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.

