517 Magazine August 2021 Issue

PARTNERSHIP PUSHES LAWMAKERS ON CHILD CARE REFORM Chamber, businesses press for use of federal stimulus dollars to help boost the workforce

B U S I N E S S

A N D

L I F E

THE YEAR OF CHANGE AND CHALLENGE

Educators reflect on teaching during the pandemic

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROMAREA BUSINESSES

Learning Flexibility

EMPLOYERS SEE PROS, CONS OF POST-PANDEMIC EMPLOYEE EXPECTATIONS

August 2021

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publisher’s note

A

Return the Respect Teachers Deserve

s the shadow of a new school year begins to encroach on the sunshine of summer vacation, many residents are finding themselves humming the same refrain they were singing in August 2020: What will the school year look like in the fall?

With COVID-19 vaccinations recommended for anyone 12 and up, most schools will return to full-time, in-person instruction — yet what that may look like could vary greatly from district to district. Understandably, there is a certain amount of tentativeness as all the “what-if” scenarios are played out. However, the ultimate goal that remains constant is to provide students with a much more stable and normal educational environment than they were afforded last school year.

All of the hand-wringing, of course, is primarily being done by adults. It’s what we do as parents: We worry, we sometimes overthink, and we often forget how incredibly adaptable and carefree kids can be. Still, the back and forth of the past year has been hard on students and parents — and perhaps especially on our educators.

In May 2020, teachers were being hailed as heroes and finally getting the overdue appreciation they deserved for their flexibility and dedication under difficult circumstances. Yet by May 2021, it was disappointing to see those sentiments become muddled as rising frustrations seemed to coincide with an increase in teacher blaming and bashing on social platforms.

It’s rare to come across a teacher who isn’t personally, emotionally and financially invested in his or her work. For most, it’s less a career and more of a calling. These are the people who are not only responsible for your child’s education, they are in many ways the protectors of kids’ physical and mental well-being for a significant portion of every student’s day.

Let’s restore the respect to our teachers this school year. They are the ones who are forging the trail for the next generations of the world’s thinkers and leaders.

517 Business and Life, Volume 2, Issue 8, August 2021.

Publisher Tiffany Dowling tiffany@m3group.biz

517 Business and Life (USPS#020-807) is published monthly by M3 Group at 221 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, Mi 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan.

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Creative Visionary Chad Hussle chad@m3group.biz Lead Editor Christopher Nagy Contributors Rich Adams Teece Aronin Metro Melik Brown Susan Combs Kyle Dowling Mary Gajda Heather Goupil Erin Hagen Julie Chrisinske Christopher Nagy Shelby Smith Omar Sofradzija Jack Tany Graphic Designers Kathryn Aspin Audrey Spring Client Strategists Megan Fleming megan@m3group.biz Liz Reno-Hayes liz@m3group.biz Melissa DeMott melissa@m3group.biz John Tripolsky john@m3group.biz

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contents

8/21

13 Learning Flexibility

Employers see pros, cons of post-pandemic employee expectations

39 The Year of Change and Challenge

Educators reflect on teaching during the pandemic

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contents

lifestyle

business 11

AREA SNAPSHOT

30

PLACES

17

TRENDS

32

FAMILY CORNER

18

NOTABLE NEWS

34

STYLE

21

BIZ TIPS

36

FOOD

22

STATE/NATIONAL

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NONPROFIT

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ON THE RECORD

25

PERSPECTIVES

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PLAY

A Snapshot of Local Business News Affecting the 517 Learning to Lead Professional Highlights from the 517 Region Flexibility at the Forefront A Brief Look at State and National News Affecting our Region A New Day for Grand Ledge Addressing School Faculty Shortages

A Journey to Jackson College Small school boasts a big reputation Reading Readiness for Little Ones School Style Celebrate in-person learning in your fashion choices Best of the 517 Health food A Safe Harbor Haven House provides emergency shelter, support for families Visit 517living.com for More Lansing-Area Activities

DEPARTMENTS

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WRAP UP

NEED TA L E N T M A N AG E M E N T STRATEGIES?

CONNECTING WITH BUSINESS. STRENGTHENING OUR WORKFORCE. camw.org

1-800-285-WORK

Capital Area Michigan Works! is a proud partner of the American Job Center network. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this piece will be made available in an alternative format upon request to Capital Area Michigan Works! Relay Center. Call 711 or 844-578-6563 (Voice and TDD). Funding for Capital Area Michigan Works! is received in part from the U.S. Department of Labor and the State of Michigan. An Equal Opportunity Employer/Center.

business

AREA SNAPSHOT p.11 TRENDS p.17 NOTABLE NEWS p.18 BIZ TIPS p.21 STATE/NATIONAL p.22 ON THE RECORD p.24 PERSPECTIVES p.25

MICHIGAN RECONNECT PROGRAM Lansing Community College offers more than 200 associate degree and certificate programs. If for whatever reason you’ve fallen away from your education or just want to achieve a higher ground within your current workplace, there is no better time than now to reconnect with your educational goals. In fact, with programs like the Michigan Reconnect Program at LCC, advancing your career has never been easier. The program provides tuition assistance for Michigan residents over 25 to return to school. There are some qualifications and restrictions. Learn more at lcc. edu/ admissions-financial-aid/finaid/scholarships/mireconnect.html.

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business / AREA SNAPSHOT

A snapshot of local business news affecting the 517 LANSING CHAMBER URGES GOVERNOR, LAWMAKERS TO INVEST IN CHILD CARE REFORM

BY RICH ADAMS

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce has joined forces with business organizations across the state pressing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan lawmakers to invest federal stimulus dollars to support child care reforms.

The large number of women who have left the workforce cannot find the care they need or can afford. The resulting loss of talent in the workforce is having a huge impact on employers and the economy, and the Lansing chamber said the state must ensure investments in child care to help children, providers, families and businesses thrive.

“Child care has emerged as a leading concern for our members,” said Michelle Rahl, the chamber’s vice president of member engagement. “Child care concerns are one of the top reasons cited by workers who haven’t been able to come back or are leaving the workforce. The impact is being felt mostly by women and particularly by communities of color. The impact on the workforce cannot be overstated.”

To that end, Whitmer recently announced she is proposing a $1.4 billion investment in federal child care funding to expand access to high-quality child care, make child care more

affordable and support child care professionals as part of the administration’s Economic Jumpstart Plan.

“All families deserve access to quality child care that meets their needs, and the investments I’ve announced … will make child care more attainable and affordable for Michigan families,” Whitmer said. “My plan will support Michigan child care businesses and honor child care professionals by providing more financial support and security to providers. I’ve pledged my support for early educators, and this approach will deliver that support.”

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business / AREA SNAPSHOT HOLT EDUCATOR NAMED MICHIGAN’S TEACHER OF THE YEAR

BUSINESSES STRUGGLE TO FIND WORKERS

BY CHRISTOPHER NAGY

BY RICH ADAMS

Some local students will have the privilege of learning from the best of the best when they return to the classroom this year.

Leah Porter, a kindergarten teacher at Wilcox Elementary School in Holt Public Schools, was named as the 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Department of Education. Porter was informed of the distinction via a virtual meeting in May. “Thank you, Ms. Porter, for creating a space for students to, in your own words, have the freedom to be themselves and be celebrated for all that they are,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Porter’s selection as the Michigan Teacher of the Year comes after a months-long, multi-level process that started with the nomination of more than 275 teachers. Porter was named one of the state’s 10 Regional Teachers of the Year in April. Each regional teacher then interviewed with a panel of statewide education stakeholders.

“In my greatest dreams, I see an educational system that allows each child the freedom to be themselves, to have security and trust in their learning spaces, and to be celebrated for all that they are,” Porter wrote in her application.

Porter will be a part of the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Committee as well as serve as a non-voting member of the State Board of Education and a member of the Governor’s Educator Advisory Council.

Porter is also the state’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year.

“The Michigan Teacher of the Year is an important advocate and ally for teachers and students. We appreciate and will benefit from Ms. Porter and her experiences as we work to improve Michigan public education,” said State Superintendent Michael Rice.

Help-wanted signs can be seen all over the Greater Lansing area, but many openings are going unfilled.

