For over 30 years, Affirmations has been the hub of Southeast Michigan’s LGBTQ+ communities and their allies. In the heart of Ferndale, in a 17,000-square-foot building owned by the community (its mortgage is paid), people of all sexual orientations, identities, expressions and cultures find socialization, support and programming to enrich their lives.
“This fundraising experience correlates with our vision to foster self-worth in all women of all ages,” says Karen Palka, executive director of A Beautiful Me.
“It’s about the people, not the big commercialization,” says Stanley Pankiewicz III. “And that's what dad really started, so we're carrying on that mom-and-pop tradition.”
Welcome to the Michigan's State of Health podcast, where we'll be sitting down with Michigan health leaders to discuss the myriad ways that COVID has exposed our health system's flaws and resulted in positive change.
What started out as a weekend event has since evolved into a whole month’s worth of events due to its enduring popularity, says Bryan Ulatowksi, president of the St. Clair Chamber of Commerce.
Michigan's child welfare workers have served on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the state is currently facing what one industry leader described as a "critical shortage" of child welfare workers.
It's widely known that COVID-19 has caused a huge surge in park usage and outdoor activity, but what does that renewed interest in the outdoors mean for the future of Southeast Michigan's parks?
"As organizations, we cannot do all of the things, even if we feel compelled to," says Desirae Simmons, co-director of the Interfaith Council on Peace and Justice. "And we don't want these areas of work to be moving without one another because that diminishes power and impact, and can make it feel like we have different goals, which is not true. So how do we stack solutions to the issues we’re trying to solve so that we can have a wider coalition and move multiple things at one time?"
“Our nation needs future leaders who are adept at understanding and solving the challenging problems of today and the future,” says Dr. Deborah Snyder, president of St. Clair County Community College. “The Challenger Learning Center at SC4 will help support STEM education, exploration and innovation with experiences that go far beyond an everyday field trip, outing or corporate training session.”
“This is going to be a very important opportunity for us to gather together, to learn culturally, share our stories, network, eat together, dance together and enjoy each other's company,” says Jessica Brown, committee member of the Minority Philanthropy Initiative. “So this is going to be an opportunity for everyone, no matter where you are or what part of the community you are, to come together and enjoy this time with us.”
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