Zoe McCoon is a spirited sophomore with a passion for community. An involved member of the Jewish Detroit Initiative, Zoe took a few minutes to tell Her Campus about the organization and what it means to her.
HC: What are you studying, and what other activities are you involved in?
ZM: I am a sophomore studying Women’s Studies, but my family jokes that I’m really majoring in Hillel and minoring in everything else. I am also one of the Reform Minyan service and community leaders. So, between leading those two groups, doing yoga at Hillel, and doing homework in the lounges, I am always in Hillel or working on something Hillel-related.
HC: Tell us about the Jewish Detroit Initiative (JDI). What are the goals of the program?
ZM: The Jewish Detroit Initiative is a group through the University of Michigan Hillel which seeks to strengthen ties between Jewish students on campus and the city of Detroit. Through social events, awareness dialogues, and volunteering both in Ann Arbor and Detroit, we try to create a space for students to explore their connection with Detroit as a city and as a community. One of our main events is our Alternative Spring Break, where we live inside the city for the week. This is a great opportunity to see Detroit with our own eyes and without the filter and negative angles of the news, and we can experience the things that make Detroit unique and that make it like any other city.
HC: What is your position with JDI, and why did you get involved with it?
ZM: I am JDI’s Alternative Spring Break coordinator this year. I got involved last year when my longtime idol and friend, Hayley Sakwa, talked to me about joining in on Alternative Spring Break. I’ve always felt a connection with Detroit. However, I only had the opportunity to express it during the Thanksgiving Parade and during the second day of Rosh Hashanah, when my mom and I would travel down to the city and participate in our own traditions relating to both the holiday and the city. Going on this trip, I realized that I owed it to myself to explore such a great place more often–Detroit has much more to offer than just its parade once a year and its river for Tashlich (the ceremony where bread crumbs are thrown into a flowing body of water, symbolizing the casting away of sins). Thus, through participating and planning JDI events, I’ve been able to strengthen this connection even further.
HC: How can other collegiettes get involved?
ZM: If you are interested, you can find more information by: following JDI on Twitter (@UMJewishDetroit), liking Jewish Detroit Initiative on Facebook, or emailing me at mccozoe@umich.edu. There are plenty of events held throughout the year in addition to our Alternative Spring Break, and you don’t have to have any experience with the city to join!