Gesher Human Services, one of the largest human service agencies in metro Detroit, is launching a new program for Michiganders hoping to change careers, whether driven by necessity or passion. Next Move Coaching offers six sessions, all virtual, on Mar. 3, Mar. 5, Mar. 10, Mar. 12, Mar. 17 and Mar. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. The program will guide participants through self-reflection, career assessments and actionable steps, and will also help them discover their behavioral style which could influence their career choices as well as identify transferable skills. The cost for all six sessions is $40 but scholarships are available for those with financial need.
Former Detroiters continue to make an important difference to Jewish Detroit. Siblings Jeff and Dana Perlman grew up in suburban Detroit, attending Jewish day school while absorbing their parents’ commitments to family and the Jewish community. Their mother, the late Diane (Dee dee) Perlman, was active as a volunteer fundraiser for the Jewish Federation of Detroit while managing a demanding business career and family responsibilities. Their late father, Michael Perlman, a real estate lawyer, was president of Jewish Apartments and Services (now Jewish Senior Life), chairman of Jewish Elder Care Services and the United Jewish Foundation.
Their parents’ involvement has inspired Jeff, 41, and Dana, 44, to continue their commitment to Jewish Detroit even though both have lived and worked in New York City for many years. Jeff was named president of Warburg Pincus LLC in 2023 and became its CEO the following year; he’s one of the youngest CEOs in the private equity industry. Warburg Pincus is the oldest private equity firm in the world with $86 billion in assets, operating in more than 40 countries. Perlman greatly expanded its Asia business while living with his wife, Liz, and their two children in Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program which provides innovative and engaging activities, care, and socialization for those living with dementia along with support for their families, will be offering a free program designed to support caregivers on Sunday Mar. 2 at its West Bloomfield location (6720 West Maple Road). The Brown Program is a joint initiative of Gesher Human Services and Jewish Senior Life. Navigating the Journey of Dementia: Advocacy, Support and Embracing Acceptance will feature a talk from Jim Mangi, PhD, who was a caregiver and is now an educator, advocate and founder of Dementia Friendly Saline.
Gesher Human Services, one of the largest human service agencies in metro Detroit, is offering an in-person workshop at its headquarters in Southfield (29699 Southfield Road) to provide seniors with information on the latest financial scams they could face including those from AI, such as cloned voices. Participants will also learn how to recognize if they are the victim of financial fraud from family members or other caregivers and what they can do to protect themselves. The program, open to seniors and family members, will be on Fri. Feb. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported in 2023 that while individuals under the age of 20 were least impacted by scams and fraud (only 18,000 reported victims), for those 60 years old and older there were more than 101,000 reported victims. A 2024 report on financial elder abuse by Thomson Reuters said that older people were most likely to be targeted because they have more disposable income, are less knowledgeable about technology and are more likely to be seeking companionship or connection online. If they are the victim of financial crime, they may want to keep the information private.
Jewish college students wanting to build their professional network and strengthen their resumes are now invited to apply for Gesher Human Services’ 2025 paid summer internship program known as JOIN.
The eight-week program is suitable for students who may be considering careers working in the nonprofit world, particularly within the Jewish community, plus those who are planning careers in the corporate for-profit space but hoping to learn more about their community for future roles in lay leadership or volunteering.
This year, an additional site is being included in the program offering an opportunity to work with three Jewish organizations in Downtown Detroit: Adamah Detroit (an environmental education initiative), Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue and Repair the World (a volunteer organization in Detroit).
Gesher Human Services, one of the largest human service agencies in metro Detroit which provides programming, services and job opportunities for local people living with disabilities, has a new driving simulator at its Southfield location (29699 Southfield Road). The equipment was made possible through a $35,000 grant from the Byron and Dorothy Gerson Innovation Fund. The simulator session provides a pre-driving assessment in a safe environment. Afterwards a detailed report is generated which can be shared with family and physicians to enable an informed decision about whether driving would be possible for the participant.
Gesher Human Services, one of the largest human service agencies in metro Detroit which provides programming, services and job opportunities for local people living with disabilities, has a new driving simulator at its Southfield location (29699 Southfield Road). The equipment was made possible through a $35,000 grant from the Byron and Dorothy Gerson Innovation Fund. The simulator session provides a pre-driving assessment in a safe environment. Afterwards a detailed report is generated which can be shared with family and physicians to enable an informed decision about whether driving would be possible for the participant.
The second annual NEXTUp, a NEXTWork professional conference designed to connect young Jewish Detroiters to one another and to some of the biggest names in their respective industries, takes place Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 6-9 p.m. at the College for Creative Studies Taubman Center in Detroit.
The NEXTWork community was founded in 2013 and is a collaborative initiative between Gesher Human Services and NEXTGen Detroit. The goal of NEXTWork is to provide young Jewish professionals with meaningful resources, expertise and networking opportunities to help build careers in the Detroit area. NEXTWork is made possible through the Hadas and Dennis Bernard NEXTWork Endowment Fund.
Here in the New Year, many people are trying to get their finances in order. And whether it’s paying down credit cards or saving for a house, the task can feel like an uphill battle. I met a Detroit Mom who found a program that helped her tackle her financial troubles and talked with the team making it possible.
Gesher Human Services is launching its next HarMoney program in February, which includes a one-hour free virtual class once a week for six weeks.