for college students by college students

Register today for our Fall Prenatal Class
starting November 8th 2016!
www.jewishdetroit.org/prenatal

JOINing JARC

Internship allows student to gain
experience and understand the community.

CONNECTING JEWISH FAMILIES
FROM BUMP TO BIRTH AND BEYOND...

“

Molly Klein } jewish@edu writer

Being ﬁrst time parents,
Jbaby provided us with a
wealth of information
and the support of
a new community
to succeed in
parenting. It gave
us the opportunity
to connect with
other young
Alana,
couples and learn
L
& Livia eonid
what resources are
Shamba
n
available in the area.

”

Go to
Facebook
to join our
group today!

For more information contact
Mikki Frank frank@jfmd.org
or 248.645.7845

JOIN interns help at the JARC barbecue: Joseph
Benaderet and Rachel Morof, both of West Bloomfield,
Lea Boreland of Novi, Meagan Soffin of Oak Park and
Molly Klein of West Bloomfield.

2090070

Did you think you couldn’t afford
to belong to a synagogue?

You set your ﬁ rst year dues level

With an offer like this you

can’t afford not to!

A family of cousins, aunts, uncles, bubbies
and zadies you just haven't met yet.

Congregation B'nai Moshe - Welcome Home

Award-winning Shabbat-centric Hebrew School.
Registration is Open. FREE Kindergarten!

Call Steve Fine at the synagogue ofﬁ ce at 248-788-0600 for more information

1936460

6800 Drake Road | West Bloomﬁ eld MI 48322 | www.bnaimoshe.org

2113100

54 August 25 • 2016

his summer, I participated in the
Jeanette and Oscar Cook Jewish
Occupational Intern Program (JOIN),
where college students are given the opportu-
nity to work at a Jewish agency in Metro-
politan Detroit. The program provides Jewish
students with a professional work experience
and a chance to “try out” possible careers
and introduces participants to leadership roles
within the community.
My placement at JARC, made possible by
the Tony Richman JOIN Scholarship Fund,
has allowed me to do this — and more. The
two programs I have been involved in are
the Summer LinkUp program and the RRR
program.
At LinkUp, a collaboration between JARC
and JVS, young adults gain valuable work
experience and also get out into the com-
munity. Every Thursday, I traveled with them
to such places as the Oakland County Fair,
Paradise Park and a cooking class from Qual-
ity Kosher Catering. Our cooking class was a
fantastic way for the young adults to master
some basic kitchen skills and leave with
newfound confidence and pride in these skills.
Each week at LinkUp brings something new
and exciting, and allows participants to form
meaningful relationships with each other and
with their community.
At the Rosen Family RRR (relationships,
relaxation and recreation) Program, adults
gather at a JARC home for activities, social-
izing and outings. I always looked forward to
my Tuesdays at RRR because I love getting to
know the people we serve, and I have learned
so much from them. I have a newfound
appreciation for life and have learned the
importance of patience, acceptance, laughter
and love.
Through my experience at RRR and LinkUp,
I have discovered the true beauty of JARC and
how important this organization is to those

T

they serve — and to the greater community.
I also planned a third-party fundraiser for
the organization. The event was hosted by
Potbelly Sandwich Shop, with 25 percent of
proceeds going to JARC. The event was a
huge success, drawing more than 100 people.
There was a JARC presence there, and those
unfamiliar with JARC were able to learn
about the services they provide.
As part of the JOIN program, interns also
got to choose one of the participating agen-
cies to volunteer at during our “Volunteer
Week.” Those who chose JARC helped out
at a barbecue at one of JARC’s homes. The
barbecue hosted 25 individuals and was a fun
way for the JOIN interns to become more fa-
miliar with JARC’s mission while also getting
to know more of the individuals JARC serves.
We played bingo, enjoyed some delicious
food and had great conversations. The feed-
back JARC received from participating interns
was very positive.
“I know I want to come back and continue
to be involved with JARC. I’m so glad I had
the chance to volunteer,” said intern Meagan
Soffin.
My internship at JARC has allowed me to
explore my professional interests, strengthen
my abilities and improve my weaknesses. It
has shown me the ins and outs of nonprofit
work and allowed me to network in a field I
may choose to pursue. I was mentored by my
outstanding supervisor Lindsey Fox-Wagner,
along with several other inspiring profession-
als, who opened my eyes to the opportunities
for involvement in the Jewish nonprofit world.
The relationships and experiences I have
gained here are invaluable, and I could not be
more appreciative and honored to have been
given this experience. @

Molly Klein of West Bloomfield is a junior at the
University of Michigan.

