Connecting Communities
National Black Business Month
Angela Mathews –Committed, Caring, and Focused! Democrat Candidate for State House District 77
A Voice of Strength for Necessary Change
As a candidate for Michigan’s House District 77, my decision to run is driven by a commitment to serve our community and a belief in the positive impact that thoughtful legislation can have an impact on our daily lives. My campaign is built on three foundational pillars: enhancing our educational systems, supporting economic growth, and ensuring environmental sustainability as shared with
you below:
1. Education
Education is the cornerstone of personal and community development. I am committed to implementing policies that ensure every child in Michigan has access to a quality education that equips them for the future. My focus areas within education include:
• Funding and Resources: This includes investing in urban and rural school districts to balance educational opportunities.
• Technology Integration: Promote technology integration in classrooms to enhance learning experiences and prepare students for a technologically driven world. This involves hardware like computers and tablets and software and digital literacy programs.
• Special Education and Inclusivity: Expand resources and training for special education services to ensure inclusivity and support for students
Turn to Page 11 ANGELA MATHEWS
Michigan Lottery: More than $28 Billion to
Support Public Education Since
1972
The Michigan Lottery is celebrating 10 years of the Excellence in Education awards! Established in 2014, the Excellence in Education awards recognize outstanding Michigan public school educators.
Every week during the school year, the Michigan Lottery selects one outstanding educator to receive the Ex-
cellence in Education award. The award winner receives a $2,000 cash prize! All public school educators are eligible,
so be sure to include teachers, administrators, coaches, and support staff in your nominations!
Each winner also receives a plaque and their own news segment featured on WXYZTV in Detroit, FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, FOX 47 in Lansing, WNEM-TV, Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City.
At the end of the school year, the Michigan Lottery selects one weekly winner to receive the Lottery’s Educa-
tor of the Year award and a $10,000 cash prize.
All public school employees may be nominated for the Excellence in Education awards. To nominate a public school educator for the 20232024 school year, To learn more about the Excellence in Education program, please visit https://www.michiganlottery. com/excellence-in-education.
Courtesy Photo-Angela Mathews and her team get ready to march in the City of Lansing 4th of July Parade 2024
The Chronicle News
The Legacy of Dr. Mar tin Luther King Jr Cebres Black History
The History of AfricanAmerican Newspapers
BY J. ISAAC NOEL BENJAMIN
As a young man pondering the whatifs and possibilities in life, I received an early vision of clarity. I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be a writer. While on active duty and stationed in Germany, I had the unique experience of breaking bread with people from many different cultures. Some were soldiers (not U.S. Troops), and some were local citizens. One overriding and dynamic concept became very clear. We all put our pants on one leg at a time, and we all eat breakfast in the morning. Diversity is different individuals valuing each other regardless of skin color, intellect, talent, or years of age. Inclusion means an invite to the party, and you've been asked to dance.
Being African-American and having a freshly minted degree in journalism, I pondered the African-American newspaper's role in our community. The part of the African American newspapers is synonymous with that of the African American church. Both play vital roles in the African American community at large. An internet search gives an ample account of the beginnings of the African-American newspaper industry. Historically, African-American newspapers came into existence before the Civil War as a medium of abolitionist sentiment expression. In 1827, Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm started the first African-American periodical, called Freedom's Journal.
Most of the early African-American publications, such as Freedom's Journal, were published in the North and then distributed, often covertly, to African Americans throughout the country. By the 20th century, daily papers appeared in Norfolk, Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
Some notable black newspapers of the 19th century were Freedom's Journal (1827–29), Philip Alexander Bell's Col-
ored American (1837–41), the North Star (1847–60), the National Era, The Frederick Douglass Paper (1851–63), the Douglass Monthly (1859–63), The Christian Recorder (1861–1902), and Daniel Rudd's Ohio Tribune (later renamed to American Catholic Tribune, 1885-1897).
In the 1860s, the newspapers, The Elevator and the Pacific Appeal emerged in California due to black participation in the Gold Rush.
