20 | SEPTEMBER 15 • 2022 

L

inda Markowitz from 
Franklin has always 
been drawn to making 
connections with people who 
have disabilities ever since she 
developed a friendship with a 
neighbor who has special needs. 
So, it is no surprise that she was 
naturally drawn to the mis-
sion of JARC, a local nonprofit 
organization that serves people 
with developmental disabilities 
throughout Metro Detroit. 
For Linda, her involvement 
with JARC this summer has 
been extra special as she is 
attending a new, free JARC 
summer series of classes called 
Hobbies and Hangouts, which is 
under the umbrella of the long-
standing Making Community 
Connections program. 

Through a generous donation 
of a JARC supporter, Linda and 
other community members 
attend classes alongside people 
JARC serves to explore and 
learn a new hobby and make 
connections. 
Most recently, Linda’s ceram-
ics class was taught by an 
instructor named Taylor, who 
led participants through the 
process of creating pinch pots, 
coil pots, dream catchers, and 
painted and textured leaf prints. 
Linda said that Taylor has such 
a calmness and kindness and 
listens to everyone. “She creates 
a very peaceful, loving environ-
ment. You walk in there, and it’s 
so welcoming. That’s so import-
ant.
” 
She also attended the line 

dancing class led by instructors 
Alyssa and Arthur. She describes 
both instructors as very ener-
getic, patient and mindful in 
accommodating the needs of the 
people JARC serves to make the 
class enjoyable for all. 
Linda says of the class, “We 
all cracked up because we were 
having so much fun. There were 
no pretenses, just do what you 
feel like doing.
” 
Linda added, “Exercising and 
being with your friends. What 
more could you ask for?”
While Linda has been 
involved with the nonprofit for 
numerous years, she has also 
been an advocate and friend to 
individuals with developmental 
disabilities. She has attended 
JARC annual fundraisers and 
volunteered, as well as brought 
her daughters to celebrate Jewish 
holidays with persons served at a 
JARC home in West Bloomfield.
“I wanted them to see that 
there are all different kinds of 
people, and it’s great to share the 
holidays with others,
” she said.
Since the pandemic began, 
Linda hasn’t been able to interact 
too often with the people JARC 
serves, but that didn’t stop her 
support. She joined other volun-
teers to deliver meals to JARC 
homes but found it very difficult 
to not be able to speak with any 
of the persons served. 

MAKING NEW 
CONNECTIONS
The pandemic signaled a shift 
to all virtual activities in JARC 
homes, but recently the organi-
zation has been able to ease back 
into offering small-scale indoor 
activities for the people they 
serve. The return to in-person 
events, including the Hobbies 
and Hangouts classes, has been 
well received by the people 
JARC serves, and it has been 
especially delightful for them to 
be able to interact with members 
of the community through this 
program. Many community 

members, like Linda, have had a 
wonderful experience learning a 
new hobby and connecting with 
the people JARC serves. 
Linda is excited about the 
many new connections she’s 
made with the people JARC 
serves through attending these 
classes. She named Maxine and 
Regina in particular, saying, 
“They crack me up. I really 
enjoy them. We even talked 
about the Elvis Presley movie 
together.
” She also had a special 
connection with Lindsay, a con-
nection that she would like to 
continue to pursue. “I consider 
them my friends now — I real-
ly do. I enjoy being with all of 
them.
”
Linda has plans to participate 
in future classes and would love 
to see more people in the com-
munity get involved in Hobbies 
and Hangouts. “I think everyone 
should start doing this. The 
whole world needs to be around 
the people JARC serves and 
see their excitement and their 
smiles. A little bit of kindness 
goes a long way and it’s conta-
gious.
” 

For more information on Hobbies and 

Hangouts classes, go to www.jarc.

org, contact Jessica at jessicatierney@

jarc.org or call (248) 940-2607. Follow 

JARC on Facebook at www.facebook.

com/JARCDetroit to stay updated on all 

JARC community events.

OUR COMMUNITY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JARC

Free Hobbies and Hangouts 
classes help community members 
make connections with the people 
JARC serves.

Making New 
Friends at JARC

PAT BASKIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS 

Linda 
holds a 
ceramics 
piece she 
made at 
class.

Linda 
Markowitz at 
Hobbies and 
Hangouts

80

