30 | AUGUST 10 • 2023
Like any prom, the
guests at Jewish Senior
Life of Metropolitan
Detroit’s Senior-Senior
Prom July 30 at Meer
Apartments in West
Bloomfield dressed
up, dined and danced
with their friends. But
what made this prom
different and truly
special were the multi-
generational attendees
aged 18 to 100.
The JSL seniors
created close, heartfelt
bonds with the eight
high school seniors working in
Meer’s dining room during the past
four years. While the teens earned
money for college serving meals, the
residents served up a smorgasbord
of invaluable life lessons. The
relationships they formed have been
mutually beneficial, and both sets of
seniors hope they will continue long
after the students start college.
“You could feel the love in the
room,” said Marcia Mittelman, Meer
Apartments administrator. “The
relationships that developed between
the residents, students and staff are
so special. We are one big family
here. Our residents care so much
about these young adults who feel
like grandchildren to them.”
Mittleman said that Laura Shields,
dining service manager, has taken the
students under her wing by nurturing
and helping to prepare them for the
future.
“I am going to be so
sad leaving Meer,” said
Allan Zolotarevsky,
a recent Walled Lake
Northern High School
graduate who will be
attending Western
Michigan University in
the fall. “The residents
mean the world to me. I
wish I had half of their
wisdom.”
Jodi Isser, whose
daughter Hannah Isser
worked at Meer for
almost four years while
attending Lakeland
High School, said it has been the best
experience for Hannah.
“She’s met some of her closest
friends here,” said Isser, who was
invited to attend the event along with
parents of the other students. “She
feels very comfortable and wants to
be here more than at home. Working
at Meer has brought out the best in
her.” Hannah became close friends
with another dining room server,
Julianna Manganello, who graduated
last spring from Walled Lake Central
High School, and they will be
freshman roommates at WMU.
More than 80 residents, students,
staff and family members attended
the Roaring ’20s-themed event, many
wearing feathers, beads and sequins.
The Motor City Four performed
popular old standards, a prom king
and queen were crowned, and the
students were presented gift cards to
help with their college expenses.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY CKC AGENCY/JEWISH SENIOR LIFE
faces&places
JSL Meer Residents
Host Senior-Senior
Prom for Dining Room
Staffers Heading
to College
Meer Prom Queen
Debrah Warner
and Prom King
Stephen Harb
Meer resident
Evelyn Grant
Meer Administrator
Marcia Mittleman
and Meer resident
Elsie Freedman
Nancy Kalef,
JSL Resident
Liaison