NEWSPAPERS Special Edition
FEBRUARY 12, 2025 Macomb County and Grosse Pointe papers
PRESSES TO STOP AT PRINTING PLANT IN AUGUST
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — The printing plant on the corner Mound Road and Metro Parkway, which has been cranking out papers since the early 1970s, is set to shutter in August.
A Jan. 21 Detroit Free Press announcement states that the Sterling Heights Operation Facility runs 250 press jobs on a weekly basis, ranging from regional dailies to national publications like the New York Times. The approximately 700,000-square-foot building sits on about 40 acres of land. Shuttering the plant eliminates 115 jobs. On Aug. 3, the last papers will roll off the presses.
A photo in the Sterling Heights Public Library’s digital collection shows construction being done on the plant in 1971. The Evening News Association, which owned the Detroit News at the time, constructed the facility for $42 million. The description mentions that the facility, then called the Detroit News North Plant, was up and running by 1976.
Both The Free Press and The Detroit News are printed at the Sterling Heights facility. Gannett has controlled the business side of The Free Press and The Detroit News through a Joint Operating Agreement since 1987. The JOA is set to expire this December. The two papers have separate ownership: MediaNews Group owns The Detroit News and Gannett owns The Free Press. Other Michigan newspapers owned by MediaNews Group, including the Macomb Daily, are also printed at the plant.
Gannett sold the property to Ohio-based Industrial Commer-
See PRINTING on page 4A
Legislators work to alter wage and sick leave changes
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Drastic changes to Michigan’s paid sick leave and minimum wage will go into effect Feb. 21. Both of Michigan’s major political parties are currently trying to rein in these efforts in the Legislature.
Republicans hold a majority in the state House of Representatives, and Democrats hold a majority in the state Senate. This month Republicans passed a pair of bills in the House, and Democrats in the Senate have an alternate plan in its early stages.
The whole issue began in 2018, when two petitions for
increased wages and paid sick time received enough signatures to get on the ballot. To block this, the petitions were adopted and amended by Republicans in the state Legislature, dramatically changing what would’ve appeared on the ballot.
In the Michigan Court of Claims, it was determined on July 19, 2022, that the adopted and altered acts were unconstitutional. This was reversed by the Michigan Court of Appeals but was ultimately upheld by a 4-3 Michigan Supreme Court ruling July 31, 2024.
The current minimum wage is $10.33, or $3.93 for tipped workers.
If nothing happens
If the revisions by Republicans or Democrats are not made, the court’s ruling will go into effect as planned in February.
All workers will receive a pay bump to $12.48 an hour this year, with tipped workers gradually reaching $12 in 2029. The final amounts will be determined by the state’s treasurer.
All employees, including part-time and temporary workers, are entitled to paid sick leave. Every 30 hours an employee works generates one hour of paid sick leave. Employees get 72 hours paid sick time per year at larger companies. However, employers with fewer than 10 employees
LEFT: The Sterling Heights Operation Facility, its Metro Parkway entrance shown here, is set to close in August.
Photo by Nick Powers
BELOW: This photo shows the Sterling Heights Operation Facility when it was first being constructed in 1971. The plant is set to close in August.
Photo provided by Suburban Library Cooperative and the Sterling Heights Library
This rendering on display at the groundbreaking shows the upgrades to
UCS breaks ground on Stevenson, Swinehart athletic complex improvements
BY KARA SZYMANSKI kszymanski@candgnews.com
UTICA/STERLING HEIGHTS/SHELBY TOWNSHIP
— Utica Community Schools broke ground on the future site of Stevenson High School’s new baseball and softball fields and tennis courts Jan. 14 and then broke ground Jan. 29 on athletic complex improvements at Swinehart Field.
The UCS Board of Education and Superintendent Robert S. Monroe were joined by student athletes and other representatives at the site of the Stevenson playing surfaces, 37400 Dodge Park Road in Sterling Heights, and at Swinehart Field, 47255 Shelby Road in Utica.