In 1885, Daniel Rudd formed the Ohio Tribune, said to be the first newspaper "printed by and for Black Americans," the Ohio Tribune—which he later expanded into the American Catholic Tribune, purported to the first Black-owned national newspaper.
"The American Freedman" was a New York-based paper that served as an outlet to.....
Inventions by African Americans That Changed History
The United States and the world owe so much to African American people. As leaders in education, politics, culture, and science, they’ve made substantial contributions to society that have saved lives, influenced business, and so much more. Here are a few little-known or rarely attributed inventions by African Americans that changed history for the better.
Portable Refrigeration
It’s debatable who really invented air conditioning. Several individuals had a hand in developing modern PTAC units, but Frederick McKinley Jones invented the first portable refrigeration units. Jones had several impressive inventions and developments to his credit, including a ticket-dispensing machine for movie theaters, a device that synced audio with silent films, and a portable X-ray machine!
Jones’s most important invention might be portable refrigeration. He created refrigeration systems for trucks that worked well and weren’t disrupted by motion or jostling
on the road. This invention became invaluable during World War II in the 1940s. Soldiers used refrigerated trucks to preserve and transport food, drugs, blood, and other perishables.
Traffic Lights and Gas Masks
It’s impossible to guess how many lives Garrett Morgan saved with his two bestknown inventions: the gas mask and the traffic light. Reportedly, Morgan witnessed a horrific accident between an automobile and a horsedrawn carriage. Seeing how the accident could have been prevented by better traffic signals, he developed a light that not only told drivers when to stop or go, but it also delivered a warning that the light was about to change. Gas masks, of course, have saved the lives of countless patients, firefighters, miners, and rescue and military personnel.
The Chronicle News Archives Photo
Free Women’s Safety Seminar at Union Missionary Baptist Church (UMBC) Protect yourself and your community from sex crimes and Attacks
Join us at Union Missionary Baptist Church at 500 S Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Lansing MI 48915. FREE public seminar on Friday August 9th at 7 pm.
Community Day of Care and Prayer "Free Clothing, Shoes and More Giveaway
LANSING, MI - Pilgrim
Baptist Church is thrilled to extend a warm invitation to all for our Community Day of Care and Prayer. This event, featuring a "FREE" distribution of new to gently used clothing, coats, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children, will take place on Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 8:00 AM until noon at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 5200 Pleasant Grove Road, Lansing, MI 48911, (near the intersection of Pleasant Grove and Jolly).
Feel free to visit our website at www.PRBCLansing.org.
We emphasize that this event is FREE and open to everyone, operating on a first-come, firstserved basis while supplies last.
At our event, everyone wil be treated with utmost respect and
dignity upon entering the campus. They wil receive a shopping bag for their items, and our dedicated church volunteers will assist individuals and/or families with their shopping. Moreover, prayer and refreshments wil be served throughout the "FREE" event.
We eagerly look forward to serving you on this remarkable day of community support and care.
The mission of the Community Day of Care and Prayer is to provide "FREE" clothing, coats, shoes, prayer, and refreshments ni a clean, inviting, non-threatening environment for those ni need.
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PUBLIC NOTICE OF CAPITAL AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY’S PROPOSED FISCAL 2025 PROGRAM OF PROJECTS & PUBLIC HEARING ON ITS PROPOSED FISCAL 2025 BUDGET
Capital Area Transportation Authority hereby provides notice to the public and to private providers of its proposed fiscal 2025 program of projects and public hearing on its fiscal 2025 budget. The proposed fiscal 2025 program of projects follows:
Section 5307 Formula Funding
PUBLIC NOTICE OF CAPITAL AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY’S PROPOSED FISCAL 2025 PROGRAM OF PROJECTS & PUBLIC HEARING ON ITS PROPOSED FISCAL 2025 BUDGET
PROJECTS CAPITAL
Capital Area Transportation Authority hereby provides notice to the public and to private providers of its proposed fiscal 2025 program of projects and public hearing on its fiscal 2025 budget.
