Episodes

  • Providing After School Programs and Volunteering at the Zoo

    Providing After School Programs and Volunteering at the Zoo
    May 9 2025
    May 11, 2025 ~ The Detroit Zoo’s volunteer program is a powerful way for people of all backgrounds to give back, make a difference for animals and the planet, and build meaningful connections. The volunteers' impact on animal care, education, and conservation, as well as the overall guest experience. Chrystal Bell, volunteer service manager, joins Michigan Voices. Erin Skene-Pratt, executive Director of the Michigan Afterschool Partnership, said the partnership credits out-of-school time programming for an effective strategy in helping at-risk students. Whether before or after school, these programs involve activities like athletics, STEM, arts, language, culture, and more, and ultimately helps foster a sense of belonging. For almost two decades, DBG has built deep connections with students and their families, measuring impact through annual evaluations and ongoing dialogue. This longitudinal approach allows them to understand each student’s unique journey – their challenges, opportunities, and dreams. Peter Feezey and Jessica Hauser from DBG join Michigan Voices.
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    26 mins
  • Helping Children Overcome Life Challenges and An Oakland County Jobs Program

    Helping Children Overcome Life Challenges and An Oakland County Jobs Program
    May 2 2025
    May 4, 2025 ~ The Children’s Center is home to many specialized clinical services. Desiree Jennings, Children's Center CEO, said the center leads the way in working with children who deal with behavioral, emotional, educational, intellectual, and developmental challenges or may have experienced trauma. The city of Pontiac announced it will collaborate with Oakland80 to launch a series of Career and Education Navigators from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday starting March 31 at Pontiac City Hall for job seekers and students. With a variety of beneficial resources for school and the job market, Rana Al-Igoe, Oakland80 administrator, said these services are offered at no cost through Oakland County and the American Rescue Plan Act.
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    29 mins
  • Providing Housing Services and Helping Autistic Residents

    Providing Housing Services and Helping Autistic Residents
    Apr 27 2025
    April 27, 2025 ~ Community & Home Supports, Inc. was founded in 2008 for the purpose of helping the Detroit community by providing services to residents of the City who are housing insecure or unhoused. CHS President and Executive Director John Stoyka joins the show to talk about who qualifies for assistance and how they can access that assistance. The Michigan Alliance for Autism, officially known as the Autism Alliance of Michigan, is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and families affected by autism spectrum disorder. They focus on advocacy, support, and resources to help those touched by autism lead fulfilling lives. President and CEO Dr. Colleen Allen says the organization has served over 40,000 people throughout the state.
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    28 mins
  • Helping Underserved Communities Get Eye Care and Blood Cancer Diagnoses

    Helping Underserved Communities Get Eye Care and Blood Cancer Diagnoses
    Apr 18 2025
    April 20, 2025 ~ Eye Care For Detroit, Inc. is a non-profit corporation committed to improving the eye care outcomes of the homebound and underserved populations in Detroit. Its founder, Dr. Cleamon Moorer Jr., grew up in Detroit, losing his vision to cataracts at 21 years old. After a charitable contribution covered the surgery that enabled him to see again, he set out to do something to help others who might be struggling with affordable vision care. The Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan (BCFM) is the go-to source for anyone who faces a blood cancer diagnosis. BCFM supports nearly 200 types and subtypes of blood cancer and potentially malignant blood disorders, with the most common diseases supported are leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, MDS, aplastic anemia, and myeloproliferative disorders. President and CEO of BCFM, Heidi Grix, joins Michigan Voices to talk about the work being done.
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    27 mins
  • Granting Wishes and Helping Young Women

    Granting Wishes and Helping Young Women
    Apr 13 2025
    April 13, 2025 ~ The Rainbow Connection is the only wish-granting organization based in Michigan, granting wish experiences for children, along with emergency support, special programs and events, and a scholarship program for wish children who move on to college. Since its founding, the organization has granted more than 5,000 wishes across Michigan. Executive Director Ingrid Todt said the organization is celebrating its 40th year. WDIV Anchor and founder of the Rhonda Walker Foundation, Rhonda Walker joins Michigan Voices. She said teenagers need trusted support, foundational experiences, and meaningful relationships as they strive to graduate from high school and succeed in college and beyond. Rhonda Walker Foundation works to provide underserved young women with the opportunity to grow and navigate the world through a multi-year program of support and leadership.
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    26 mins
  • Supporting Those Affected by Cancer and Helping Young People Get Grants

    Supporting Those Affected by Cancer and Helping Young People Get Grants
    Apr 6 2025
    April, 6, 2025 ~ Laura Varon Brown is the executive director of Gilda's Club of Metro Detroit, a free cancer support community for anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis. They serve all ages and all cancer types, with locations in Detroit, Royal Oak, St. Clair Shores, and a thriving virtual space. The program provides support and networking groups led by licensed clinicians, educational presentations, healthy lifestyle workshops, social activities, and resources and referrals for cancer patients, their loved ones, and those bereft. Susan Halliday, executive director of Leadership Oakland, joins Michigan Voices to talk about the Acorn2Oak program. The Acorn2Oak program is an initiative administered by Leadership Oakland, supported and founded by Oakland County, to provide grants to young individuals ages 8-18. It’s designed to support their business ideas, community initiatives, educational pursuits, and extracurricular activities.
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    26 mins
  • Helping the Visually Impaired and Empowering those With Disabilities Through the Arts

    Helping the Visually Impaired and Empowering those With Disabilities Through the Arts
    Mar 28 2025
    March 30, 2025 ~ Jim Smock, executive director of the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind & Visually Impaired, talks about the agency, whose mission is to provide services and support that help blind and low vision individuals live productive, independent lives with confidence and dignity. Shelly Lennon, director of Paint a Miracle, joins Michigan Voices. The mission of Paint a Miracle is to create places, programs, and possibilities for those of us with disabilities and other challenges to explore the arts in an atmosphere of hope, growth, and encouragement. The organization believes that by engaging in the arts and discovering our inherent sense of creative expression, they can respond more effectively to their challenges.
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    27 mins
  • Empowering and Helping Local Youth

    Empowering and Helping Local Youth
    Mar 23 2025
    March 23, 2025 ~ Michigan CASA is the statewide association for 30 local CASA programs. President and CEO Aimee Nimeh says through a network of 30 affiliate programs, Michigan CASA recruits, screens, trains, and supervises community volunteers who serve as the voices of these vulnerable children. By empowering dedicated volunteers, Michigan CASA strives to ensure that every child in the foster care system has a consistent, caring advocate to help navigate the complexities of the child welfare system and work towards a stable, permanent home. Detroit YMCA CEO Parrish Underwood joins Michigan Voices to talk about the mission of the YMCA, to empower young people and communities worldwide to build a just, sustainable, and equitable world where every person can thrive in body mind, and spirit. The YMCA is committed to strengthening communities, improving well-being, and inspiring action.
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    27 mins