Stories

Feature Story After surviving a diagnosis of stage 2 triple-positive cancer, Regina Hill became an advocate for mental health awareness for those with cancer diagnoses and for all.

Regina Hill: Cancer survivor, advocate for mental health awareness

In late 2020, Regina Hill found a lump in her breast. She has used her health experience to advocate for mental health awareness.

Feature Story Ken Miguel-Cipriano works at WMCAT but used to be with Mobile Gr at City Hall. He is also an advocate for bike-friendly cities.

The Rapid’s Transit Master Plan: What riders think

Here’s what riders had to say about The Rapid’s Transit Master Plan during two open houses earlier this month.  

Feature Story Cait West, author and co-host of the podcast "Survivors Discuss."

GR author talks about memoir on surviving Christian patriarchy movement

Cait West, co-host of the “Survivors Discuss” podcast, talks about experiences detailed in her memoir,Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy.”

Longform Small-Kristen

La recopilación de datos está desempeñando un papel clave en el avance de la equidad en la salud

Un nuevo impulso en la recopilación de datos sobre la atención médica de las personas con discapacidad está poniendo de relieve una disparidad en la equidad de la atención de la salud que a menudo pasa desapercibida para la comunidad médica.

Longform small-vac

Addressing cultural, language barriers that hinder health equity

Many people from refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities experience significant logistical barriers to COVID-19 vaccination. That’s where Disability Rights Michigan has stepped in to increase access

Longform Region I Regional Housing Partnership list

Regional Housing Partnerships addressing need for affordable housing

As part of the Region I Regional Housing Partnership, the Capital Area Housing Partnership and the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission are tasked with developing local action plans to address the housing crisis. City and state government, neighborhood developers including Forsberg Real Estate, and area nonprofits are working together to address homelessness in greater Lansing and to attract residents to Eaton Rapids. 

Longform Washtenaw County CMH reception

Connecting to mental health services is as simple as picking up a phone

For Michiganders who are looking for answers on mental health care or are having a mental health crisis, help is only a phone call away.

Feature Story Solange Sifa researched the Pink Tax in Michigan.

How Michigan addressed period poverty by getting rid of the Tampon Tax

High school student Solange Sifa explores Michigan’s response so far to period poverty. In 2021, Gov. Whitmer signed legislation to remove tax from menstrual products.

Feature Story Bilal Al-Raed received the Delta Project's At Potential Award.

‘I finally felt free’: How a teen found his potential after years in incarceration

At 19, Bilal Al-Raed has lived a life that defies the odds and inspires hope in others. The winner of the Delta Project’s At Potential award talks about his journey.

Feature Story Dawn Pick Benson pauses in West Bay Cliffs in Dorset, United Kingdom.

GR-based world traveler finds transformation in slow and solo trips

A Q&A with Dawn Pick Benson, who has traveled to nearly 50 countries. She talks about creating a transformational travel experience and how she’s helping women plan slow and solo trips.

Feature Story The West Michigan Sports Commission’s (WMSC) Meijer Sports Complex improvement/expansion campaign got a major boost with a $1.5 million donation from Alro Steel Foundation and $750,000 in federal grant money.

$1.5M donation for softball field moves project forward

Alro Steel Foundation donates $1.5 million to Meijer Sports Complex expansion for naming rights of championship softball field, brings campaign to $8.7 million.

Longform small-sensory

Sensory-friendly spaces play key role in improving health equity

The Autism Alliance of Michigan has been a leader in encouraging clinics to create safe spaces by including sensory rooms.  

Feature Story LifeWaysList

LifeWays takes a whole person-centered care approach to health care

LifeWays, a Community Mental Health Services Program and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) utilizes whole person-centered care for their patients in Jackson and Hillsdale counties. Person-centered care is integrated care served in a collaborative manner between patient and provider. Care is guided by the patients’ goals, preferences and values.

Special Report A decorated rain barrel in Milwaukee

Leveraging nature-based solutions and education to boost water quality, jobs across the Great Lakes

While access to clean water is a basic need, communities continue to struggle with properly and efficiently managing and treating water. Through innovative solutions organizations along the Great Lakes are collaborating, educating the next generation, and influencing policy reform to help create impactful change including economic growth and long-term employment.

Feature Story Mazonnah Holiday (left) speaks with teacher Tricia Kremke about how teachers work with students with learning disabilities.

Voices of Youth: How educators are trained to best support students with learning differences

As part of our Voices of Youth project, student Mazonnah Holiday shares how teacher training supported her brother and interviews a Grand Rapids Public Schools teacher about teaching students with learning differences.

Feature Story Life EMS Ambulance is expanding its coverage area in West Michigan.

GR-based Life EMS Ambulance expands services to Saugatuck

Life EMS Ambulance adds northern Saugatuck Township, the city of Saugatuck, and the city of the Village of Douglas to its growing Southwest Michigan 911 paramedic response area.

Feature Story Property owners can be alerted to possible fraud and identity theft with a new system available from Kent County.

Fraud Notify system alerts Kent County property owners to potential property scams

Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons is cracking down on property fraud with the Fraud Notify system, a free online tool that alerts subscribers via email to potential mortgage fraud and property and identity theft.

Longform Lunchtime at Oehrli Elementary School in Montague, Mich.

Michigan's free school meals yield high returns for student health and academic success

Michigan has become one of eight states to make free school meals available to all, creating notable benefits for students' health.

Feature Story Sheila Solomon Shotwell

GR author shares how a trip inspired her new book

Grand Rapids author Sheila Solomon Shotwell talks about the journey that led to her young adult book, "The Plaid Scarf.” In our Q&A, she talks about her latest book and the reaction to it.   

Feature Story In the shadow of yesterday's cars, the Silverline represents the future in bus rapid transit.

The Rapid to host open house for transit master plan

The Grand Rapids area transit system will hold an open house on Tuesday, June 11, from 4-7 p.m. to gather feedback on its plans. A smaller open house will be on Thursday, June 13.