There are a number of factors why people are staying home without jobs in the post-pandemic setting, such as the disruption of the child care industry and children staying home for virtual education. Yet perhaps the most often mentioned factor is the pandemic bonus money attached to unemployment benefits. At one point that was $600 a week.

Why take a job when unemployment pays better? Kathy Valentine, owner of The Plant Professionals in Lansing, thinks that’s the case.

“There are people who felt this was the time to protect themselves rather than work for low wages when they can make significantly more on unemployment,” Valentine said. “I can’t blame a person for choosing to put their own family first. If I made $10 an hour working or $16 per hour on unemployment, I would be crazy to go back to work.”

One segment of the labor market that returned to work as soon as allowed was manufacturing, according to Cindy Kangas, executive director of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council.

“Many of them took little, if any, time off during the pandemic.

They were all deemed essential,” Kangas said. “The need for manufacturing has been growing, so many of our members are expanding and have continued to look for employees.”

Disruptions in the supply line also hinder manufacturers. Local factories are helping ease that gap, but they face another barrier.

“There are so many amazing manufacturers right here in our backyard shipping their products globally, so there is an additional challenge with transportation,” Kangas noted.

The pandemic presented many businesses with a blunt and painful decision: adapt or perish. However,

BY TEECE ARONIN some of the changes organizations implemented proved to be beneficial to the business and sometimes the wider community.

The Okemos-based MUNRO Enterprises LLC, which specializes in helping companies work with the federal government, found that doing business as unusual could still produce a positive impact to those in need.

“As the pandemic gained a foothold in the U.S., one of my business partners and I were working on a D.C.-based project,” said CEO Julia Munro. “The government made the decision to put everything on hold, and the drive home to Michigan was eerie with few cars on the road. You could stop for gas and pay at the pump, but you weren’t allowed in the store.

“We prepared for the worst, but the government must endure, and some work resumed on a virtual basis,” she continued. “In a short time,

we were very busy and doing what we could to support other businesses by ordering lots of takeout meals. We also implemented a new policy: a commitment to make monthly donations to two Michigan-based food banks. To date, we have helped provide more than 50,000 meals.”

Karina MacIntosh, owner of The Classy Canine Professional Dog Grooming Salon in East Lansing, reopened with updated protocols after a temporary coronavirus shutdown.

“We began checking dogs in and out curbside, and the lack of distractions from people coming in and out helped the dogs stay focused on the grooming,” she said. “Before, they could see the people through the window and would get excited, even if it wasn’t their family. When you work with sharp objects such as scissors and clippers, the less excitement, the better.”

MacIntosh and her staff started seeing fewer missed appointments and began scheduling the dogs’ pickups, reducing the numbers of pups left waiting at the salon all day after their haircuts.

When asked if she will change back any of the revised policies as COVID-19 abates, MacIntosh said, “As of now, we don’t plan to change anything. When fall arrives and the weather changes, we may reopen our lobby.”

TWO LOCAL BUSINESSES EVOLVE DURING THE PANDEMIC

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F E A T U R E

Learning Flexibility EMPLOYERS SEE PROS, CONS OF POST-PANDEMIC EMPLOYEE EXPECTATIONS

BY OMAR SOFRADZIJA PHOTOS BY MARY GAJDA AND MARK WARNER

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F E A T U R E

CHANGING TIMES:

DEAN TRANSPORTATION VICE PRESIDENT PATRICK DEAN SAID HIS COMPANY HAS ADAPTED HIRING PRACTICES TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE GIG ECONOMY.

S

o much workplace change has been prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Remote work and video job interviews, once odd, now seem more routine. Many people discovered Zoom and Slack, and they made both part of their daily work routine.

Along the way, employers involved in seasonal or odd-hours work began asking themselves whether another change was sped up by the pandemic as well: In a gig-worker world, is job flexibility the new normal?

“I think flexibility is (the new norm), and as an employer I think that can be challenging,” said Patrick Dean, vice president of Lansing-based Dean Transportation, which oversees bus operations for school districts in Lansing, East Lansing, Grand Rapids and other communities throughout Michigan.

“We’re balancing our customer needs and expectations with a workforce that wants that flexibility, so that’s where I call it adaptability as an employer, as we sit between those two forces,” said Dean.

It’s a particular challenge coming off a school year where many districts taught remotely, drastically reducing the need for and role of school bus providers like Dean Transportation.

For the 2021-2022 school year, Dean said he expects to employ the company’s typical level of 2,200 workers. After a

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disruptive year, the latest hiring cycle began a bit sluggishly, but picked up around mid-summer amid heightened advertising for drivers and great investments in training and recruiting.

In the past, a number of bus drivers and monitors were retirees looking for a meaningful time-filler. While there still are plenty of people who fit that description, increasingly they’ve been joined by a growing number of younger gig workers blending school shuttles with other parttime and full-time work.

“We’re seeing more younger people interested in being a school bus driver for that flexibility,” Dean said. “Maybe I’m working on a graduate degree, and I can pick up a shift as a bus driver and

supplement my education and get some funds for college and living expenses. We’ve definitely seen that accelerate as an option for folks, as everybody has adapted to remote work and different types of opportunities.”

For example, a full-time driver assigned to morning and afternoon bus routes may use the midday gap to do grocery or food delivery gig work, Dean said.

“We as an employer are looking more than ever for folks that want flexibility in their schedules — maybe working an afternoon or working a morning or only working Tuesday and Thursday to fit their needs,” Dean said. “We’re adapting our hiring practices to fit the proverbial gig economy, where people can do multiple different things throughout their

"I think flexibility is the new norm.” ~ PATRICK DEAN

A BALANCING ACT:

CRAIG PHILLIPICH OF THE MERIDIAN CO. SAID MANY COMPANIES ARE SEEKING TO MEET CUSTOMER DEMANDS WITH A POST-PANDEMIC WORKFORCE THAT IS PLACING A GREATER EMPHASIS ON FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY.

employment. They may have two or three different jobs that they do and pair them up with full-time employment, so we definitely adapted our business model practices to recruit those folks who want to help at certain times and want to fit into their personal lifestyle.”

But employee preferences for flexibility doesn’t fit every employer or its customers, and some enterprises are having to reconcile socially distanced workarounds spurred by the pandemic with more traditional work arrangements that better fit optimal business plans.

For the post-pandemic employee, “the reward isn’t the money anymore; it’s the freedom,” said Craig Phillipich, co-owner and partner of The Meridian

Co. of East Lansing, a home services contractor.

“Like a lot of companies, we were stretched to see what our true capabilities were with people working remotely, people working semi-remotely, the new virtual meetings. Everybody had that flexibility forced upon them,” said Phillipich. “Now, the challenge is trying to get people back into the pre-pandemic style of workforce. How much of that flexibility is still going to be necessary to attract and maintain — specifically attract — new people? … Are we in sort of a new norm, or are we going to go back to the way we used to be?”

For some industries, that flexibility proved that companies can be just as

successful with half of the staff or all the staff working remote, Phillipich noted.

“That’s a win. But not every industry is like that,” he added. “We have a mixed bag here at Meridian, with remote tradespeople, some remote office people. But there does have be a certain headcount at headquarters during the day. I notice some pushback when I try to pull in those flexibility reins somewhat and say, ‘Let’s get back to business as usual.’ A lot of employers are hearing, ‘Well, I’m actually more productive at home.’”

As fall approached, The Meridian Co. was actively recruiting for licensed, skilled tradespeople and entry-level customer service representatives. The company offered new incentives, such as accelerated eligibility for vacation time, to be able to match its labor force with burgeoning customer demand.

“My new customer is prospective employees,” Phillipich said.

Amid workplace changes and a new normal, one constant remains: the feeling of achievement that is uniquely generated by a workplace team having overcome adversity.

“I think there’s a sense of accomplishment that, as we come back to some normalcy post-pandemic, I see some of the camaraderie that our team feels they made it through this together,” Phillipich said.

Source: nasda.org/letters-comments-testimony/ rural-infrastructure-letter-to-president-biden 8.21 | 517

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business / TRENDS

LEARNING TO LEAD 6 Ways Continuing Education Brings Career Benefits Education is — and should be — a lifelong journey. Not only does the ceaseless quest for learning allow us to grow and become more fulfilled individuals, but it can also be a boost to your career. Perhaps the best part of continuing education on a professional level is it doesn’t have to be done in one large bite through a degree program. It can be performed in small doses through seminars or webinars, online courses, or onetime programs. Here’s a look at five benefits that can be gained through continuing education.

