MC Digital Edition 1.18.23

Justice Is Not Just Retribution It Is Also Redemption!

By Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony

The old adage, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is one of the biggest lies ever told. Words can hurt deeply. They cut sharply and live eternally. The holy scriptures remind us “let our speech always be with grace, seasoned as it were with salt so that you will know how you should respond to each person,” Colossians 4:6. The recent public attack by Justice Richard Bernstein upon newly appointed Justice Kyra Harris Bolden over her selection of Peter Martel for her clerk was not seasoned with salt. It was harsh, bitter, and callous. It seemed to have a taste of retribution within its very articulation. Acknowledging he had not discussed the matter with Bolden before making a public comment, “I’m no longer talking to her. We don’t share the same values. We campaigned together, but that was the Democratic Party’s doing.” Wow! It appears Lady Justice lifted the blindfold covering her eyes to see standing before her only retribution, while ignoring redemption. It made me dust off my Bob Marley cd featuring ‘The Redemption Song.’ A few lyrics from this icon of reggae,

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds; won’t you help to sing these songs of freedom? Cause all I ever have redemption songs, redemption songs, redemption songs.’’ This was the last song ever recorded by Bob Marley prior to his death. The words of the Redemption Song refers to persecution, oppression, liberation through God and inner freedom, and peace of mind. It was a way in which Marley cleansed himself of any flaws or sins he may have committed along the journey of his life.

Peter Martel said “I got to prison and found out pretty quickly that I didn’t like it, so I tried to escape. I spent a lot of time in segregation after that and I knew I’d screwed up my life and dug myself a really, really deep hole.” Fourteen years in prison, Martel spent 10 years in solitary confinement. He certainly had enough time to reflect upon his life. Paroled in 2008, he worked as a paralegal at the University of Michigan. Employed by the State Appellate Defender Office, he earned a law degree from Wayne State University. He is the embodiment of redemption, what the criminal justice system is partly designed to produce.

Former Chief Justice Bridget McCormack admitted, “Every police officer and sheriff’s deputy I know are big fans of real redemption and Pete Martel is a story of real redemption.”

There are five specific and primary objectives that the United States Criminal Justice System attempts to achieve - 1) Retribution, 2) Deterrence, 3) Rehabilitation, 4) Incapacitation, 5) Restoration.

Justice Richard Bernstein has been well respected and supported by members of

By Sherri Kolade

Last summer, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an Executive Directive to reduce crime and gun violence. During a swearing-in ceremony for her second term as governor earlier this month, Whitmer began by speaking to statewide elected officials and leaders about her resolution to continue efforts to reduce gun violence among other key changes in the Mitten State.

Whitmer noted that “common sense” gun reforms would include laws passed to mandate background checks for gun transactions and the safekeeping of weapons, the Detroit News reported.

“Gun violence is the number 1 killer of kids in America, and only in America, and there are things that we can do to keep our communities safer and our schools safer,” Whitmer said in a Detroit News article.

Last week Whitmer signed an Executive Directive instructing Michigan state departments and law enforcement agencies to utilize federal resources from the recently passed bipartisan Safer Communities Act to reduce crime and gun violence. This action follows a roundtable discussion the governor held with members of the law enforcement community, parents, students and faith leaders on how to stop violence and hold criminals accountable for committing violent crimes.

More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2020 than in any other year on record, according to recently published statistics.

By Sherri Kolade

The impossible is always possible in Detroit especially when inclusivity is prioritized and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) businesses and communities remain as part of the center of development and redevelopment conversations.

During the 2023 Detroit Policy Conference: The Future of Our Downtown such conversations were had to bolster movement and remind others that there’s a lot to be inspired by in their city they call home.

Hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber, the annual conference gathered local and area movers and shakers including business leaders to share what keeps them up at night.

The Conference featured keynote addresses from Garlin Gilchrist II, Lieutenant Governor for the State of Michigan, Mike Duggan, Mayor of Detroit, and Richard Florida, Co-founder of the Creative Class Group.

The Conference will also include Power Perspectives from speakers like Charity

According to americanprogress.org, Michigan has one of the highest rates of gun homicides of Black people.

Compared with other states Michigan ranks 21st when it comes to overall gun homicides—a rate slightly above the national average. However, gun homicides in Michigan disproportionately affect Black communities, according to the independent, nonpartisan policy institute. From 2015 to 2019, the state presented the ninth-highest rate of gun homicides of Black people across the 50 U.S. states.

