Features

Feature Story Wendy Dreese is 70 x 7 Life Recovery’s relationship manager

70 x 7 Life Recovery mentors ex-inmates through reconciliation, life skills

70x7 Life Recovery is a faith-based nonprofit that equips returning citizens with life skills and short-term support following incarceration

Longform Monica Smith, Yevgenia Gazman, and Christine Sauvé, MIRC Detroit Office.

Ataques a las familias inmigrantes y lo que eso significa para la educación temprana

En 2024, los educadores de la primera infancia en el suroeste de Detroit observaron una caída significativa en la inscripción preescolar tras el aumento de la actividad de control de inmigración. Aunque el descenso no fue documentado oficialmente en ese momento, las organizaciones comunitarias informan que aproximadamente el 15% de los estudiantes fueron retirados de los programas preescolares del área en cuestión de semanas.  

Longform Monica Smith, Yevgenia Gazman, and Christine Sauvé, MIRC Detroit Office.

Attacks on immigrant families and what that means for early education

Community-based organizations report that approximately 15% of students  withdrew from preschool programs within weeks due to immigration enforcement activity. Advocates and policy researchers attribute these shifts to the growing climate of fear among immigrant families in Michigan.

Longform NEOMED

NEOMED launches dental program to improve statewide oral health access

NEOMED's new Bitonte College of Dentistry will embed dental students in Ohio communities to improve access and address shortages in rural and urban oral health care.  

Longform Lauren LaPine

Community mental health and hospitals partner to fill care gaps

Michigan's hospitals and community mental health agencies are working together to address gaps in behavioral health care that contribute to long emergency department stays and delays in treatment. Several recent initiatives aim to improve care coordination and create new models of crisis response.  

Longform Monica Smith, Yevgenia Gazman, and Christine Sauvé, MIRC Detroit Office.

ရ ွှေ့ရ ြောင််းရေထိိုင်သူမိသြော်းစိုမ ြော်းအ ား ပစ်မှတ်ထ ားတ ိုက်ခ ိုက်ခခင်ားသည် ကရ ်းသူငယ်မ ြော်း၏

Community-based organizations report that approximately 15% of students  withdrew from preschool programs within weeks due to immigration enforcement activity. 

Feature Story Will Oltman is a world-class juggler, improv comedian, swing dancer, and designer of one of Bissell’s most innovative spaces..

KCAD grad designs at Bissell while juggling, dancing, performing improv

Will Oltman blends industrial design with juggling, improv, and swing dance, crafting a creative life inside and outside Bissell.

Feature Story Michigan's largest river, the Grand River, is a mentor and classroom for Nicholas Wells.

Ground to river, youth to future: Michigan as an outdoor classroom

Throughout West Michigan, from the Michigan DNR’s hatcheries to community camps and faith-based groups, a network of organizations is turning lakes, rivers, and forests into active learning environments where youth gain skills, understand ethics, and develop stewardship in hunting and fishing.  

Feature Story Grand Rapids teens’ short film Apples depicts local food insecurity with minimal visuals and maximum impact.

GR teens win national honors for short film on food justice

Using smartphones, two Grand Rapids students created an award-winning film about food access, earning national recognition and a trip to Los Angeles.

Feature Story As a regional economic and community development organization with a focus on immigrants and global

From Hamburg to Michigan: How Global Detroit helped a biotech founder stay, work, and build

After immigrating from Germany, Max von Wels co-founded a biotech startup in Michigan. With Global Detroit’s help, he secured a visa and a future in tech.

Feature Story Clyde Waltenbaugh

Library, veterans services partner to expand access for Kent County Vets

Kent District Library and Kent County Veterans Services collaborate to bring vital library tools and outreach directly to local veterans.  

Feature Story The great white shark almost appears to be smiling as you approach it.

Sharks: From ‘Duunn‑dun’ to deep breaths

How Grand Rapids Public Museum’s blockbuster “Sharks” exhibit helps West Michiganders stare down irrational fears – and why that matters for the planet.

Feature Story Julie Molenda

SBAM Nurture Benefits program enhances compensation for child care providers

The Small Business Association of Michigan Nurture Benefits will expand access to health insurance, life insurance, and retirement savings for Michigan's child care providers.  

Longform Heart of West Michigan United Way Chief Administrative Officer Becki Postma, Kent County Community Action Director Gustavo Perez, and Heart of West Michigan United Way Eviction Prevention Program Manager Alyssa Bryan.

Kent County Eviction Prevention Task Force addresses unmet needs behind evictions

Evictions plummeted during the pandemic and soared again after federal protections ended. That led a coalition of Kent County organizations and individuals to form the Kent County Eviction Prevention Task Force.

Longform Justin Nance at the Van Wert Health Fair.

Ohio hygienist trains future workforce through outreach role

Justin Nance blends teaching and patient care to combat workforce shortages and inspire the next generation of dental hygienists in Ohio.

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