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

