Episodes

  • Valentine's to Veterans, Helping Rouge Park, and Suicide Prevention with First Responders

    Valentine's to Veterans, Helping Rouge Park, and Suicide Prevention with First Responders
    Jan 31 2025
    Feb. 2, 2025 ~ Since 2015, students across the region have made hundreds of cards each year to show love and appreciation to veterans at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center along with VA doctors, nurses, administrators, and staff. Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-6) joins Michigan Voices to talk about the Valentine's for Veterans program, which she started a decade ago to honor her late husband, Congressman John Dingell. The Gilbert Family Foundation announced a $430,000 three-year grant (the largest-ever grant in the organization's history) to Friends of Rouge Park to expand community programming in Rouge Park, the largest urban park in the state of Michigan. Rouge Park is a green space that spans nearly 1,200 acres and serves as a symbol of Detroit's ongoing efforts to preserve natural beauty while fostering community connection. JJ Velez, director of public spaces for the Gilbert Foundation, joins Michigan Voices. Frontline Strong Together is a program for first responders and their families, as more police and firefighters die of suicide than in the line of duty. This is a statewide program offering training peer support and counselors among the police and firefighters, as they are much more likely to reach out to one of their colleagues than a mental health specialist. Ali Amirsadri, associate department chair of psychiatry at Wayne State University, and Mike Matten, firefighter and member of Frontline Strong Together, join Michigan Voices.
    Show more Show less
    28 mins
  • Hospice Services and Helping Southeast Michigan Youth

    Hospice Services and Helping Southeast Michigan Youth
    Jan 26 2025
    Jan. 24, 2025 ~ Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is the original and largest hospice location in the state. The nonprofit raises more than $5 million each year to cover costs for the uninsured and underinsured for hospice services. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life, grief support and counseling, and caregiver education and support. Ruth Moore-Lilly, volunteer program manager at Hospice of Michigan, said the organization needs volunteers for its programs in Southeast Michigan. Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan (JASEM) started 75 years ago in Detroit back in 1949 and has served more than 2 million young people across the region. Jason Lee, president and CEO of JASEM, spoke about the $1.5 million in renovations and improvements, the first major upgrades to Junior Achievement Finance Park in Detroit in 15 years. The first group of students will be visiting and receiving life-changing financial literacy lessons there this month.
    Show more Show less
    26 mins
  • Helping Young People and Community Outreach

    Helping Young People and Community Outreach
    Jan 19 2025
    Jan. 18, 2025 ~ Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan (JASEM) started 75 years ago in Detroit back in 1949 and has served more than 2 million young people across the region. Jason Lee is the president and CEO of JASEM and he talked about the $1.5 million in renovations and improvements, the first major upgrades to Junior Achievement Finance Park in Detroit in 15 years at the Downtown Detroit campus. JA Finance Park is a mini "town" inside the building with storefronts, classrooms, virtual reality career exploration opportunities, and a place where students can learn how to budget, buy homes, pay taxes, and so many other critical financial skills needed to succeed. Nolan Kare is the President of Miracle on Tilson Street, an organization that just gained its state non-profit status. The Miracle on Tilson Street started during the pandemic when a group of neighbors on Tillson Street in Romeo, Michigan thought they would decorate their homes for Halloween. After hundreds of people came to visit, the group began to charity outreach to members of the community who needed financial support. In 2024, the group helped nearly a hundred local families with food and other necessities and the group hopes to expand in 2025.
    Show more Show less
    25 mins
  • Helping Military Families and Small Businesses

    Helping Military Families and Small Businesses
    Jan 12 2025
    Jan. 12, 2025 ~ Folds of Honor is a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have died or been disabled while serving in the United States Military. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 52,000 scholarships totaling over $240 million in all 50 states. It was founded by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot with three combat tours in Iraq and PGA Professional. Racheal Allen, CEO of Operations School, is the only small business support hub in Oakland County that serves minority business owners. Launched in 2019, O School serves more than 1,200 entrepreneurs per year free of charge, helping them get their businesses legal, branded, operational, noticed, profitable, and ready to scale.
    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • Helping Bees and Those Who Need Home Repairs

    Helping Bees and Those Who Need Home Repairs
    Jan 5 2025
    Jan. 5, 2025 ~ Bees in the D is a trusted group of educators focused on pollinators, specifically honeybees, and provides a model for beekeeping nationally. Through global education and our nationally recognized urban beekeeping model, the group increases knowledge about pollinators and is a recognized advocate for honeybees. The nonprofit provides honeybee hives and beekeeping training for schools, businesses, and local municipalities. Founder Brian Peterson joins Michigan Voices. Mission Possible of Oakland County, also known as Faith in Action of Oakland of Oakland County, has worked in 42 communities in Oakland County and beyond to provide home repairs to those who cannot afford to get them done themselves. Board of Directors chair Jackie Smiertka joins Michigan Voices.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Helping the Community Through Cass Community Services

    Helping the Community Through Cass Community Services
    Dec 20 2024
    Dec. 22, 2024 ~ Cass Community Services Executive Director Faith Fowler joins Michigan Voices to look at this community organization that started in the basement of the Cass Community Church whose roots go back to the 1880's. Today, CCS provides Emergency Housing and the new City-funded drop-in center, a growing tiny home community, and a special Christmas shop for those in need. Currently, CCS is rehabbing a convent, a home, and a Catholic Church in an effort to reach more people in need. Cass Community Social Services is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the diverse populations it serves by providing for basic needs, including affordable housing, promoting self-reliance, and encouraging community involvement and improvement.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • The Redford Theatre and Helpings Students Get Into College

    The Redford Theatre and Helpings Students Get Into College
    Dec 13 2024
    Dec. 15, 2024 ~ The Redford Theatre is an atmospheric theatre in the Old Redford neighborhood of Detroit. The theatre opened in January 1928, advertised as "Detroit's most unique suburban theatre," due to its grand design, featuring Japanese and Chinese motifs. During the holiday season, the theatre shows classic holiday films including "It's a Wonderful Life." It is one of the last remaining grand cinemas in the country. There is a national nonprofit organization that helps high school students apply for college, graduate, and enter their chosen careers. It also helps students graduate with less than $19,000 in college debt. Founded in Boston in 1997, Bottom Line is the only college access and success nonprofit organization with research-backed evidence of student impact. Their students are 23% more likely than their peers to earn a degree in four years, and Detroit is the organization’s fifth city and newest location.
    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • Navigating Grief During the Holidays and Building Affordable Homes

    Navigating Grief During the Holidays and Building Affordable Homes
    Dec 8 2024
    Dec. 8, 2024 ~ Marianne Burnett, bereavement coordinator at Corewell Health, talks about navigating grief during the holidays. She says those who are grieving should be prepared to ditch any traditions if they feel like it. She says they can always return to those traditions later, but for now, they can be sidelined. She also said joining a support group, especially during the holidays, can be of great help. Michele Hodges, executive director and CEO of Habitat Oakland, talks about her organization that has worked with millions of volunteers to build more than 300,000 homes for over 1 million people around the world since 1976. Habitat for Humanity came to Oakland County in 1994 and has since provided affordable housing and home improvements for more than 100 families.
    Show more Show less
    30 mins