James Siegal, CEO of KaBOOM!: "Play is an essential part of childhood, but kids are too often denied the benefits of play. Play is an equity issue, and the opportunity to play should not be determined by zip code, socio-economic status or race." Riverfront RockOut and the Musical Parklet – in Algonac and Marine City, respectively – are adding a sense of musicality to the Bridge to Bay Trail.
Could Port Huron be the next New Orleans? Or Savannah, Georgia? City council has approved a plan for the Port Huron Social District, a blocks-long stretch of Huron Avenue into Military Street, from Glenwood Avenue to Court Street. It’s a zone that will allow for bars and restaurants to sell alcohol to-go and, what’s more, for it to be consumed on city streets.
While brand new bikes may be hard to come by this summer, Alpine Cycles, the Port Huron Parks and Recreation Department, and the Port Huron Police Department have partnered together on a number of programs to get a set of two wheels under the feet of as many a Port Huronite as they can.
"If every cloud has a silver lining, it’s what COVID has done for us. We’re blown away by the response we’ve been receiving in just trying to keep our social media active," says Port Huron Museums' Andrew Kercher. "We always knew that we’d do more tours but their popularity on social media made us expand our vision. You can’t say that people here aren’t interested in their history, that’s for sure."
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Flourish Hair Gallery to close just days after their one-year anniversary. They've since re-opened. "I started Flourish with less than $1,200 in my pocket. And rent itself was $1,200. But it worked and we’re here today and I’m thankful," says Naesa Richardson.
These Anton Arts Center and Jermaine Jackson Community Center Youth are forging their own paths to self-expression during the pandemic.
Small Michigan farms have already adapted rapidly to address some of the challenges the pandemic has presented, and local food advocates see many opportunities ahead to continue strengthening local food systems.
Presenting a program called PE-Nut in classrooms, the foundation uses a whole-school approach to motivate students, parents, and educators to eat healthier and be physically active.
Several communities have closed select streets to automobiles, and advocates hope that the pandemic may prompt long-term positive changes in how we use public space for health and fitness.
They call them porch pirates. Opportunists that spot a delivery package on someone’s front porch and then take it, long before the intended recipient ever even sees it. A China Township start-up is fighting back.
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