JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 25
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my Nederlander
grew up in Michigan,
spending lots of time
at Detroit’s Fisher Theatre,
then owned by her family, and
she returns to the stage Jan. 15
in a program that recognizes,
in part, her bringing theater
elements to a young people’s
organization.
Rainbow PUSH, in the free
program “Let Freedom Ring”
held in Detroit’s Fox Theatre,
will present her with the Social
Service Award for her founding
and years of work with the
nonprofit LIFE Leaders.
Also getting awards in the
spirit of the Martin Luther King
Jr. holiday being celebrated
on the day of the event, will
be Judge Greg Mathis and
Big Sean with the Keep Hope
Alive Award, COGIC Presiding
Bishop John Drew Sheard with
the Theological Leadership
Award and ACCESS President
and CEO Maha Freij, also with
the Social Service Award.
“I am beyond honored,
” said
Nederlander, who lives in New
York and has worked locally on
LIFE Leaders since 2016, now
serving as a board member and
group secretary. “I never did
this work considering any kind
of accolades. It’s the joy from
the work that we do with youth
and the city of Detroit.
“It’s an organization that I set
up after a vision that I had in
junior high. It receives funding
from various foundations in
Detroit and state funding,
so it’s got a deep stake in the
community.
”
Since the organization does
not have its own space, workers
take part remotely as meetings

and events are scheduled at area
centers. Nederlander basically
serves in a volunteer capacity.
Nederlander, 62, who
worked in economics and
behind the scenes in theater
after earning degrees from the
University of Michigan and
Columbia University, founded
the organization with Michaela
Murphy, a professional educator
at various levels including
executive coaching and
speechwriting.
“What we call games are
really theater training exercises
that bring around a real sense
of comfort and community,
”
Nederlander said. “Participants
start talking about what their
dreams are and what was in
their way.
”
The organization aims to
reach those ages 14-24. The
programs are to help them
articulate what they care about
in order to establish goals and
the paths to achieve those
goals. These interpersonal
professional skills are built as
there is learning about their city.

They go on bus tours, have
meetings, experience field
trips, participate in round table
discussions and hear prominent
speakers. A special annual event
is the Detroit Youth Summit,

a policy conference in its sixth
year. There are also opportunity
summits, described as job fairs
with additional subjects.
Nederlander, also involved
with the group Spill the Honey
that has programs for Jewish
and Black participants, is proud
of many LIFE Leader member
ventures and tells about a
rapper-poet whose work was
presented in a film about the
Shoah as developed by Keith
Famie, who has worked in
Michigan.
At the awards program,
two are going to be presented
posthumously. One goes to
singer-actor Harry Belafonte,
and another is for Rev. Dr.
Charles G. Adams, who was
president of the Detroit Branch
NAACP
. Both will receive
Humanitarian Awards.
“My experience in the
Detroit community and our
organization is based on
collaboration,
” Nederlander
said. “These intergenerational
partnerships and investments
in the youth are imperative
and a priority in Detroit, and
the work they’re doing overall
is trailblazing. Our goal is for
people to get where they want
to go.
”

Amy Nederlander to be honored by Rainbow PUSH in the
“Let Freedom Ring” program.
Social Service Award

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Details
Free tickets for the
Rainbow PUSH “Let
Freedom Ring” —
program at 5 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 15, at the
Fox Theatre in Detroit
— can be obtained at
313Presents.com and
ticketmaster.com.

Women to Work
Program

Gesher Human Services will be
holding its popular Women to
Work program for Metro Detroit
women in January. The free pro-
gram offers women vital skills
to gain immediate employment
and begins with an information-
al meeting on Jan. 18 from 9-11
a.m. at the nonprofit organiza-
tion’s headquarters in Southfield
(29699 Southfield Road) before
officially starting the four-week
program.
Classes are held every Tuesday
and Thursday beginning Jan. 23
from 9 a.m. to noon, with the
opportunity for participants to
stay on for the afternoon to take
a basic computer class, enhanc-
ing the prospect of job opportu-
nities.
“The start of the year is well
known to be a great time to
look for a job, but many women,
especially those who have been
out of the workforce for some
time, might not have the appro-
priate resume, job search or
computer skills to get their job
application in front of a hiring
manager,” said Women to Work
coordinator Judy Richmond.
“Our free program allows
women to take that big step into
the workforce with confidence
and knowledge and to be able to
provide for themselves and their
families.”
Due to the popularity of the
program and limited space in
the classes, Gesher will hold
additional classes on Mondays
and Wednesdays if demand is
high this year. These classes will
follow the same class outline
and will also be followed by
free basic computer classes if
required.
For more information, go to
geshermi.org/events; to register
contact Judy Richmond at (248)
233- 4232 or email her at jrich-
mond@geshermi.org.

Amy
Nederlander