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Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Work on your body and work on your mind,' raps special friend to a Detroit school
Named after Detroit's longest-serving mayor, Coleman A. Young Elementary School has been educating Detroit students since 1982. But along the way, the school, located at 15771 Hubbell in the Belmont neighborhood, which serves students from Pre-K through fifth grade, also has managed to inspire people from outside of Detroit. Janice Goldman is a prime example. A former family physician, Goldman discovered a new family when she began volunteering at Coleman A. Young in 2012 through the school's relationship with the National Council of Jewish Women. Before long, as she read to classes and pitched in as a tutor, while helping students tap into the power of reading, Goldman began to establish her own special relationships. 'Honestly, before I came here, I didn't think I was great with kids, but I have continued to volunteer at Coleman A. Young because of my interactions with the students and staff,' said Goldman, who came to Detroit with her family in 1998 when her husband Howard, a real estate attorney, started a new job. 'From the very beginning, everyone has been so welcoming, so supportive, so touching and moving.' Because Goldman has been repeatedly touched and moved by her Coleman A. Young family, she was inspired to take steps that will encourage movement, fellowship and fun at her favorite school for many years to come. Once all of the steps were executed, and with a big assist provided by a generous inheritance from Goldman's late father — Ralph Silver — Coleman A. Young's students, staff and the surrounding neighborhood were the recipients of a new, one-of-its-kind, outdoor basketball court. And that special court was unveiled to the community during a joyous program outside the school on the afternoon of June 3. "Janice Goldman has been in this school volunteering longer than I have been the principal!" Melissa Scott proclaimed to a cheering crowd consisting of students, teachers and other Coleman A. Young staff; retired DPSCD principals, and representatives from DPSCD's leadership team, including Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, as she set the tone for the court-opening celebration. "Janice was a tutor. And then she became just another family member and a friend. Then she became just in love with us. And it's not enough money in the mint that will show how grateful we are for everything she has done for us. Janice is the best partner and volunteer in all of DPSCD and we love her." Indeed, a spirit of 'love' seemed to prevail across spaces near the court, such as when special education teacher Deborah Myers-Mack carefully laid out a blanket and then carefully planted an umbrella into the ground minutes before the ceremony began to provide some extra comfort and relief from the heat to a small group of younger students that were taking in the excitement. 'The students I'm with here are nonverbal and sometimes they just need that little extra one-on-one attention so that they can enjoy things like everyone else,' Myers-Mack explained, while speaking over the smooth sounds that were being played by another friend of the school, 'Vibeman' John Davis, on the vibraphone. 'All of the children here are a part of this community, and they're not just a part of the community, they're a huge part of it. Today shows that people care about our school as a place where our students learn and have fun, and it also shows that our community is still growing and thriving.' Standing a couple of arm lengths away from Myers-Mack was Muskegon native Jonathan Walker, who now proudly calls himself a Detroiter, while identifying with the needs of the city's youths as a member of the Coleman A. Young family. More: Eagle sightings are a norm for this unique Detroit troop with a rich tradition of service 'Every day when I leave to go home, kids are already starting to come to this playground who want to play basketball or get on the swing set, and Ms. Scott keeps everything open so the community can use this beautiful playground, which is really big for the city,' said Walker, a first grade teacher who is popular with the entire student body because he was formerly dean of students. 'The community has taken care of this area; that's a beautiful thing. And this is also a place where the kids practice our school's six core values — grit, integrity, kindness, love, self control and team — which stands for teamwork makes the dream work.' Walker also made note of the words 'Go Beyond' that appear on the new basketball court. And the person who combined uplifting messages with vibrant colors and a diverse collection of smiles to transform the court into a dramatic mural — intended to inspire every person that sets foot or even eyes on it — is Phillip Simpson, affectionately known by many Detroiters as "The Smile Man." 'This (creating the court) was a dream come true for me,' said Simpson, who was speaking as his 'civilian' self before he transformed into his Smile Man persona later in the program to the delight of kids and adults. 