Features

Feature Story Metro Detroit, art, artists

Notable artists in Metro Detroit you should know about

From performance to pixels, we caught up with four artists you should have on your radar. Just remember, you saw them here first.

Development News The Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve is located at 27225 W. Ten Mile Rd. in Southfield.

Southfield celebrates improvements at the recently reopened Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve

“We are pleased with the recent improvements at the City’s beloved Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve,” said Mayor Dr. Ken Siver.

Development News New sidewalk installed and trees planted along a stretch of Maple Lane Drive.

Sterling Heights hopes to build a ‘Pathway to Play and Preservation’ at the ballot box this November

“Visioning 2040 answers the question that I hear often – What’s next?” said City Manager Mark Vanderpool.

Development News Inside the award-winning Coffee First Café and Bake Shoppe In 2022.

City asks for community’s nominations for award-winning local businesses in Sterling Heights

Nomination forms for the 2024 Sterling Edge Awards are available online, and due by Friday, Aug. 30.

Feature Story Eastern Market, Pontiac

PHOTOS: A visit to the new Eastern Market location

We sent photographer Steve Koss along to check out the new site in Pontiac bringing the beloved market to the 'burbs. 

Feature Story Beth Nickerson (a.k.a. Ms. Beth) of Little Bloomers Childcare in Hazel Park.

Keeping Hazel Park close-knit, one kid at a time: How this typical home is anything but typical

“I have three rooms upstairs, and that’s my living space. So that might be the only thing someone would say is a downfall” of running an in-home childcare business, says Beth Nickerson. “But when you love what you do, is it really work?”

Longform Amy McMillan, director of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, and Rachel Frierson, vice president of operations and programming for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, at the construction site for the future Huron-Clinton Metroparks Water Garden.

Metroparks to open first Detroit location with Huron-Clinton Metroparks Water Garden

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks' robust parks system has never included a Detroit location, but that will change next year with the opening of a Metroparks-branded attraction at Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park.

Longform Ariane Donnelly, Anne Davis, and Tanya Andrews at the Prescription for Health booth at the Pittsfield Township Farmers Market. Prescription for Health is Washtenaw County's produce prescription program.

Prescriptions for fresh produce grow in Michigan through collaboration and new funding

Efforts are underway to better coordinate efforts between produce prescription programs and to create more standardized funding mechanisms for them.

Feature Story King's Kid Christian Daycare staff members Adrian Robinson, left, Lolita Granger, center and Tamara Jones laugh Wednesday, July 17, 2024, as they play with toys in one of the classrooms in the Detroit child care center.

MiLEAP fund provides essential equipment, upgrades for child care facilities

Quality child care is necessary, but not always available or affordable. The MiLEAP Caring for MI Future: Facilities Improvement Fund has launched a $59 million fund to provide new and expanding home-based and center-based facilities across the state.   

Longform People play basketball during a Pistons Neighbors program session in Rouge Park.

How parks help to address health equity in Metro Detroit

Alongside health clinics, food pantries, and community centers, southeast Michigan's parks are increasingly becoming important hubs for advancing health equity in their communities.

Feature Story Kristy Schena

Golf, robotics, dance and more: Kristy Schena offers fun programs for kids with special needsNonprofit Journal Project

Filling the gap in out-of-school programming, Kids On The Go offers year-round programming in sports, robotics, cooking and more for children with developmental challenges.

Feature Story Pages in the Park.

Pages in the Park: Metro-area libraries team up to bring reading outdoors

Following COVID-19, local libraries joined forces to bring reading to kids outdoors. The program was so popular it became its own summer series, featuring local parks.

Development News Downtown Farmington in 2023.

New grant program available to small businesses in these 15 Oakland County communities

"This grant program demonstrates our commitment to providing small businesses with the tools they need to become even more competitive in this digital age,” says County Executive Dave Coulter. 

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

Macomb County's first small business pitch competition coming to Velocity this August

“This is a great opportunity for some of our small food producers to really show off their products while gaining additional exposure and a chance to win prizes along with wrap around support services,” says Vicky Rowinski, director of Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.

Development News Sterling Heights City Hall during the 2023 Sterling Heights' 44th Annual Memorial Day Parade.

From industrial to residential, Sterling Heights property values keep rising

“Our city’s strong property values, which continue to rise year after year, are a testament to the robust and thriving economy we have cultivated here in Sterling Heights,” says Sterling Heights Mayor Michael C. Taylor.

Development News Eight high-quality reproductions of some of the DIA’s most notable masterworks can be found in Sterling Heights this summer and fall.

Where to find 8 DIA masterworks on the streets of Sterling Heights

Sterling Heights’ already robust collection of public artworks on display has been complemented this summer thanks to their inclusion in the 2024 Inside|Out program from the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Feature Story Michigan Health and Hospital Association represents all community hospitals in the state.

How public health collaborations with hospitals benefit Michigan's communities

Yours, Mine and Ours — Public Health spoke with Lauren LaPine, Michigan Health and Hospital Association senior director of legislative and public policy about how various public health agencies and programs collaborate with hospitals across the state.  

Feature Story The Farmington Farmers Market is held each Saturday at Riley Park in downtown Farmington.

PHOTOS: The Farmington Farmers Market anchors Saturdays in downtown Farmington

Photographer David Lewinski documents Saturdays in downtown Farmington at their award-winning farmers market.

Feature Story Dodge Park Thursdays remain a summertime destination in Sterling Heights.

PHOTOS: Dodge Park Thursdays provide community a little bit of something for everyone

We sent photographer David Lewinski to find out why Sterling Heights is the place to be each and every Thursday this summer, and his photos do not disappoint.

 
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.