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