24 | APRIL 28 • 2022

OUR COMMUNITY

M

addie Berry loves to
sing and has been
performing for her
family for as long as she can
remember. Recently she got an
opportunity she never thought
would have been possible: vocal
training with professionals
at the Detroit Opera. “It has
been a dream come true. They
taught me about breathing
work and how to sing from the
diaphragm and I have really
improved,
” said Berry, 23, from
Clawson.
Now, Berry will be perform-
ing at the third annual JVS +
Kadima Frame of Mind Benefit
and Arts Showcase, which
will be held on May 15 from
5-8 p.m. at the Museum of
Contemporary Art Detroit.
The event is offering a one-
of-a-kind theatrical immersive
evening with singing, music,
dance, acting and art. It will
showcase the many talents of
artists and performers, like
Berry, who take part in Creative
Expressions, an artistic enrich-
ment program run by JVS +
Kadima, in conjunction with
performances by professional
musicians, singers and actors
with the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra (DSO), Detroit
Opera and the Matrix Theatre.

This year’s program is the
first to include participants
from two areas of JVS +
Kadima since the Kadima and
JVS Human Services organi-
zations combined in January
2022. It includes individuals
with serious mental health
challenges who receive residen-
tial, educational and clinical
services through Kadima, along
with those with intellectual and
developmental disabilities who
take part in the organization’s
Choices program offering activ-
ities and enrichments. It is also
the first Frame of Mind to be
held indoors; the 2020 event
was offered virtually, and last
summer’s program was held
outdoors on the roof of the
Detroit Opera building due to
pandemic protocols.
“This is an amazing oppor-
tunity to highlight and share
the talents and skills of the
participants in our Creative
Expressions program,
” said
CEO and President of JVS +
Kadima Paul Blatt. “Thanks to
the incredible amount of time
devoted by our partners from
some of the most influential
artistic institutions in Detroit,
our members have the oppor-
tunity to gain skills, confidence
and share their beauty with the

world.
”
Creative Expression Program
Coordinator Craig Nowak
explained more about the event.
“It is chiefly a musical theater
production, created by Kadima
members in collaboration
with our Creative Expressions
community partners. Matrix
Theatre worked with our mem-
ber to write, plan and act the
play. The DSO and Creative
Arts Therapies helped compose
the musical portion and will
be performing alongside our
members, and Detroit Opera
assisted in the choreography of
a dance and singing portion of
the evening,
” Nowak said.
“There will also be Kadima
and Choices art on display
that was made with guidance
by teaching artists from the
College for Creative Studies.
”

This artwork includes 10
5-foot-tall paintings by partici-
pants of the Choices program.

JVS + KADIMA ARTISTS
Along with singer Maddie
Berry, more than 20 JVS +
Kadima members are taking
part in Frame of Mind. One
of these is Kenneth Rosenthal,
an avid photographer whose
work was recently accepted into
the Oakland County Health
Network traveling art exhi-
bition. Rosenthal will have a
short animation and story with-
in the play and will also display
his photography.
Sharon Glazer, another tal-
ented Kadima member, wrote
a large portion of the play, cre-
ated an animation for her story
and will narrate her story.
Joel Kaufman was chiefly

JVS + Kadima’s Frame of Mind
Benefit and Arts Showcase
features more than 20 artists.

Inspiring

Entertainment

ALISON SCHWARTZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

COURTESY OF JVS+KADIMA