The proposed fiscal 2025 program of projects follows:
OF PROJECTS CAPITAL
Section 5307 Formula Funding
Michigan Land Bank Association Welcomes Executive Director to Lead Statewide Efforts
The Michigan Land Bank Association (MLBA) announced the hiring of its Executive Director, Michelle Thompson. Thompson brings with her a wealth of experience, having retired March 1st from her position as Benzie County Treasurer, a role she dedicated herself to for 27 years. Notably, in 2012 she led the establishment of the Benzie County Land Bank Authority and served as its chairperson until her retirement.
“I am thrilled to welcome Michelle as our new executive director. Her unparalleled dedication to the principles of land banking, coupled with her proven track record of transformative leadership in Benzie County, make her an invaluable addition to our team,” said MLBA Chair Tim Burgess. “Her expertise and commitment will be crucial as we continue our mission to strengthen communities across the state.”
Director of the State Land Bank Authority. “Together, we look forward to leveraging our collective expertise to drive positive change, foster sustainable development and empower communities throughout Michigan. Her leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our partnership and amplify our impact in revitalizing neighborhoods across Michigan.”
Michigan land banks have returned tens of thousands of residential, commercial and industrial properties to productive use, expanding housing opportunities across the state, with demonstrated positive impacts on public health, safety and economic stability. In 2018 the Michigan Association of Land Banks (MALB) commissioned a report assessing land banking activity in Michigan. over the first 12 years of land banking.
The proposed program of projects will constitute the final program of projects if there are no changes. Additional details on the proposed fiscal 2025 program of projects and a copy of the proposed fiscal 2025 budget are available for public inspection at CATA’s Administration Building, 4615 Tranter St., Lansing, MI 48910.
The
at CATA’s Administration Building, 4615 Tranter St., Lansing, MI 48910.
CATA will hold a public hearing on its proposed fiscal 2025 budget Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, at 4 p.m. at the Lansing Center Governor’s Room, 333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48933.
The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. This will be a levy under the current authorized millage. There is NO proposal for a new millage.
CATA will hold a public hearing on its proposed fiscal 2025 budget Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, at 4 p.m. at the Lansing Center Governor’s Room, 333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. This will be a levy under the current authorized millage. There is NO proposal for a new millage.
Written comments on the program of projects or the budget should be addressed to CATA Marketing, Attn: Program/Budget Comments, 4615 Tranter St., Lansing, MI 48910, or emailed to marketing@cata.org and must be received by 4 p.m., Aug. 21, 2024. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and should be requested by Aug. 19, 2024
Written comments on the program of projects or the budget should be addressed to CATA Marketing, Attn: Program/Budget Comments, 4615 Tranter St., Lansing, MI 48910, or emailed to marketing@cata.org and must be received by 4 p.m., Aug. 21, 2024. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and should be requested by Aug. 19, 2024
Capital Area Transportation Authority
Capital Area Transportation Authority
Bradley T. Funkhouser, AICP, Chief Executive Officer
Bradley T. Funkhouser, AICP, Chief Executive Officer
*Includes federal and state preventive-maintenance funds.
*Includes federal and state preventive-maintenance funds.
The MLBA ensures that land banks across Michigan have the statewide policies, support and capacity to effectively operate local land bank programs. Land banks are uniquely equipped to cost-effectively acquire, hold and transfer property in service of community goals. They facilitate home rehabilitation and new construction, commercial redevelopment, vacant land management and innovative reuse, demolition and deconstruction of dangerous structures. As quasigovernmental entities, land banks regularly partner with the public and private sector.
“The State Land Bank Authority team is excited to collaborate with Michelle in her role,” said Joseph Rivet,
Numerous studies have documented how Michigan land bank interventions have increased property values, reduced the number of future tax reverted properties, created jobs, lowered crime and had other critical economic and community impacts.
“I am deeply honored to embark on this journey as the Executive Director of the MLBA,” said Thompson. “Having dedicated over a decade to the transformative power of land banking at the local level, I’m eager to leverage that experience to champion the vital work of land banks statewide. Together with the MLBA, I am deeply committed to advancing equitable and sustainable community development initiatives that uplift every corner of our state.”
