>> ... Next Generation ...
Detroiters To Watch
Meet Lauren and Jordan Acker.
VIVIAN HENOCH I SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Jordan Acker, at home in Huntington
(five blocks from where he grew
up), with wife, Lauren, and daughte
Jenna
"What my parents passed down to me
was the idea that public service is really
noble. I believe there's nothing better
that one can do."
•
"Move to Detroit and it's like you
instantly become part of the community.
It's very settling to be so connected. I
feel like we'll have friends forever here."
A
s former Washington insiders,
now NEXTGen Detroiters,
Lauren and Jordan Acker
have interesting stories to
share about the parties and inaugural balls,
not to mention the inner workings of the
Department of Homeland Security.
Lauren of Winnetka, Ill., and Jordan, a
fourth-generation Detroiter from Huntington
Woods, were college sweethearts, the
same age, but an academic year apart at
the University of Michigan. First jobs and
graduate studies — paths to their separate
careers — would lead them to different
cities, but "almost right from the start," says
Lauren, "we knew we were meant for each
other."
With a B.A. in history and a mind for
politics, Jordan went to Washington, D.C.,
where he worked on staff for U.S. Rep.
John Conyers (D-Detroit) for the House
Judiciary Committee following the 2006
elections. That experience fueled his interest
in law and led him to American University
Washington College of Law where he
earned his J.D. in 2010.
Pursuing her passion for elementary
education, Lauren joined Teach For
America after graduation in 2007 and
headed to Baltimore, Md. There she taught
third and fourth grades for Baltimore Public
Schools and earned her M.A. in teaching
from Johns Hopkins University.
She then moved to D.C. to work on staff
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July 16 • 2015
at Teach For America, later taking a position
with Potomac Lighthouse Public Charter
School where she became a teacher leader
fellow, earning the Shining Star Award for
her students' high achievement.
While Lauren worked to develop her
teaching skills in Washington, Jordan
jumped into politics as a volunteer on
several campaigns, including President
Barack Obama's historic 2008 run.
Following graduation from law school,
he spent three months as an associate
in the White House Office of Presidential
Personnel before being appointed by
President Obama, in 2011, to be an
attorney adviser to Secretary Janet
Napolitano at the Department of Homeland
Security. While there, he worked on cyber
security, immigration and other security
issues.
Jordan and Lauren were married in 2012
at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. While
life in Washington was exciting, marriage
and the pull of family and a close-knit
Jewish community drew them back to
Michigan.
Today, Jordan is proud to be a part of his
father's firm Goodman Acker, specializing
in personal injury litigation. He and Lauren
are beaming new parents of Jenna, born
March 23. Additionally, they are the
slightly frazzled owners of a rambunctious
Labradoodle puppy named Wrigley.
Early Influences
Jordan: I grew up five blocks from where
we now live in Huntington Woods. When I
first went off to college, I didn't plan on ever
coming back to Detroit. But I grew up with
deep roots in the Jewish community and a
sense of history here.
My grandparents grew up in Detroit. My
dad learned to play basketball at what's
now the Northwest Activity Center (the gym
is still there!). My grandparents moved from
Detroit to Oak Park in 1967, and my dad
went to Berkley High. Huntington Woods is
where most of our family is centered now
... my grandparents, uncle and numerous
cousins all live within this square-mile little
town.
Lauren: Jordan and I have similar
family backgrounds. I grew up in the quiet,
north suburbs of Chicago. My dad owned a
clothing store in Winnetka. My mom worked
for her family real estate business. Like
Jordan, I come from a close-knit family.
What early influences drew you to your
profession?
J: My parents have been involved in
politics as long as I can remember. My
dad was an intern for former Gov. Jim
Blanchard when he was a congressman
for Oakland County in the spring of 1976.
From Blanchard, he caught his own political
bug. I remember as a kid — in then-heavily
Republican West Bloomfield — passing
out lawn signs for Michael Dukakis. I was 4
years old.
What my parents passed down to me
was the idea that public service is really
noble. I believe there's nothing better that
one can do.
Lauren, when did you know you wanted
to be a teacher?
L: Growing up, I always had great
teachers and loved school. During
college, I learned more about educational
inequity and became very motivated to do
something to improve education in low-
income communities. I strongly believe
that all children deserve great teachers
and an excellent education. It shouldn't be
a privilege based on where you are lucky
enough to be born and raised. What I love
most about being a teacher is that you are
always learning with your students.
Life Inside The Beltway
How did you get from law school to the
Obama campaign?
J: After taking the bar exam (in
Michigan) in the summer of 2010, I went
back to D.C. looking for a job. A friend
working in the White House called to tell
me that the Obama administration needed
people to assist with vetting and placement
and, if I could do that, they'd find a policy
job for me in the administration. So, of
course, I jumped at the opportunity.
Basically, it works like a boot camp. From
the moment you walk into the EOB (the