In her role at Voices for Children Advocacy Center – a flagship CAC in the Mid-Michigan area – Claudnyse helps children and their families who have been victims of child abuse, neglect and human trafficking. A fierce supporter of the work of the Children’s Advocacy Center movement, she has worked to expand and increase services and laws for child survivors and is seen as a leading expert on child maltreatment issues, often being interviewed on radio and TV news. She serves on state and national committees and workgroups to elevate and ensure that child survivors receive necessary support.
The door opened and in walked a man wearing a face of determination. Rugged and ready, like a gunfighter he stood urging me to make the first move, daring me to try to make the first joke, to get the first laugh. As soon as I opened my mouth to speak, it was already too late. He struck like lightning and it was all over but the laughing. It was all I could do to catch my breath.
When talking with Gary Fisher, the subject of history is bound to come up. It’s something he lives for and his depth of knowledge of the Flint area is immense. “Have you heard of Clarence ‘Kelly’ Johnson?” he asks with enthusiasm.
Brandon Corder will never forget about Flint. “Flint was a great place for me to grow up,” he says. “I want to give back to the place that has given me so much. I get wrapped up in it sometimes, maybe a little too much.” Since his graduation from Flint Southwestern Academy, Corder has been on a mission that has taken him to New York, to Los Angeles, and to Las Vegas where he currently resides. “I make sure to head back to Flint every couple of weeks,” he adds. At the age of 12, Corder chose his mission: to become a media mogul – and through his Beats X Beers brand, he is getting close to reaching that goal. “I always looked up to the music industry moguls and it is something I always knew I wanted to be,” he says.
Since 2014, neighborhoods in the City of Flint have relied on the help and support of the Neighborhood Engagement Hub (NEH) and this year, it will only get better. “People haven’t really known what we were or the services we offer,” says Executive Director, Tom Wyatt. “We are restructuring and have established a new mission and core values.” The NEH is also improving efficiency with the creation of six new departments and is expanding its program offerings. The headquarters has also undergone a remodel to make it safer and more appealing to neighborhood groups and individuals for use as a meeting and learning space. “We did almost all the work ourselves to save on cost,” Wyatt says laughing. “It took a bit longer than expected, but we are almost done.”
On April 22, we will celebrate Earth Day – an annual event created in 1970 to raise awareness of the need to protect our planet’s natural resources for future generations. In Genesee County, there is an agency that works very hard to protect this area’s natural resources.
The history of Greater Flint is steeped in relevance. We have seen titans of industry, great inventors, triumphs of commerce, heroes, villains, failure and renewal, and through it all stood our castles of time – the historic homes of Greater Flint.
Physician Anesthesiologist Dr. Bonnie Milas provides life-saving treatment every day, so when she found her 21-year-old son unresponsive on the kitchen floor, his lips blue, she knew what to do. He was suffering an opioid overdose only hours after being discharged from an inpatient treatment program. She started CPR and administered naloxone, a medication that reverses an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of the drug and restoring breathing and consciousness. Dr. Milas’ quick actions, and naloxone, saved her son’s life and offered him a second chance to heal from his addiction.
This fishing season, the folks at Rapala fishing lures encourage adults to take a kid fishing. Why? Because kids represent the future of fishing. According to the American Sportfishing Association, kids who are introduced to fishing at an early age by a trusted adult are more likely to fish as an adult.
In any form, cancer is serious and far too prevalent in the world. It is the most feared medical diagnosis in the U.S. with dementia coming in second. It can happen almost randomly, putting everyone at risk, and it is typically difficult to treat. Each year, nearly two million people receive a cancer diagnosis, with breast cancer the most common. For men, the three most prevalent are prostate, lung and colorectal cancers. Almost 40% of men and women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. There is one good way to drastically increase your chance of survival: early detection.
DeAndra Larkin currently serves as Chief of Staff to the Office of the President at Mott Community College, working collaboratively with the College’s Executive Cabinet to achieve the College’s Strategic Plan goals and develop and manage strategic partnerships. Prior to this role, she held positions as a nonprofit executive and in fund development.
Looking to wind down from a rough week in a place with sophistication and style? Want to meet friends in an upscale establishment and relax to the nuance of improvisation and beat? Or, maybe you just want to have a drink, close your eyes and be taken away by the intricacies of some great jazz? Whatever your mood, motivation or desire, the Soothing Tunes Room is your answer.
