Features

Feature Story Soup & Sweet Stroll, Oxford

PHOTOS: Oxford's Soup & Sweet Stroll lights up the heart of the community

Main Street Oxford was dishing out some festive favorites at the annual Soup & Sweet Stroll, complete with carols from "America's Got Talent" contestant, and Oxford school shooting survivor, Ava Swiss. Photographer Steve Koss captures how much the event means to a healing community. 

Feature Story A Sterling Christmas: A Sterling Heights holiday tradition for 45 years and counting.

PHOTOS: Ringing in the holiday season at the 45th annual ‘A Sterling Christmas’

There were carolers, train rides, ice skaters, and more, and even an appearance from the big man himself: Santa Claus.

Development News “Pickleball is a unique, intergenerational sport that improves health and allows for inclusivity and a shared experience in a public space,” says MEDC Regional Prosperity Managing Director Paula Holtz.

Unique partnership serves up opportunity for dedicated pickleball courts in downtown Plymouth

“Pickleball is a unique, intergenerational sport that improves health and allows for inclusivity and a shared experience in a public space,” says MEDC Regional Prosperity Managing Director Paula Holtz.

Longform James Ribbron reads to Dwayne Sharpe and Elizabeth Brooks.

Detroit Champions for HOPE empowers parents as their children’s first teachers

Through a focus on advocacy, community leadership, and parent engagement, Detroit Champions for HOPE works to better the lives of Detroit’s children by empowering parents and caregivers to be their child’s first champions.

Longform Katie Wendel, director of planning and advocacy at Area Agency on Aging 1B, which recently launched a voucher program to help unpaid caregivers afford respite care.

Finding temporary care is a challenge for Michigan's many unpaid caregivers, but help is available

Approximately 1.7 million Michiganders are unpaid caregivers, and they often desperately need a break from that work. Resources, like a new voucher program to pay for respite care, can help.

Feature Story Dion

“Elevate Your Voice” Entrepreneur Spotlight: Dion Chapmon

"We are all about family and building a stronger community by sharing information and guidance and education through experiences with the next generation that's coming up behind us," says Dion Chapman, owner of A Cut Above the Rest Barbershop, based in River Rouge.

Feature Story Uche

“Elevate Your Voice” Entrepreneur Spotlight: Uche Ndubuisi

"Inside of everybody there is something they are born to give to the generation we are born into, but it took time for me to be able to discover the kind of business that I was born to do," says Uche Ndubuisi, owner of the Inkster African & Caribbean Market.

Feature Story Wild-Rice-Small

Copper Country initiative emphasizes fresh and local foods

In the western Upper Peninsula, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community strives toward the goal of food sovereignty, strengthening the community's ability to produce more of its own fresh and local food sources. 

Feature Story NEI

“Elevate Your Voice” Entrepreneur Spotlight: LaWanda Hines

"I decided to take my own flower class from a very prominent designer that's well known throughout the US, and I fell in love with flowers," says LaWanda Hines, co-owner of Now and Forever Flower Boutique. 

Feature Story Nada

“Elevate Your Voice” Entrepreneur Spotlight: Nada Hassan

"I have friends and family who live here, and I feel that there is a need for exposure to art, especially for younger kids," says Nada Hassan, owner of Dearborn's Paint with Nada.

Feature Story Esports

Esports group aims to propel students to the big leagues

A national Esports league branch in Macomb offers kids a pathway to college and beyond.  

Longform Ken Nixon, director of outreach and community partnerships for Safe & Just Michigan.

Lack of data raises questions about quality and cost effectiveness of Michigan's prison health care

According to Michigan researchers and advocates for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, health care in prison is far less than adequate.

Feature Story Hygrade

Dining Destinations: 3 neighborhood delis with Metro Detroit stories to tell

Echoing eras gone by, metro Detroit's local delicatessens have some things they could tell us about. We spent some time at three long-lasting delis that have seen generations of customers and have become family for their communities. 

Feature Story x

PHOTOS: Scenes from this year's Veterans Day Ceremony in Sterling Heights

Photographer David Lewinski was on hand to document the annual event.

Feature Story A press conference celebrating the launch of Farmington Area FiberCity was held on October 30.

21st century cities: Partnership to bring 10G internet to Farmington, Farmington Hills

The internet in downtown Farmington is about to get a whole lot faster. Here's where to surf the web and work remotely in the meantime.

Development News Velocity Center is located at 6633 18 Mile Rd. in Sterling Heights.

Resource Navigator makes it easier to accelerate small business growth at Sterling Heights' Velocity

“Entrepreneurship isn’t a private club, so we want everyone to have equitable and equal access to resources. In turn, we hope this accelerates each business’ growth,” says April Boyle, Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Interim Director of Velocity.

Development News The president of Macomb Community College, Dr. Jim Sawyer, IV, will be presented with the Mayor Richard J. Notte Civic Service Leadership Award.

Macomb Community College president to be honored at 11th annual Puttin’ on the Ritz gala

The 11th annual signature gala from the Sterling Heights Area Community Foundation, Puttin’ on the Ritz, is scheduled to take place on Friday, Nov. 17, at Villa Penna in Sterling Heights.

Development News The Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield.

Recent grants bolster the work of ‘hardtech’ business accelerator at LTU’s Southfield campus

“We are grateful to the Song Foundation for this generous gift, which we will quickly put to work helping hardtech entrepreneurs develop and manufacture their products in Michigan, creating quality jobs for their companies as well as providing impact to the local manufacturing supply chain,” says Centrepolis Accelerator CEO Dan Radomski.

Development News The most recent Ladies Night Out event took place this past April.

Credit union partners on special offer for downtown Farmington gift cards; Ladies Night Out returns

It’s getting easier to shop local in downtown Farmington — and just in time for the holidays.

Longform Access to affordable child care plays a critical role in families finding secure employment.

Underfunding early child care has far-reaching impactsPreK for All a step in the right direction

The U.S economy loses an estimated $122 billion a year through lost earnings, productivity, and tax revenue because of the challenge parents have in finding early child care.

 
Nonprofit leaders across southeast Michigan are contributing their thoughts via journal entries on how COVID-19 is affecting their organization. 
This series is made possible with the generous support of our partners, the Michigan Nonprofit Association and Co.ACT. Click here to read the journal entries.