LCC Performing Arts Announces 2024-25 Theatre Season
LANSING, Mich. (August 6, 2024)
– Lansing Community College's Performing Arts has unveiled its exciting lineup for the 2024-25 theatre season, promising a diverse array of productions that cater to a wide audience. Here's a breakdown of what's in store:
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical by Rick Riordan, Book by Joe Tracz, Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki
Director: Kelly Stuible-Clark
October 18-27, 2024 - Dart Auditorium
When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he's a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus' missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods.
Cosplay by Blair Ingenthron
Director: Paige Tufford
November 8-16, 2024 - Black Box Theatre
Leslie meets Michael in "Zombie Apocalypse," an online role-playing game where the human race is under attack and anyone can be anyone with the ease of a single click. Their bond over a mutual enemy quickly turns into a game-playing partnership, but when a video game convention brings them face to face in real life, they find that fighting zombies is far less complicated than human connection.
Crime and Punishment
Adapted by Marilyn Campbell and Curt
The Annual Capital City
Dragon Boat Race 2024
Join us for the Annual Capital City Dragon Boat Race hosted by and benefitting the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing! This event takes place on September 15th, 2024 at Hawk Island Park Lansing, Michigan.
All proceeds from this event will support one of our community's greatest resources, our women, and is a major source of funding for our programs.
Besides contributing to our community and our cause, Dragon Boat events provide a unique and valuable team building opportunity for employees, friends, and family. Where else
will you get the chance to embark on a journey in a Chinese dragon boat while paddling in unison to the beat of an ancient drum? No experience is needed to compete.
Dragon boating in the U.S. originated from a research study by a breast cancer surgeon with women who are recovering from breast cancer building their upper body strength to help cope with the effects of surgery.
Today, the Women’s Center uses the event as a way to honor both breast cancer and domestic violence survivors
Teams from the Greater Lansing Area compete for the best
Columbus
From the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Director: Andy Callis
February 21 - March 1, 2025 - Black Box Theatre
This award-winning adaptation of Dostoyevsky's literary masterpiece
Crime and Punishment is told by three actors playing Raskolnikov (the murderer), Porfiry Petrovitch (the detective), Sonia (the young prostitute) and many other characters in this famous story. The play is a psychological landscape which creates a thrilling journey into the mind of a killer and his search for redemption.
Puffs Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School
of Magic and
Magic
by Matt Cox
Director: Blake Bowen
April 11-19, 2025 - Dart Auditorium
For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and
time, and racing goes all day long!
The event starts with the awakening of the dragons at 8:30 am. The medal rounds racing should begin around 10 am and end around 3:00 pm, followed with the medal ceremony. This community event is free for spectators. Between races be sure to visit the vendors and food trucks!
Visit www.LansingWomen. CCDBR for more information. Please call the Women’s Center at (517)372-9163 if you have any questions, or email Angie Wooster at Angie@LansingWomen.org
Paddles Up!
conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs... who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.
Puffs is not authorized, sanctioned, licensed or endorsed by J.K Rowling, Warner Bros. or any person or company associated with the Harry Potter books, films or play.
Capping off the regular season will be two additional shows including a production from an alumnus of LCC and a play written by a current LCC employee.
Excitingly, all performances will now begin at 7:00 p.m., an hour earlier than previous seasons, and all shows will be free admission, thanks to LCC's commitment to increasing accessibility to quality entertainment for the Lansing community.
For updates and audition information on the 2024-25 season, visit the LCC Performing Arts website.
MEDICAID MATTERS TO YOU
YOU MATTER TO US
As a busy parent, your time and money is limited. So when you or your kids need a doctor, access to quality health care shouldn’t be a luxury. We’re committed to ensuring that you receive the quality health care that’s right for you, and for your family. Our statewide network of locations, plus the convenience of online appointments, means we’re always close when you need us.
Summer Emergencies and How to Prepare
Iroom right now, would you be prepared? The truth is, emergencies can happen at any moment, anywhere. Car and bicycle accidents, heart attacks, and sports and other serious injuries are not planned events, but taking a little time to plan for the unexpected could take a lot of the stress out of the experience.
