Michigan Voices

May 12, 2024 ~ Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S. About 1 in 36 children have been identified with ASD, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Michigan Voices talks with Autism Society of Greater Detroit Program Director Heather Zielinski about Autism identification and diagnosis.

Detroit Horse Power is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 by former Detroit elementary school teacher David Silver. DHP teaches Detroit students to ride and care for horses to develop critical skills that will set them up for academic, career, and life success. David Silver explains how Detroit Horse Power uniquely addresses two persistent problems facing the Motor City: the shortage of opportunities for metro Detroit’s vulnerable populations and the abundance of vacant land. Through riding and caring for horses in a safe and enriching space, program participants learn valuable skills that set them up for future success. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

May 5, 2024 ~ What started as a creative vision over a year ago is becoming a reality as Grosse Pointe Theatre presents Disney’s Newsies the Musical, May 3-12, at Parcells Auditorium, in Grosse Pointe Woods. Michigan Voices host Marie Osborne speaks to Director Timothy Higgins who says, the Grosse Point Theatre is one of the first community theatres in the area to perform Newsies. GPT is partnering with Detroit Goodfellows to collect new toys for the Goodfellows annual Christmas program. Collection bins will be at the theatre.

Special Olympics Michigan provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Tim Hileman, president and CEO, said there are over 23,000 participants in 24 sports and more than 23,000 who help make the Special Olympic experience a reality. Athletes develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy while participating in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship among their families, Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Donations from Michigan citizens and businesses provide funding for the program.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

April 28, 2024 ~ As of 2020, almost four million children were involved in abuse investigations in America. More than 618,000 children were found to be victims of abuse or neglect. At least one in seven children have experienced child abuse or neglect in the past year in the United States. Dr. Kelly Levasseur, Medical Director of Pediatric Emergency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, talks about the signs to look for in children who may be victims of abuse and what people can do about it.

There are dozens of landmark organizations in the Detroit area and among the oldest is Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights. It began more than 140 years ago as a home for girls and women in crisis. It has evolved into an organization meeting the needs of those who need mental health services, foster care, adoption services, and survivors of human trafficking. CEO Megan Zambiasi joins the show to talk about the mission of Vista Maria and their gala slated for May 16th. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

April 21, 2024 ~ The Detroit Sports Commission and Visit Detroit announced they will contribute $1 million to community initiatives to support youth groups in the city in conjunction with the NFL Draft. The groups selected Beyond Basics and Project Play.

Project Play, facilitated by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, works with local sports organizations to provide opportunities, resources, and coaching for children in Detroit and surrounding communities. Beyond Basics is a nonprofit working in Detroit schools aiming to increase literacy rates and reading scores at all grade levels. Beyond Basics co-founder and CEO Pamela Good and Project Play Director Pat Sharrow share their organizations' histories and the plans for the funding coming from the Detroit Sports Commission and Visit Detroit. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

April 14, 2024 ~ The city of Detroit is deep in preparations for the NFL Draft coming later this month. More than 400,000 visitors are expected to descend on the city and nearby suburbs. According to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, human trafficking, in which men, women, and children are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude, and other labor for little or no pay, is a large and growing criminal industry worldwide, including in Michigan. Anytime there are large events, the problem of human trafficking can accelerate. Dr Jamie Hope, Medical Director Corewell Health Livonia is a nationally recognized expert on the topic, and she joins Michigan Voices to outline the issue and what can be done about it.

The Rising Star Academy in Center Line has a unique mission, provide a place for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults to belong, and develop the necessary skills to participate at their full potential within the community. Mark Prentiss, a professionally trained chef, and his wife Debra, founded the post-secondary charter school in Center Line which provides a hands-on career prep for students between the ages of 18-26. The school now includes a bakery and coffee shop and has plans for expansion to a golf course. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

April 7, 2024 ~ When it comes to fighting crime, law enforcement has many tools. But when it comes to finding justice for victims, the tools are few and far between. Crime Stoppers has been helping bring justice to victims and their families for more than a decade. Dan Di Bardino, the president of Crime Stoppers of Michigan says over $3 million in recoveries have been made in the last ten years. Thousands of tips have resulted in crimes being solved, bringing a measure of peace to victims' families. The organization works through ten community outreach programs and serves seven counties in southeast Michigan.

