FEBRUARY 22 • 2024 | 31
JARC Exceeded
Fundraising Goal
Man Convicted of
Defacing Synagogue
JARC, the nonprofit agency that
serves individuals with develop-
mental disabilities, announced
that its 2023 fall fundraising
campaign exceeded its goal of
$1.2 million and netted $1.4
million for the nonprofit.
Funds raised support 120
people with developmental dis-
abilities at 45 locations in Metro
Detroit, including 24-hour care
in group homes, independent
living settings for adults, and
respite services for children,
teens and young adults.
“While we’re very fortunate
to be the beneficiaries of state
funding, there’s no way that
we could provide the level of
community that we do for the
people we serve or be able to
get everyone where they want
to go if it weren’t for our gen-
erous donors,
” said JARC CEO
Shaindle Braunstein.
A federal jury has convicted
Nathan Weeden, 23, under a
civil rights statute for defacing
Temple Jacob in Hancock on
Sept. 21, 2019, using swastikas
and images associated with a
white supremacist group.
Weeden was also convicted
of damage to religious property
under another civil rights stat-
ute.
“This swift conviction sends a
strong message that hate will not
be tolerated in Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula,
” said U.S. Attorney
for the Western District of
Michigan Mark Totten in a
statement. “No one should be
the target of hate because of
their race, ethnicity, religion or
any other status. When hateful
words become hateful acts, my
office will use every tool we have
to protect the public and secure
justice.
”
SPOTLIGHT
Featuring
Ava Xiao-Lin
Rigelhaupt
Sunday, March 10, 2024
1:00 PM
Dessert Reception Following Talk
Janice Charach Gallery
6600 West Maple Road
West Bloomfield
FREE: REGISTER TO SAVE YOUR SPOT
Registration at https://jlive.app/events/6955
QUESTIONS:
248-432-5543 or openingthedoors@jccdet.org
ASL interpreter will be provided.
Ava Xiao-Lin Rigelhaupt was the
Autistic Creative Consultant on the
Broadway musical, “How to Dance in
Ohio,” based on the award-winning
HBO documentary, which follows seven
autistic adults, and she has written for
PBS Kids shows. She will share her own
experiences as a Chinese, transracial,
Jewish, autistic adoptee.
Ava is a writer, consultant, actress,
speaker and advocate for disability
and autism representation in the
entertainment industry.
Jewish Disability
Awareness
Acceptance &
Inclusion Month
(JDAIM)
The J’s Opening the Doors Celebrates
E D U C AT E . I N C LU D E . E M P OW E R .
Special Needs
Enrichment
OTD, JDAIM, Dresner, support from
JFMD, Respectability, Janice Charach
Gallery, Living and Learning
Art exhibit by the neuro diverse members of Living and Learning Enrichment Center.