G

esher Human Services’ 
Women to Work 
program began in the 
1980s to help women re-enter 
the workforce after significant 
life-changing events such as a 
financial need due to family job 
loss, divorce, death or disability 
of a spouse or partner. After 
intensive assessment, testing 
and job search training, par-
ticipants emerge with renewed 
self-confidence, market-ready 
job skills and an action plan. 
Each year, the community 

gathers to raise money for this 
impactful program at the annu-
al Trade Secrets event, which 
will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, 
Nov. 10, at the Detroit Marriott 
Troy (200 W
. Big Beaver Road, 
Troy).
Trade Secrets has raised 
$2,254,638.90 in the last 13 
years, and the program has ben-
efitted more than 2,000 Metro 
Detroit women. 
This year’s event will feature 
honoree and speaker, Brenda 
Naomi Rosenberg, a Detroit 

fashion industry executive 
and style icon, who became a 
designer, globe-trotting pho-
tographer and eventually an 
international peacebuilder after 
9/11 when she worked to unite 
people of differing faiths against 
hate. Her memoir Charmed was 
published in June 2022, with all 
proceeds going to the Detroit 
Institute of Arts educational 
programs. 
Rosenberg was the first 
woman vice president of fash-
ion for Hudson’s department 

stores, then first woman senior 
vice president of fashion mar-
keting and merchandising for 
Federated Allied Department 
Stores. An advocate for promot-
ing diversity, Rosenberg hired 
the first female black executive 
in Detroit, and the first black 
models for Saks Fifth Avenue in 
Detroit. 
When 9/11 happened, 
Rosenberg says her heart spoke 
to her, and she became an activ-
ist for interfaith relationships, 
the first Jewish person to be 
honored by the American-
Arab Anti-Discrimination 
Committee. She then went on 
to create interfaith educational 
material for students all over 
the world; her “Reuniting the 
Children of Abraham: Tool Kit 
4 Peace” has been featured on 
the CBS Television Network.
“Brenda has spent her adult 
life helping others overcome 
obstacles and supporting the 
community. We’re proud to 
have her as our honoree and 
keynote speaker at this year’s 
Trade Secrets,
” Gesher Human 
Services CEO Paul Blatt said.

BUILDING BRIDGES 
Rosenberg is excited about 
her latest project, helping to 
empower Detroit public school 
students. Rosenberg has trans-
formed some of her photog-
raphy into magnificent wall 
murals, often one or two stories 
high. Recently, she was on hand 
when her mural of a mustang 
was installed at Mumford 
High, home of the Mustangs. 
Rosenberg is a 1964 Mumford 
grad and it’s where she met her 
husband, Howard.
Rosenberg will be working 
with Mumford students on a 
book called Building Bridges with 
Imagery. She gives an example: 
“I have a photo of a little baby 
harp seal with the caption ‘no 
one is born hating,
’” she said. 
Students will learn how to 
take self-portraits and then 
come up with the answer to the 

26 | NOVEMBER 3 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

Empowering 
Women

JACKIE HEADAPOHL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Detroit style icon and author Brenda 
Naomi Rosenberg featured at 14th 
annual Trade Secrets event.

Brenda 
Rosenberg