Young people between the ages of 15 and 29 are disproportionately affected by gun-related homicides against Black people in metropolitan counties in Michigan. In fact, from 2015 to 2019, there were 57 gun homicides of young Black individuals in metropolitan Michigan counties per 100,000 people, which is 33 times more than there were of young white people.

“As a former prosecutor, public safety is a top priority for me,” said Whitmer previously. “But today, far too many families in Michigan do not feel safe in their neighborhoods because of crime and gun violence. That is unacceptable—we must stop the violence and hold people accountable. We need to tackle both crime and gun violence simultaneously because they are inextricably linked—nearly 1 in 3 reported violent crimes to involve a firearm and in the first six months of this year alone, over 450 Michiganders have died because of gun violence. That’s why I worked to give law enforcement the resources they need in my bipartisan

budget.… Let’s work together to protect public safety and reduce crime and gun violence.”

Black Americans are purchasing more guns at a faster speed, with gun ownership hiking up by 58.2 percent just two years ago, Black Enterprise reported.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Black Americans bought firearms at gun stores for a variety of reasons in an article in The Guardian, which includes stress from the pandemic, the growing number of mass shootings and more.

According to the article, even when buying a firearm, a number of Black Americans face the racism of prejudice from white gun store owners. That has drawn many Black Americans to join Black gun clubs or find training from Black gun instructors.

Black gun ownership has been equated with protecting Black neighborhoods and individuals, according to the article. Post-Civil War, many freed Black men and women bought firearms to ensure the safety of themselves and their neighborhoods.

Chad King, president of Detroit’s Black Bottom Gun Club, told the Michigan Chronicle recently that the club, committed to educating and informing communities about firearm safety (and state laws), wants to be the change.

“We are motivated by and guided by our core values of being focused [on] people, community and firearm

Black Bottom Gun Club - NAAG Detroit Chapter

Dean, president and Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Detroit Black Business Alliance; panels with business leaders like Cindy Pasky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Staffing Solutions; and a recep-

tion featuring the Detroit City Council.

The event was held at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.

Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony

From page A-1

Dean, who once described the MDBBA as the “Black Chamber of Commerce,” spoke in-depth during the event’s Power Perspective: Empowering Black-Owned Businesses segment about many aspects of an empowered and intentional Detroit doing what makes them unstoppable.

“For only the one that attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible,” Dean said during her roughly 11-minute speech. “When I heard that quote I immediately thought about Detroit.”

“That’s what we do in Detroit, right? We attempt the absurd,” Dean said.

From the largest municipal city filing for bankruptcy to only turn around and be named as Time Magazine’s one of the 50 Greatest Places in the World can simply be described as “absurd” and “impossible.”

“But what might seem absurd to others is not to Detroiters,” Dean said, adding that Big Sean is one of the many prime examples of that. “We are used to that.”

Dean rattled off many examples of intentionality coming from Detroit in the business sector as “announcement after announcement” continues to crop up of companies and corporations opening their doors in the city.

“We see the Little Caesars Arena, which brought millions of dollars of revenue to the city of Detroit along with thousands of jobs,” she said adding from corporate headquarters moving to the downtown to many other developments coming online, it’s a new day.

This new dawn for the sprawling metropolitan includes a reimagined city where it’s being recognized not only at home but across the nation with accolades like USA Today announcing the Detroit Riverwalk as the Best Riverwalk in America for its aesthetic and more.

(Detroit) doesn’t look like it looked 10 years ago. … We’ve seen all of this happen in 10 years. Since bankruptcy. Impossible, right? No. Intentional, intentional partners intentional government coming together to make this habit. And yet throughout all of these announcements, something was missing.”

Dean said that with a majority Black population less than 10 percent of the businesses downtown are Black.

“So to understand why we kind of have to understand the systemic issue that is at play. And this systemic issue plagues our country. It plagues our state. It plagues our city … downtown,” Dean

said adding that a racial wealth gap is critical to the conversation, too.

For example, if a white family and a Black family have the same income and same education level, the Black family is going to have nine times less the white wealth of the white family.

“We have a racial wealth gap in our country, in our state, in our city,” she said adding that policies from redlining and other policies of legal discrimination prohibited Black people from acquiring land. “ In the ‘50s and ‘60s, our government policies continued to widen this wealth gap.”

