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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