Hey Everyone!

My name is Eli and I am the new DJJ intern. I could not be more excited to step into this amazing work alongside you all and wanted to offer up a bit about myself to kick off my introduction to the community.

I grew up in West Bloomfield, Michigan and just graduated from the University of Michigan this past May after studying English, Political Science, and Intergroup Relations. When I was considering my post-graduation plans, I felt really connected to the social justice work I had been doing on campus and the greater Ann Arbor community and I knew that I wanted those values and skills to be a pillar of the next step forward in my life. I had heard amazing things about the Jewish Communal Leadership Program through U of M’s School of Social Work and decided to apply. Well, here I am! I am entirely unsure of my eventual career path but I love the way that the School of Social Work asks me to think and the lens it asks me to view the world through. I feel energized by the work ahead and my potential to impact the world through Judaism.

When it came time for me to find a field placement as part of my program, I wanted to align myself with an organization whose work intersected race and Judaism; DJJ was clearly a perfect fit. Despite growing up in West Bloomfield, I have not spent a lot of time in Detroit, much less doing social justice work in Detroit. As I begin working with DJJ and the Detroit community, I am so incredibly mindful of what I am bringing to this space and how much I have to learn. I want my impact to be measured with intent, justice, and love.

I am so excited to meet and work in solidarity with y’all. Cheers!