Stories

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.   

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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.

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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.

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High school students raise awareness of the importance of vaccines

Shielding Generations, a group of high school students, is on a mission to bridge the gap in health equity for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

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Mobile clinics offer model of health care that treats patients where they are

Mobile clinics offer a model of health care for people who otherwise face barriers to accessing health care. This on-demand service helps seniors and people with disabilities to get vaccines and other care.   

Feature Story Homg Miller leads a fitness class for in person participants at the Detroit office of the Association of Chinese Americans and participants on Zoom.

Metro Detroit project focuses on culturally relevant home care for older Chinese Americans

The Metro Detroit-based Association of Chinese Americans is developing a training program to address the shortage of direct care workers equipped to serve older Chinese Americans in Southeast Michigan. 

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.

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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.   

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Grand Rapids-based Dwelling Place collaborating on West Michigan affordable housing project

Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids is partnering with another nonprofit, a church, the city of Holland, and a Native American tribe to create 52 affordable housing units in Holland. The state is supporting the project with access to low-income tax credits.

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Retired Kent County teacher finds success as park ranger

Retired Kent County teacher Kim Pitsch is enjoying her second career as a year-round Allegan County park ranger. And she was recently honored for her work.

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Una nueva página web simplifica la búsqueda de transporte público accesible en Michigan

Una de las barreras de la comunidad de discapacitados para  acceder a las vacunas COVID ha sido el transporte. En respuesta, Disability Rights Michigan ha  presentado una guía interactiva para ayudar a los usuarios a desenvolverse en el complejo sistema de transporte del estado.

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Meijer State Games of Michigan Athlete of the Year shares the challenges of battling MS

In honoring Andrea Hampton as the adult female athlete of the year, the Meijer State Games says her “vivacity for life and love of sports have allowed Hampton to adapt and find new avenues'' after her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis 14 years ago.

Feature Story Small-Raquel-Guzman

New West Michigan show lifts up female entrepreneurs

Law firm co-founder Raquel Guzman talks about being a mentor and investor on the show “Let's Help Her Win,” which spotlights West Michigan female entrepreneurs.