The improvements are part of the $550 million bond issue approved by voters in May of 2023.
The Stevenson project will repurpose existing fields and consist of an athletic complex with synthetic-turf softball and baseball fields, tennis courts, plus a concessions and restroom area. The project is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2026.
Stevenson High School is landlocked and the project will provide space for an eventual expansion of Runkel Field.
Swinehart Field’s improvements will consist of an enhanced fan experience with a concourse and new concessions and restroom areas, improved press box and visitor bleachers,
See UCS on page 4A
WINNING FUTURES STUDENT SCORES A HIT WITH THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — The year 2025 is going to be picture perfect for Durell Thomas Jr.
At press time, the 2022 Harper Woods High School graduate had started his new position as an intern for the Arizona Diamondbacks, based in Phoenix. Thomas, 21, will document the team’s season taking videos and photos of Major League Baseball players.
As a content creator, he’ll capture all the highlights and those historic moments that will remain frozen in time: the star athletes at bat, in spring training, warming up at game time, hitting line
THOMAS on page 10A
RIGHT: This color rendering by Integrated Design Solutions shows the transformation of the district’s space near 16 Mile and Dodge Park Road to serve as Stevenson High School’s baseball and softball fields and tennis courts.
LEFT:
Swinehart Field.
Renderings provided by Utica Community Schools
See
Photo provided by Durell Thomas Jr.
Durell Thomas Jr., a 2022 Harper Woods High School graduate, is now interning for Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
and replaced paving. It is planned to begin this spring and conclude for the fall of 2026.
Projects from the bond issue began this summer, and athletic improvements are the next steps.
Safety is the priority. Summer projects included walls and doors at facilities with “open concept” designs, several parking lots, upgraded playgrounds and replacement of doors and hardware as needed.
The projects also included the current reconstruction of DeKeyser Elementary.
Monroe said at the Stevenson groundbreaking that it is an example of the transformative nature of the 2023 bond.
“The work we are doing here addresses long-standing needs in the Stevenson community for replacement and expanded facilities, but it does it in a different way. It creates a complex that addresses safety through the replacement of fields and courts while positively transforming the experience for our students, their families and visitors from surrounding communities,” he said.
He said they appreciate the support the community showed, and the district is committed to effectively use the money.
“The Stevenson complex is being built on land we currently own and can repurpose to meet the needs of our students and community. Our facilities serve as the heart of our community. With the support of voters for our 2023 Safety and Success Bond Issue, the Eisenhower High School and Utica High School communities will have a stadium that will inspire our teams and strengthen our community’s sense of pride around our schools,” he said.
He said they are celebrating the dis-
Printing from page 1A
cial Properties in March 2023, according to an ICP press release. The amount of the sale was not disclosed. Gannett leased the property from ICP to continue printing operations until early this year, when that agreement fell apart.
“Where our newspaper is printed does not impact our ability to deliver outstanding journalism,” reads a statement from Gannett. “The Detroit Free Press will continue to provide readers with quality, local content that matters most to them, and to connect our valued advertising partners with the customers they want to reach. We deeply
trict’s legacy.
“Through the upcoming work at Swinehart Field, we are showing our respect for this legacy by creating a standard that will benefit student athletes now and well into the next generations,” he said.
Landon Cooke, a Utica High School junior, said that from his experiences, he believes sports are very important.
“They teach people how to be better individuals and connect us with our classmates to form strong bonds. They also instill a sense of pride in one’s school, bringing everyone together to cheer for their team. Part of this pride is something I’ve heard from coaches many times; it’s called ‘defending your home turf.’ Having a new state-of-theart stadium to defend and call home makes the sense of pride that students feel in their athletics even stronger, a feeling that will be enjoyed by many students and athletes for years to come,” Cooke said.
Carson Sweet, a Stevenson varsity baseball player, said he would like to say thank you to the community.
