18 September 5 • 2019
jn
A
t 17, Berkley High School
student Lauren Schostak,
daughter of Mark and Lillian
Schostak, is not your typical senior.
Inspired by her family, Schostak makes
her community presence known as a
volunteer and young entrepreneur.
At school, Schostak is involved with
two organizations: Sources of Strength
and Peer to Peer.
“Sources of Strength is a national
organization that extends into different
schools across the U.S.,
” Schostak says.
“It is an opportunity to provide a pos-
itive and safe environment in schools
for students.
“Peer to Peer is a support group for
students with disabilities,
” Schostak
says. “If they don’
t have people to sit
with at lunch, there are designated
lunch days where we do activities with
them, and it allows for all students
involved to meet new people.
”
Outside of school, Schostak contin-
ues her outreach in the Metro Detroit
community, serving as co-president
of the Teen Volunteer Corps offered
through Adat Shalom Synagogue in
Farmington Hills.
On top of it all, Schostak owns her
own business, Ba-Gals, with her friend
Julie Krasnick.
“Every Sunday morning, we
deliver bagels from New York Bagel
in Ferndale to neighborhoods in
Huntington Woods and Berkley,
”
Schostak says. “We text our customers
every Friday and get their orders so
we can deliver their bagels on Sunday
mornings throughout the school year.
”
Not only is Schostak involved in
these four organizations, but she
recently participated in the 2019
Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic
Studies writing competition at Wayne
State University.
Her essay, “
A Once Blinded Jewish
Woman,
” won first place in the nonfic-
tion category. In it, she shares the iden-
tity struggle she endured from learning
about the anti-Semitic remarks orga-
nizers for the Women’
s March were
accused of making.
“I just really struggled to under-
stand that. The Women’
s March is a
movement that promotes welcoming
everyone regardless of their race, gen-
der identity, ethnicity or religion. All of
the things I read were just very contra-
dictory to what they stood for, and it
made me very upset.
”
Schostak considers herself an avid
writer, but this was her first time sub-
mitting to a writing competition.
“I didn’
t have any expectations going
into this, but I was very excited and
happy that this piece, since it has a
lot of emotion embedded into it and
shows my identity, won because it gives
others an opportunity to read and
learn something from it.
” ■
FAVORITES:
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Movie: Wonder
Favorite TV show or Netflix series:
Chicago Med or Grey’
s Anatomy
Biggest Fan/Supporter: My family
Somewhere you want to visit and
why: Australia because everyone
seems so friendly there and it looks
like such a cool and different place
to see.
Future Goals: I would like to pursue
a pre-med track in college but it’
s not
for sure yet!
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
Young Jews
Making
Moves
Lauren Schostak
engages in causes
she believes in while
running her own bagel
delivery business.
jews d
in
the
So much fun you’ll forget
you’re earning service hours.
Volunteer opportunities for b’nai mitzvah
students and teen leaders.
Because We Care is a program of
Jewish Family Service that offers fun and
fulfilling volunteer opportunities for b’
nai
mitzvah students. They can join us for one or
more of our Monthly Mitzvot.
October 20
Sukkot Family Festival
The Shul
November 10
Fall Fix Up
Different community sites
December 8
Hanukkah Helpers
Jewish Family Service
January 19
The Great Challah Bake
Temple Israel
February 2
Chicken Soup for the Soul
of Detroit
Adat Shalom Synagogue
March 8
Soothing Sunday
Jewish Family Service
NEW THIS YEAR! We are offering high school
juniors and seniors a fellowiship opportunity.
Participants in the Jewish Values in Action Teen
Leadership program will help plan this year’
s Because
Care programs and gain leadership skills.
Stipend will be provided.
For more information, to register, or apply for the
fellowship, visit jfsdetroit.org/becausewecare or
contact Erin Lederman at 248.880.3787
or elederman@jfsdetroit.org.