Sarah Spohn

Roughly 33% of the U.S. homeless population are families with children. Homelessness and housing instability can negatively impact health, especially for infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant and parenting women. Statistics also show that pregnant women who are homeless are more likely to deliver preterm and low birthweight babies.
This is data that Stasia Roth sees play out on a daily basis as executive director of A Mother’s Hope. Roth is the founder of A Mother’s Hope, a nonprofit t...

During the Christmas of 1971, an 11-year-old Janet Defever learned lessons about Santa Claus, forgiveness, second chances and being human, while on an Alma dairy farm.
Decades later, these vivid memories and moving lessons from life-on-the-farm have found their way into Defever’s debut children’s book, Second Chance Christmas.
Defever’s childhood consisted of many labor-intensive farm tasks, much different than most of her peers’ upbringing. Her early memories consist of cows, sheep, chickens...

‘Tis the season for black-tie-affairs, festive and fancy galas, and more holiday events that call for ditching the jeans and dressing up. This weekend marks the inaugural Big Red Ball, downtown Lansing’s first-ever black-tie-ball promising stunning views and seasonal revelry. The Saturday, Dec. 7th event is also a fundraiser for Downtown Lansing Inc., and will help focus efforts on investing into the region’s central business district.
If you often feel overwhelmed when it comes to shopping f...

FLINT, Michigan — Stepping into a historic theater can be a powerful experience in itself, but seeing actors, dancers, comedians, and musicians on stage or the silver screen can make the experience that much more engaging, transformative, and memorable.
This month, the Flint Institute of Music (FIM) has a diverse lineup of concerts, movie singalongs, drag shows, timeless theatre productions, comedians, and actor appearances, guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit.
Ashley Poirier, FIM man...

The holiday season has arrived at our doorsteps. Making time to cook comfort food and gathering around the table with your loved ones is a gift. Another great gift is simply giving back to the community.
For the 36th year, the McLaren Port Huron Foundation invites the community to step up and help raise money for McLaren Port Huron Hospital with the annual Festival of Trees.
This year, the event brings back the elegant Festival of Trees Gala on Friday, Dec. 6 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Blue Wate...

There’s a notion about cooking being more about following your heart than a recipe.
Michigan State University alum, East Lansing resident and local entrepreneur Gina Mudrey followed her heart and it led to opening up a new business with a specialty food market and kitchen for cooking classes. The brick-and-mortar shop is focused on connecting with people, creating meaningful hands-on experiences and sharing delicious food.
The Local Epicurean, located at 2843 E. Grand River Ave., Suite 100, i...

Although Grand Rapids is often named as a top place to live, with good jobs, affordable housing, and a high quality of life — there is still disparity amongst the 49507 zip code. Through collaboration between private and public sectors, nonprofits, community-based organizations, and community development financial institutions (CDFIs), there’s a concerted goal to invest in this specific area.
Over the last decade, IFF, a community development financial institution based in Illinois, has inves...

Detroit is growing and changing, but can it keep up this pace? The latest report from Detroit Future City (DFC), “Making the Middle Class: Leveraging Detroit’s Neighborhoods to Build a Middle-Class City” suggests that in order to be sustainable in the future, Detroit must increase its middle-class population.
The new report is in addition to the “Growing Detroit’s African American Middle Class” report released in 2019. The latest figures show that despite an increase of 2,000 residents, Detro...

CityFlatsHotel in Port Huron has undergone some changes, with a rebranded cafe, and a new catering business partner for its event department.
The former Michigan National Bank space became a hotel in 2022 and delivers a sleek, modern design, using reclaimed wood, glass, marble columns, vaulted ceilings, and handcrafted furniture. Located in the heart of downtown on the riverbanks, the three-story hotel offers 18 uniquely designed rooms, a ballroom, and a cafe.
Sales and Event Manager Chelsey ...

FLINT, Michigan — It’s more than just clean clothes. That’s the motto and idea behind Good Laundry, the newest endeavor of Flint’s Good Church. In August, the multicultural community church opened its affordable laundromat, located at 1034 Holbrook Ave.
Good Church was founded in October 2020 by husband and wife duo, Leo Robinson II and Miosha Robinson. Launched as a way to meet the community’s needs during a pandemic, Good Church has continued to listen to what their neighbors need and conti...

Children are our future. Those who pick education as a profession have a certain level of responsibility and resiliency to help shape the lives of young people. But it’s been tough attracting and retaining in Michigan.
Today, school districts partnerships, colleges and university programs, and statewide funding and initiatives are implementing resources, repayments, and apprenticeship programs to support the next generation of teachers.
Kelli Brozanski, the interim Director of the Office of E...

Flint Style Soccer has created a space that continually provides individual and team activities, coach mentors, personal development, socialization, and important life lessons on and off the soccer field. Susan Lanstra
FLINT, Michigan — In order to level the playing field, Steve Wolbert and Enrique Vargas launched Flint Style Soccer in 2016 to help shape young people and their futures. The goal was to introduce Flint youth to soccer, provide education and support to kids who otherwise wouldn’...

Although a large portion of MIFA’s programming is Meals on Wheels, the nonprofit organization also provides nourishment to seniors who are hungry for connection. This “more than a meal” approach to service includes Claris Companion tablets and MIphone Buddy volunteer programs which both help to address social isolation.
Founded in 1968, MIFA aims to unite the community through service, focusing on increasing and supporting the independence of vulnerable seniors and families in crisis. Through...

FLINT, Michigan — Art often reflects our culture, examines what’s popular, and provides insightful commentary without using any words, but with a visual context. To some viewers, certain art prompts questions, an encouragement to think or act differently, or in this case, to rebel. To rebel against the mainstream, to think twice about trends, to examine what is important and what is just not.
The latest Flint Institute of Arts (FIA) exhibit ‘Rebels in Print’ runs from Sept. 20 through January...

Being a homeowner is a dream for many. For some, though, it doesn’t seem feasible. Housing Forward, an initiative of the Midland Business Alliance (MBA), uses a holistic approach to implement solutions of development and rehabilitation of attainable workforce housing.
Jenifer Acosta is the lead consultant with Housing Forward, and works on the community-based initiative to help implement solutions, develop and rehabilitate housing all throughout Midland County. Acosta works alongside builders...