“By saying yes to the bond, you said yes to students. Because of your generosity, UCS students will be given more opportunities to excel in sports, which opens doors for college scholarships. By saying yes to the bond, you said yes to making a difference in athletes’ lives because athletics isn’t just about sports. It’s about the teaching of valuable life lessons like leadership and perseverance. It’s about creating a sense of family. By saying yes to the bond, you said yes to all of us,” he said.
He said their teams are looking forward to playing at this new facility.
“This field is where our Titans will condition and train for the up-and-coming season. It will represent a community of student athletes striving to build a program,” he said.
appreciate the years of service our valued colleagues have dedicated to our Detroit facility and the local community.”
At the time of the 2023 sale, ICP CEO Christopher Semarjian said the facility would continue producing papers, though the release stated a 4-acre spot may be repurposed.
“We are very bullish on Detroit and the suburban markets,” Semarjian is quoted as saying in the release. “We own millions of square feet in the region and think it’s a great place to own long term.”
Winter weather brings unique birds — if you can find them
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — As the air chills and days get shorter, it’s common for snowbirds to take their flights south.
But while our senior set heads for the Florida coast, some of nature’s feathered fellows find their way to Michigan from the Arctic.
These seasonal guests from the high north, along with being interesting company, make the winter a fascinating time for dedicated birders.
“A lot of people don’t necessarily think of a lot of birds being around in the winter,” said Stephanie Beilke, senior manager of conservation science at Audubon Great Lakes. “You hear more birds singing in the spring and summer and there’s more obviously around, but in the winter there’s still a lot of bird activity in Michigan.”
Winter birders keep their eyes out for a number of unique birds. Raptors, notably the snowy owl and various hawks, are some of the most famous winter birds. Another unique winter sight is the arrival of “weird ducks” with striking feather and beak patterns. Notable winter ducks include the bufflehead, northern pintail, common goldeneye and the ruddy duck.
“They’re looking for anywhere that just has open water because that’s all they need to find food,” Beilke said. “They’re looking for fish or plants that are underwater.”
Small birds, too, make southerly journeys for the warmer weather of frigid Michigan. Those birds, like the dark-eyed junco, can be best spotted at properly-equipped bird feeders — one of the least chilly ways of winter birding. Finches also may make an irruptive migration south due to what kind of
See BIRDS on page 9A
ABOVE RIGHT: A dark-eyed junco, spotted around 26 Mile Road, is a songbird that migrates to Michigan during the
TOP LEFT: A snowy owl, spotted in St. Clair County, is a raptor that migrates to Michigan during the winter.
Photo by Barb Baldinger
BOTTOM LEFT: Female, left, and male redhead ducks are one species of waterfowl that migrates to Michigan during the winter.
Photo by Lynette Spence, provided by Audubon Great Lakes
winter.
Photo by Barb Baldinger
VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE CARE, THERAPY FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — A loved one’s decision to enter hospice care can begin a daunting and scary time for families, but volunteers providing supporting care for their loved ones can make it a little bit easier.
Ruth Moore-Lilly, Hospice of Michigan’s volunteer program coordinator, said volunteers give additional support to patients and families during hospice care.
“Providing companionship, caregiver relief — just a more personal side where the patient doesn’t really feel like a patient,” Moore-Lilly said.
Hospice is end-of-life care, or palliative care. The volunteers provide a wide range of services, including caregiver relief, pet therapy, music therapy and much more.
“It’s really just providing that extra special support at a very sacred time,” MooreLilly said.
Hospice patients range in age from infants to the elderly. Their diagnoses range as well, but all are terminal.
Families can request hospice through referrals by the patient or through a doctor.
“Once a patient’s on our service, the clinical team — the nurses, the social workers, the spiritual care advisors — they’re always assessing patients to see if they would desire something from a volunteer,” MooreLilly said. “And they make those referrals to the volunteer coordinator, who then starts the process to match a volunteer with a patient.”
