14 | JUNE 13 • 2024 
J
N

T

he Jewish Federation of 
Detroit has announced 
the integration of its 
partner agency, the Jewish 
Community Relations 
Council (JCRC), into 
its Community Affairs 
Department. This strategic 
decision creates a more 
unified and powerful 
resource, marking a 
significant step forward for 
Jewish interests in Metro 
Detroit.
For many years, the JCRC 
provided media relations, 
advocacy, interfaith and 
community relations on 
behalf of Jewish Detroit. In 
2016, the JCRC merged with 
the AJC, becoming the JCRC/
AJC. Going forward, the work 
of the AJC will be handled by 
its national organization.
The change follows a 
dominant trend within Jewish 
communities across North 
America, consolidating 
community-relations 
organizations within the 
Federation system to improve 
their efficiency and impact. 
The timing for this move, 
says Federation CEO Steve 
Ingber could not 
have been better.
“It’s never 
been more 
important for 
our community 
to speak with 
a clear, unified 
voice,” Ingber said. “Since 
Oct. 7, the challenges we 
face as a community have 
grown exponentially. In an 
environment of dramatically 

rising antisemitism, the need 
to actively stand against 
hatred and to advocate for 
Israel are top priorities. 
“We continue to receive 
requests from the community 
for support — in public 
schools, city councils, 
workplaces, universities and 
beyond. Elected officials have 
approached us with questions 
and concerns. By combining 

the JCRC’s expertise with 
our extensive outreach 
capabilities, we will be much 
better positioned to advocate 
for our Jewish community, 
for Israel and for the Jewish 
people everywhere.”
Federation’s Community 
Affairs Department is led by 
David Kurzmann, 
a community 
relations and 
Jewish advocacy 
veteran who 
previously served 
as assistant 
regional director 
of the ADL Midwest and 
executive director of Detroit’s 
JCRC/AJC from 2015 to 2019.
“We are grateful to the 
JCRC lay leaders and 

professional staff who have 
dedicated themselves to this 
work,” Kurzmann says, “and 
we look forward to their 
continued participation. 
“The structure is changing, 
but our collective mission 
remains consistent and 
essential for the community. 
The department’s focus will 
be on fostering strategic civic 
partnerships, intergroup and 

interfaith strategy, media 
relations and government 
relations.”
The essence of JCRC’s 
most successful programs 
will continue under 
the new structure. A 
prominent example of 
this is the Coalition for 
Black and Jewish Unity, a 
groundbreaking relationship-
building initiative that brings 
people together to promote 
greater understanding and 
mutual respect (read more 
about the program in this 
issue’s cover story).
“We are really excited about 
taking on the work of the 
Coalition, as well as a variety 
of other important programs,” 
Kurzmann says. 

As with all operational 
areas within Federation, 
the effort will be guided 
by volunteer committees, 
including a Community 
Relations 
Committee 
chaired by Nancy 
Welber Barr, 
who was slated 
to be JCRC/AJC 
president.

“The inte-
gration with 
Federation allows us to bring 
our community advocacy and 
partnership efforts to a larger 
stage and to work even more 
closely with our partners in 
the Jewish community and 
beyond,” Welber Barr says. 
“Together, we will be able to 
respond more dynamically 
and effectively to the issues 
that matter to us all.”
Ted Deutch, AJC CEO, 
shared, “We extend our 
heartfelt gratitude for the suc-
cessful collaboration between 
JCRC and AJC over the past 
several years, made possible 
by the hard work of extraor-
dinary lay leaders and profes-
sionals. AJC looks forward to 
supporting the Federation’s 
new direction and to new 
opportunities to advance 
AJC’s unique global Jewish 
advocacy, as we confront 
antisemitism, stand up for 
Israel’s right to exist in peace 
and security, and uphold the 
democratic values that unite 
Jews and our allies.” 

Ted Cohen is chief marketing officer 

for the Jewish Federation of Detroit.

Federation explains how JCRC’s functions will be 
carried out by its Community Affairs Department.
JCRC Absorbed by Federation

Steve 
Ingber

David 
Kurzmann

Nancy 
Welber 
Barr

TED COHEN JFD CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

OUR COMMUNITY

“IT’S NEVER BEEN MORE 
IMPORTANT FOR OUR 
COMMUNITY TO SPEAK WITH 
A CLEAR, UNIFIED VOICE.”

— STEVE INGBER