Redlining is a practice that has been used for many generations and has hurt many Black families. The act began in 1933 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, even though the phrase was not coined until the 1960s. The House Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) was established during the New Deal era following the Great Depression in order to assist in reviving the economy and offer home loans to Americans. However, African Americans were purposefully denied access to these loans.

“If you drive around and look at our neighborhoods, you can see blatant redlining. Things have gotten better, but you have to understand the history of redlining. If they drew red though this map, it meant hazardous. If Black folks lived there or minorities or had lower income, they would automatically tag it as hazardous. Those are still prevalent issues that we deal with today,” Anthony Kellum, president of Kellum Mortgage, told the Michigan Chronicle previously.

The past continues to impact the present of Detroit and the people, however, are being intentional about its future especially for disenfranchised Black business owners.

“When it comes to entrepreneurship, we have to do the impossible. We need access to capital for minority entrepreneurs. And I stand to do today and say, We need access to capital for those minority entrepreneurs, Black entrepreneurs, Black businesses, in our state, in our city in downtown,” Dean said.

We all know that cash is king but capital is high up on the hierarchy for such businesses, too.

Pre-pandemic, Blackowned enterprises have already faced numerous, severe financial disparities and obstacles while launching and maintaining their different service- or product-oriented entities – not to mention post-pandemic.

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP),

which helped small businesses owned by White people, had a success rate of 60% for White applicants whereas it was just 29% for African American business owners. Lack of finance and credit is at the heart of some of the country’s major issues for Black-owned businesses.

There is no doubt that Black-owned companies encounter challenges that their White colleagues do not, or do, but manage to overcome them in order to continue operating.

According to an article from the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), shortly after the CARES Act was passed by Congress in March 2020, business registrations increased by 60 percent. This comes at a cost, though, because the pandemic-related economic hardships are “likely to damage entrepreneurship and put many small businesses in a financial hole” the article stated, adding that “there are signs that many have turned to creating businesses after losing employment elsewhere.”

That concept is not lost on Dean, which developed the MDBBA to boost Black-owned businesses and champion their causes.

That day, she asked audience members if they could do something to “make a tangible change” to close the wealth gap what would they do?

Dean said that there is an opportunity to “do something about it.”

From asking developers to contribute to a racial equity fund to help close his wealth gap, ask organizations to donate a zero-percent loan interest for Black businesses to be in Detroit, or give Black Bottom descendants (homeowners and entreprenuers) a first opportunity to purchase land or to occupy spaces or operate businesses.

It’s all possible she said. “Would you do something absurd?”

Dean told the Michigan Chronicle afterward that part of the work of closing that gap includes intentionality, funding and purpose.

“We have to really take bold action, to help to help fix some of the wrongs of the past. And so my hope is that people left the policy conference really, really taking a serious look at (what they could do),” Dean said.

Taking action will not happen in a silo.

Devon O’Reily, senior director of community engagement and leadership development, told the Michigan Chronicle previously that the oneday conference hopes to inspire and effect change.

“This year (we have the) same spirit focusing on the greater Downtown and with the pandemic and the whole shift in work and the entertainment scene and hospitality downtown we saw a huge downswing during COVID – now we’re seeing an upswing with different development projects,” he said. “It’s something that needs to be talked about when we talk about the future of downtown, the future of Detroit,” he said adding that that means including a more diverse perspective. “We want to make sure we have a diverse set of perspectives on what is the future of Downtown. There is no one answer to that – we are trying to collectively answer that through the conference.”

Senior Staff Writer Donald James contributed to this report.

this community. It is evidenced by his re-election to the Michigan Supreme Court. He has attended services at many churches, halls, and civic gatherings within the African American community. Always a welcomed guest, his remarks came as a shock and a blow to many throughout the community. In issuing an apology he said, “Today I apologized to my colleague Justice Kyra Harris Bolden in person at the hall of Justice and she accepted my apology. I regret overstepping Justice Bolden’s hiring process and should not have disturbed her ability to lead her chambers. I would also like to apologize to Mr. Martel.