'It took a couple of weeks, and even some of the kids helped, and now it's done for the community. I just want to spread some joy; that's what it's all about. And for every kid that uses the court, I want the art to inspire them." In addition to letting a few of the Coleman A. Young students contribute to the basketball court mural, Simpson, an admirer of muralist Curtis Lewis, whose work appears inside of the school, also welcomed creative input from Janice Goldman throughout the process. For Goldman, working with The Smile Man was part of a long collaborative journey that began in June 2022, when Goldman made up her mind that she wanted to create a special playground space for students and a neighborhood that she has come to love. During the journey, which also has allowed Goldman to honor her father — a lover of basketball who worked as a referee to help pay for his college education — she has received help from other people and institutions in the community that share her vision, including Summer in the City co-founder Ben Falik; Seth Helfman, president of City Contracting Services, and the Detroit Pistons. Through it all, the 65-year-old Goldman, also known as Aunt J at Coleman A. Young, says she was always mindful of the special qualities possessed by the students that inspired her to often step outside of her comfort zone to turn her vision of the court into a reality. More: He 'loved' Barry Sanders as a Lions staffer, and Jocko Hughes still loves Detroit today 'You always get a different perspective from the students because of their sincerity,' explained Goldman, who has created several education-themed parody music videos with students that have been widely viewed across social media platforms dating back to 'Booktown Funk' in 2015 and continuing with "CAY," a parody of "APT" by Bruno Mars and Rose, which premiered at Coleman A. Young on June 3. 'The students are always very open and real. And they should never be underestimated.' Janice Goldman should not be 'underestimated' either, which she demonstrated on the morning of June 6. While reflecting on all of the special times she has shared with her Coleman A. Young family, Goldman was momentarily at a loss for words as she was trying to explain precisely how she would like the new basketball court to impact students. Suddenly, words came to her, but not in her normal speaking voice. Instead, the words flowed in the form of a rap that she shared with a cheering audience at the court-opening celebration. And while the busy week may have sapped some of the energy that Goldman had earlier the week, the message she conveyed Friday morning, and her passion for Coleman A. Young students came through loud and clear: 'Work on your body and work on your mind. Don't be discouraged, you'll get there in time. Make them both strong and keep them both kind. Work hard, play hard, you'll be just fine.' Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city's neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@ or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hoops, rap videos and more connects this woman to a Detroit school
CNN
7 days ago
- General
- CNN
Fear in America's Jewish community intensifies after latest antisemitic attack
Like many Jewish Americans, Hannah Gay Keao has been living on edge and fear of antisemitism since Hamas' deadly October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. But when her daughter asked why she was sad hours after a man targeted Jewish people and set them on fire at a community event in Boulder, Colorado, Gay Keao paused. The firebombing attack happened just 25 miles from where Gay Keao serves on the Edgewater city council, and she said she searched for a way to explain the antisemitism unfolding in their backyard in terms the 4-year-old could understand. 'She's Jewish,' Gay Keao said. 'It's important for her to know the realities of the world.' Jewish leaders have been alarmed by the historic rise in antisemitic threats since the war between Israel and Hamas began in 2023. That fear has only heightened this week with the attack in Boulder, the third violent attack on the Jewish community in the last two months. Two Israeli embassy workers in Washington, DC, were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in late May, and an arsonist set the Pennsylvania governor's mansion on fire on the first night of Passover because of Gov. Josh Shapiro's views on the war in Gaza, according to search warrants. 'I wish I could say I was surprised by these events, but Jews have been sounding the alarm on the rise in antisemitism since October 7,' Sheila Katz, the CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women said. 'This is what happens when we allow antisemitism to go unchecked.' The attack on Sunday came during a peaceful demonstration aimed at raising awareness of the remaining hostages in Gaza. Twelve people were injured, and two remain hospitalized, officials said. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, told investigators he 'wanted to kill all Zionist people' and had planned the attack for a year, according to an affidavit. He was captured on video by bystanders yelling 'Free Palestine' before police arrested him. Soliman now faces a federal hate crime charge and state charges of attempted murder. 'Most Jews right now are feeling unsafe and unsure about where to show up,' Katz said. 'Killing and burning Jews does nothing to make Palestinians safer or more free.' 'Antisemitism will never be a path to justice.' Sunday's attack came hours before the start of Shavuot, the holiday commemorating the day God gave the Torah to the Jewish people. At the Main Line Reform Temple just outside of Philadelphia, Senior Rabbi Geri Newburge said the past several weeks have been brutal, leaving her 'pretty demoralized and heartbroken.' The aftermath of October 7—combined with escalating protests against Israel's war in Gaza— made an attack like this feel inevitable, she said. 'It doesn't feel like such a stretch to me at this point that the rhetoric would move from posters or chants to doing something violent,' Newburge said. The rabbi noted she and members of her congregation have also felt antisemitism increasing across the country — and it's taking a toll. 