“Create a list of your health care providers, along with any medications you are taking and the dosage, and have that information accessible,” said Dr. Tressa Gardner, emergency department medical director at McLar-
en Greater Lansing. “These are simple things you can do to prepare for a possible emergency.”
For instance, if you are is on several different types of medications, it may be difficult to remember them all while experiencing an emergency — but this information is important for the emergency care team to know during treatment and triage. Taking pictures of medications or doctor cards and storing them on a phone may be one way to have this information readily on hand when in need.
Your odds of having an emergency are a little higher in the summer
months, according to the Pew Research Center. In fact, Pew reports that during the summer holidays, an average of 45,000 people visit hospital emergency rooms across the country.
“We see a lot of injuries from accidents, drownings, alcohol intoxication, and fireworks,” said Dr. Gardner. “And with the summer heat, heat strokes and dehydration are often common as well.”
Courtesy Photo-Dr. Tressa Gardner, Emergency Department Medical Director at McLaren Greater Lansing
The Daily 4 Red Ball Double Draw promotion runs for Monday - Saturday evening drawings only.
ENTERTAINMENT
How To Make Your Church More Welcoming to Guests
When you run a church, there are so many different challenges emerging every day that you must handle. For example, making your church welcoming to guests is one of your top priorities, but it’s not always the easiest thing to do. Creating a more welcoming atmosphere is a tricky juggling act, but it’s one of the most important things you can do for your church.
Greet Everyone with Open Arms
To create a warm and inclusive environment within your church, you must warmly embrace everyone, regardless of their background or origin. Take the time to genuinely engage with everyone, showing sincere interest in their lives and making them
feel truly valued and seen. This simple yet powerful gesture can have a profound impact, making someone feel at ease and encouraging them to return for future services. By embodying this practice of unconditional acceptance, your church can become a sanctuary where everyone feels embraced and cherished.
Optimize Acoustics welcoming to guests
Creating a welcoming atmosphere in a church encompasses various factors, and one of them is optimizing the acoustics. Prioritize the clarity and comfort of everyone’s hearing during worship or sermons. To achieve this, consider investing in state-of-the-art sound systems and high-quality microphones. This investment makes optimizing your
house of worship acoustics easy, and it’s well worth it. When you have proper acoustics, every individual can actively participate and engage in your service.
Create a Comfortable Seating Arrangement
Creating a comfortable seating arrangement is important to accommodate the diverse needs of individuals. You need
Ato consider various factors, such as families with small children or individuals with disabilities, to ensure inclusivity. By providing ample space for people to move around, you can enhance accessibility and prevent overcrowding of seats.
Follow Up With Guests
The act of following up with your guests after their visit is essential. It goes a long way
in making them feel valued, appreciated, and, most importantly, welcomed. You can accomplish this through a variety of means, such as a thoughtful phone call, a heartfelt email, or even a personalized handwritten note.
By taking the time to connect with your guests after their visit, you create an opportunity to address any lingering questions or concerns. This personal touch allows you to extend a warm invitation for them to return.
With the right care, effort, and planning, you can make your church even more welcoming to guests, ensuring that guests feel like you’re properly embracing and including them. Remember, it’s the small gestures that can make a significant impact on someone’s experience at your church.
Church Safety and Security Conference will be held on Saturday, August 10th 8 a.m. - 12 noon (in person) at Union Missionary Baptist Church located at 500 S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Lansing, Michigan 48915. REGISTER TODAY and receive a 10% Discount on Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ protecting-the-flock-church-safety-and-security-seminar-tick -
ets-851189269017?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Featured Presenter: Ret. Off. Jimmy Meeks is a 35-year retired Texas police officer and has been a minister for over 50 years. He has conducted almost 500 safety seminars at churches across the United States. Jimmy played a major role in the production of the award-winning documentary Faith Under Fire.
Ways To Improve Your Salon’s Customer Service
As a salon owner, ensuring top-notch customer service is essential for the growth and success of your business. Excellent customer service can turn first-time clients into loyal clientele, improve your online ratings, and establish your salon as a local favorite. Utilize these ways to enhance your salon’s customer service so that you can provide a standout experience for your clients and ultimately boost business.
