16 August 22 • 2019
jn
Be the Change!
Federation’
s Jaime Bean represents
a new generation of Jewish leader in Detroit.
W
ho should be filling profes-
sional leadership positions
in the Jewish communal
space?
Jaime Bean answers that question
with two others: If not me, who? And
if not now, when?
“Jewish young adults often want
to see change in our community, and
the best way to effect change is from
inside the community itself,
” says Bean,
the Israel and Overseas associate at
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit.
She adds, “If the younger generation
doesn’
t start pursuing Jewish world
careers in greater numbers, in the long
run the Jewish community will experi-
ence not only a severe age gap in lead-
ership, but a shortage of leaders.
”
Masa Israel Journey — which counts
Bean among its more than 150,000
alums — believes it has found the
missing piece in the Jewish profession-
al leadership puzzle. A survey released
by Rosov Consulting last year revealed
that more than two-thirds of Masa
alumni who see themselves as “Jewish
leaders” also view themselves as “lead-
ers” in the workplace.
At the same time, female leaders like
Bean remain rare in the Jewish space.
According to the same Rosov survey,
53 percent of men and only 42 per-
cent of women consider themselves a
“Jewish leader.
”
Bean, a graduate of the Jewish
Communal Leadership Program
within the University of Michigan’
s
School of Social Work, worked as a
philanthropic advancement intern with
Detroit’
s Jewish Federation. She gained
experience like helping coordinate
the Federation’
s Super Sunday phone-
a-thon fundraiser. “I was learning so
much at the internship I decided to
keep working with the Federation
during my last semester in grad
school,
” she said.
But before she officially started her
career, she knew she needed to spend
some time in Israel. “My mentor at
the Federation recommended Masa
as a worthwhile, growth-promoting
experience. The timing was perfect,
as the Federation was running a pilot
program for English-language teaching
that year through its Central Galilee
Michigan partnership,
” she said.
Bean is now a graduate of the Masa
Israel Teaching Fellows (MITF) pro-
gram. While she was in Poland as
part of the program, she learned the
Federation’
s Birthright coordinator was
leaving and returned to the U.S. to take
that job.
“I worked on different young adult
programming for about a year. Six
months ago, I moved to the Israel and
Overseas Department to work on its
scholarships program,
” she said. “It
has been rewarding to provide young
adults in the Detroit area the opportu-
nity of fulfilling their dreams of living,
studying and working in Israel.
”
Bean said she sees opportunities for
woman at Jewish nonprofits increasing,
although only 30 percent of organiza-
tions currently have female CEOs.
“It’
s incredible to see that Jewish
groups are increasingly empowering
women to reach these leadership roles.
I think it’
s the result of the mentorship
female leaders in the Jewish world are
providing to the younger generation.
I know that I benefited from that kind
of mentorship, and I hope to pay it for-
ward one day.
” ■
This story first appeared at myjewishdetroit.org.
jews d
in
the
LIRAN AVISAR BEN-HORIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Jamie Bean at the Super Sunday
phone-a-thon
COURTESY OF JEWISH FEDERATION OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT
The Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity and Jewish
Community Relations Council/AJC (JCRC/AJC) presents
A dessert reception will follow the program | FREE OF CHARGE
Advance registration is encouraged at:
barrierstoreentry.eventbrite.com
For more information, contact Lauren Herrin
at 248-642-2641 or herrin@jfmd.org
Thursday, September 5, 2019
7-9 p.m.
NOAH’s of Southfi
eld
26100 Northwestern Highway, Southfi
eld 48076
Following their time in prison, returning citizens must navigate a
complex set of barriers which make going back to a “normal” life
after nearly impossible. Nearly half will end up back in custody.
Come and hear from experts about the challenges returning
citizens face and the opportunities that exist for change.
Sentence Served
Exploring Barriers to Reentry
Featured
Panelists
Margrit Allen
Center for Employment
Opportunities
Aaron Kinzel
University of
Michigan-Dearborn
Michelle Smart
Bags to Butterfl
ies
Jacob Smith
Moderator
This event is generously sponsored by the Ravitz Foundation.