Professional Cabaret was first created in French wine cellars in the 1800's. It is a beloved form of entertainment for thousands of people around the globe. In Detroit, Cabaret 313 has been bringing professional cabaret to the area for more than a dozen years. The co-founder and President Allan Nachman joins Michigan Voices to talk about the mission of 313, bringing premier talent from Broadway and New York to the public in historic venues throughout the city of Detroit. Nachman says Cabaret is an intimate genre in which the singer tells a story through song. It evokes both laughter and tears and forges a connection between the artist and the listener. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

March 31, 2024 ~ Closing out reading month, WJR Senior News Analyst Marie Osborne hosts Veronica Pechumer, Great Start Collaborative Oakland County Director. Most research shows that children who are read to in early life have a better chance of graduating high school and show greater financial success. Great Start Collaborative is a program which provides reading materials to pediatrician offices which are offered, free of charge, to parents as an incentive to read to their children.

If you are looking for a unique volunteer opportunity that fits your skills, or perhaps you belong to a book club or civic organization that is looking for a volunteer opportunity, Share Detroit is here to help. Jeanette Phillips is the executive director of Share Detroit, and she explains how the website is a one-stop-shop for anyone looking for a volunteer opportunity. Share Detroit makes it easy for people to find local nonprofits and engage with them how they choose whether it’s donating money, volunteering time, attending an event, or buying much needed items from nonprofit wish lists. Share Detroit is also a 501c3 nonprofit created to support all other nonprofits across metro Detroit. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

March 24, 2024 ~ There are 1 million Michigan residents who have a rare disease, that is a disease which affects less than 200 thousand people. One of those diseases is Cystic Fibrosis. Laura is the founder and CEO of The Bonnell Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis, an organization that provides tools to navigate the difficulties of living with CF. The Bonnell Foundation offers education scholarships to those affected by CF, medical assistance, and lung transplant grants. Laura talks about her organization and her work in helping establish a rare disease advisory council in Michigan. Listeners can learn more at Thebonnellfoundation.org.

Emmie Hicks is the mother of two children, Jackie, 8, and Loretta, 6, who both have Leigh's disease, a rare and severe neurological disorder. This condition typically means a shortened life expectancy. Hicks discusses the difficulties she's had in getting treatment and other services for her children. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

March 17, 2024 ~ The Detroit Food Academy is a nonprofit that works to inspire young Detroiters ages 10-24 through culinary arts and food entrepreneurship. Students learn from cooking delicious healthy meals for friends and family, to developing artisan food projects from scratch to deliver to the market. Executive Director Kiki Louya joins WJR Senior News Analyst Marie Osborne to talk about how students learn and transform their ideas into reality.

Capuchin Soup Kitchen Executive Director Brother Gary Wegner also joins the show to talk about the 12th Annual Bocce with the Brothers on Friday, March 22, sponsored by Shelving.com. Br. Gary outlines the dozens of programs at the soup kitchen which aim to feed and empower thousands of Detroiters each year. Founded in 1929, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen started at the onset of the Great Depression and continues to provide approximately 800 meals per day from three locations. The soup kitchen provided nearly three million pounds of food in 2023 through the Capuchin Services Center food pantry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.

March 10, 2024 ~ International Women's Day is being celebrated at Schoolcraft College on March 16, with a special program focusing on innovation, technology, and economic empowerment. The event is being presented by the Asian Indian Women's Association along with the Asian American and Pacific Islander's community. Our guest is the co-founder of AIWA, Daksmi Pandet.

Since 2006 when its founder, Mitch Albom, first wrote about providing homeless people three-day shelter parties to get them off the streets during the Super Bowl at Ford Field, SAY Detroit has been changing lives for the better. SAY Detroit Executive Director Richard Kelley talks about how SAY Detroit empowers four thousand individuals and families each year with housing, health care, education, and sports opportunities. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.