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PASSIONATE INSPIRATION
TOP: Detroit expats Susan Winer (COO of Strategic
Philanthropy in Chicago), Paul Saginaw (founder
of Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor), and Judith Barnett
(president of The Barnett Group in Washington,
D.C.). Lisa Applebaum gives remarks on spear-
heading the Applebaum Family Fellowships in the
arts in Detroit as a case study on an expat giving
back to their hometown. The Reception highlighted
six grassroots organizations in Detroit as well.
ABOVE: Ethan Davidson of the William Davidson
Foundation, sponsor of the Jewish reception,
makes a few remarks.
Kramer says that when the event
began, Detroit was in bankruptcy. The
Richard Bardenstein, now of Israel,
idea was to engage expats with ties to
attended his first Homecoming.
Detroit to invest at some level — com-
“Coming and seeing firsthand the
changes on the ground and feeling the mercially or philanthropically — or
simply become better brand ambassa-
momentum around the effort made
dors. The results have exceed-
quite an impression,” he said.
ed expectations. Crain’s Detroit
“The event didn’t just tell
Business supports the annual
us the Detroit story; it was
event alongside the Downtown
shown to us with passion
Detroit Partnership.
and, over the course of a few
Over the next year, she says,
days, we felt like we became
the focus will be on quantify-
part of that larger story,
ing the outcomes. They will
returning home to reconnect
total the number of buildings
and contribute. Several of
purchased, square feet, jobs
the expats I spoke with were Richard
created and more.
already at work bringing
Bardenstein
Sometimes re-engagement
projects or themselves back
takes time. Duggan talked of expat
to the city.”
Liz Simon attended the event a sec- Jeffry Aronsson’s plans for creating an
industry around design and manu-
ond time with her husband, Michael
facturing of apparel and other goods.
Simon, after they first attended three
Aronsson attended Homecoming I.
years ago. Liz stated that it’s been a
“We originally envisioned a three-
privilege to participate in two Detroit
year run for Detroit Homecoming,”
Homecomings over the years. “The
progress Detroit has seen in just a few Kramer says. “Mayor Duggan then
asked us: ‘Why stop now?’
years from 2014 to 2017 is beyond
“This is truly a civic undertaking.
impressive,” she said.
Without the financial support of area
“The best part about Detroit is its
foundations and corporate leaders,
people,” she added. “Connecting to
we could not create such a unique
current Detroiters and expats has
experience,” Kramer added. “Some
made me think about how I can use
of our funders — foundations like
my expertise to play a role in shaping
Kresge, DTE Energy, Manoogian,
Detroit’s future.” The Simons advised
William Davidson and Skillman —
a national political organization that
brought a major conference to the city have been with us since the begin-
ning. This year, we were pleased that
of Detroit this summer.
the New York-based Ford Foundation
While the event includes a cohort
provided an operating grant.
of returning expats, it aims to include
“Our expats are successful; they’ve
approximately 75 percent of attendees
been to a zillion conferences. Detroit
for the first time.
Homecoming is quite different
Detroit Homecoming Chair Mary
because of the venues, the intimacy
and the engagement strategies we
use. It’s an authentic reconnection to
Detroit, the great things that are going
on and the issues that still need work.”
JEWISH EXPAT RECEPTION
Jeffrey Sachs, formerly of Oak Park
and one of the world’s most well-
regarded economists, offered a closing
keynote address moderated by Rip
Rapson, Kresge Foundation president.
Sachs was also honored at the Jewish
expat reception.
One thought Sachs shared there
was figuring out ways to showcase
Detroit on the global stage at the
United Nations.
Terry Axelrod, who has attended
several gatherings with her husband,
Alan, is an advocate for the Detroit
community in Seattle. She has
organized get-togethers for former
Detroiters in Washington to learn
about the opportunity to give back to
their hometown. A second such event
is planned for April 2018.
“The initial idea for the Jewish
Expat Gathering was for an oppor-
tunity to provide a window and con-
nection between Jewish expats and
the Detroit-area Jewish community,”
said Teicher, event founder. “Given
the range of people in town, and the
various connections people have to
their Jewish identity, this event would
highlight innovative initiatives and
possibly result in new connections
and ideas.
“The value of these gatherings is
not just being together in person, but
gathering a diverse array of people
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September 28 • 2017
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