Shruti Avutapalli - is a Kathak style dancer, a sophomore at Troy High School, and a student of Manisha Dongre of the Taal Academy.
Anna Brooks is a sophomore attending Andover High School in the Bloomfield Hills School District. She is an avid artist and musician. Anna has written music and performed at her congregation, Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. She performs in a rock band, attends the Cranbrook School for Young Artist, and was the receipient of the first prize in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Art Challenge!!
The Conchero Dancers are a traditional Mexican dance group who began dancing in October 2010. Says their leaders, Francisco and Lilia: “We dance with our whole heart in order to show our faith – rooted in our people’s history – and to show the grace and love of God. We dance to show what God can do with married couples if they’re open to His Will, and to show the miracle that God has worked in our marriages.” There are currently 6 couples active in the Retrouvaille’s dance troupe, as well as 6 of their children. “We also wish to celebrate our cultural roots and richness.” This traditional dance – using conch shells, drums, and incense – began over 500 years ago when the Spanish Conquistadores were attacking the Aztec people. In the midst of the battle a cross appeared in the sky and the Aztecs immediately took it to signify the presence of God. At that point they lay down their weapons and made peace. The dance invites all people to praise God present in the four cardinal points of our world (which signifies God present in ALL places).
Peter Dale is a resident of Livonia, and has been a Quaker since 1973. He has attended the Detroit Friends Meeting since 1980, where he has served both as Recording Clerk (secretary) and Clerk (leader).
Vaidehi Dongre is a Kathak style dancer, a sophomore at the International Academy, and a student and daughter of Manish Dongre.
Tiffany Green has been the cantorial soloist at Temple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield since 2008. She finds her passion in Jewish music and working with youth, and is active with many Jewish organizations, including J-SERVE, the Youth Professional Council, and the Michigan Board of Cantors. She spends much of her free time singing with her mother and brother in the vocal harmony group Heller, Steyer, & Green, who recently performed at this year’s Stephen Gottlieb Music Festival held at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts. They will have a new album that will be released in January 2012. Raised in a family of professional musicians, Tiffany was singing in recording studios by the age of 12.
Sanaya Irani is a 9th grade student at North Farmington High School in Farmington Hills. She is actively involved with the Freshmen Board at her school and is also on the Model UN Team where students attend conferences and debate world issues. Sanaya also participates on the Teen Advisory Board and is a student member of the Zoroastrian Association of Michigan (ZAOM) where she is involved with cultural activities. Sanaya enjoys playing tennis. She also loves reading, Chinese brush painting, knitting, stamp collecting and singing. As she puts it her most important goal right now is to be the best she can be and live life to the fullest.
The Jain Study Class is part of the Jain Samaj of Greater Detroit. The class has been conducted for the last 29 years in Detroit through the dedicated efforts of 30-plus teachers and volunteers. Motivating features of this study class include the Students Annual Stage Program, Essay Competition, student-led presentations on religious topics, and youth prayer recital programs among many others. Currently the bi-weekly religious classes bring together 150 students from three years of age to high school age.
The Joyful Praise Dance & Mime Ministry has been a part of Greater New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist church for more than ten years. This ministry has flourished under the current director, Kierra Flowers, and has grown to twenty members of all ages. Joyful Praise has danced for many different churches, community events, and just recently was blessed to dance for Gospel Recording Artist, Earnest Pugh. God is continuing to use Joyful Praise to spread the message of His love through dance throughout the Metro Detroit area.
Noam Kimelman lives in the city of Detroit and is an active member of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue and is the congregation’s Friday night service leader and a Shabbat and High Holiday Torah reader. He is one of the synagogue’s liaisons to the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion’s Riverfront East Congregational Initiative, a Detroit-based, interfaith, inter-congregational effort that works to develop and support community concerns. He is also a member of the Detroit Area Community Leadership Initiative, sponsored by the Jewish Funds for Justice and Progressive Jewish Alliance. Professionally, Noam serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Fresh Corner Cafe, a fresh-food distribution company working to raise the standards of quality and healthiness in food options at Detroit’s convenience stores and gas stations.
Maggid Steve Klaper is a Jewish troubadour – a spiritual storyteller, minstrel and teacher. (Maggid is the traditional title for a Jewish inspirational speaker or preacher.) Drawing on over 30 years experience as a professional musician, Steve infuses traditional Jewish texts with mystical chant and melodies, wide-ranging stories and teachings from a variety of traditions. As a weaver of spiritual melodies and a teller of sacred tales, Steve takes you on a journey that is engaging and contemporary – and yet reminiscent of an old, sacred place that feels somehow
familiar. Steve and Brother Al are founders and co-directors of the Song and Spirit Institute for Peace, in Berkley, MI.
Dave Martin has been playing the bagpipe for 55 years and has led the St. Andrew’s Pipe Band for about 32 of those years. The group plays for private functions and performs with highland dancers. Dave has won the Gold Medal of the Piping Society of London and the Championship of Canada for playing the classical music of the Great Highland Bagpipe.
Brother Al Mascia, OFM, is a Franciscan Friar of the St. John the Baptist Province. As he travels from place to place singing old melodies as well as his own story-songs, he has the joy of ministering as did his Franciscan ancestors of old when they went about as Ioculatores Domini, or minstrels of God! In this way, he stays connected to an ancient spiritual narrative. Brother Al is currently in residence at St. Aloysius Friary in the heart of downtown Detroit, where he serves the poor and homeless through a bicycle-cart/food distribution ministry.
Raha Richardson is 16 years old and is a junior in high school. She attends A.G.B.U Alex and Marie Manoogian School and is in their high school choir as well. She is a member of the Baha’i Faith She enjoys reading novels and writing in her spare time. She is classically trained in violin and self-taught in guitar.
Abdul Gafar Salakoh is an 11th grade student at Central High School in Detroit. Abdul’s future plans are to get a PhD. in Biomedical Engineering.
By the time he is a senior in high school, he would like to become a hafiz of the Qur’an. A major goal in his life is to work with organizations that build better schools and roads in Nigeria, the home of his parents.
Samantha Savage is 10 years-old, and is a student at the Grosse Pointe Academy. She was born in New York City and moved with her family to Michigan in 2005. Samantha attends Detroit Friends Meeting with her three younger sisters. She is an avid soccer player and reader, and like to play the piano.
Laurent Schiratti is a youth leader in the SGI Buddhist organization that promotes peace, culture, and education for world peace and
the happiness of all humanity. He is currently working as a graphic designer and is a graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit Michigan.
Simren Singh is a junior at Wayne State University, majoring in Nutritional Sciences with a focus on Pre-Med. He is involved with the Sikh Students Association at Wayne State and volunteers at the Detroit Medical Center. He enjoys music and plays the guitar, the harmonium, tabla, and rabab.
Samantha Smith just turned 9 years-old. She lives in Franklin and is in the 4th grade. Samantha loves to read, and one of her interests is learning foreign languages. Samantha loves to ice skate, rollerblade, and ride her bike. She is also on the swim, tennis, and chess teams!!
Shreekari Tadepalli is a Bharata Natyam style dancer, a junior at the International Academy, and a student of Sudha Chandra Sekhar of the Hindu Temple Rhythms.
Karima Ullah is a newly appointed youth leader in the SGI Buddhist organization and has been working to help and encourage many young
people. She is currently attending college in Royal Oak Michigan at Oakland Community College.
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