Jimiri is dedicated to the loving memory of Bereketabe Yohannes, who died in a tragic accident at the age of 14. He was one of my son’s closest friends. Their friendship started in the fifth grade when they were fortunate enough to have attended the same school and to have been assigned to the same class.
They spent nearly every day together after school, playing basketball and dreaming of winning middle school championships. They exchanged endless texts and jokes, wondering together what high school would be like and what their futures might bring.
Bereketabe was born in Addis Ababa where his family spoke Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia and the language spoken so beautifully by Bereketabe’s family and friends during his funeral.
Jimiri (ጅምር) (pronounced jih∙MIH∙rih) is the Amharic word for beginning, or start, and its meaning captures the mission of our Youth Leadership Program. To help bridge the racial and ethnic divide in the United States, we begin by building friendships and empathy among children of different racial backgrounds who attend different schools. We aim to help children embark on a lifelong journey of racial and ethnic understanding. And we begin to empower them to help solve the intractable problems of racism and racial segregation and the severe social and economic disparities that arise from them.
Building friendships and empathy through a group-based program within the United States is our beginning, jimiri, inspiring the next generation of leaders to promote racial healing and social justice.
Jimiri was founded in June 2020, a few days before what would have been Bereketabe’s 15th birthday and about a week before the anniversary of his tragic death. At the time, the U.S. was grappling with the recent murder of George Floyd and the ensuing mass demonstrations demanding racial justice and social change. Of the countless statistics cited in the wake of the protests, one stood out: the vast majority of white Americans don’t have any Black friends and the vast majority of Black Americans don’t have any white friends. Similar disparities exist for other racial and ethnic groups across the U.S. (Source.)
If we don’t start bridging these racial and cultural divides, and if instead we remain segregated in our separate worlds within our own country, we’ll never truly engage in the national dialogue needed to address the pernicious racial inequities in our society. In our Youth Leadership Program, friendship and empathy is where the solutions begin. Jimiri.
Michael Zwibelman
Founder, Jimiri Inc.
Dr. Erika London Bocknek is a family therapist and professor of Educational Psychology at Wayne State University, with expertise in children’s mental health. Married with 3 kids and 2 dogs, Dr. Bocknek is proud to be part of a thriving Detroit where children and families flourish.
Jasmine is the Director of the Detroit chapter of PeacePlayers, a global movement of young leaders using the game of basketball to bridge divides, create equitable opportunities, and build more peaceful societies. Born and raised in Detroit, Jasmine is a graduate of Renaissance High School and Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA in Finance.
Dr. RAS is an Assistant Professor at Wayne State University and an acclaimed performing arts professional who explores the concept of “movement as cultural knowledge,” by using the arts as a conduit for cultural understanding in communities globally. He has collaborated with artists and companies from around the world, including Pilobolus, Raven-Symoné, Major Lazer, the Marley family, Chronixx, Irish Aid, AfroFlow, Skales, and the International Organization of Migration in Addis Ababa.
Originally from Southeastern Michigan and a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Renee currently lives in Oakland and works as a tech lawyer. She’s active in the youth arts, education, and development spaces in the Bay Area.
Elyse works as a Training Program Manager and implicit bias trainer for a large technology company in Detroit, where she also led the Detroit chapter of a pro bono civil rights group within the company. She is also a junior board member of Pope Francis Center, a Detroit homelessness nonprofit.
Adam Harris is a servant leader who is on a continuous mission to inspire, empower and mentor young people. Serving in many roles from coach, mentor, and educator, to conflict-resolution specialist, workshop facilitator, and counseling advisor, Adam has been highlighted for his tireless work in Southeastern Michigan and across the country. He is a self-published author of three books and a frequent motivational speaker to groups of all ages throughout metropolitan Detroit.
A proud Detroiter, Naomi leads a number of initiatives for the Detroit Public Schools Community District, including district equity advocacy initiatives, civic literacy student clubs, anti-racist/equity training, and civil rights compliance. Her life’s passion is to celebrate unity through diversity, and she is always willing to push the status quo in order to help us live into that passion.
Sharnese Marshall is a Detroit native and Michigan State University graduate. Having a passion for the community, specifically youth, she understands what it means to be a servant leader.The past 10 years of her career has been spent serving the Detroit community alongside the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, and Life Remodeled. She also is the founder of a non-profit organization called The Konnection whose mission is to empower youth through travel.
Proud committee member, nonprofit executive search consultant, former director of talent development, retired overnight camp director, and passionate about equity, racial justice, pride, and starting young. Happily married and parent to three change–makers in the future.
Jimiri’s logo was designed by a highly talented illustrator named Dominic from BRIDGEGOOD Design Studio, a 501(c)(3) that prepares BIPOC students for meaningful tech and design careers.
Dominic is a 26-year-old graphic artist (and father of two) specializing in illustration. Born and raised in East Oakland, he has been creating ever since he was a child. Through BRIDGEGOOD, Dominic has partnered with several community leaders including Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, nonprofits such as Oakland Asian Cultural Center, and organizations such as the Fruitvale Farmers Market to help create visual identities, branding, and marketing materials.
Dominic hopes to continue making an impact through BRIDGEGOOD by engaging in social good projects and entrepreneurship learning, while passing his unique skills and experience down to the next generation of artists/designers through inspiration as a role model.