Volunteers can meet a patient at their
care facility or at their home. Usually, only one volunteer visits at a time, but MooreLilly said they may have more than one volunteer visit each week.
Crystal Hickerson, the volunteer coordinator at Brighton Hospice, said it’s the job of the volunteer to provide companionship for the patient.
“It’s a nonclinical way to bring support to the hospice patient and to provide for the caregiver a little bit of relief,” Hickerson said.
“Just knowing someone else is visiting with their loved one without it not necessarily being just someone coming to do a test or something like that.”
Hickerson said that hospice started as a volunteer service. Around the 1980s, regulations were put in place in the United States to require hospice organizations to provide volunteer support and services.
She said Medicare makes sure volunteers are utilized and requires that 5% of
the organization’s staff hours are volunteered across its teams, including administration.
Some volunteers are students in premed or other medical-related fields of study. Hickerson said these students get firsthand experience in the end-of-life process.
“We want them as they go in their role as a physician to know about what the endof-life services are and that hospice is available and what it’s really about,” Hickerson said.
See VOLUNTEERS on page 7A
Kevin the Newfoundland is a therapy dog who provides comfort for hospice patients. Kevin volunteers with his handler, Tom Kallas. Photos provided by Hospice of Michigan
Volunteers
from page 6A
She said that even though they might not go into a field dealing with the end of life, it gives them knowledge about the process and when to refer someone to hospice.
“And that’s crucial, because again, like I said, in America, it’s only been here since the ‘80s, so it takes a while for some physicians to understand, even though they’re in the medical field,” Hickerson said.
She said she always asks any volunteer why they chose hospice, because it is so specific.
“There’s so many regulations around it; it’s almost like a job,” Hickerson said.
She said volunteers stay because they learn a lot from their patients.
“Just being there for someone and the humanity of it all,” Hickerson said. “It’s really great when we have younger volunteers who go out and see our patients.”
Tom Kallas and his dog, a Newfoundland named Kevin, provide pet therapy to the patients they visit.
He started volunteering two years ago, after his wife found an article about pet volunteering.
“And she showed it to me. I was recently retired, and I contacted them, and I’ve been involved with them now for the last couple years,” Kallas said.
Kallas volunteers at other places with Kevin in addition to Hospice of Michigan. He said that after 40 years of working, he was in a place mentally to want to give back.
“I spent 40 years trying to accumulate enough wealth to be able to retire, and after I retired, I just had an inner urge to do some volunteering, to do some giveback,” Kallas said.
Kallas’ training prepared him for patient deaths. He said that over long periods of time, he’s created relationships with them and their families.
“When you lose that person that you’ve seen every single week for a year, you know, it’s tough. It’s really, really tough,” Kallas said. “At the same time, you have to have in your mind the fact that you know what you were doing is doing good for that patient, and you knew going into it what the outcome was most likely going to be.”
Kallas said visits are memorable when families get together with the patient and take part in the services. He said families are very appreciative of his company.
“You’ve never seen anybody appreciate
something like the families that have hospice involved,” Kallas said.
He said some of the work his fellow volunteers do is incredible.
“It’s selfless,” Kallas said.
Moore-Lilly said she thinks volunteers provide their time and companionship unconditionally.
“Volunteers aren’t expecting anything in return. They just have a heart to be with somebody,” Moore-Lilly said.
While she has worked in health care all her life, Moore-Lilly said it was not always with hospice. She started volunteering before she was employed by the organization. Hospice of Michigan and Brighton Hospice are just two of many hospice care providers in the state offering an array of services.
She reiterated that at the end of a person’s life, everything revolves around a patient’s diagnosis, and the volunteers allow them to be a regular person outside of their diagnosis.
“Volunteers always say that they take a
piece of every person that they have visited with them in their own life,” Moore-Lilly said. “And it really, you know, for me, and I do speak for other staff members and volunteers, it changes our lives.”
She said it gives her a new appreciation for what she has.