Employ Personalized Consultations
Each visit should begin with a personalized consultation. This initial chat allows you to understand your client’s preferences, discuss their desired outcome, and identify any areas of concern. For example, during this session, it’s vital for professionals offering eyebrow services to recommend the right eyebrows for different face shapes.
The personalized consultation should include the following steps:
Taking the client’s hair type and maintenance preferences into consideration
Providing tailored recommendations
Thoroughly discussing possible treatments and outcomes
Ensuring the client feels heard throughout the consultation
Implement Client-Centric Staff Training
Programs
Your staff plays a significant role in creating a memorable customer service experience. Invest time and resources in training programs that focus on your clients’ needs to guarantee a high level of customer service.
These programs should include the following.
Educating hairstylists on current trends, products, and styling techniques to keep them up-to-date and knowledgeable
Training stylists in effective communication skills, listening techniques, and problem-solving strategies to better understand clients and address their concerns
Encouraging staff to build personal connections with clients by remembering names, preferences, and past discussions
Monitoring staff performance and offering continuous support, guidance, and feedback to improve
3 Simple Event Planning Productivity Tips
Event planning is an art, combining creativity with a high degree of organization and time management. The challenge, however, lies in managing the myriad of tasks efficiently to create memorable experiences.
This guide will help you harness your full potential by adopting productivity techniques that work. Enhance your workflow using our simple event planning productivity tips.
Ensure Effective Delegation for Best Event Planning
No event planner is an island. Delegating tasks to team members lightens your workload and empowers your team. Ensure you communicate expectations clearly and trust your team to deliver.
Facing a mountain of tasks can be daunting, but breaking them down into smaller, actionable steps can transform the way you approach event planning.
Focus on what tasks have deadlines today, this week, and this month to stay on track. This approach simplifies complex projects and provides a clear roadmap and achievable goals for you and your team, making the entire planning process more manageable and less overwhelming.
Prioritize Tasks Wisely
Effective delegation is key, but knowing what to prioritize before the big day is one of the most useful event planning productivity tips. Identify and prioritize tasks based on their impact on the event and urgency. This ensures you focus your energy where you most need to, preventing last-minute rushes. The key to effective delegation lies in recognizing the strengths and capabilities of your team members and assigning tasks accordingly. Establish a clear understanding of each task's requirements and the desired outcome.
their customer service skills
Create a Comfortable and Inviting Environment
The ambiance in your salon plays a crucial role in providing top-notch customer service. A pleasant atmosphere combined with thoughtful amenities can enhance the overall experience, making clients feel relaxed and happy. Take the following actions to improve the client experience.
Ensure the salon is clean, organized, and well-maintained
Choose appropriate music, lighting, and décor to create an inviting and soothing ambiance
Provide comfortable seating and ample space for clients while they wait
Offer complimentary refreshments, magazines, or even Wi-Fi to make waiting more enjoyable
Acknowledge clients and greet them warmly upon arrival, making them feel valued and appreciated By applying these ways to improve your salon’s customer service, you can enhance customer satisfaction, drive loyalty, and ultimately grow your business. Remember that providing exceptional customer service means engaging and nurturing relationships with your clients. Take the time to invest in personalization, staff training, and creating a warm environment—it will pay off in the end.
When delegating, be specific about expectations and deadlines and provide all the necessary information to complete the task successfully. Consistently check on your team’s progress to help keep everyone on track and address any issues promptly.
That said, avoid micromanaging because it can stifle creativity and motiva-
tion. Effective delegation not only helps distribute the workload but also fosters a sense of trust and team cohesion.
LIFESTYLE
"Empower Your Mind and Body: The Impact of Mental Wellness in Fitness with Christine Curtice"
BY YANICE Y. JACKSON
Meet Christine Curtice. She is a fitness coach who desires to help people with their mental health, believing that the way one moves their body determines how it performs. Her studio was created to help people have an amazing and empowering experience with fitness.
