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Subscriptions: 1 year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $85 2 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$153 3 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$204 1 year out-of-state . . . . . . . . . . .$125 2 years out-of-state . . . . . . . . . .$225 Per year foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . .$300 Detroit Jewish News 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110 Southfi eld, MI 48034 ©copyright 2019 Detroit Jewish News 6 August 22 • 2019 jn J PRO Network, an organization that connects, educates, inspires and empowers professionals working in the Jewish community sector, sponsored an oversold con- ference, “JPRO19: What Connects Us,” at Cobo Arena Aug. 12-14. Billed as the sem- inal conference for hundreds of Jewish communal profession- als from across North America, JPRO19 challenged partic- ipants to connect and reimagine what thriving Jewish institutions will look like, who will lead them and what impact they will collectively have on the world in the 21st century. Unlike most other professional conferences, JPRO19 brought togeth- er professionals who typically do not intersect — across generations, geog- raphy, organization types, roles and much more — to deepen connec- tions, make progress on issues that are at the forefront of their collective work and strengthen their individual capacity to lead. The conference afforded attendees the opportunity to participate in “immersive experiences” in spac- es across the city of Detroit that highlight promising practices and complex scenarios. We were chal- lenged and inspired to see what innovative leaders are doing with the Brightmoor neighborhood, Shinola’ s design center, Rebel Nell, and the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, Eastern Market, RecoveryPark, dPOP and Repair the World. Kari Alterman, senior program officer of the William Davidson Foundation, and Scott Kaufman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, kicked off the conference. With a view of the Detroit River and Windsor on its other shore, Detroit served as the perfect symbol of collective rebirth and vitality. I was inspired by the words of JPRO award winners Arya Marvazy from Los Angeles-based JQ (Jewish Queers) International and Kate Belza O’ Bannon from Repair the World who spoke of the importance of inclusivity and empowerment. And, like me, the crowd was wowed by the Jacob Mandelkorn Award winner and Wexner Foundation President Rabbi R. B. Elka Abrahamson and his chal- lenge for us to exercise “holy chutz- pah” in the work that we do. I attended a variety of workshops including “#MeToo to #WeToo: Creating a Safe, Respectful and Equitable Jewish Community” and “Why Culture Matters — Now and in the Future,” both of which chal- lenged us to deeply explore how we behave as professionals and why that is essential to institutional and com- munal wellbeing. It was impossible to attend all of the sessions offered, but from pop- ups to wellness practices and from prayer services to walking tours, there was something for everyone. One such offering was WellAdvised, one of JPRO Network’ s new pro- grams, that paired professional coaches and advisers with other communal professionals for one-on- one advising. JPRO19 closed with the ple- nary “Teams and Dreams: How Leadership Connects Us.” Two speak- ers’ remarks about strong leadership continue to resonate with me. Erika Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, spoke about succeeding Steven Hoffman, a beloved leader who served the com- munity for 35 years. Hoffman said to her: “I’ ll be disappointed if you do things the way I did. It’ s a different time and Cleveland is a different place now. You need to put your own stamp on this community.” Darin McKeever, president and CEO of the William Davidson Foundation, spoke about the value of tzimtzum — the Kabbalistic princi- ple of contracting in order to create space for others and their ideas. Excellent leaders must listen, act with humility and leave room for new generations of leaders to move our communities forward. I do not know how future JPRO conferences could top what hap- pened in Detroit, but I have no doubt that what lies ahead is not only excit- ing but also worth being a part of. ■ Robin Axelrod is CEO of Axelrod Consulting Group and senior education specialist at the Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus. guest column Refl ections on JPRO19: What Connects Us Robin Axelrod