IT INCREASES HIRING, PROMOTION CHANCES When you’re being compared side-byside with another job applicant, having shown that you’ve taken the time to become more educated and informed about the job you are seeking helps you stand out in the crowd of applicants. Likewise, the same can be said when it comes to an internal promotion.

When your employer sees that you’ve spent the time and money investing in improving yourself, the employer will be more willing to invest in you.

IT HELPS WITH NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Continuing education opens doors to meet new people with similar interests and fields. As noted by the marketing automation firm SharpSpring, even if it is an online course, “there are often forums or groups you can join to network and work together on projects.

There’s also study groups, membership societies, special conferences and other opportunities to learn and network at the same time. …

Keeping connections is essential for careers and business today.”

IT IMPROVES YOUR MARKETABILITY Obtaining further education can increase your marketability in the job market. Your job marketability immediately improves with certain kinds of additional education because it qualifies you for more jobs that you would otherwise be unable to qualify for.

As industries change more and more rapidly, employers will also recognize that you are someone who stays on top of the current trends and advancing insights. Not only will that prove your value and marketability, but it also improves your image.

IT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR GOALS Continuing education can help you define your role in a business in an abstract way. As noted by the website referenceforbusiness. com, “Continuing education allows workers to clarify and understand the purpose and goals of their occupations. In addition, continuing education can help advance various occupations by giving employees the opportunity to acquire both theoretical and practical occupational knowledge and to improve their problem-solving skills. Continuing education also facilitates establishing and regulating occupational standards for some professions.”

IT CAN IMPROVE YOUR IMPACT IN YOUR CAREER Often, the concept of continuing education is primarily associated with fields of work that require an ongoing accreditation process to maintain a license, such as health care, law, engineering, education and accounting. But striving to maintain updates on leading concepts and advancements can benefit someone in any field by exposing you to new ideas and strategies that can be implemented in your workplace or industry as well as keeping you relevant in the global marketplace.

Sources: wgu.edu/blog/6-reasons-continuing-education-important1904.html, sharpspring.com/blog/7-benefits-of-continuing-education-throughoutyour-career/, educationcorner.com/benefits-of-continuing-education.html, referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Con-Cos/Continuing-Education. html, seattletimes.com/sponsored/4-benefits-of-continuing-education-that-are-often-overlooked/.

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business / NOTABLE NEWS

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 517 REGION

Farashin Silevany

Sparrow Physician Receives National Award A Sparrow physician who came to this country as a 16-year-old refugee speaking minimal English has received a national award for her selfless acts of kindness in the community — from delivering groceries to the homebound to various medical missions and working to bringing free care to those overseas.

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Farashin Silevany, is an internal medicine physician who works as a hospitalist at Sparrow Hospital. She has received the Vituity Culture of Caring Award, recognizing clinicians who go above and beyond to do what is right for the patient and their family.

Recipients are honored for keeping patients at the center of their work and going the extra mile to deliver compassionate care.

Vituity is a national leader in acute care management and oversees Sparrow’s hospitalists program.

For nearly 50 years, Vituity has been a catalyst for positive change in health care.

As a physician-led and physician-owned multispecialty partnership, Vituity’s 5,000 doctors and clinicians care for nearly 8 million patients each year across 450 practice locations and nine acute care specialties.

In announcing the award, Vituity Chief Operating Officer David Birdsall said, “While COVID prevented Farashin from traveling to support those in need, it hasn’t stopped her from helping those here at home. During the worst of the pandemic, she volunteered as a team leader with a local Muslim community center to deliver groceries to those who are homebound — the elderly, single mothers, people with mobility issues. To go from a 16-year-old immigrant from Iraq who didn’t speak English to a successful internal medicine physician who is able to give so

much back to her local and international community is inspiring.”

McLaren Greater Lansing Welcomes New Trustees McLaren Greater Lansing welcomed Victor Celentino and Andre Hutson as the newest members of its board of trustees.

Celentino is in his 11th term representing District 1 on the Ingham County Board of Commissioners and has been a special education teacher in the Lansing School District since 1992. Hutson is a former Michigan State University men’s basketball standout who is owner and founder of Conquest Fitness as well as Hutson Contracting. Both are eagerly anticipating the opening of the new McLaren hospital in March of next year.

Kirk Ray, McLaren Greater Lansing’s president and CEO, is excited to have Celentino and Hutson on the hospital board.

“I am confident their passion for the midMichigan community and dedication to service will enhance our board’s effectiveness,” he said. “We would like our board to reflect the makeup of Lansing and the surrounding area, and Victor and Andre bring different life experiences to their positions.”

Peak Performance Celebrates 10 Years Peak Performance Physical Therapy is

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celebrating 10 years of service to the midMichigan area. The business was founded June 6, 2011, by Jill Marlan.

“I am very excited and humbled to have the opportunity to celebrate such a momentous milestone,” Marlan said. “It is such an honor to be able to serve multiple communities that span across mid-Michigan. The strength and determination of our team and the community relationships we have developed have been such an inspiration to me over the past 10 years. We are very excited for what the future holds.”

Jack M. Miceli

Miceli Joins Edward Jones as Financial Adviser The financial services firm Edward Jones has hired Jack M. Miceli as a new financial adviser for the Holt branch at 4625 Willoughby Road.

“I joined this firm because I was impressed with its commitment to individual

investors,” Miceli said. “Now I’m looking forward to meeting with the individuals here to help them meet their financial goals.”

Miceli has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry.

M3 Group Welcomes New Team Members M3 Group, a full-service marketing and branding firm based in Lansing, welcomed two new members to its creative team. Jill Davy was hired as the company’s senior digital strategist and Penny Davis was named as a senior content strategist.

Davy brings more than 15 years of broad marketing experience in both the business-toconsumer and business-to-business worlds, with a specialty in analytics, email marketing, customer relationship management and strategic initiatives as well as a keen ability to send the right message to the right audience at the right time. She enjoys spreadsheets, a good RACI matrix, finding needles in haystacks, drinking coffee and eating dessert first.

Davis brings more than 20 years of experience in purpose-driven communications to M3 Group. She specializes in advocacy and executive communications efforts and excels in strategic communication planning.

Christman Creates Building Innovation Group The Christman Co., a national construction and real estate development firm based in Lansing, announced the creation of the Christman Building Innovation Group to initiate, champion and drive innovation and excellence across its self-perform services. In addition to its 485 construction management and general contracting professionals, Christman currently employs 400 skilled tradespeople in carpentry, millwork, demolition, concrete, mass timber, earthwork, interiors and more.

“The goal is to provide greater efficiency and building innovation options, ultimately creating a center of excellence at Christman which spans all regional offices,” said Christman President and CEO Steve Roznowski. “This transition connects our craftsmen and women to build on regional successes and lessons learned across Michigan, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.”

The Christman Building Innovation Group is led by Christman executive Douglas J. Peters, who will be assisted by a team that includes three Lansing-based members: Jim Like, president of Christman Constructors; Joe Leone, vice president of the Christman Building Innovation Group; and Tyler Mance, vice president of Christman Constructors Interiors Group.

Cinnaire Names Board Members Cinnaire announced three new members have joined the organization’s board of directors.

The new board members will provide strategic direction supporting continued growth around Cinnaire’s belief that all people deserve the opportunities to live in healthy communities.

The new board members include Quinetta Roberson, professor of management and psychology at Michigan State University; Anne McCulloch, president and CEO of the Housing Partnership Equity Trust; and Jeffrey Benson, president and CEO of CASE Credit Union.

“We have worked diligently to ensure Cinnaire’s board includes leaders in the public, business and nonprofit sectors that bring a broad base of knowledge, experience and diversity to the table, and our new board members are no exception,” said Mark McDaniel, Cinnaire president and CEO. “Each of them brings a unique background and set of expertise to Cinnaire, and we

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517M

Wildern, a Lansing native, began practicing at Sparrow Potterville after completing her studies at Spring Arbor University following her undergraduate work at Lansing Community College and Ohio University.

Elise Wildern

look forward to working together to advance equitable communities in 2021 and beyond.”

