DECEMBER 1 • 2022 | 19

OUR COMMUNITY

D

r. Erika Bocknek, 43, of
Farmington Hills has been nom-
inated as our Volunteer of the
Week for being an active member in the
community through her career and extra-
curricular volunteer work.
“Erika is passionate about advancing the
local dialogue on racial and social justice.
She strives to engage the community in
meaningful changes through her volunteer
work at the grassroots and local level,
” said
Sarah Miller, a fellow community volunteer.
Bocknek calls herself a helper and has
always strived to make the world a better
place for children and their families.
“My husband, Andy, and I both take this
idea we call active citizenship very serious-
ly,
” Bocknek explains.
Bocknek has been a family therapist
for nearly 20 years, a tenured professor
at Wayne State University and a fellow
at Michigan Medicine. She’s also on a
few boards throughout the community:
Brilliant Detroit and the Jewish Fund,
and the advisory boards of Jimiri and the
Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity. “One
of my most rewarding activities,
” she says,
“is being part of a lay leader group who
leads shivah services for Temple Israel fam-

ilies.
”
The inspiration for community service
comes from the people in Bocknek’s life
and her Jewish values.
“To me, being Jewish is truly about the
power of community and relationships. I’m
inspired by so many people in my life, and
we learn from each other,
” she says. “These
relationships are bidirectional, I can give
but also, I receive, and these connections
are the most important kind of service we
can do.
”
When Bocknek isn’t serving on a board
or committee, she attends community
events to show her support.
“To bring your enthusiasm, your spirit
and your presence is just as much a com-
ponent of leadership. It’s important to be
a person who takes citizenship seriously,
”
Bocknek adds.
As Bocknek transitions out of the world
of academia, she is shifting her focus on the
escalating children’s mental health crises.
“I’m starting this new organization called
Convo. We are on a mission to cultivate
authentic, healthy families, and we are cre-
ating the ‘middle space’ for mental health
— when you just have a question or need
to have a conversation about parenting and

mental health.
“Often people don’t come to therapists
until it’s urgent,
” she continues. “With
Convo, we’re offering single sessions, no
commitment, one-time appointments or
multiple, if you want. This gives parents or
families the opportunity to ask questions to
experts and receive the support they need
when they need it. Life gives us all
challenges, and we need to face them
together!”
Bocknek wants to create a space for
people to feel trust and love, building
relationships through connection and
community.
Hoping to inspire others to give back or
share their skills with the world, Bocknek
expresses the importance of finding out
what your passion is.
“What is the kind of service you can do
that brings you closer to people instead of
separating yourself?”

To learn more about Convo, visit myconvo.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.

Dr. Erika Bocknek’s goal is
to make the world a better
place through service.

Giving Back
Through Service

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

Erika
Bocknek
at work

Erika Bocknek
with friends