He did not sign up for people to be invited into his life.” This acknowledgment is a start. However, we must also realize that claiming “disgust for Martel’s hiring” has cost him to resign from his job and forced him to relive his prior negative activity. He has already paid that price. It has tainted Justice Bolden. Many persons will hear only the original attack made upon her. They will forever be stuck in the halls of an injustice done to her. Some will believe that she is more concerned about reforming criminals than protecting the public. Many in the African American community who often have tragic and deadly encounters with police departments around the state are left with an uncertain assumption. The assumption is the Justice Bernstein that we thought we knew is more concerned about protecting police than administering real justice. The Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan put it like this, “It speaks to the implicit and explicit bias which is contrary to the Judicial Code of Conduct. Canon 3 of the Michigan Judicial Code of Conduct states, ‘A judge should perform the duties of office impartially and diligently.’”

The central theme within the Black religious tradition is one of redemption. It grows out of the necessity for us to remember that “we have all sinned and fall short of the grace of God,” Romans 3:2324. The Psalmist even writes, “let the redeemed of the Lord say so,” Psalm 107:2 According to my Torah, the holy book of the Jewish community, given to me by a dear friend and one I consider as my brother, “Tikkun olam” meaning repair of the world. It is a concept of Judaism in the pursuit of social justice and the establishment of Godly qualities. The late Justice Thurgood Marshall said, “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow

beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” Former Chief Justice Bridget McCormack said it well. “Mr. Martel was one of the best students I ever had. I wish I’d have hired him as a law clerk.

I can’t think of anything in a justice system that we value more. We should support people who succeed at redemption.” I believe that Justice Bolden leaned upon her wisdom as she made the decision to hire Mr. Martel. There must be recognition of the humanity of our fellow beings.

What we need are more folks who have been redeemed to play a significant role as clerks, office staff, paralegals, and even police officers within our judicial system. After fulfilling all of their legal obligations, required by our system of justice, their lives can demonstrate redemption. Perhaps Justice Bernstein can lead the way to a second chance and a new day. Justice Kyra Bolden was asked at a recent Fannie Lou Hamer Political Education meeting, how does she handle criticism? She replied, “I remain open to discuss any issues, within legal limitations with anyone. I am open and accessible. I know everyone will not agree with me and decisions that I may make and that’s all right. I will listen to what you are saying. If it bears substance on important subjects, I will consider it. If it is just a criticism with no substance, I simply dismiss it.” This great great granddaughter of Jesse Lee Bond, lynched by a mob in 1930’s Tennessee, appears to stand tall for her new responsibility to do justice. She should not be jeered. She should be cheered. She clearly understands the difference between retribution and redemption.

ownership, as seen through the lens of the Black experience in America,” King said. “We are very clear on our claim to every right denied our ancestors, including gun ownership. We also recognize that violence poses the greatest threat to our rights.”

King said that corrective policies that address root causes of violence, or that reinforce positive prosocial behavior, will “solve the problems we have.”

“We will maintain our boots-on-theground presence in our communities and pass out thousands of gun locks and information brochures, as well as hold more workshops and seminars in neighborhoods in conjunction with our partners in this work,” King added.

COMERICA HOMEFRONT

Wreaths Across America Expands Across Comerica’s Markets

National Wreaths Across America Day has become an annual tradition across the country to remember and honor fallen veterans and teach younger generations about the value of their freedom. Each December, Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and at 3,400 locations in the U.S., at sea, and abroad.

For the past several years, Comerica Bank has supported Wreaths Across America both in financial and volunteer support.

However, over the past two years, Wreaths Across America has also become Wreaths Across Comerica as the participation from both Comerica Cares volunteers and sites have grown.

“Each year, we have received more interest in supporting Wreaths Across America from our colleagues, and we wanted to continue showing our support for this moving tribute that helps us remember and honor fallen veterans,” said Patricia McCann Comerica Bank Vice President, Social Impact and National Employee Volunteer Program Manager. “With such interest, we wanted to make sure we connected and supported more local events in our Arizona, California, Florida and Texas markets. We were even able to support a Wreaths Across America in one of our new emerging markets of North Carolina.”

Once focused only the Michigan market, Comerica organized efforts at the historic Romulus Memorial Cemetery located off Shook Road in Romulus with the Romulus Public Safety Foundation. Romulus Memorial Cemetery features gravesite of veterans from every American war and conflict.

Romulus remained one of this year’s sites and continues to support Wreaths Across America with great support and turnout. Organizers in Romulus worked diligently to expand on the emphasis purpose of teaching by integrating youth into the program. Two Downriver JROTC groups helped volunteer, Girl Scout members from Troop #77488 recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and about a dozen members of the Wolverine Division Sea Cadets participated in the ceremony.