Sparrow Potterville Adds Nurse Practitioner Sparrow Eaton Hospital welcomed nurse practitioner Elise Wildern to the Sparrow Medical Group Potterville office, adding to the patient care provided by Dr. Todd Otten and nurse practitioners Devon Kruger and Elizabeth McDowell.

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As a resident of Eaton County for the past eight years, Wildern is grateful to work in the community she’s grown to love. Sparrow Potterville is located at 133 Lansing Road in Potterville.

“Elise brings great ambition and optimism to the practice,” said Otten. “I am excited to round out our SMG Potterville team with her talents and really work with all of our APPs to continue providing excellent, solution-oriented care to our patients.”

Keller Williams Lansing Opens New Location Keller Williams has expanded its network to west Lansing with the opening of Keller Williams West at 6452 Millennium Drive in Lansing. This new location will be in addition to the Keller Williams Lansing office at 3490 Belle Chase Way. The newest Keller Williams market center will be led by Kim Dunham, operating principal/broker, and Deborah Henry, CEO and team leader of Keller Williams Lansing.

With the opening of the Keller Williams West location, Keller Williams will be able to serve the Delta Township and west Lansing area and surrounding communities more efficiently while providing agents a secondary location from which to serve their buyers and sellers.

“We are proud of the way we do business as well as our 170-plus professional agents, and we hope the residents of Delta Township and surrounding areas will think of us when they think of their real estate needs,” said Dunham.

Origami Celebrates New Location Origami Rehabilitation celebrated the opening of its new Lansing satellite location, Origami West, with a ribboncutting July 20. The new facility, which features a state-of-the-art therapy gym, driver rehabilitation vehicles, and a designated pediatrics space equipped with a rock wall, is located at 137 S. Marketplace Blvd. in Lansing.

business / BIZ TIPS

FLEXIBILITY AT THE FOREFRONT Ask workers how they feel about returning to the office

BY SUSAN COMBS

This summer I’ve been canvassing clients on their organizations’ return-to-work timeline and structure. All structures are in play depending on the company, its culture and its client base. There are those that will continue to offer the flexibility of remote work and those that will ask staff to gradually return to in-person work one or two days a week or most days.

A Fast Company article this summer relayed the results of a survey of 4,553 office workers in five countries. It found every single person reported feeling anxious about the idea of returning to in-person work. The top causes of that stress included being exposed to COVID-19, the loss of work flexibility, the

added commute, having to wear a mask in the office and a need for child care.

What was a bit shocking in the article is that 56% of the respondents in the study reported that their organization hadn’t asked for their opinions about return-to-work policies and procedures.

What a missed opportunity to ask good coaching questions. For example, “What concerns do you have about returning to in-person work? What excites you about coming back into the office?

How important is flexibility to you?”

In another article on Fortune.com, behavioral scientist and author Gleb Tsipursky found some leaders have different mental blind spots around work-from-home options for their staff. Some leaders show “status quo bias,”

wanting things to go back to the way they were before the pandemic. But the forced work-fromhome of the last year and a half shows that other options are now available and the status quo can change.

Other leaders cling to an “anchoring bias,” which is tied to our initial work experiences.

We may have all started our careers going into the office five days a week, but times have changed and employees want to keep the flexibility of this past year. This point in time offers organizations an opportunity to shed the biases and reinvent. So, to the bosses everywhere, ask your employees what they want, really listen to what they are telling you and create accordingly.

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business / STATE/NATIONAL

A BRIEF LOOK AT STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS AFFECTING OUR REGION

STATE SEES HOPE IN ECONOMIC REBOUND EFFORTS

BY TEECE ARONIN

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While there are concerns that Michigan’s economy will be indefinitely impacted by COVID-19 via online sales that dig into brick-and-mortar store revenue, vacancies in office buildings due to work-from-home arrangements and other related forces, the state is seeing bright spots in Michigan’s rebound.

In mid-June, Fitch Ratings improved Michigan’s general obligation bonds AA credit rating from a “stable outlook” to a “positive outlook” after the state announced new revenue projections rising from a $3 billion deficit to a $3.5 billion surplus.

“Our early, decisive efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic are paying dividends as we emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever, poised for an economic jumpstart,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“With billions in federal stimulus and a $3.5 billion state budget surplus, we must continue our forward momentum and channel it into raising wages, invest in small businesses and uplift families. I look forward to engaging the Legislature, local communities and Michiganders as we continue thinking through the

best ways to turbocharge our economy and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

In the spring, state Treasurer Rachael Eubanks noted federal stimulus programs were producing a boost to the state’s future economic outlook and revenue picture.

“Public health and the economy go together — the better the health situation, the better the economy,” she said. “As our vaccination rate continues to rise and our cases continue to fall, we are moving closer to normalcy.

There is a great sense of optimism as we move forward this year.”

The state unveiled its Michigan Economic Jumpstart Plan in June, which allocates a portion of federal relief funding to support and invest in working people and small businesses, increases incentives to boost wages to attract applicants, provides grants to small businesses to ramp up hiring, and expands access to child care.

“The governor’s plan will jumpstart the economy by providing the support that small businesses need to recover and grow and by helping parents find the child care they need to get back to work,” Eubanks said.

GM HOPES TO PUT SEMICONDUCTOR SHORTAGE IN ITS REARVIEW MIRROR SOON

BY JACK TANY

The microchip shortage that caused automakers across the board to pull to the side of the road is something General Motors is hoping to put in its rearview mirror — someday soon. When the pandemic spread in spring 2020, carmakers were forced to temporarily shut down production lines.

Anticipating a market slowdown that would last months, they canceled orders for semiconductors — also known as microchips — that are used in vehicle electronics systems like driver assistance and navigation control. At the same time, microchip manufacturers overseas also halted production due to pandemic restrictions. As businesses began to come back online, the supply of microchips was unable to keep up with the demand, and the issue remains complex.

In late July, the Lansing Delta Assembly plant was temporarily shut down again due to a lack of microchips. The Grand River plant

was still open as of this writing.“GM continues to leverage every available semiconductor to build and ship its most popular and in-demand products, including full-size trucks and SUVs for our customers,” explained Erin Davis, GM communications manager.

“We have said that when there is a shortage of semiconductors that impacts production, in some cases we intend to build vehicles without certain modules and will complete them as soon as possible,” Davis said. “It’s better for our customers, dealers and employees at the plant as opposed to not building the vehicles at all. Importantly, it will help us quickly meet the strong customer demand for our products as more semiconductors become available and we are able to complete the vehicles at the assembly plants and ship to dealers.”

FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES FORECASTED FOR 2040

BY JACK TANY

If you had hopes of getting behind the wheel of a fully autonomous vehicle anytime soon, start pumping the brakes.

That’s according to Scott McCormick, president of Connected Vehicle Trade Association, a nonprofit business league established to facilitate the interaction and advance the interests of the entities involved in the vehicle communication environment.

“Many have written about (the timetable), and for the most part it has just contributed to the media hype that inflates expectations and confuses people thinking there are actually AVs out there they could buy or rent or that it’s just around the corner,” noted McCormick. “It isn’t. To obtain a fully autonomous Level 5 vehicle that can drive on all roads, in any weather and any level of traffic, might be achievable by about 2040.

He explained that currently the most advanced self-driving systems can only operate on about 20% of the nation’s roads and can only do so in clear weather and with light-to-moderate traffic. A large part of the reason is that the cameras used to detect the road edge look for the lines painted there, and the majority of roads don’t have them. The cameras don’t view the lines well, if at all, at night, and certainly not well enough in fog, rain or snow.

“When you and I drive, we make all kinds of conscious and unconscious decisions about other drivers,” said McCormick. “We see someone not using turn signals or texting and adjust our driving to accommodate. Machine intelligence only looks if the object is moving or stationary and what its trajectory and speed is.”

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business / ON THE RECORD

A NEW DAY FOR GRAND LEDGE MARCUS DAVENPORT TAKES THE HELM AS SUPERINTENDENT Starting a new job is a daunting prospect even in the best of circumstances as you acclimate to new faces, new procedures and new expectations; however, Marcus Davenport is stepping into a situation that has gone through a tempest of controversy and concern over the past year.

Davenport was selected in the spring to serve as the new superintendent of Grand Ledge Public Schools. The school district is entering the 2021-2022 school year following a string of issues that included the firing of the previous superintendent over social media comments regarding George Floyd, allegations of racism in the district from students and community members, and raucous school board meetings over the issue of critical race theory.

