit.
J-Teen Leadership participants
J-Teen Leadership, based in
with
teens from Breakers Covenant
Westchester, N.Y., is a teen-led
Church
in Detroit painting a mural
Jewish community service orga-
together.
nization that allows teens to
participate in meaningful service
projects, both locally and nation-
ally. We were fortunate enough to
commemorate Martin Luther King
Jr. Day by spending the weekend
in Detroit, doing acts of tikkun
olam (reparing the world) and
experiencing the culture of the
thriving Detroit of the past and the
new Detroit of today.
We spent time with the fel-
lows at Repair the World and the J-Teens enjoy the famous Detroit
teens at PeerCorps, who shared
auto show.
their passion and love for their
city. It was incredible to see how
the decades of urban decline, so
overcome adversity. Interfaith work
prevalent in Detroit, did not allow the
is a major part of what J-Teen is, and
spirits of the community members
we were able to showcase this while
to be let down. We were surrounded
attending church that Sunday morn-
by individuals with such positive atti-
ing. We were able to gain a whole new
tudes and hope, they became instant-
perspective on issues such as civil
ly infectious. This was so encouraging rights and racial inequality and were
inspired by the strength and resil-
and made the service work we did
ience of those who've faced issues of
even more worthwhile.
inequality in their lifetimes.
One aspect of the trip that we
Over the course of the trip, we
found most meaningful was spend-
gained a deeper understanding of
ing time with the third- and fourth-
the history of Detroit and got to hear
graders at the Bagley Elementary
stories from many members of the
School in Detroit. They were all so
community, where a common theme
determined to make a difference in
their city and live out their dreams —
was believing in your dream and
ideals they shared with Martin Luther making it a reality. We truly hope that
King Jr. Witnessing the enthusiasm of
we will be able to take these lessons
the kids gave us even more reasons to back to New York and, hopefully one
become a part of the community that
day, have the opportunity to go back
weekend and make a difference, no
to Detroit and witness the improve-
matter how small.
ments made over time! We'd like to
Another powerful experience we
thank everyone who so kindly and
had over the course of the long week-
generously welcomed us into their
end was when we visited a church.
community and gave us the experi-
Their congregants were so incredibly
ence of a lifetime.
welcoming of us and made us feel
like a part of their family. This kind
Eleventh-graders Rachel Kleinhandler
of Rye Brook, N.Y., and Haley Rogers of
of experience allows us to take a step
Yonkers, N.Y, are Leadership Circle mem-
back and recognize the importance
bers of J-Teen Leadership.
of acceptance of others in the work to

❑

FRIDA

ROBERT XAVIER RODRIGUEZ

Featuring Catalina Cuervo as Frida

Sung in English and Spanish

Presented at these Metro Detroit venues:

MACOMB CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

MAR. 7, • 7:30 PM

I

MAR. 8, • 2:30 PM

THE BERMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

MAR. 21, • 7:30 PM I MAR. 22, • 2:30 PM

THE DETROIT FILM THEATRE

MAR. 28, • 7:30 PM

FOR TICKETS & INFO: 313.237.SING
or michiganopera.org

DTE Energy
Foundation

a

MacombCenter

FOUNDATION

communityfondation
u

FOR SOUTHEAST NIC-IGAN

Mandell and Madeline Berman Foundation

IN

for the Performing Arts

DIA

WILLIAM DAVIDSON Foundatron

February 26 • 2015

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