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in
the
A Detroiter
In Jerusalem
65th Central High
School Reunion
Detroit entrepreneur focuses passion for social
justice through Jewish lens at global ROI Summit.
BENNY WASSERMAN
RYAN GREISS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
20
August 3 • 2017
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SNIR KAZIR
J
acob Smith, 29, of Detroit began
his work on criminal justice
reform by reflecting on his
Jewish values. “Beyond our general
commitment to tikkun olam, many
Jewish lessons, such as the story of
Passover, call on us to remember the
struggles of our past,” Smith told the
Jewish News. “Jews are uniquely suited
to care about the most vulnerable
members of our community, which
undoubtedly includes formerly incar-
cerated individuals.”
Smith is the head of business devel-
opment for Castle in Detroit, helping
rental property owners manage their
properties and be smarter investors.
He is also a NEXTGen Board member
and produces a Detroit-based pod-
cast, “The Returning Citizen,” with
co-founders Erik Burgess and Imani
Mixon. The show highlights success
stories and helpful resources for for-
mer offenders, a group that Smith
believes is too often overlooked by the
local Jewish community.
In July, Smith joined some 150 other
young innovators and changemak-
ers from 29 countries at the global
ROI Summit in Jerusalem. “It was
re-energizing to remember that I’m
not alone,” he said. “I met like-minded
Jews from all over the world who
share my passion for racial and crimi-
nal justice.”
The ROI Summit is the flagship
program of ROI Community, an
initiative of the Charles and Lynn
Schusterman Family Foundation.
This year’s summit featured a “Brain
Date Extravaganza,” which paired up
participants and outside guests for
one-on-one meetings intended to
spark creative dialogue and collabora-
tive thinking and provide guests with
a chance to tap into the incredible tal-
ent at the summit.
“It was truly amazing,” Smith said of
the summit. “The highlight for me was
the sheer diversity of Jewish perspec-
tives.”
Participants hailed from Argentina,
Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, China, France, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Guatemala,
Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico,
Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Russia,
Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa,
Spain, Turkey, Uganda, the United
Jacob Smith got inspired at the ROI Summit,
July 2-6, in Jerusalem.
Kingdom, the United States and
Uruguay.
“The ROI Summit is much more
than a conference,” said Lynn
Schusterman, co-chair of the Charles
and Lynn Schusterman Family
Foundation. “It is a fertile meeting
ground for the most creative, talented
young minds working in the Jewish
world.
“It is no coincidence that we bring
them together in Jerusalem, a city
that has both challenged and inspired
humankind for thousands of years,”
she added. “It is here that we hope
these rising young leaders will con-
nect, create and collaborate on a
vision for the future of our commu-
nity.”
Justin Korda, executive director of
ROI Community, said, “The summit is
our chance to convene the brightest
Jewish activists and create the perfect
conditions for them to inspire one
another and rethink what it means to
be a Jewish leader today.
“Our aim goes beyond the five days
of the Summit; we hope that our par-
ticipants sow seeds of collaboration at
the summit that will bear fruit year-
round around the world.”
According to Smith, the summit is
achieving its goal.
“It reaffirmed my thinking that
there is an opportunity to pursue
social justice through a Jewish lens —
and I feel ready to confidently drive
these conversations within Detroit’s
Jewish community.” •
ABOVE LEFT:
Class president
Guy Barron.
ABOVE RIGHT:
Carl and
Barbara Levin
flank Benny
Wasserman
H
ow many high schools have had a 65th reunion.
And if they did, how many have attended? The
65th Central High reunion for the January class of
1952 was held on July 16 in Detroit at the Bloomfield Hills
Andiamo. Believe it or not, we had 36 attendees. Many had
their spouses with them. Not one was in a walker, wheelchair
or with a cane. Seven came from out of state. All of them
were Jewish. We were all 83 years old, plus or minus a year.
Central High was located on Tuxedo Boulevard, bounded
by Lynwood and LaSalle boulevards. The intermediate
school, Durfee, was located right next to the high school.
And Roosevelt was the elementary school located next to
Durfee.
Guy Barron, our class president, addressed the group with
a short speech. We were fortunate to have in attendance one
of our classmates, former Michigan U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, who
recently retired after serving 36 distinguished years in the
U.S. Senate. He also addressed the group — but promised not
to talk about politics. After lunch, comedian Jason Douglas
entertained us.
Now, all we have to do is stay healthy so we can have a
70th high school reunion! •
Central High 65th Reunion Committee: Marilyn Rosner Markel,
Barbara Weindling Coden and Fritzi Roth.