Despite those challenges, Davenport said his first priority as superintendent is to become a student of the district by listening and learning to its stakeholders.

“My professional theory is that you cannot appropriately change a system you do not fully understand,” he said. “I must spend a tremendous amount of time listening to parents, communicating with our educators, meeting with building leaders and interacting with the community.”

Davenport’s hiring comes as a beacon of hope for many in the district who are anxious for an experienced and empathetic leader with a history of creating positive change in schools. His past tenure includes serving as an elementary and middle school teacher, principal, and superintendent in districts across Michigan and Georgia.

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NEW YEAR, NEW LEADER: MARCUS DAVENPORT IS STARTING HIS FIRST SCHOOL YEAR AS SUPERINTENDENT OF GRAND LEDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BY SHELBY SMITH

That experience lends him an understanding to the importance of patience when entering a new dynamic.

“While doing a great deal of research on the community and the school system, I became more and more intrigued by the documented challenges and the sincere desires of many in the community to find solutions to the challenges,” Davenport said.

Davenport doesn’t presume to have all the answers as to what is right for the district moving forward, but he is dedicated to finding them.

“Every decision will be made after the proper research, fact checking and practical judgements for the best solutions to meet the needs of our students, parents, educators and greater community,” he said. “I am confident that I will work directly with our parents, educators, community members and school board to create solutions to the documented challenges that exist.”

In keeping with his listen-first philosophy, Davenport mentioned his desire to “have the supported ability to retain, recruit and hire the most talented individuals possible to meet the standards of our students.”

The district admittedly been traversing tumultuous times, yet Davenport is confident that the district can deftly navigate the choppy waters for the sake of the students.

“We all are determined to continue the strong legacy that has been established in Grand Ledge Public Schools and create an enhanced chapter of high academic achievement and maximum safety for all students in 2021-2022 and beyond,” he said.

business / PERSPECTIVES PERSPECTIVE

ADDRESSING SCHOOL FACULTY SHORTAGES A Q&A WITH GREG SIESZPUTOWSKI, DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTIVE SEARCH SERVICES FOR THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS

BY MARY GAJDA

Q& A

There is a growing crisis in that we have a very real shortage in school staff, from superintendents to teachers and beyond. Why is that?

There are a lot of people in the profession who can retire, and the work is more demanding than it has ever been. Superintendents work 60-80 hours a week under constant scrutiny and are being asked to lead through unprecedented situations. For teachers, the intense amount of required documentation, the extensive preparation work and planning for every individual student need, trying to

help kids who come to school with issues of trauma, and the stress of having your evaluation tied to student performance on an exam are making retirement very attractive.

The lower numbers of students going into the profession or staying is partly due to low pay and high student loans. The retirement system was also reconfigured making it more undesirable.

What are the consequences?

Fewer teachers mean fewer people seeking principalships and, in turn, fewer are prepared for and seeking central office or superintendent roles. Additionally, nothing can replace a highly qualified teacher who is able to connect with kids. Right now, across the state, many substitutes are filling a great need and doing the best they can, but they are not highly trained educators.

What plans are in action to make change that will either retain or bring more qualified candidates into the fold through recruitment?

The Michigan Department of Education has waived recertification requirements for

teachers who have let their certification lapse to encourage them to come back to teaching.

Districts are paying hiring bonuses and longevity incentives. Detroit Public Schools Community District has seen a tremendous increase in applications by increasing their teacher starting salary. Districts are reaching out to programs to take on studentteachers and then offering them jobs upon graduation. In addition, some colleges and universities have started fast-track educator programs for those who have already attained another degree to attract more people to the profession.

How can the community be of support?

We are only going to find success together.

Join a PTO, get involved in district input sessions, even just responding to district surveys make a difference. Most of all, we need to start being positive about education and the teaching profession. If young people only hear criticisms of a profession, why would they ever want to go into it?

For more information about the Michigan Association of School Boards, visit masb.org.

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Back-to-school shopping can cause trouble for your budget if you don’t plan ahead. Here are some ways to shop for clothes and supplies economically.

Shop at home.

Take a look at each child’s school supplies list to see what you may already have from previous years. You could find that you have enough crayons, pens, pencils, folders, and other supplies on hand so you can cross these items off your shopping list.

Shop strategically.

Thrift stores and garage sales are great places to look for quality items – including kids’ clothes – that fit your needs for less than you would pay if they were new, saving you money.

3 Ways to Keep Back-to-School Shopping From Breaking Your Budget

By Deidre Davis, MSU Federal Credit Union’s Chief Marketing Officer

Office supply, dollar, and warehouse stores are also good places to check.

They tend to have more variety and possibly better deals.

Shop generic.

Shopping for generic merchandise instead of name-brand items can potentially save you a lot of money.

Also, look for paper and digital coupons, the latter of which are available on websites and apps. Many retailers have special sales during back-to-school season. Don’t forget to look for sales and coupons for school clothes, as well.

You can also earn cash back on all your purchases with the MSUFCU Visa Signature® Credit Card. It features 3% cash back on groceries; 2% cash back on gas, travel, and university costs; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. For more information, go to msufcu.org/visasignature.

To be more prepared for back-toschool shopping next year, our Savings Builder account can help. Savings Builder helps you save faster by paying more on initial deposits. By automatically transferring a set amount to your Savings Builder account each payday, those funds will add up in time to meet your shopping needs next year.

For more information, visit msufcu. org/savingsbuilder. sm

Deidre Davis is the chief marketing officer at MSU Federal Credit Union. MSUFCU’s headquarters are at 3777 West Road, East Lansing, MI 48823. Contact Deidre at deidre.davis@msufcu.org or (517) 333-2424.

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lifestyle

PLACES p.30 FAMILY CORNER p.32 STYLE p.34 FOOD p.36 NONPROFIT p.42 PLAY p.44

SOCIAL EQUALITY VS. SOCIAL EQUITY IN THE CLASSROOM We all understand that equality in schools means offering the same opportunities to all students. But do we really understand what social equity is, especially in terms of the classroom? Social equity is providing each student the means and tools to have an equal opportunity to learn, ensuring an equal chance for success to every child, no matter how disadvantaged. How can we help our schools? Community partnerships that help ensure underserved students get the support they need away from the classroom is a must.

Diversity in teachers and school staff is imperative as well as being proactive in identifying unconscious bias. Need a place to start? Check out your local library or order this book on Amazon: amazon.com/DiversityEquity-Classroom-ValerieOoka/dp/1305386477.

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lifestyle / PLACES

BERT WALKER HALL WAS RENOVATED IN 2016.

A JOURNEY TO JACKSON COLLEGE SMALL SCHOOL BOASTS A BIG REPUTATION PHOTOS AND ARTICLE BY METRO MELIK

THE JETS HANGAR IS A STUDENT RECREATION CENTER.

t ent a cont more G.COM A 517M

THE POTTER CENTER HOSTS PERFORMING ARTS ON CAMPUS. THE HEALTH LABORATORY CENTER IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE HLC.

While major universities get the lion’s share of attention, a large number of students find the environment where they best thrive in their educational pursuits at a smaller school, where class sizes tend to be tailored toward more individualized instruction and one-on-one direct interaction with educators is more accessible.

Each year, more than 7,500 students head to Jackson County to enroll either part time or full time at Jackson College.

Burrowed amongst farmland and trees 6 miles south of the city of Jackson, its campus touts the combination of function, art and learning.

The school began as Jackson Junior College in 1928. In 1965, voters agreed to separate the college from being a division of Jackson Public Schools, making the college its own entity.

That prompted a name change to Jackson Community College

did you know

Jackson College started athletics again in 2006 after the sports programs were disbanded in the 1980s.

and finally, in 2013, the school’s board of directors approved the shortened moniker of Jackson College. The school offers 48 associate degrees, certificate programs and transfer options to Jackson County and Michigan residents.

Jackson College operates four campuses. The central campus is the primary location of the school and sits on 500 acres. Most of the college’s academic and administrative buildings are located at the central campus. That includes the Jackson College Potter Center, a popular performing arts complex that houses three theaters.

