Stories

Feature Story Benjamin's Hope founders Krista Mason (right) and Dave Mason pose with animal scientist and autism advocate Temple Grandin.

Autism rights advocate Temple Grandin hails those who think differently

Although Temple Grandin is a widely sought-after professor for animal science and veterinary colleges, she couldn’t get into veterinary school when she failed the math portion of the SAT. The educational system is screening out visual thinkers such as herself, Grandin says.

Longform Aisha Sanders, owner and creator of Wicksup Candle Co. in Oak Park, explains the candle making process to a Food and Friendship Connections group.

Program brings friendship, needed resources to older adults living with HIV in Detroit and Lansing

Seventy-five Detroit- and Lansing-area residents have benefited from a pilot program called Food and Friendship Connections, which offers meals, transportation, and community for older adults living with HIV.

Feature Story The Inner City Christian Federation Homeownership Program team.

Overcoming the challenges of homebuying: Class introduces first-timers to homeownership

The process of buying a home can be daunting for first-time homebuyers. Nonprofit organization ICCF's introduction to homeownership class provides education, counseling and support to help individuals achieve their dreams of homeownership.  

Feature Story stephencalkins

Stephen Norregaard: Caretaker of memories

It is this natural connection he has with people that allows Stephen Norregaard to stand out among other photographers. He genuinely enjoys sharing his vision with each couple when they are seeking a photographer.

Feature Story BK0A04381

Highlighting history through handcrafted works of art


Feature Story KDL-lede

Community support and engagement recognized through prestigious five-star designation

The Kent District Library (KDL) was awarded a five-star library rating by the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. This top score recognition reflects the commitment the Library has to bettering everyone in the community.

Feature Story Matthew-Shepard

‘Considering Matthew Shepard’ to have West Michigan premiere

The West Michigan premiere of Grammy-nominated "Considering Matthew Shepard" will be performed by the Holland Chorale and the Park Church Choir on Feb. 25-26. 

Longform Breastfeeding education materials at the Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association in Detroit.

Michigan's breastfeeding networks educate parents, address disparities, advocate for parent rights

Support networks for breastfeeding parents are helping more little Michiganders get their best start in life.

Feature Story This year, Opera Grand Rapids continues its Contemporary Opera series by presenting Peter Hilliard and Matt Boresi’s “The Last American Hammer.” This opera is centered on the flight of industrial jobs from America’s Midwest.

Published Together: A 400+-year-old art form still has relevance today

For non-operagoers, it may seem like opera companies have kept recycling the same classic repertoire over the past 100 years. Still, an examination of opera will reveal a genre bursting with new works, relevant stories and talented artists experimenting with new vocal styles.

Feature Story Renée Cummings, data science professor of practice at The University of Virginia, and nonresident senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, will speak at an AI conference in West Michigan this month.

Leveraging technology “in service of humanity”

While artificial intelligence continues to add value and find a home in more segments of our lives, it is important to identify and address potential unintentional biases and data injustices it can create. This week, Renée Cummings will speak about AI ethics and the future of our algorithmic society. Additionally, she will mentor five local young women during a day of education and career exploration.

Feature Story Voices of Youth is a Rapid Growth program that connects high school students in the greater Grand Rapids area with paid journalism experience and opportunities.

Grand Rapids students share perspectives through Voices of Youth

Voices of Youth is a Rapid Growth program that connects high school students in the greater Grand Rapids area with paid journalism experience and opportunities. The cohort, which launched this month, consists of three in-person workshops where students learn journalism basics and how to go from story idea to published piece.   

Feature Story The Mosaic Film Experience focuses on connecting students with cognitive disabilities with opportunities to continue their journey to other platforms.

Partnering up to make storytelling a creative outlet for all in GR

The Mosaic Film Experience focuses on connecting students with cognitive disabilities with opportunities to continue their journey to other platforms.

Longform Sanilac County Sheriff Paul Rich and Sanilac County Community Mental Health CEO Wilbert Morris

Michigan’s community mental health and law enforcement agencies team up to keep people out of jail

As awareness about how policing and mental health intersect grows across the state, more Michigan counties are involving community mental health agencies in law enforcement response and diverting people who are simply experiencing symptoms of mental illness from jail.


Feature Story The documentary, “Unseen: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers & Why It Matters,” explores the lives of parent caregivers for children and adults who are disabled.

Documentary explores challenges faced by parent caregivers of children with disabilities

The public is invited to a Feb. 26 screening of a documentary that looks at parent caregivers for children and adults who are disabled or medically complex, and their lack of support from society.

Longform A mother holds her baby's hand.

Upper Peninsula program helps moms with opioid use disorder have healthier pregnancies

The program's goal is to identify and address the social determinant of health needs that create barriers for women with opioid use disorder.

Feature Story (Fom left) HealthBar Director of Sales and Marketing Michael Lomonaco, Rick Arnett with Lake Orion Public Schools, and HealthBar School Nursing Program Manager Quinn McGill.

HealthBar school nurses provide holistic care to area students

“The complexity of health care needs within the schools is increasing,” HealthBar CEO Nathan Baar says. HealthBar is that new front door to health care for students in districts that had previously gone without school nurses — a critical connection to health care for students.

Longform Washtenaw County Community Mental Health is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic

Michigan's CCBHCs open mental health access to all

Michigan's 34 CCBHCs provide whole-person care by integrating physical health with a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services to vulnerable individuals no matter what a patients' income or insurance coverage.  

Longform Jenifer Murray, a contracted grant coordinator with Munson Healthcare, works on programs for new parents in her office.

Northern Michigan works to build supportive services for parents in "maternity care deserts"

Many in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula live in areas with a serious lack of resources, facilities, and practitioners for pregnant people, new parents, and infants.

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Lawrence Tech celebrates opening of state-of-the-art robotics and factory automation laboratory

"This is something no other university, no other campus, has done,” said Larry Smentowski, global automotive director of Rockwell Automation.

Feature Story Last year, Lowell United Methodist Church ended up exceeding its goal and providing 2,000 gift bags to four groups of essential workers.

Community Support Month in February: Where big ideas start small

Last year, Lowell United Methodist Church started small by providing gift bags for four groups of essential workers. The church not only reached their goal of raising $700 for the effort, but once the word spread in a grassroots way, that number reached $3,000 and they ended up recognizing more than 2,000 people in Lowell and surrounding communities.