'It's exhausting — spiritually, emotionally and even physically,' Newburge explained. Across the country, Jewish schools, synagogues and community centers continue to have tight security. Oftentimes, there is a visible police presence or armed security guards. Michael Bernstein, board chair of the Tree of Life in Pittsburgh, attended an event last Wednesday for a local Jewish organization where some of the attendees were non-Jews. He called the necessary security an 'unfortunate tax' and a measure most other communities don't need. This latest wave of attacks has left many Jewish leaders wondering what more can be done. Bernstein said Jews needed to secure their spaces, but security and the Jewish community alone wouldn't solve antisemitism. 'This is an American problem, it's not a Jewish problem,' he said, and pointed to Pittsburgh community after the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue. The 2018 shooting, the worst attack on Jews in American history, left 11 worshippers dead and six others wounded. Pittsburgh, he said, came together to say antisemitism wasn't acceptable. 'An attack on one group is an attack on all of us,' Bernstein said. 'And the community held us.' 'It's an all-of-society approach.' Outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, candles and flowers mark the spot where Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky were gunned down on May 21. The white lilies placed at the memorial hadn't even started wilting yet when the firebombing in Boulder began. Milgrim and Lischinsky attended an event to discuss how multi-faith organizations could work together to bring humanitarian aid to war-torn regions like Gaza. Their friends and colleagues said they were devoted to the peace process in Israel. The suspected gunman, whom DC police later identified as 31-year-old Chicago native Elias Rodriguez, shouted 'Free Palestine' after he was arrested. Katz, who said she knew Milgrim professionally and had been invited to the event, but was unable to attend, stressed 'non-violence must be non-negotiable.' 'Anyone who wants to see peace, who wants to see an end to the war, who wants to see the hostages to be released, who wants to see a better future for Palestinians and Israelis, has to understand that violence towards Jews in America or around the world is not going to make that peace happen,' Katz said. Antisemitism has surged globally, according to the Anti-Defamation League, and rose after the start of the war in Gaza. Threats to Jews in the United States tripled between October 7, 2023 and September 2024, the organization said. Gay Keao said she has been critical of Israel's action toward Palestinians but has also witnessed a disregard for Jewish safety since October 7. Now, she often wakes up wondering, 'What's going to happen next?' 'I just refuse to believe that the cyclical violence is inevitable,' she said. 'As a Jewish person, I can't embrace that. I'm here for breaking those cycles.' Nearly 2,000 miles away, sitting beneath his synagogue's serene outdoor Holocaust memorial, Philadelphia Rabbi Shawn Zevit said his diverse urban congregation has been experiencing a mix of emotions. But, he said, reaching out to Jewish loved ones is critical at this moment, so his community does not feel alone. 'Just the message of 'I'm thinking about you,'' Zevit argued, can be comforting to Jewish people feeling upset. But the rabbi also noted calling out even minor instances of antisemitism is key to preventing future attacks. 'Treat those moments as gateways for increased solidarity and vigilance,' he said. Katz said people knew how to call out antisemitism when it was 'bullets in synagogues or Nazis with tiki torches' but needed to be able to recognize it in all of its forms. 'Antisemitism doesn't begin with bullets or firebombs,' she added. 'But it ends there when it's ignored.' Bernstein, the chair of the board of the Tree of Life, warned antisemitism doesn't stay a Jewish issue. He pointed to a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, where 10 people were killed in a racially motivated mass shooting at a supermarket. 'This hateful ideology,' he said, 'it comes after everybody.' CNN's TuAnh Dam contributed to this report.
CNN
03-06-2025
- General
- CNN
Fear in America's Jewish community intensifies after latest antisemitic attack
Race & ethnicity The Middle East Israel-Hamas warFacebookTweetLink Follow Like many Jewish Americans, Hannah Gay Keao has been living on edge and fear of antisemitism since Hamas' deadly October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. But when her daughter asked why she was sad hours after a man targeted Jewish people and set them on fire at a community event in Boulder, Colorado, Gay Keao paused. The firebombing attack happened just 25 miles from where Gay Keao serves on the Edgewater city council, and she said she searched for a way to explain the antisemitism unfolding in their backyard in terms the 4-year-old could understand. 'She's Jewish,' Gay Keao said. 'It's important for her to know the realities of the world.' Jewish leaders have been alarmed by the historic rise in antisemitic threats since the war between Israel and Hamas began in 2023. That fear has only heightened this week with the attack in Boulder, the third violent attack on the Jewish community in the last two months. Two Israeli embassy workers in Washington, DC, were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in late May, and an arsonist set the Pennsylvania governor's mansion on fire on the first night of Passover because of Gov. Josh Shapiro's views on the war in Gaza, according to search warrants. 'I wish I could say I was surprised by these events, but Jews have been sounding the alarm on the rise in antisemitism since October 7,' Sheila Katz, the CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women said. 