This year’s Wreaths Across America expanded significantly across the country for Comerica as. volunteers participated in wreath laying ceremonies at 11 different locations in Arizona (National Memorial Cemetery-Phoenix), California (Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary-Corona del Mar), Florida (South Florida National Cemetery-Lake Worth), Michigan (Resurrection Cemetery-Clinton Township; St. Hedwig Cemetery &

Game On Cancer, Comerica Continue Raising Resources to Reduce Barriers

The

Game on Cancer is one of Comerica’s more

employee fundraising campaigns in the Michigan market, and the

colleagues have now raised over $60,000 since 2018.

For the four previous years, Comerica has been recognized among Game on Cancer’s Top Corporate Teams, and this year was no different finishing in the Top 5 among corporate partners.

“Each year, our colleagues have continued to show great enthusiasm to support Game On Cancer,” said Patricia McCann, Comerica Bank Vice President, Social Impact and National Employee Volunteer Program Manager. “Cancer unfortunately affects many of us in so many ways. Henry Ford Health’s Game On Cancer program has proven so

Besides fundraising, partnerships with the

and

along with corporate partners, provide platforms to help elevate the Game On Cancer mission and raise awareness.

The goal of Game on Cancer is to assist patients and their families and caregivers with the financial burdens of a cancer diagnosis, allowing them to focus on what matters most feeling better.

Every penny raised helps patients in need pay for essentials like housing, food, utility bills, transportation to appointments, medication and more, while supporting critical programs and groundbreaking research.

Overall, Game On Cancer has raised over $220,000 this year.

In December, Comerica Bank capped off its fifth year teaming up with Henry Ford Health Game on Cancer community initiative and once again finished as one of the campaign’s top corporate partners.

2022 program culminated Dec. 16 at the Game On Cancer Field Day, an evening of celebratory festivities hosted by the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. The event included live entertainment, food, autographs and photos with Detroit Lions players and Legends, a Youth Zone, on-field football clinics, and an awards ceremony.

notable

bank’s

effective in providing resources to meet some of the unique needs of those who are courageously fighting cancer and trying to heal, as well as their families.”

Henry Ford Health’s Game on Cancer was created as a unique partnership and joint fundraising effort with the Detroit Lions and Detroit Pistons that brings together corporate partners to help remove barriers that could stand in the way of patients’ recovery, as well as enhancing patient care by reducing burdens. It also invests donated funds to leading-edge research.

Lions

Pistons,

Comerica colleagues on the field at Ford Field during Game On Cancer Field Day.

Detroit Lions team mascot, Roary, stops by to meet some of Comerica’s employees who supported Game on Cancer.

Game on Cancer Field Day included several fun activities for those who attended.

In partnership with the Romulus Public Safety Foundation, Comerica annually supports the Wreaths Across America ceremony in Romulus.

Comerica volunteers at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township.

Comerica colleagues and family members participate in ceremonies at Raleigh National Cemetery in Raleigh, N.C.

Wreaths were also placed by Comerica Cares volunteers at Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona del Mar, California.

Comerica Named One of America’s Most JUST Companies

by JUST Capital and

Comerica Bank was named to the list of America’s Most JUST Companies as recognition for its commitment to serving its workers, customers, communities, environment and shareholders.

JUST Capital, along with media partner CNBC, released the 2023 Rankings of America’s Most JUST Companies, including the marquee JUST 100. The Rankings are a comprehensive evaluation of how the nation’s largest corpora-

CNBC

Comerica Recognized by Newsweek for Commitment to Corporate Responsibility and Diversity

Comerica Bank earned a pair of high-profile recognitions from Newsweek as the publication named the bank to its 2023 list of America’s Most Responsible Companies and America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity.

Comerica’s ranking of 41st on the list of America’s Most Responsible Companies is the highest among banks and the fourth highest among financial institutions. This marks the fourth consecutive year Comerica has been named one of Newsweek’s Most Responsible Companies, which comprises 500 of the U.S.’s largest public corporations positively impacting their communities.

tions perform on the issues that matter most to Americans today, including creating jobs in the U.S., paying a fair, living wage, acting with integrity at the leadership level, contributions to community development, community support through volunteerism and contributions to local nonprofits, supporting workforce retention and training, protecting worker health and safety, cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace, providing benefits and work-life balance, protecting customer privacy, minimizing pollution, and more.

