12 | JUNE 4 • 2020
continued on page 13
Jews in the D
F
riend-
ship
Circle
in West
Bloomfield, a
nonprofit that offers
support and program-
ming to 3,000 individuals
— primarily children and teens
with special needs and their
families — has been working
hard to bolster its vulnerable
community amid the pandem-
ic while expanding care to new
populations.
The organization has con-
verted nearly all of its program-
ming into virtual experiences,
including Soul Studio, its art
program that supports adult
artists with disabilities. Sixty-
six artists currently create and
exhibit through the studio and
gallery. In addition to support-
ing these artists virtually, Soul
Studio is offering free weekly
art classes to persons served by
JARC, all who are stuck in their
homes during COVID-19.
“It was very painful for
us to close,
” said Friendship
Circle co-founder Rabbi Levi
Shemtov about the decision
his organization made on
March 13 to temporarily shut
down during the pandemic.
“
All the activities we do, all the
programs we have, are just a
setting for creating friendship.
It’
s the opposite of isolation. We
knew we had to do whatever
we could to help continue
these connections.
”
Friendship Circle’
s virtual
offerings include workshops,
playdates, social circles, life
lessons and more. Nearly 2,000
people, including new individ-
uals and families, are accessing
its online resources as well as
its Facebook classes, says Sara
Daniels, director of marketing.
Soul Studio’
s virtual work-
shops have brought a learn-
ing curve to both staff and
participants, said Anthony
Marcellini, programs and exhi-
bitions manager at the studio.
Yet a variety of experiences,
from one-on-one meetings to
small group workshops, have
evolved, he said.
Amid isolation, Shemtov
prompted staff to bring the
joy of art to others in the
Jewish community. In addi-
tion to his executive role at
Friendship Circle, he serves as
a board member to JARC, a
Farmington-based nonprofit
providing residential and sup-
port services
for people with
developmental
disabilities.
“I believe that
JARC is really on the
front line of this,
” Shemtov
said. “Residents usually get
out during the day to different
activities or to employment.
They [normally] have a lot of
socialization and now they’
re
just shut down.
”
Before the pandemic, indi-
viduals served at the nonprofit’
s
residential group homes eager-
ly awaited weekend visits with
family and friends, said Jessica
Tierney, JARC’
s community
engagement manager. They
relied on the consistency of
vocational programs, employ-
ment and the encouragement
and support given by a variety
of volunteers. This has dissi-
pated during shelter- in-place
when JARC homes are restrict-
ed to essential staff.
Keeping people they served
mentally and physically active,
Tierney says, is her top priority
right now. When invited, 14
JARC homes totaling 39 par-
ticipants signed up for weekly
art classes, including all those
living in JARC’
s deaf homes.
“We have an interpreter to
help with instruction,
” said
Tierney. “You can tell how
eager and excited people are.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
Soul Studio’
s JARC participants
show off their artwork.
Friendship
Circle
Unbroken
In a pandemic, the nonprofi
t’
s
Soul Studio brings the “joy of art”
to JARC residents
SARAH WILLIAMS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER