12 | NOVEMBER 26 • 2020 

VIEWS

ence virtual, we could open up 
the journalism camp to high 
school students who joined in 
from Texas, Florida, New York, 
New Jersey, Maryland and even 
as far as Bermuda (two girls 
vacationing actually chose to 
learn about writing over going 
to the beach!). We also had 
many students from Oakland 
and Washtenaw counties par-
ticipate.
We would have rather spent 
the afternoons together in 
person, but it was an amazing 
opportunity to connect Detroit 
teens with youth across the 
country. While they may see 
different views outside their 
bedroom windows, they shared 
a common experience: being 
a teen during a summer full 
of protests, a pandemic and 
uncertainty. 
When you read their stories, 
you get a glimpse into their 
daily lives, thoughts and what 
they care about. And let me 
emphasize, they care immensely. 
Whether it’
s the impact of the 

virus on teen mental health or 
what their peers are doing to 
contribute to the Black Lives 
Matter movement, or how the 
restaurants and businesses in 
their communities are faring 
at this time — the students all 
chose their own stories and 
topics to write about to spread 
awareness and truth. 
For the photography camp, 
my husband, Jake, and I 
spent one Sunday afternoon 
delivering laptops and cam-
eras to teens in Detroit. As 
we criss-crossed the city — 
hitting Midtown, Redford, 
Grandmont, Russell Woods, 
Parkland, Regent Park and the 
outskirts of Grosse Pointe — I 
truly felt the vastness of the 
city’
s 139 square miles. Perhaps 
being virtual was one saving 
grace; we could reach these 
students wherever they were. 
Transportation would not be 
an issue.
But the virtual aspect came 
with its own challenges. Not all 
students have access to high-

speed internet, for one. But we 
made it work as photography 
coach Sacred Overstreet-Amos 
taught the students about ISO 
and shutter speed and trou-
bleshooted camera questions 
from her Zoom window. The 
second week, we paired two to 
three students at a time to go on 
distanced photo walks around 
Detroit with a guest photography 
coach. Design coach Michelle 
Sheridan (a JN designer) met 
the students on Zoom to look 
through their photos and narrow 
down their favorites to publish 
in a print magazine. When I 
saw their final selections, I was 
stunned. They took what they 
learned on Zoom to heart, 
applying the rule of thirds and 
capturing leading lines. But more 
importantly, the photos repre-
sented a historic moment in time 
and told the story of their experi-
ence this summer. 
I’
m thankful to all the coaches 
who got creative with virtual les-
sons and the Fisher Foundation 
for believing in us (and letting 

us pivot in unimaginable ways). 
While we weren’
t able to con-
nect in person as intended, I 
know Coaching Detroit Forward 
accomplished its goal when a 
Detroit photography student sent 
me an email upon receiving his 
copy of Perspectives Magazine:
“Reading some of the articles 
made me feel a part of a huge 
community and realize that 
the Detroit youth is something 
special from what they view us 
as. Thank you for accepting me 
into the program and for making 
me love photography even more 
... Due to you guys, I won’
t ever 
consider dropping a camera ever 
in life even if I find myself not 
pursuing it as a career.
”
This summer was a challenge, 
no doubt. But I’
m grateful for the 
perspectives I gained and oppor-
tunity to let teens share theirs. 

Read the students’ stories at www.

detroitwritingroom.com/2020-sum-

mer-journalism-camp-stories and view 

their photos at www.coachingdetroitfor-

ward.org/2020-photography-camp.

then through their carry-out 
or delivery service. We can also 
purchase gift cards from them 
and, to help the wait staff, we 
can try to be extra-generous 
with tipping. In fact, wherever 
you see a tip jar at a retail store 
(dry cleaners, bakery, etc.), 
make a contribution if you can. 
• We can step up our support 
for our local synagogues and 
temples. Many congregation 
members are struggling to pay 
their dues during the pandemic, 
so those that can do so should 
consider paying early to help 
the places that do so much for 
us. Most synagogues and tem-
ples have boosted their social 
action programs to help during 
the pandemic, in and out of 

the Jewish community. We can 
volunteer our time, money and 
supplies to their worthy efforts, 
which will be especially needed 
in the coming months. 
• We can contact the Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit, who can direct us to a 
host of organizations that need 
volunteers and supplies during 
this critical time. Jewish Family 
Service, the National Council of 
Jewish Women, Jewish Senior 
Life and Yad Ezra, in particular, 
have been busy providing food 
to vulnerable populations, par-
ticularly seniors. The Meals on 
Wheels program has been espe-
cially challenged, as it dealt with 
an influx of people needing 
meal deliveries because caretak-

ers were uncomfortable going to 
the store. 
• We can donate blood to the 
American Red Cross, which, 
during the pandemic, is now 
testing for COVID-19 antibod-
ies and helping coronavirus 
patients with plasma transfu-
sions.
• We can help our schools 
— which have been stretched 
to the limits by the virus — by 
supporting DonorsChoose 
(DonorsChoose.org), a leading 
national funding site for teachers 
in high-need communities. The 
site publishes specific requests 
from teachers, who lately have 
been pleading for personal pro-
tective equipment to “keep our 
students and staff safe.
”

Obviously, these are just some 
examples of ways we can help. 
There is an endless list of other 
things that we may do. But the 
important thing is to recognize 
the harsh reality: This virus 
is out of control and a hellish 
winter of suffering for countless 
people is just around the corner. 
Each of us has a vital role 
here. If there was ever a time to 
step up and help your commu-
nity, this is it. 

Mark Jacobs is the AIPAC Michigan 
chair for African American Outreach, a 
co-director of the Coalition for Black and 
Jewish Unity, a board member of the 
Jewish Community Relations Council-
AJC and the director of Jewish Family 
Service’
s Legal Referral Committee.

NONPROFIT continued from page 10

COVID HELL continued from page 10

