Kadima Creative Expressions helps people 
improve their mental health.

RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

30 | JUNE 4 • 2020 

F

or years, Joel has 
dreamed of creating a 
graphic novel from the 
Star Trek-inspired art project 
he began as a teen. Today, 
thanks to Kadima’
s Creative 
Expressions program, he is on 
the way to bringing his long-
time dream to fruition. 
“It takes place in the 47th cen-
tury; there’
s some very far out 
and complex stuff,
” he said. 
Beyond publishing a book, 
his aspirations include a video 
game, a movie and a pilot for a 
television series. 

HARNESSING THE 
POWER OF ART
The Creative Expressions pro-
gram began in 2016, as Kadima 
leadership realized the arts can 
have a positive impact on peo-
ple coping with various mental 
health issues. 
“Studies show the important 
power of the arts for improving 
mental health and creating com-
munity and positive connections 

between people,
” 
says Eric Adelman, 
executive director 
of Kadima, which 
provides a variety 
of residential, ther-
apeutic and social 
services to people 
with mental health challenges. 
“These people have experienced 
a lot of closed doors; they hav-
en’
t had a lot of opportunities to 
engage in the arts.
”
Barbara Kratchman, whose 
long career in the arts and cul-
tural community includes serv-
ing as director of the Michigan 
Council for the Arts, was instru-
mental in developing the pro-
gram. Kratchman, who is mar-
ried to past Kadima president 
Michael Kratchman, helped 
develop partnerships with local 
arts organizations such as the 
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), 
Detroit Symphony Orchestra 
(DSO) and the College for 
Creative Studies (CCS).
“The benefits to our mem-

bers have been palpable. People 
have embraced this program 
beyond what I’
ve ever dreamed,
” 
said Kratchman, who serves 
as chairperson of the Creative 
Expressions Council. “It’
s 
brought people out of them-
selves and taught them they 
could do things they never 
imagined they could.
”
The program has flour-
ished under the direction of 
program coordinator Craig 
Nowak, a professional artist and 
CCS instructor who became 
acquainted with Kadima when 
he taught a plein air (outdoor 
painting) class. When asked to 
join the organization on a full-
time basis, he enthusiastically 
accepted.
“It’
s the most fulfilling job I’
ve 
ever had,
” he said.

PRE-PANDEMIC PROGRAMMING
Before the pandemic, at the 
Kadima headquarters at the Lois 
and Milton Y. Zussman Activity 
Center in Southfield, there was 

a flurry of activity. Art programs 
in conjunction with the College 
for Creative Studies included 
printmaking/commercial arts, a 
mural painting class at City Hall 
Artspace Lofts in Dearborn, 
plein air (outdoor) painting 
and photography/stop-motion 
animation. A variety of music 
classes, some taught by visiting 
DSO musicians, include instru-
mental instruction, singing and 
movement. Among the most 
popular classes was a creative 
writing workshop and a mem-
ber-written newsletter, the 
Kadima Voice.
Classes were augmented 
with field trips to the DIA and 
tickets to performances by 
the Michigan Opera Theatre 
(MOT), DSO and other local 
arts events. 
Before in-person sessions 
were suspended, Joel also partic-
ipated in the photography and 
music classes, where he played 
trombone and piano.
“Kadima has been very bene-

Arts&Life

on the cover

Positive
 Power
 of Art

The

Eric Adelman

JERRY ZOLYNSKY

TOP: Finishing touches are added to a collaborative mural painting directed 
by Joel Kaufman. ABOVE: Eastern Market was the backdrop for a Kadima 
photography class. 

