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Special Summer from page 51

intersected, but I also saw that Michigan Hil-
lel in Ann Arbor interwove in some way with
them as well," she explained.
Despite adapting to many changes along
the way, Soverinsky credits this as a positive
experience.
"I couldn't have asked for a better experi-
ence," she said. "I'm looking forward to stay-
ing involved in the work I did this summer at
Michigan Hillel throughout the school year.
Go Blue!"

JOIN Advocates

Very few internships allow students room for
creativity like JOIN does. JOIN intern Kayla
Rosen of West Bloomfield was placed at Yad
Ezra, a kosher food pantry headed by Lea
Luger, a former JOIN intern herself. When
Rosen arrived at Yad Ezra, she was immersed
in the organization, but realized she was
especially suited for a particular department.
As a student in the James Madison Col-
lege at MSU, Rosen
has the perfect set
of interests and skills
needed to raise Yad
Ezra's advocacy efforts
involving the legislature.
"I invited 171 state
and federal legisla-
tors and some local
Kayla Rosen
mayors to take a tour,
and created letters for
volunteers, visitors and staff to write to their
representatives," Rosen said.
Her dedicated efforts did not go unnoticed.
"Before I started, only one state represen-
tative had visited Yad Ezra," Rosen said. "This
was the first summer they had legislators
coming twice a week to tour. Without the
JOIN internship, I would have never had such
a hands-on experience at a nonprofit while
still being given the opportunity to develop
the internship to fit my interest and needs."
Rosen's work with the Michigan legisla-
ture will hopefully increase Yad Ezra's success

248-851-5030
6881 Orchard Lake Rd. on The Boardwalk

Reading from the Torah:
Difficult
Choosing a Mitzvah Project:
Easy!

Looking for a B'nai Mitzvah opportunity that's
fun, flexible and meaningful?

Because We Care offers
monthly hands-on service
opportunities including sukkah
decorating, Hanukah gift
making, seder preparation and
so much more.

Sign up once. Or join us every
month!

in receiving grant funding, as well as raise
awareness for hunger and poverty among
legislators.

JOIN Discovers

If there's one thing JOIN intern Marisa Vinsky
of Farmington Hills learned this summer,
it's how to think on her feet. Dedicated to
becoming a lawyer, the Central Michigan
University student was up for the challenge
when she was placed
at Shalom Street for her
JOIN internship. Shalom
Street is a Jewish hands-
on children's museum,
practically the opposite
of a law firm.
"Working at Shalom
Street, I went from being
a person who thought I
Marisa Vinsky
had not one single cre-
ative bone in my body
to someone who could look at plastic bottle
and think of five different ways it could be
changed into a children's learning activity,"
Vinsky said.
Although completely out of her comfort
zone, Vinsky learned to embrace her new
environment and, ultimately, gained skills
that will help her on her journey to becoming
a successful lawyer.
"I fully believe this internship made me
into a well-rounded individual because it em-
bellished qualities that I never knew existed
in myself," Vinsky said.
Essentially, that is exactly what JOIN does.
Aside from professional skills and a connec-
tion to the Jewish community, interns leave
the program feeling confident and capable
of becoming the next generation of young
professionals in Metro Detroit. @

Marisa Meyerson of Farmington Hills is a

sophomore at MSU. She was a JOIN intern

this summer at JARC.

Because We Care also offers
these ongoing opportunities:

• Online crowdfunding through
Groundswell
Tzedakah boxes
Donatable centerpieces
Themed care packages

For more information visit jfscletroit.org/beeaugeweeare
or contact Vicki Sitron at vsitron@jfsdetroit.org

JOIN 2015 interns kicked off the year with team-building
activities at Camp Maas. Top row: Adam Cooper, Leah
LaDuke, Ayelet Shapiro, Debra Silver, Kayla Rosen, Marisa
Vinsky, Julia Simon, Shelby Miller, Jourdan Paige, Bayley
Siegal and Marisa Meyerson. Bottom row: Lisa Tencer,
Codie Feldman, Vanessa Farkas, Tedi Dorman, Rebecca
Soverinsky, Daniel Cooper. Not pictured: Jillian Apel.

Jewish Family Service

of Metropolitan Detroit

(55

LiSeV\r

54

August 20 • 2015

JPI

ec`°•

2028810

