jews
d
&
in
the
faces
Project Healthy Community held a successful Strolling Dinner March 15 at
the Northwest Activities Center in Detroit. More than 220 people attended
the event to celebrate five years of programming and to honor Rabbi
Joshua Bennett of Temple Israel with a Community Development Award. A
sermon by Bennett inspired the vision that drives PHC.
The diverse audience included representatives from many nonprofits
and religious organizations as well as PHC partners, sponsors and
dedicated volunteers.
The room was filled with energy and enthusiasm, due to a keynote
speech by Deputy Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community
District Alycia Meriweather. She commended PHC for listening to
community members and institutions to identify areas of need, specifically
citing her meeting with their leadership. The guests left with a clearer picture
of the mission and vision of this organization that impacts communities in
need through educational and nutritional programming. •
places
More than 20 b’nai mitzvah students (including a large contingent from
Temple Shir Shalom) gathered at Jewish Family Service on Sunday, March
18, to talk about mental health — and to make a difference in the lives of
teens who are struggling.
As part of JFS’s Because We Care program, participants learned about
mental health awareness from Ginger Houghton, director of behavioral
health at JFS. Then they created stress-relieving kits for the teens who
come to JFS for counseling. Each kit included homemade Silly Putty,
stress balls and journals, as well as notes of encouragement. •
Notes of
encouragement from
teens to teens who
are struggling
Project Healthy Community staff, board members and advisers
Emmy and Ali O’Connor show off their decorated
journals.
The attendees were a
diverse group.
Natalie Cherrin and Leah West with
Temple Shir Shalom’s Alyah Al-Azem
Haley Lipman,
Maddie Tody
and Macy West
made notes of
encouragement.
PHC founders award
Rabbi Josh Bennett,
center, with the first
PHC Community
Development Award.
Jace Bishop,
Evan Smyk and
Max Barish
make Silly
Putty.
Emcee Carol Cain, PHC President Dr. Melvyn
Rubenfire and keynote speaker Deputy
Superintendent of DPSCD Alycia Meriweather
46
April 19 • 2018
jn
Guests representing Beyond Basics, Repair
the World Detroit and Life Remodeled do some
networking.