Stories

Partner Content Mushroom House List

Elevate grants help small Michigan businesses level up

Although headquartered in Indiana, the FHLBank of Indianapolis provides access to grant programs and resources for small businesses throughout Michigan. The Elevate Grant aims to generate more economic opportunity for all, and helps small businesses like Mushroom House Tours in Charlevoix and The Poke Bowl in Flint to level up.  

Longform Hope Starts Here creates a plan to help Detroit become a city that puts young children and families first by 2027.

الأمل يبدأ هنا» يساعد ديترويت في إعطاء الأولوية للأطفال الصغار

تجمع مبادرة "الأمل يبدأ هنا. " فريقًا من المدافعين والأبطال الذين يقودون الجهود لتطوير نظم الطفولة المبكرة في ديترويت. تمثل هذه المبادرة تعاونًا بين مؤسسة دبليو كيه كيلوج (WKKF)، ومؤسسة كريسجي، ومؤسسة ماكس إم. ومارجوري إس. فيشر (M&M Fisher)، ومجموعة من الوكالات، والمنظمات المجتمعية، والأهم من ذلك، سكان ديترويت. تم إطلاق مبادرة "الأمل يبدأ هنا" رسميًا في عام 2017 بخطة عمل مستمرة تمتد لعشر سنوات  

Partner Content AAoM Kids List

When it comes to autism and mental health, stigma and discrimination play a huge role

Being autistic does not mean a person cannot experience good mental health. However, studies have shown that 78% of autistic children have at least one mental health condition. Stigma and discrimination are often a contributing factor.

Feature Story OnPoint autism services focus on communication, behavior support for social skills, daily living skills, family training, and ongoing assessment.

Community mental health agency a resource for autism services

OnPoint, a community mental health agency in Allegan County, provides services for autistic children and their parents.

Feature Story Parkway-Foods

Making 'great' grocery stores in Detroit

How Detroit’s Food Policy Council is helping local grocery stores up their healthy offerings

Feature Story Annette G. Vazquez

Voices of Youth: A call to curb youth e-cigarette use

High school student Annette G. Vazquez explores e-cigarette use among teens. While e-cigarette use among high schoolers has decreased, it has increased for middle school students. 

Feature Story Major donors have already contributed $7.3 million toward the $8.5 million goal for the Ada Covered Bridge Park.

Ada envisions new $8.5M covered bridge park

Ada leaders announced plans for new Ada Covered Bridge Park and  enhanced trail system. The group has launched the final phase of a $8.5 million fundraising campaign.  

Feature Story CSNIP is expanding into a large Walker facility that will allow it to provide additional affordable veterinary care.

Affordable veterinary care organization expanding

CSNIP is expanding into a large Walker facility that will allow it to provide additional affordable veterinary care.

Feature Story Columnist Lucia Rios

Event accessibility: Making every occasion inclusive for all

It’s not hard to bring inclusivity and accessibility to your events, but it does require a bit of foresight. Disability advocate Lucia Rios offers ideas to make your gathering more welcoming.

Longform Robert Sheehan  and colleague, Valerie Jamerson, take a look at the new Tool Kit.

Social Work Career Promotion Tool Kit shares benefits and pathways to rewarding careers

The toolkit is designed to enhance recruitment and promote social work career opportunities across the state. It includes sample language for websites, emails, and social media posts as well as recommended language for various professionals, including high school guidance counselors, college academic advisors, and behavioral health providers. There are also photographic materials for outreach usage.   

Longform Hope-Starts-Here-list

Hope Starts Here puts Detroit's young children first

The Hope Starts Here initiative brings together a team of advocates and champions who are leading the charge for Detroit’s early childhood systems. A collaboration among The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, The Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, and a host of agencies, community based organizations, and most importantly, Detroit residents, Hope Starts Here formally launched in 2017.  

Feature Story Vision and hearing screenings vital to children’s health, academics, and social success.

More state funding needed for children’s hearing and vision screening

In Michigan, around one million school aged children take part in hearing and vision screenings each year. Approximately 88,000 of them need help and are referred for further hearing and vision services. These services are vital to children’s overall health as well as to their academic and social success. 

Feature Story Kent County Commissioner Stephen Wooden enjoys a recent day with his family.

Bridging the Digital Divide: A Call for Balanced Broadband Regulation

Reliable internet access is more than a utility – it’s one of the linchpins of modern society. In Our Published Together column, Kent County Commissioner Stephen Wooden explains that landmark legislation has the potential to close the digital divide.

Feature Story small-awards

2 women leaders honored for impact on visitor economy

Kayem Dunn, the first female chair of the Downtown Development Authority board, is the first recipient of the inaugural Dr. Floyd Wilson Jr. Destination Champion Award. JW Marriott General Manager Norina Cadili received the Joe Tomaselli Hotelier of the Year Award.

Feature Story Kimberly Kennedy-Barrington at the Mandela: The Offical Exhibition at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Understanding the timeless relevance of Mandela's legacy

Kimberly Kennedy-Barrington, host of the podcast "Rolling on the Road,” shares her observations of “Mandela: The Official Exhibition,” which wraps up May 26 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Feature Story Award-winning Michigan doulas Alyssa Veneklase and Kristin Revere (left to right), founders of the doula agency Gold Coast Doulas.

Q&A: West Michigan doulas deliver new parenting book

Award-winning Michigan doulas Kristin Revere and Alyssa Veneklase, founders of the doula agency Gold Coast Doulas, are delivering their own parenting book, "Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby"

Feature Story Roel Garcia walks into the Library for the Visually Impaired and Physically Disabled in Muskegon.

Step inside an award-winning library for people with disabilities

Roel Garcia shares what it's like to visit the Library for the Visually Impaired and Physically Disabled in Muskegon. Part of the Muskegon Area District Library, it is a fully functioning library specializing in additional services for people with disabilities.

Feature Story Max Tendero and his mom, Jenn Tendero.

Published Together: Failing in public hurts. Moms can heal.

As part of Our Published Together series, Max Tendero writes about the lessons he learned from launching a startup with his mom and what her wisdom brought to the venture.

Feature Story small-gratitude-awards

Delta Project’s inaugural Gratitude Concert to spotlight unsung heroes making a difference

With the Gratitude Concert this Saturday, the Delta Project is spotlighting unsung heroes who are helping "at risk" youth reach their potential.

Longform Sara Simmonds and staff

The many faces of public health

The work of employees of the public health departments is heavily based on the communities they serve and the safety of the people that live in them. Prevention, protection and promotion is the name of the game for the workforce in this field.