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