'This is what happens when we allow antisemitism to go unchecked.' The attack on Sunday came during a peaceful demonstration aimed at raising awareness of the remaining hostages in Gaza. Twelve people were injured, and two remain hospitalized, officials said. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, told investigators he 'wanted to kill all Zionist people' and had planned the attack for a year, according to an affidavit. He was captured on video by bystanders yelling 'Free Palestine' before police arrested him. Soliman now faces a federal hate crime charge and state charges of attempted murder. 'Most Jews right now are feeling unsafe and unsure about where to show up,' Katz said. 'Killing and burning Jews does nothing to make Palestinians safer or more free.' 'Antisemitism will never be a path to justice.' Sunday's attack came hours before the start of Shavuot, the holiday commemorating the day God gave the Torah to the Jewish people. At the Main Line Reform Temple just outside of Philadelphia, Senior Rabbi Geri Newburge said the past several weeks have been brutal, leaving her 'pretty demoralized and heartbroken.' The aftermath of October 7—combined with escalating protests against Israel's war in Gaza— made an attack like this feel inevitable, she said. 'It doesn't feel like such a stretch to me at this point that the rhetoric would move from posters or chants to doing something violent,' Newburge said. The rabbi noted she and members of her congregation have also felt antisemitism increasing across the country — and it's taking a toll. 'It's exhausting — spiritually, emotionally and even physically,' Newburge explained. Across the country, Jewish schools, synagogues and community centers continue to have tight security. Oftentimes, there is a visible police presence or armed security guards. Michael Bernstein, board chair of the Tree of Life in Pittsburgh, attended an event last Wednesday for a local Jewish organization where some of the attendees were non-Jews. He called the necessary security an 'unfortunate tax' and a measure most other communities don't need. This latest wave of attacks has left many Jewish leaders wondering what more can be done. Bernstein said Jews needed to secure their spaces, but security and the Jewish community alone wouldn't solve antisemitism. 'This is an American problem, it's not a Jewish problem,' he said, and pointed to Pittsburgh community after the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue. The 2018 shooting, the worst attack on Jews in American history, left 11 worshippers dead and six others wounded. Pittsburgh, he said, came together to say antisemitism wasn't acceptable. 'An attack on one group is an attack on all of us,' Bernstein said. 'And the community held us.' 'It's an all-of-society approach.' Outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, candles and flowers mark the spot where Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky were gunned down on May 21. The white lilies placed at the memorial hadn't even started wilting yet when the firebombing in Boulder began. Milgrim and Lischinsky attended an event to discuss how multi-faith organizations could work together to bring humanitarian aid to war-torn regions like Gaza. Their friends and colleagues said they were devoted to the peace process in Israel. The suspected gunman, whom DC police later identified as 31-year-old Chicago native Elias Rodriguez, shouted 'Free Palestine' after he was arrested. Katz, who said she knew Milgrim professionally and had been invited to the event, but was unable to attend, stressed 'non-violence must be non-negotiable.' 'Anyone who wants to see peace, who wants to see an end to the war, who wants to see the hostages to be released, who wants to see a better future for Palestinians and Israelis, has to understand that violence towards Jews in America or around the world is not going to make that peace happen,' Katz said. Antisemitism has surged globally, according to the Anti-Defamation League, and rose after the start of the war in Gaza. Threats to Jews in the United States tripled between October 7, 2023 and September 2024, the organization said. Gay Keao said she has been critical of Israel's action toward Palestinians but has also witnessed a disregard for Jewish safety since October 7. Now, she often wakes up wondering, 'What's going to happen next?' 'I just refuse to believe that the cyclical violence is inevitable,' she said. 'As a Jewish person, I can't embrace that. I'm here for breaking those cycles.' Nearly 2,000 miles away, sitting beneath his synagogue's serene outdoor Holocaust memorial, Philadelphia Rabbi Shawn Zevit said his diverse urban congregation has been experiencing a mix of emotions. But, he said, reaching out to Jewish loved ones is critical at this moment, so his community does not feel alone. 'Just the message of 'I'm thinking about you,'' Zevit argued, can be comforting to Jewish people feeling upset. But the rabbi also noted calling out even minor instances of antisemitism is key to preventing future attacks. 'Treat those moments as gateways for increased solidarity and vigilance,' he said. Katz said people knew how to call out antisemitism when it was 'bullets in synagogues or Nazis with tiki torches' but needed to be able to recognize it in all of its forms. 'Antisemitism doesn't begin with bullets or firebombs,' she added. 'But it ends there when it's ignored.' Bernstein, the chair of the board of the Tree of Life, warned antisemitism doesn't stay a Jewish issue. He pointed to a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, where 10 people were killed in a racially motivated mass shooting at a supermarket. 'This hateful ideology,' he said, 'it comes after everybody.' CNN's TuAnh Dam contributed to this report.
