OUR COMMUNITY

D

etroit Jews for Justice (DJJ) nomi-
nated Ronit Wagman of Huntington 
Woods as Volunteer of the Week 
for her canvassing efforts for Reproductive 
Freedom for All, the campaign to amend the 
Michigan constitution. 
“She canvassed tirelessly all the way up until 
the last day of signature collection and single- 
handedly got more signatures than any other 
leader in our organization,
” said Elijah Silver, 
organizer for Campaigns and Education with 
DJJ. 
Wagman says since she has moved from 
working for a trade book publisher to working 
independently as an editorial consultant, she 
now has more flexibility with her time, which 
allows her to be actively involved in the com-
munity. 
“It’s been a gratifying and empowering 
experience to turn my despair into action and 
to meet other people who share similar val-
ues,
” Wagman said. 
She says she wouldn’t be able to take such 
an active role in the community if it weren’t 
for the support of her husband, Eric Wagman, 

who shares responsibility caring for their 
two children, Finn, 7, and Jake, 4. 
Her latest project involves organizing with 
other local parents through Moms Demand 
Action, a national grassroots organization 
whose focus is protecting people from gun 
violence. 
“Right now, we’re speaking to the Berkley 
School District about adopting a gun safety 
resolution and providing parents with gun 
safety information as part of the annual school 
registration process, like many other districts 
have done since the Oxford school shooting,
” 
Wagman explained.
The inspiration for Wagman’s activism 
and volunteer work comes from her mom, 
Marcy Feldman. “My mom has held a lot of 
leadership positions in the Jewish commu-
nity and, because of her interest in helping 
people, she founded an amazing nonprofit 
called the Friends of Pasteur School Detroit 
to support the students at her former ele-
mentary school, particularly the families 
living below the poverty line,
” said Wagman. 
“She also conceived of it as a way for white 

alums like her to connect with the Black alums 
they lost touch with after elementary school.
” 
Wagman says seeing her mom take initia-
tive throughout the community made her 
want to step up and make a difference. Now 
Wagman encourages others who have the time 
to use their voice when they can. 
“I’m excited to get more involved in DJJ, 
which is committed to addressing problems of 
racial and economic justice at a local level. It’s 
been a really nice experience so far.
” 

To find out more about DJJ and how you can get 

involved, head to detroitjewsforjustice.org. If you would 

like to nominate someone to be the next volunteer of 

the week, send a nomination with a short paragraph

telling us why to rsweet@thejewishnews.com.

TOP: Gathering signatures at Ferndale’s Pride 
festival for the Reproductive Freedom for All 
ballot initiative. MIDDLE: Marching for BLM with 
son, Finn. BOTTOM: With Moms Demand Action 
at a school board meeting, where they urged the 
district to adopt a gun safety solution.

Meet Ronit Wagman, who uses
her volunteer activism to make 
positive change in the community.

Volunteering 
for Change

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

24 | AUGUST 18 • 2022 

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK:

Her latest project involves organizing with 

other local parents through Moms Demand 
TOP: Gathering signatures at Ferndale’s Pride 

The Wagmans: Eric, Ronit, 
Finn and Jake, April 2021.