“Jackson is a great place to work,” said Rick Smith, assistant athletic director and coach of the Jackson Jets baseball team. “We’re all about student success and the care of the students who become Jets on their way to their future endeavors.”

The tiny houses on campus are Jets Village family residences. The single-family homes provide an opportunity for student-parents to be able to attend the college — an idea spurred by college President and CEO Dan Phelan.

Jackson College’s central campus has student housing facilities, making it one of only a few community colleges in Michigan to offer student housing.

The college provides a variety of Division II athletic programs, including baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, bowling, cross country and golf.

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lifestyle / FAMILY CORNER

READING READINESS FOR LITTLE ONES LIBRARY PROGRAMS CAN HELP PREP FOR SCHOOL

BY HEATHER GOUPIL, HEAD LIBRARIAN AT CAPITAL AREA DISTRICT LIBRARIES’ MASON BRANCH

Back to school can be a challenging time for parents, especially those with a young child starting preschool or kindergarten for the first time.

One of the most important things parents can do to get their little ones ready is to help them develop the skills needed for reading.

Why is that so important? Literacy and language development are the foundations for all other learning. Children who enter school with these skills have an advantage that carries with them straight into adulthood.

Yet according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 1 in 3 American children start kindergarten without the skills they need to learn how to read.

Fortunately, it’s never too late to help children with this, and it’s not complicated at all. The five early literacy practices are things that you may already be doing together —

reading, writing, talking, singing and playing are all ways that children learn the skills needed get off to a great start.

Capital Area District Libraries offers lots of ways to encourage these practices. And all of them involve an essential ingredient for learning — fun.

For example, library members can check out Raising Readers backpacks to use at home. Built around themes like dinosaurs, colors, animals and weather, the packs are filled with books, toys, music CDs and more. You can also pick up a free Early Literacy Calendar at any library branch. Every day features an activity or suggestion for strengthening reading skills.

Of course, nothing beats a great story time when it comes to getting children

excited about reading. Hearing stories and participating in group activities can help them develop imagination, comprehension and attention skills.

Learn more about resources like these at a website dedicated to supporting parents and children during the critical learning years. Visit cadl.org/raising-readers.

cool pets THE SUGAR GLIDER This nocturnal gliding exotic pet gets its name from its predilections for specific sugary treats and gliding through the air. They are very social and may seem easy at the onset, but you should research the care and needs of these cute little creatures before you bring one home. For example, did you know they are not suited to being alone? Those who have sugar gliders as pets know to keep them in pairs at a minimum.

They also require lots of socialization to keep them tame. Sugar gliders can make a fun pet, but you must be willing to commit to caring for them for their lifespan, which is 10-12 years.

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recipe

THE KIDS WILL LOVE THESE HEALTHY LADYBUG APPLES WHAT YOU NEED: 4 OF YOUR FAVORITE RED APPLES ¼ CUP OF RAISINS 1 TABLESPOON OF PEANUT BUTTER 12 PRETZEL STICKS WHAT TO DO: SLICE THE APPLES IN HALF, LEAVING THE CORES OUT. PUT EACH HALF FLAT-SIDE DOWN ON A PLATE OR SERVING TRAY. USE THE PEANUT BUTTER AS YOUR “GLUE” TO STICK THE RAISINS TO THE APPLES. PRESS PRETZELS INTO THE APPLE TO MAKE ANTENNAE. (HAVE EXTRA PRETZELS ON HAND IN CASE THEY BREAK GOING INTO THE APPLE.)

craft idea JAZZ UP THAT COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Notebook • Peel-and-stick wallpaper or shelf liner • Glue gun and sticks • Pompom trim or fun edging of your choice • Scissors WHAT TO DO:

• Measure and cut your wallpaper or other material so that it will completely cover the front and back cover of your notebook.

• Peel off the backing and carefully position your notebook over it, smoothing it out as you go.

• Trim the paper from the edges.

• Get out your glue gun and add the pompom trim.

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lifestyle / STYLE

SCHOOL STYLE CELEBRATE IN-PERSON LEARNING IN YOUR FASHION CHOICES

BY ERIN HAGEN

I

t’s back-to-school shopping time — and what a difference a year makes.

The vast majority of students will be in person now and going out and purchasing new supplies and clothes.

Getting back out and running all those errands can be daunting; however, here are some great ways to minimize your running and maximizing your time.

Maybe many people are already aware of the fact that stores now offer bundles of school supplies.

I just discovered this, and I am loving it. Meijer, Walmart and eBay have created fabulous bundles according to the grade level of your child. They have all the basic requirements, so all you have to do is grab a bundle and whatever extras your child’s class requires and they will ship it to you. It’s a big time

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saver. The bundles range from $39-$49, which seems like a great price.

For back-to-school clothes shopping, the future is bright and embracing the Roaring ’20s. There are so many options to embrace our new al fresco lifestyle, such as ski sweaters with bright colors and patterns as well as lots of great puffer vests, shirts and jackets to layer to be in an indoor or outdoor classroom. Cozy was the name of the game last year, but this year you won’t see any sweats. The fabrics are still soft, and the fits are oversized but with more silhouettes shining through.

I think the takeaway from all my research and my gut feeling is the more the merrier. We haven’t been able to dress for anything for a year. So, if you’re going to celebrate something. do it with every fiber — including your clothes.

B U S I N E S S

A N D

L I F E

PODCASTS ARE ONLINE! Visit Spotify and search 517 Business and Life to listen to any of our weekly podcasts.

Want to sponsor a podcast?

Reach out to us at info@517mag.com!

lifestyle / FOOD

best of

BEST OF HEALTH FOOD WE ASKED READERS TO NAME THEIR FAVORITE LOCAL SPOTS FOR HEALTH FOOD. BE IT A SUPERMARKET, A RESTAURANT THAT CATERS TO HEALTHY EATING OR A STORE THAT SELLS HEALTHY SHAKES, IT SEEMS THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPTIONS. THREE OF OUR READERS HAD SUCH GREAT RESPONSES, WE JUST HAD TO SHARE THEM HERE.

BY MARY GAJDA

SOUP SPOON AND STEAKHOUSE PHILLY Pam Lambropoulos of East Lansing gave kudos to the Soup Spoon Café on Michigan Avenue in Lansing.

Her response to our poll: “Pan-seared salmon with wild rice pilaf, vegan stew, Greek omelet, Mediterranean salad, Asian sesame salad, smoked salmon salad — any of their salads, actually. There are lots of healthy choices at this restaurant. Also, Steakhouse Philly, Greek green beans, Greek village salad, Greek salad, grilled chicken salad, chicken kabobs and avgolemono soup. This

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restaurant’s healthy choices may come as more of a surprise than Soup Spoon.”

CHOICES GALORE Reader Renee Freeman had a few healthy choices to share. “On the go: Tabooli, Qdoba, Sultan’s and Aladdin’s, plus I love Cheddar’s. Kewpee’s for burgers, Juice Nation, Gregory’s for breakfast.

Can’t wait to read about other venues to patronize.”

Renee, we love when our readers share their favorite spots too. We can always learn from one another about great spots we’ve never

patronized, and we love keeping business local.

MORE AT THE MARKETS Clare Corcoran pointed us to some markets rather than restaurants with her reply to our social media poll. “I love the Kite Hill vegan portobello ravioli.

It’s in the frozen section at Better Health Store Frandor.

I also like Cleveland Kraut caraway flavor, naturally fermented sauerkraut and veggie sushi rolls from Meijer.” Thanks for the info, Clare. We may run to the store after we print this issue.

HONORABLE MENTIONS Reader Christina Banwell swears by the sugar-free black-cherry ice cream by MOO-ville that she gets at Cheesy D’s in Haslett.

Abigail Hudson suggests GT’s papaya kombucha from Fresh Thyme or Better Health and a variety of other places as well from Aladdin’s in the Frandor shopping center in Lansing.

Denise McGinn gave high marks to wheatgrass from On Target Living. Of course, we know there are countless healthy choices in the region, including at our local farmers markets. Chime into our social media polls each month by following us on Facebook and Instagram at @517mag.

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Pam Posthumus The Children’s Trust Fund is Michigan’s only independent, statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Serving as a voice for Michigan’s children and families; we lead the way to better health, safety and well-being by funding effective community-based programs.

