26 | AUGUST 12 • 2021
OUR COMMUNITY
aren’t engaging this growing
segment of our population and
including them, welcoming
them in and making them feel
wanted, it’s a disservice to our
community. I am very glad
Federation began this outreach
and engagement and have
loved being a part of it.
Q: Who do you consider to be
your mentors along your path
to community-building?
KS: Wow, too many to list!
A mentor is anyone who
has taught me something
of value: about community,
about the power of
communications, about the
professional skills of listening
— learning when to say yes
and when to say no.
If I had to name one person?
Without a doubt, it’s Jonathan
Schwartz. Jonathan was in his
second year as a NEXTGen
board member when I was
in my first. Federation’s
Interfaith Couples Group was
his brainchild in 2016, but as
co-chairs we were strongly
aligned in launching the
program. Jonathan has led
the way for me, every step of
the way — a cherished friend
and colleague who creates and
grows lasting relationships. It
speaks for itself that Jonathan’s
leadership was recognized
with the Frank A. Wetsman
Young Leadership Award in
2021.
Q: Looking back in a year of
tremendous challenge and
upheaval, in what ways have
you seen NEXTGen grow in
strength?
KS: Federation’s NEXTGen
Detroit is built on the strength
of our community. We are
here to welcome everyone.
Our “target age” group is
21-45, but we’re open to any
life stage, whether you are
fresh out of college or an
established business leader
with 100 employees, whether
you are single, married, have
kids — it doesn’t matter. If you
want to be involved with our
organization, we want you to
be there with us.
Like most organizations,
our greatest challenge
through COVID has been
maintaining our connections,
creating new opportunities
for engagement and growing
meaningful relationships,
all while operating in a
remote capacity and in
virtual space. Altogether, I
would say Federation and
NEXTGen Detroit have done
a remarkable job with that. In
particular, we have taken some
different approaches in our
outreach.
If we talk about silver linings
during COVID — from my
perspective, the past year has
been an extraordinary leap for
our community, despite the
considerable challenges.
Through catastrophe
and navigating months of
uncertainty, together we’ve
shown a capacity for growth
and adaptation far greater
than what we might give
ourselves credit for, and we’ve
proven just how resilient and
strong we are. And NEXTGen
Detroit and Federation have
been there every step of the
way.
A longer version of this story was first
published on myjewishdetroit.org.
continued from page 25
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