Friendship Circle of Michigan

12/28/2025

We are live today on WDIV Local 4 / ClickOnDetroit!

12/26/2025

Look Up opens January 15th from 5:00–7:00 PM at the Dresner Foundation Soul Studio 🫶

Our new show looks up at the skies, space, and flight. You'll see majestic eagles, cosmic landscapes, and treetop scenes across every medium.

You’ll walk into organza billowing from the ceiling, mirrors and glass catching light, and an entire collection by artists with special needs who spent hours exploring new techniques, taking risks, and producing truly exceptional work.

Each piece is a joy to view and available for sale with first dibs on opening night!

Come sip stardust mocktails (with edible glitter), talk to the artists about their work, and Look Up at the beauty that lives right above our heads.

Follow the link https://heyor.ca/F5zHmr to get your free ticket!

12/25/2025

Core memories are being created right now at our Winter Camp for the Fetter kids and teens division.🙌

Laser tag. Circus acts. Silent disco. Face painting. Bounce houses. And a whole lot of kids having the kind of fun that comes when you're surrounded by people who celebrate your abilities and adore you for your uniqueness.

Stay tuned for week 2 🥳

12/23/2025

They found each other miles away from Friendship Circle ❤️

Our volunteer David was visiting Israel for his Bar Mitzvah and spotted Raya, his Friendship Circle buddy, at the beach in Tel Aviv.

12/22/2025

People with special needs aren't adding to the workforce despite their differences, they're adding because of them.

Their unique ways of thinking, problem-solving, and connecting with others? That's not something to accommodate. That's something every workplace needs more of.

When you make room for people who've been told they don't belong, you don't just change their lives. You change your whole business for the better.

To see this type of magic in action visit Dakota Bakery, Soul Studio and Soul Cafe 🙌

12/19/2025

Not the greatest photo but we just wrapped our "thinking of others" lesson in our teen life skills program, and it was the greatest.

Each kid filled out a questionnaire about what they like in the Elkus Village space like their favorite color, items they're into, and favorite snack at the cafe. Then they each got someone else's worksheet with the mission to shop for their secret friend.

They got to practice thinking for others, being intentional, putting someone else first. They nailed it. Each kid came back with something thoughtful for their secret friend.

Next lesson, everyone got assigned a party supply to buy, plates, napkins, balloons, the works. Same idea: go to the village, put the group before yourself, buy your item for the party. Everyone contributes.

This week was our last week of the winter semester. We took jobs, decorated with all the supplies we bought together for a little party, and exchanged gifts. Watching them reveal their secret friends was just the best and we loved celebrating their success.

Our special teens are thriving and growing thanks to your support! Hope you feel amazing about being part of moments like these ❤️

12/18/2025

Students with special needs from across Michigan come here to learn life skills, with one of the most important being the ability to gain employment.

We break employment skills into manageable, meaningful steps. Instead of tackling the entire job process at once, we split it into three simple parts: applying, interviewing, and working.

All these steps take place in a realistic village full of incredible volunteers committed to every individual's success.

This helps reduce stress and overwhelm while building confidence and independence. Students learn the full job journey in a way that feels achievable and sets them up for long-term success.

Which life skill do you want to hear more about next? 😍

12/17/2025

Our special friends have some special messages for you. 💜

We think this should be a series.. what do you think? 🤔

12/16/2025

We have the best friends ♥️ ♥️

To volunteer with us or sign up your child for programs just shoot us a message and we'll help you get started.

12/14/2025

We are devastated and heartbroken by the senseless terror attack on a Chabad Chanuka celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

As a fellow Chabad organization, we are closely connected to Chabad in Sydney. What was meant to be a joyous “Chanuka by the Sea” gathering—filled with families, children, music, games, and the lighting of the menorah to usher in the festival of light—turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. Hundreds had come together in peace to celebrate the miracle of Chanuka, only to be targeted in a deliberate act of antisemitic terrorism. We mourn the loss of 12 precious lives in this senseless tragedy, including innocent civilians, families enjoying the holiday, and our beloved colleague, Chabad rabbi Rabbi Eli Schlanger, hy”d—a devoted husband, father, and tireless emissary who served the Bondi community for nearly two decades with boundless energy, kindness, and dedication.

We pray for the speedy recovery of all those who were injured—nearly 30 people, including children and police officers—who now bear the physical and emotional scars of this evil act.

We thank the hero Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim fruit shop owner who risked his life to disarm one of the attackers and save the lives of others, and we pray for his recovery.

We pray for the peace and well-being of the entire Jewish community of Australia, including members of Friendship Circle of Sydney.

As we process this most difficult tragedy, we turn to the teachings of our Torah, as taught to us and exemplified by our Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory.
The only way to respond to darkness—and to people who want to bring more darkness to the world—is to show them that their attempts will fail, and that we will respond by bringing more light.

This terrorist attack occurred during one of the first public celebrations of Chanuka this year. The Jewish community was coming together to kick off eight days of celebration and light.

We believe that this event was targeted as a way to dampen these days of light and joy.

We cannot let that happen.

Tonight in downtown Detroit, there will be an event called Menorah in the D (visit www.menorahinthed.com for details and to RSVP).
Over the past decade, thousands of people have gathered there for the first night of Chanuka.

If you are like us and feel devastated and shaken by what has happened, consider responding by showing up to this menorah lighting—join us at www.menorahinthed.com

If you were not planning to light a menorah this year in your home, please consider doing so. Please encourage others to do the same.

Please add an act of kindness to what you are already doing.

Rabbi Levi and Bassie Shemtov.

Menorah in the D 2025 December 14ᵗʰ - Campus Martius, Detroit RSVP

12/12/2025

Listening to our participants is something that we’ve built into the fabric of every program because the voices of our special friends NEED to be heard!

At the end of each day, trainees, life skills participants, and studio participants fill out a daily case note to reflect on their day and provide feedback for anything else we could do to make their experience better. We also get to hear what was meaningful to them that day, and what excited them as they work on their goals and skills.

We are so proud of our programs, and they’re as great as they are because they’re built together with our community. 🫶

12/11/2025

Every single person deserves a community that sees and celebrates their abilities, talents, and uniqueness.

If people don't see your magic, you might be in the wrong room.