She grew up on Velvet peanut butter and Krun-Chee potato chips – her father’s industry and inspiration. Daughter of Velvet Peanut Butter Company founder, Paul Zuckerman, Linda Z. Klein proudly maintains the Z in her name — her signature signifying her family legacy and her longtime role as a community leader, fundraiser and philanthropist.
Their journeys have taken them far and wide. When asked where they started – what inspired them to become rabbis – each shares a story of profound self-discovery. From Jewish youth groups to summer camps, college Hillel activities, residencies in Israel, song leader workshops – and on to rabbinic schools and first pulpits, they have brought us their spark.
After her first (and only) marathon run in 2008, Stacy Doctoroff turned in her running shoes for other equally focused pursuits: returning to school; earning her Master’s degree and credentials as a licensed therapist; starting a private practice; and stepping up to more and more challenging roles in the Jewish community. “My commitments grow out of my passions,” she says.
Feeding Our Jewish Soul
Meet Atieno Nyar Kasagam, MSU grad, urban gardener and resident of neighborhood farm, Founder of the Detroit African Coalition for Liberated Land, awarded top prize in Do It for Detroit’s 2016 grant competition, sponsored by Yad Ezra, NEXTGen and Repair the World, in support of Detroit’s Food Justice Movement.
They met at a local PR firm tying ribbons on invitations. Three years later they tied the knot. Married now for 15 years, they are Founder and Principals of their own company, PublicCity PR. If ever you wonder how married couples in business stay together, ask Hope and Jason Brown. Describing their marriage as “not perfect, but close,” they could write the book on building a family business all about community relations in Jewish Detroit.
Say hello to Emily Lulkin, Maya Goldman and Will Shulak, three amazing teen mentors with PeerCorps Detroit, putting their energies and talents into community-based work in Detroit, representing the next NEXTGen to watch attain leadership roles in the years ahead.
With a Masters of Psychology and a brilliant mind for business, Geoff Kretchmer is Partner at Local Kitchen & Bar in Ferndale and President, Managing Partner, Chief Executive Community Builder and Hand-Holder at Star Trax Events, the #1 social entertainment company in the Detroit market.
“Autism can be a beautiful mess.” These are fighting words for parents, families and friends caring for children with a spectrum disorder where every child has unique capabilities. They say autism is also a gift, and this is where Dani Gillman and Ben Chutz begin the story of their journey together.
What happens when Jewish Detroit meets Jewish Atlanta in Israel? Just ask NEXTGen rock stars, Shayna and Joshua Levine: married 13 years, parents of four, balancing two full-time careers. Partners in community leadership roles; deeply, passionately engaged in Jewish life.