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Meet Fred Heumann of WILX See Fred on the air weeknights at 11pm My favorite sport by far is baseball. I often joke that baseball is also my second and my third favorite sport. I grew up with baseball; played whiffle ball in the morning, fast pitch rubber ball in the driveway during the day and as dusk arrived I played hardball on the local playgrounds. My dad would hit me ground balls all day, then took me to Detroit Tigers games about 30 times a season.

One season (1968), he took me to 47 games. I often joke with former Tigers pitcher Denny McLain that even he didn’t go to that many games that year---and he pitched on the team!

I have two mottos I live by and both came from two of my baseball heroes. One came from former Detroit Tiger manager Sparky Anderson. He would often say: “It

don’t cost a dime to be nice to people.”

I have never forgotten it and try to live by it. The other motto I try to live by came from another Hall Of Famer, broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who was a great friend of mine and once told me in an interview: “When I have a choice between being right or being kind, I choose kind.” I have never forgotten those words and I try too to live by that motto, although I am woefully weaker at that than Ernie was.

My career has taken me to 2 World Series’, 3 Super Bowls, 3 Stanley Cup Finals, 4 NBA Finals, 5 Rose Bowls and 7 NCAA Basketball Final Fours. I have been to the White House twice on assignment covering championship teams.

My career has taken me on a remarkable journey and I am truly blessed!

FEATURE ADAPTING INSTRUCTION: SARAH SOPER, TOP, AND CHELSEE SCHRAM, BELOW, FACED THE BIGGEST HURDLE IN THEIR TEACHING CAREERS LAST YEAR.

The Year of Change and Challenge EDUCATORS REFLECT ON TEACHING DURING THE PANDEMIC

BY CHRISTOPHER NAGY PHOTOS BY METRO MELIK

As most students gear up for a return to a full-year of in-person learning, the state is laying the groundwork to help students rebound in their academic success and Michigan teachers are looking forward to a school year unhindered by the trials and challenges the pandemic posed.

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“In my 16 years of teaching, this has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do as a teacher,” Sarah Soper, an English teacher at Northwest High School in Jackson, said of the past school year. “It has also been extremely challenging for our students, parents and community.

“The most difficult thing this year has been teaching both inperson students as well as online students at the same time,” added Soper, who was named as a 2020-2021 Regional Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Department of Education “In some classes I would have as many as 25 students in person and an additional five online. During class, I was stuck behind my desk in order to be on Zoom, which was difficult because then I didn’t feel like I was interacting much with the in-person students. On the other hand, if I walked around, then the online students couldn’t see me, so that was difficult for them. There was really no good way to make it work with the limited technology we had access to, and I always felt like I wasn’t doing justice for either one group or the other.”

Chelsee Schram, another Regional Teacher of the Year during the coronavirus challenges, said the past year of teaching was the most stressful of her career. The second-grade educator at Laingsburg Elementary School noted the vast changes that were required due to pandemic restrictions.

“I have no longer been able to use so many best practices and engagement strategies,” Schram said. “In addition to the already overwhelming teaching expectations, we have added mask expectations, custodial duties such as cleaning desks, and the ever-changing switches between virtual and face to face. This year has been exhausting.”

For its part, the state is hoping to provide a springboard for returning students. The state’s Student Recovery Advisory Council

“

of Michigan report “MI Blueprint for Comprehensive Student Recovery” provides key strategies for school districts and policymakers to help Michigan’s children begin the bounce back to normal.

“It’s going to take substantial work and resources for school districts, educators, students and their families to begin rebuilding on the academic successes achieved by educators and students prior to the pandemic,” said State Superintendent Michael Rice. “The governor’s advisory council focused on several opportunities to make progress in Michigan schools.”

However, students themselves may find the transition easier than expected. Both Soper and Schram noted the resilience their students demonstrated over the past year.

“I am constantly impressed with my students; and this year, they have been exceptional,” Soper said. “The emotional toll the past year has taken on them is substantial, but they have risen to the challenge and many of them have been extremely successful academically. They did a great job wearing masks, following safety protocols and adapting to virtual school.”

Kids are fairly flexible and adaptive, as long adults give them grace, Schram said. Once students can be in full-time and uninterrupted faceto-face instruction, the return to normalcy should be swift.

The same could likely be said about the teachers.

“Beyond helping my students achieve their goals, I enjoy being a special person for them,” Schram said. “I love opening and closing our days with hugs and salutations. I love hearing how they spent our time apart. I treasure those special ‘aha’ moments. Above all, I enjoy helping children believe that they are smart and they are in full ownership of their education.”

It’s going to take substantial work and resources for school districts, educators, students and their families to begin rebuilding on the academic successes achieved by educators and students prior to the pandemic.”

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FEATURE

Addressing the Teacher Shortage Like the rest of the nation, Michigan has been battling a teacher shortage for years as pay, working conditions and a variety of other complex factors prompted mass teacher protests and resignations.

The issue only became exacerbated with the added stresses of the coronavirus pandemic.

Yet now Michigan is hoping that a new statewide program will serve as a stopgap until long-term solutions are found to attract more students into the teaching profession. In April, the Michigan Department of Education launched its “Welcome Back Proud Michigan Educators” campaign encouraging formerly certified educators to seek full-time employment by partnering with a school district. The MDE has created a process to reduce or eliminate barriers to recertification and to facilitate reentry into the profession.

“From classroom teachers to building administrators to district leaders, we are facing an unprecedented and very concerning shortage of educators across the state,” said Tina Kerr, executive director of the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators. “We are glad to see MDE taking these steps to reengage former educators and help us welcome them back to our school districts. We need to continue thinking creatively and working collaboratively to ensure that Michigan’s 1.5 million students have access to the teachers, leaders and staff necessary to get the high-quality public education they deserve.”

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lifestyle / JACK DAVIS LEGACY NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

FORMER HAVEN HOUSE RESIDENTS, 2016.

AMBER STAIRS IS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AT HAVEN HOUSE.

A SAFE HARBOR HAVEN HOUSE PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER, SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

BY KYLE DOWLING

Homelessness was already an increasing pre-pandemic societal problem, but the implications of unemployment exacerbated by COVID-19 only served to compound the layered complexities of the issue.

Yet in the Greater Lansing region, Haven House has worked for nearly 40 years to provide families with emergency shelter in their most desperate times of need and provide the support to rebound from crises.

Haven House originally opened in 1983 as an economic crisis center. Over the years, the East Lansing facility transitioned to serve one- and two-parent families. Haven House is focused on allowing male parents and/or teenage boys to stay with their families.

“We are the only other shelter in town that allows the male, whether that’s a teenage son or adult parent, to stay sheltered with the family,” said Amber Stairs, development director for Haven House.

“So, we really try to focus on filling that niche in the community.”

In such a traumatic time as facing homelessness, it can be just as difficult for fathers and even young teenage boys to not be allowed to shelter with their families. Haven House wants to be able to keep that strong family structure together and fill that gap in the community.

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Haven House not only shelters people and families, but it works with them in their times of need to find a way toward their goals, whether that’s self-sufficiency or permanent housing. The organization takes a wraparound approach to help support the people in their care.

But that support does not stop after clients leave Haven House.

“We continue to help support people through our partners and progress programs,” said Stairs. “Even when people have that house, they still need essential things like personal hygiene products or pots and pans to cook with — things that some people may take for granted.”

Even through the coronavirus, Haven House has been working with people and sheltering, even though it has been remote sheltering through hotels. In July, Haven House began welcoming people back to its facilities along with newly restructured shelters.

Instead of gender-specific bathrooms, Haven House now has familyspecific bathrooms, which will reduce the risk of communicable diseases in the future.

If you need the help and support of Haven House, or want to help through volunteering or a donation, visit havenhouseel.org.

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No Red Carpet Needed to See These Stars SHOOTING “STARS” AND METEOR SHOWERS Aug. 9 Watch stars and planets not visible to the naked eye in this virtual program from the Abrams Planetarium on the campus of Michigan State University. The event from 1-11:45 p.m. is being presented by the Grand Ledge Area District Library and will be available on the library’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/channel/ UChlEbij4pren7ZGFI1_iWJw.

THIS MONTH’S EVENTS Editor’s note: Please call event venues directly to make sure times and dates haven’t changed due to cancellations and postponements related to COVID-19.