Moore-Lilly said the whole experience has been rewarding.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Moore-Lilly said. “This is where I’ll stay for the rest of my career.”
Volunteers must be 18 to participate, and training is provided. Future volunteers also must go through a background check, fingerprinting and a tuberculosis test. They can visit the Hospice of Michigan website at hom.org or Brighton Hospice at brightonhospice.com.
“If you have a heart for other people, then you can be a hospice volunteer,” MooreLilly said. “You don’t have to have any special talents.”
CANDGNEWS.COM
Workers
need to only pay for 40 hours of sick leave a year.
Proposed Republican changes
Two Republican-led bills have passed through the Michigan House of Representatives that would augment the court’s ruling.
“These bills are now bound for the Senate where they will face another vote,” Rep. Ron Robinson, R-Utica, said in a press release. “I urge each senator to consider the needs of the small business in their communities and vote yes. It would be a massive win for Michigan if the Senate followed the example of the House and sent these bills to (the) governor’s desk.”
House Bill 4001, introduced by Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen, would tweak the minimum wage changes. It was passed Jan. 23 with a 63-41 vote. Six House members sat out for the vote.
The bill would set the new minimum wage to $12, which is 48 cents less than what would go into effect automatically Feb. 21. The wage would increase by 50 cents in 2026, and then increase by $1 each Jan. 1 until 2029. Starting in 2030, the state treasurer would calculate the annual increase.
Tipped workers would receive 38% of whatever the minimum wage is for all other workers.
House Bill 4002, introduced by Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, would alter the paid sick time changes. It passed the same day as HB 4001 with a 67-38 vote. Five members abstained from the vote.
The bill excises the earned sick time for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Workers at larger companies would earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked, not including hours used as paid leave. Sick leave accrued can carry over from year to year, or an employer can pay the employee the value of the time. Employers do not have to allow more than 72 hours of accrued sick time in a year. They also don’t have to carry over more than 72 hours from one year to the next.
“We have heard again and again from thousands and thousands of restaurant workers whose jobs are at risk,” Sen. Michael Webber, R-Rochester Hills, said in a press release. “The Legislature has both the duty and ability to protect this vital industry and its employees. But the clock is ticking; we need Senate Democrats to do the right thing and join us in the fight to save Michigan’s threatened hospitality industry.”
The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association supported the changes in HB 4001.
“The House has acted to protect 1,000 independent restaurants from closing permanently,” Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, said in a press release. “Now it’s critical for the Senate to follow suit and pass House Bill 4001 immediately. Every day of inaction puts more Michigan restaurant jobs and businesses at risk.”
While some Democrats joined GOP members in approving the votes, some cast a vote against them. Rep. Joe Tate, D-Detroit, said in a release following the vote that the bills could have been better.
“We need to support workers receiving wages and benefits they deserve — along
with creating a positive climate for employers to thrive,” Tate said in a press release.
Senate Democrats weigh in
Michigan Democratic senators have their own proposed legislation to counter Republican efforts. Sens. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, have introduced bills that would adjust the changes set to take effect in February. The bills are currently being discussed in their respective committees.
Senate Bill 8, introduced by Hertel, changes the schedule of the wage increases. The initial change in February would remain at $12.48. Each subsequent increase would happen Jan. 1. Next year it would be $13.73, and in 2027 it would rise to $15. After that, the treasurer would update the rate each year.
Unlike the Republican legislation, SB 8 would increase the wages of tipped workers. The first year tipped workers would receive 38% of the $12.48 minimum wage. The wage would rise in 2%-3% increments each Jan. 1 until hitting 60% in 2035.
SB 15, introduced by Singh, deals with paid sick time. This bill attempts to keep some of the court ruling’s original intent, while sanding down some of its edges.
Earned sick time would stay relatively the same as the Supreme Court ruling, though the threshold for a small business would change from fewer than 10 employees to fewer than 25.
Too much meddling?
The passage of the two Republican bills wasn’t met with enthusiasm everywhere.