About BeYou Fitness:
Christine didn't start working out just for physical fitness. She wanted to promote a lifestyle that combats depression and improves one's mood. She stresses how exercise is a creative outlet and a way to be balanced. In addition, she shares how exercise helps one to be at peace, promoting movement therapy. Also, she shares how movement helps one to be present, eliminate distractions, and is a healthy alternative to overindulgence to cope.
Christine says "What we consume is directly correlated
Christine has been a personal trainer for 12 years and opened up BeYou Fitness in 2019. She started BeYou Fitness to allow everyone, from any background, to experience fitness in a genuine and fun way. She started this endeavor to support mental wellness and help others develop a better relationship with themselves and their bodies. She also would like others to realize their bodies are beautiful, and how our mental state works better once we develop our bodies. Just like a muscle, our minds need that extra rep to keep molding and developing as we age to help dismantle limiting beliefs about ourselves.
to how we look, move, and feel. I work to educate and inspire others by meeting people where they are." In addition, she stresses the importance of awareness of food intake since food makes up our body chemistry. This seems to go hand and hand with the saying "We are what we eat." She wants people to know it's possible to get out of bed in the morning without aches. She wants to help people get the energy back that they had in their 20s.
BeYou Fitness is all about being yourself and enjoying all the wonderful benefits of fitness training while setting personal goals and having fun. Whether it's you versus you or a semi-private small group class, BeYou Fitness is here for the enjoyment of developing oneself in the gym and outside in the world.
with disabilities. Every student deserves an educational environment that accommodates and supports their needs.
• Career and Technical Education: Strengthen vocational training and career-oriented programs that provide pathways to good-paying jobs without needing a four-year college degree. This includes partnerships with local businesses and industries to align educational programs with the job market needs.
2. Economic Growth
I aim to foster an environment that nurtures innovation and attracts high-quality jobs to our state. This involves not only supporting established industries and embracing new technologies and startups. By improving infrastructure, reducing bureaucratic hurdles for small businesses, and investing in workforce development, we can ensure that Michigan remains competitive and prosperous. A robust economy is vital for the
well-being of all Michiganders. My plan to stimulate economic growth focuses on making Michigan a hub for innovation and a great place to do business:
• Small Business Support: Simplify regulations and provide tax incentives for small businesses and startups. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and supporting them creates jobs and drives innovation.
• Infrastructure Development: Invest in infrastructure improvements, including roads, bridges, public transit, and digital infrastructure like broadband access. This creates jobs, improves the quality of life, and attracts businesses to Michigan.
• Workforce Development: Enhance workforce development programs to align with the needs of modern industries. This includes expanding apprenticeship and training programs in high-demand fields like technology, healthcare, and renewable energy.
• Economic Diversification: Encourage economic diversification to re -
duce dependence on any single industry. This includes supporting emerging sectors such as clean energy, biotechnology, and information technology.
Environmental Sustainability: Michigan’s natural resources are among our greatest assets. Protecting these resources while promoting sustainable development is crucial. I advocate for policies that balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, ensuring we preserve Michigan’s beauty and resources for future generations.
3. Environmental Sustainability
Protecting Michigan’s natural resources while promoting sustainable development is critical for our longterm prosperity:
• Clean Energy: Support the transition to clean energy sources through incentives for solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects. This not only helps the environment but also creates jobs in new industries.
• Conservation Programs: Enhance conservation programs protecting our lakes, forests, and wildlife. This includes support for sustainable farming and forestry practices that contribute to environmental health.
• Water Quality: Prioritize policies to protect Michigan’s water bodies, including the Great Lakes. This involves infrastructure investments to prevent water pollution and ensure safe drinking water for all communities.
• Public Transit and Green Infrastructure: Promote the development of public transit options and green infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions and enhance urban environments.
I am running because I believe in our community’s potential, and I am committed to making a difference through service, integrity, and leadership. By focusing on these issues of concern to the people of the 77th State House District, your voices will be heard!
Courtesy Photo-Fitness Trainer Christine Curtice of BeYou Fitness