Summer Concert Series Through Aug. 27 The 2021 Summer Concert Series is a series of live performances by local musical artists taking place in downtown East Lansing. The concerts run from 7-9 p.m. Fridays at the Ann Street Plaza at the corner of Albert and MAC avenues. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

Visit cityofeastlansing.com/ summerconcerts to view the 2021 summer lineup.

Women’s Coffee Social Wednesdays Drop in anytime for coffee and tea from 8:30-10 a.m.

Wednesdays in the back green space of the Women’s Center

of Greater Lansing, 1710-1712 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing.

Parking is available on the street or in the rear parking lot.

Baby and Me Guided Play Class for Young Families Aug. 7 This free weekly class is offered to all babies and their caretakers. It is led by local birth and postpartum doula Laura Max. Those interested in attending are asked to fill out a form at forms.gle/ YS8SUM9wgKcGApx49.

Take-Home Crafts Aug. 13, Aug. 20 and Aug. 27 Take-home craft kits will be available from the main desk of the Grand Ledge Area District

Follow our friends at 517living.com for other upcoming events in the region.

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Library, 131 E. Jefferson St. in Grand Ledge. The kits are available on a first-come, firstserved basis. On Aug. 13 the kit will be a lava lamp, Aug. 20 will have kids making rainsticks and Aug. 27 will be salt-dough handprint kits. See more dates, topics and instructions at gladl. org/curiousgladl.

Entrepreneurial Awards and Viewing Party Sept. 29 An event and viewing party for the televised broadcast of the 2021 Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards set for 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at Jackson Field in Lansing. Tickets and information for the event are available online at greaterlansingawards.com.

Call me today at 517.253.8563 With 20 years of experience serving successful women and their families in the Lansing area, Stephanie uses her comprehensive approach to financial planning to provide advice for women who want to be empowered and informed as they make complex decisions about their future.

for a complimentary initial consultation.

As the only Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) in Lansing*, she believes that freedom and independence are core values of successful women, regardless of marital status.

Stephanie Milosavlevski

CFP®, CDFA® Financial Advisor 2139 Commons Parkway Okemos, MI 48864 • 517.253.8563 stephanie.j.milosavlevski@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/stephanie.j.milosavlevski *Source: Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFATM). Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with plaque design) in the U.S. The initial consultation provides an overview of financial planning concepts. You will not receive written analysis and/or recommendations. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2020 Ameriprise Financial, Inc., All rights reserved. 3204073ACMR0820

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S P E C I A L A DV E R T I S E M E N T

ACCESSING DREAMS:

“ACCESS offers an opportunity to provide targeted support to student groups, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds and diverse cultures by creating a space where they belong.”

– Dr. Tonya Bailey

LCC Chief Diversity Officer

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CREATE OPPORTUNITY AT LANSING’S COLLEGE

BY ANDY BRENT

Education strengthens society through shared and applied knowledge, and diversity in higher education ensures the many perspectives of those within our society are appreciated and considered. Colleges and universities have a responsibility to innovate and find new ways of making the benefits and opportunities of higher education available for all.

At Lansing Community College (LCC), inclusive student advancement has been made accessible for more than 30 years by TRiO, a set of federally-funded college opportunity programs designed to motivate and support first-generation college students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of degrees.

TRiO offers students a bevy of resources vital to education success, and in addition to direct student support, provides relevant trainings for directors and staff.

“TRiO helped me succeed by allowing me to be myself in a productive environment,” said former student Jaharie Green. “All the tutors, advisors and peer mentors were always available to help, and in time I developed excellent organization and time management skills. TRiO helped with stress management, too.”

Photography by Kevin Fowler

As LCC expands its Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and coinciding with a change in federal funding, TRiO is transitioning to “ACCESS.” The Access to College and Careers with Excellence through Student Services, or ACCESS, will operate from within the Cesar Chavez Learning Center at LCC, and seeks to create a community on campus for underrepresented students by providing them with a multi-tiered support network.

ACCESS student Amalia Gonzales credits the program with keeping her on track through college. “(ACCESS) helps me succeed in so many ways,” Gonzales said. “I am a first-generation student and I thought I would not make it through college. (ACCESS) has become my home away from home. Their positive, can-do attitudes and encouraging environments really help my self-confidence and motivation. Honestly, without the great (ACCESS) staff and other students, I do not think I would still be at LCC. They have really helped me find the best version of myself.”

The Cesar Chavez Learning Center’s ACCESS Program also provides student support for the psychological, emotional, social and academic adjustment of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) students; LGBTQ+, first-generation, low income and adult students; students of varying ability, and other marginalized and underrepresented student groups.

LCC Chief Diversity Officer Tonya Bailey knows the benefits ACCESS will provide LCC students.

“We are excited to launch ACCESS within the Cesar Chavez Learning Center at LCC,” Bailey said. “ACCESS offers an opportunity to provide targeted support to student groups, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds and diverse cultures by creating a space where they belong.”

ACCESS’s primary focus, Bailey said, is to increase student persistence, and to promote degree completion and realization of career and academic goals.

“Services include a Summer Bridge and academic year pre-college programming experience, student selfsupported cohort groups, academic student support services and a robust catalog of relevant programming,” Bailey said. “Wraparound’ support services, what we call ‘The Village,’ entails assigning each ACCESS student four mentors – peer, faculty, professional and hometown mentors – to ensure their success.”

ACCESS’s development from TRiO is only part of efforts from LCC’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) to empower students and foster awareness.

Other ODI initiatives at LCC include two physical spaces where students can study, socialize or engage in events – the Center for Engaged Inclusion and the Cesar Chavez Learning Center itself. Beyond ACCESS, there are also numerous other student groups, each open to any interested student but catering to the needs of a specific community, like women, men of color, Latinos and more.

ODI also offers training and workshops to LCC employees, seeking to address unconscious bias in education, as well as workshops and events open to the entire community.

Beyond simply replacing TRiO, ACCESS will continue and expand upon the good work TRiO has done and the programs it has established for LCC students. The personal connection and individual support TRiO offered students will continue to be an integral part of ACCESS’s outreach plan.

TRiO alumnus Curtiss Benham is happy the program will continue as ACCESS. “TRiO helped me because the people that are a part of TRiO are so kind,” Benham said. “They created an environment that allowed me to concentrate on learning and socialize at the same time. It is a great program, and I am glad it will go on as ACCESS.” ACCESS is poised to help raise those who have known generational exclusion out of that dearth through the gift of education. This, Bailey believes, is quintessential to her office’s efforts at LCC, and to the Caesar Chavez Learning Center’s overarching mission.

“ACCESS provides us a tremendous opportunity for good,” Bailey said. “Chavez once said, ‘Preservation of one’s own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures,’ which aligns with our program mission.”

Registration is ongoing for LCC’s fall semester.

Interested applicants should visit lcc.edu/youbelong to get started. Current LCC students and community members interested in ongoing Diversity and Inclusion events may visit lcc.edu/diversity.

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W WRAP UP P LEARNING BEFORE THE CLASSROOM Five ideas for the five senses

BY SHELBY SMITH

It’s back-to-school season; however, just because your child’s not old enough for the classroom doesn’t mean he or she is too young to learn. Learn how to nurture every aspect of your toddler’s developing brain.

SMELL: What’s that Smell?

Soak cotton balls in various smelly things like vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, soap and more. Put them in cups and have your child smell them.

Work on developing vocabulary to describe the differences between them.

SIGHT: Play I Spy

Explore the world around you with your child by playing I Spy. Note the things you see aloud to your child and try keeping a list with him or her.

This can be done indoors or out.

TOUCH: Build It

Whether the material is Legos, building blocks, cushions or books, work with your child to build a structure. Help your child experiment with different textures and weights and learn about balance.

SOUND: Make Shakers

Use empty plastic bottles or other nonbreakable containers to make shakers with your child by filling them with different items to produce different sounds when shaking.

See the quietest and loudest thing you can fill them with.

Plus, it’s a fun way to breathe new life into recyclables.

TASTE: Explore the Supermarket

Invite your child to explore in the produce aisle and pick a couple unfamiliar things he or she wants to try.

Do a taste test at home and explore new flavors. Use this as an opportunity to teach about sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami.

Sources: schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/early-childhood-family-activities-accessible, teachpreschoolscience.com/follow-that-scent.html

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