“Today, in a bipartisan fashion, the
Michigan House of Representatives caved to corporate lobbyists and betrayed Michigan workers by voting to gut the state’s minimum wage and paid sick leave laws,” Sam Inglot, the executive director of Progress Michigan, said in a press release.
He said that the majority of Michigan residents supported the original changes as laid out by the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision. He urged the Senate to not make the two pieces of legislation into law.
“HB 4001 and HB 4002 strips workers of a well-deserved and overdue raise and strips too many workers of paid sick leave they need to take care of themselves and their loved ones,” Inglot said.
Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber accused the GOP of “unconstitutional tricks” when adopting and amending the original petition. Bieber advocated for keeping the court’s decision in place.
“Now, less than a month before workers are about to finally get the pay and benefits they deserve, the new Republican majority is trying to pull the rug out from under working families,” he said in a press release. “Every legislator, regardless of their party, should be held accountable for their vote to cut the pay and benefits for workers most in need.”
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Birds
seed crops have grown over the year.
“True sparrows … like the dark-eyed junco like to feed on platforms, so getting a tray feeder or a larger hopper feeder where you’ve got an edge to it that they feel comfortable sitting on,” said Rosann Kovalcik, owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited in Grosse Pointe Woods.
Some bird feeders are enjoyed by being directly watched, while others use technology to catch visiting birds with camera feeders.
“What’s good about them is that you can be in your house, you can have the camera set to be transmitting to your laptop or your phone and you can take pictures from that to help identify (birds),” Kovalcik said. “The camera feeder that we sell actually has identification built in it. There’s a huge surge of that going on. There’s still probably a much larger group of people that go out and they just want to look with their binoculars and they’re just getting into the hobby.”
For those looking to get more outdoors but still close to heat, car caravans organized by Audubon and Bird Alliance groups are a great way to seek birds out.
“What’s fun is just the discovery,” Kovalcik said. “What could I possibly see as I’m driving through this area of Macomb County near Algonac, and that day (Dec. 20, 2024) my partner and I had a screech owl, we had a bald eagle, we had a red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, northern harrier. We had so many raptors that we could see that were out during the day or you could play tapes of and they’d call back. It’s such a treat to come across that and to see it and to know that I’m only going to get this (experience) this time of year.”
Locations close to water — such as Lake St. Clair Metropark, Belle Isle and almost anywhere along the Detroit River/Lake St. Clair coast — offer a wide variety of birdsighting opportunities due to optimal plants and prey. Wooded areas like the non-coastal Metroparks offer great opportunities to view birds. Kovalcik says not to discount open fields, such as in northern Macomb County, when planning your winter bird watch; songbirds like snow buntings will take to open fields to scour about for seeds and insects.
“And flying over them would be shortreared owls, which are also out because they are looking for voles and mice in the same fields,” Kovalcik said.
Those with technology on their side
can stay up to date on the latest bird sightings throughout the region.
“(The website) eBird is a great resource for finding birding locations called eBird Hotspots, which provide up-to-the-minute information on the very best locations and what has been seen there,” Barb Baldinger, long-time birder and former vice-president of the Macomb Audubon Society, said via email. “Another place to check is the St. Clair-Macomb Birding Trail website, which has information about 38 bird viewing sites in St. Clair and Macomb counties.”
While coming across an exotic bird can be a cool experience, it is best for the birds to
Editors: Brian Louwers | (586) 498-1089 | brianlouwers@candgnews.com
David Wallace | (586) 498-1053 | dwallace@candgnews.com
Mark Vest | (586) 498-1052 | mvest@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com
keep your distance.
“One of the best things to remember is to use good birding ethics to keep your distance from any owl or other sensitive species,” Baldinger said via email. “Using your vehicle as a photo blind, if possible, is much less intrusive than walking too close to an owl and perhaps causing it to fly, when it needs to conserve energy.”
