views
editorial
essay
It’s Time For Straight Talk
About Oak Park Plans
A Summer With Kadima
W
hile today’s story “Coming
Soon? Federation still seek-
ing viable solution to new
JPM facility; residents still seeking
answers” (see page 18) provides a long-
overdue update on what progress has
— or hasn’t — been taking place at the
site of the former Jimmy Prentis Morris
Jewish Community Center in Oak Park,
the manner in which the information
is being shared between the Federation
and the community underscores a
fundamental breakdown in communi-
cation.
Federation last commented publicly
about potential plans for the site in an
August 2016 Jewish News story.
Questions leaders of Save the Oak
Park JCC committee and other resi-
dents still have about the future of the
site were shared with the story’s writer,
Managing Editor Jackie Headapohl.
Without being asked, she submitted
their questions about the site — along
with ours — in writing to Federation.
In essence, the Jewish News became
the substitute for what should be a
line of open, honest communication
between Federation and the commu-
nity — even if one party believes there
is nothing new to share.
On successive winter nights in
January of 2015, a total of more than
750 people squeezed into the gymna-
sium of the former JPM facility to learn
that a decision had already been made
by the Jewish Community Center and
the Federation to close the Oak Park
facility for economic reasons. Hopes
were elevated when, in August 2015,
it was announced that an anonymous
donor would replace the building and
retain it for Jewish communal pur-
poses.
Then, silence. Then, the JPM building
is bulldozed this spring. More silence.
Nothing new to share. Then, deflecting
for months requests from the Jewish
News for any updated information to
share with the community.
It is our hope that a workable plan
for a vibrant and viable facility serv-
ing the needs of the Jewish commu-
nity in Oak Park, Huntington Woods,
Southfield and adjoining areas can
be identified and implemented. We
believe sincere efforts are being made
to do so.
However, open, honest and regular
communication about the site’s future
would help restore frayed trust between
an important portion of our commu-
nity and Federation that detracts from
Federation’s brand and compelling
overall message. Continuing silence
erodes the broad-base of support that
has been the hallmark of Federation’s
Annual Campaign for generations. •
A
Dustin Feinberg
Special to the
Jewish News
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The JN has invited
students from the
JVS’ Jeanette &
Oscar Cook Jewish
Occupational Intern
Program (JOIN), who
gain paid summer
work experience
at local Jewish
agencies, to submit
essays about their
experience in the
program.
s I near the end of my time as a JOIN intern, I
begin to do what is natural in moments like this:
reflect upon my experiences and the lessons I
learned. Mental illness is a very important issue to me.
Individuals struggling with mental illness are one of the
most vulnerable populations in the country.
I remember when I was sitting in the lobby of Kadima
waiting for my soon-to-be supervisor to call me back for
an interview, there were a couple of clients sitting there as
well. They began to strike up conversation with me, and I
proceeded to engage with them in dialogue.
When I was called back for my interview, one of the
first things Michelle Malamis (now my supervisor) said
was that she noticed how easily I was holding a conversa-
tion with clients. This sounded to me like an observation
of the norm, but the reality is that many people fear those
who have been diagnosed with mental illness.
When I’m reminded of this reality, I then ask myself this:
Why is it so easy for me to talk with the clients at Kadima?
The truth is there is not much difference between me and
someone diagnosed with a mental illness. Odds are, this
applies to most everyone, but unfortunately many people
have a hard time admitting this.
I’ve had moments in which my stability has been jeop-
ardized due to life being such as it is; it is because of the
support I’ve received, from both professional and personal
resources, that I continue to overcome the challenges that
life presents to me.
The fear of mental illness causes people to be afraid to
reach out for help, and the stigma of mental illness really
is a symptom of a societal illness we all suffer from at
some level. Kadima is dedicated to ending the stigma of
mental illness.
I was familiar with Kadima, partly because my mom’s
business, Feinberg Consulting, exposed me to a variety of
service providers throughout the community. One thing
that really stuck out to me during my time here is the fact
continued on page 8
Contributing Writers:
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Ingber, Allison Jacobs, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer
Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz,
David Sachs, Karen Schwartz, Robin Schwartz,
Steve Stein, Joyce Wiswell
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