Thousands of miles separate, but Israel and Michigan operate in a parallel universe. What happens when you cross Michigan's established manufacturing base and high-tech mindset over to Israel's 3,000-plus tech start-ups? The Michigan Israel Business Bridge yields an array of academic and entrepreneurial matches.

It's a well-known fact that immigrants are an entrepreneurial crowd. Yet, common misconceptions among ethnic groups can splinter economic and social relations. A pair of newspaper publishers saw the rift between those of Jewish and Chaldean heritage and got together to form the "Building Communities" program, which offers cultural exchange, a teen forum, and even an angel investment fund.