The largest birding event of the winter is the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which runs from Dec. 14-Jan. 5 every year. Groups like the Detroit Bird Alliance, the Oakland Bird Alliance and the Macomb Audubon Society organize field trips throughout the season.
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drives, running bases, catching fly balls and more. Thomas also will chronicle those special moments of the team mingling with fans and celebrating big victories.
“I’m so excited,” he said. “I can’t wait to get started. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.”
Thomas, who grew up in Detroit, moved to the Southwest about three years ago to enroll at Arizona State University in Tempe. He made several connections and landed an internship on the school’s sports media team where he creates video content for the university’s athletic games, including the ASU Sun Devils football team.
As a sports journalism major, Thomas started working as a content developer for the sports media company, TummClouTv Sports Media. His ultimate goal is to work for a professional sports team as a videographer in any of the four pro leagues: the NFL, NBA, NHL or MLB. While football is “the sport I love the most, I just want to be able to create content for any professional team,” Thomas said.
Thomas is applying himself through the skills he learned in the Winning Futures Workforce Prep program when attending high school. Winning Futures connects high school students with local professionals who mentor them and help them develop life skills, learn job readiness strategies, explore career options, and set academic and career goals. Local businessman Sam Cupp started the program in 1994. He died in 2012, and others have carried on his legacy including President and CEO Kristina Marshall and Director of Engagement Chris Cahill.
Mentors undergo training and work with groups of students. Community High School in Sterling Heights, Warren Mott High School in Warren, Harper Woods High School, Hazel Park High School, Cass Technical High School in Detroit and Detroit’s Communication & Media Arts High School are the schools involved with Winning Futures.
During his sophomore year in high school, Thomas was paired with mentor Clarence Martin. For several months, Martin met with his group of students via Zoom because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At first, Thomas didn’t seem very motivated and “not super excited.”
“He was in his bed and the lights would be off,” said Martin, a West Bloomfield Township resident. “There were those kids who made me try to really engage with them.”
Eventually, “His energy would pick up,” Martin said.
Martin, 50, brings his own experiences to the table when mentoring students.
“If I could talk to myself as a 10th or 11th grader now,” Martin said he would tell himself “You have to work hard when you’re young. Investing in yourself is the payment for the rest of your lifetime. When you have goals, time is your friend.”
That’s something he always stressed to Thomas. Martin also has the students make a dream board so they can “embrace and recognize the opportunities they have.” In 2014, Martin celebrated 10 years as a Winning Futures mentor. He is a senior advisor at LM Automotive, LLC in Detroit.
“He taught me the importance of setting goals, having discipline, finding my passion and to trust the process. I learned simple life skills,” Thomas said.
“Grind while you’re young,” was Martin’s catch phrase for Thomas and it stuck.
“I feel Winning Futures instilled confidence in you to achieve and bring opportunities even if they feel out of touch,” Thomas added. The whole staff, they were like family to me.”
“None of us have gotten to where we are without help from someone else,” Martin said. “Why not return the favor? This is how we put good energy out. It’s very rewarding. The big wins are the wins.”
Thomas has always been a sports fanatic: football, basketball, baseball and hockey. One pastime was playing football as a kid and preteen. But during the summer after eighth grade, he underwent spinal fusion surgery and dealt with scoliosis.
“I couldn’t play football anymore,” he said.
But he got back in the game albeit in a different form: behind the lens. When he came across a camera that once belonged to his dad, Thomas found a new passion. He soon began taking photos and videos of his friends as they scored touchdowns, dribbled basketballs and more.
“They were very supportive to take this full throttle,” Thomas said. “It’s just a love for the game.”
“We’re going to see a lot from Durell,” Martin said. “I think he’s going to be running that department in a short amount of time.”
To view Thomas’ work, visit jetsetdt. myportfolio.com/work.
The Winning Futures office is located in Troy. For more information about the nonprofit organization, visit winningfutures. org, call (586) 294-8449 or email Info@ WinningFutures.org.