“We are honored to be named to this year’s America’s Most Just Companies,” said Wendy Bridges, Executive Vice President, Corporate Responsibility. “Comerica has long served as a leader in the corporate responsibility space, and we remain driven to create solutions ensuring the long-term success for our customers, colleagues and communities.”

Among the highlights, Comerica placed first among all banks in the Shareholders & Governance category, which examines how a company priorities good governance. It also tied for fifth among banks in the Customers category, evaluating customer service.

For the annual Rankings, JUST Capital collects and analyzes corporate data to evaluate the 1,000 largest public U.S. companies across 20 Issues identified through comprehensive, ongoing public opinion research on Americans’ attitudes toward responsible corporate behavior. JUST Capital has engaged more than 160,000 participants, on a fully representative basis, since 2015.

Compared to their Russell 1000 peers, companies in the JUST 100 on average:

• Created 12,318 more jobs in the U.S. from 2017 to 2021.

• Pay 72% of workers a family sustaining living wage (8.6 percentage points more than peers).

• Provide 9 more hours of career development training per employee.

• Offer 2 more weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers and 1 more week of paid leave for secondary caregivers.

“We are honored to be named to this year’s America’s Most Just Companies. Comerica has long served as a leader in the corporate responsibility space, and we remain driven to create solutions ensuring the long-term success for our customers, colleagues and communities.”

Wendy Bridges Comerica Bank Executive Vice PresidentExecutive Director, Corporate Responsibility

• Offer 2 more days of paid sick leave.

• Intake 79% less water per revenue dollar.

• Emitted 42% less metric tons of CO2 per revenue dollar.

• Had a 4.5% higher profit margin, 2.3% higher return on equity, and paid 5 times more in dividends.

Further demonstrating its ongoing dedication to environmental initiatives, Comerica recently published its first report aligned with the recommendations of the Task Force for Climate-related Disclosure (TCFD). The TCFD Report, available at comerica.com/sustainability, highlights Comerica’s climate strategy which is focused on supporting customers, integrating climate matters into its business and reducing the bank’s emissions footprint.

CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news, providing real-time financial market coverage, business content and general news consumed by more than 544 million people per month across all platforms. JUST Capital is an independent nonprofit dedicated to measuring and improving corporate stakeholder performance – from fair wages to workforce diversity to climate commitments – at America’s largest public companies.

JUST Capital publishes the annual list of America’s Most JUST Companies, the JUST 100, in partnership with CNBC. To learn more, visit: www.JUSTCapital.com.

“To be recognized among the largest companies across the country as a good corporate citizen is quite an honor,” said Wendy Bridges, Executive Vice President, Corporate Responsibility. “Comerica has remained at the forefront of the corporate responsibility movement, and this recognition illustrates our commitment to serving our communities and colleagues.”

Comerica has a strong history of identifying and addressing important environmental, social and diversity issues and has recently amplified its efforts. Last year, Comerica established its Office of Corporate Responsibility. Driven by the new office, Comerica’s Corporate Responsibility Platform was established. It encompasses five key pillars:

CAPITAL ACCESS: Providing access to capital focused on underserved communities, women, minorities and small businesses

DIVERSITY: Promoting a diverse, inclusive and equitable workforce

EDUCATION: Investing in financial education for underserved communities

CLIMATE: Addressing climate change

equity and inclusion remain engrained in the values Comerica

“Diversity, equity and inclusion remain engrained in the values Comerica holds important,” said Nate Bennett, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. “Through diversity, we strengthen our organization, allowing us to better serve our customers and communities.”

Throughout 2022, Comerica has received national recognition for its focus on corporate responsibility and diversity initiatives, including:

BLACK EOE JOURNAL: Best of the best 2022 Top Financial & Banking, Top Employers, and Top Supplier Diversity

DIVERSITYINC: 2022 Top Noteworthy Companies for Diversity

FORBES: Best Employers for Women HISPANIC ASSOCIATION ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY (HACR): 5-Star rating of excellence in the 2022 Corporate Inclusion Index

HISPANIC NETWORK MAGAZINE: Best of the Best 2022 Top Financial & Banking Company, Top Employers and Top Supplier Diversity

PRODUCTS: Enhancing ESG-related product and services

Newsweek also named Comerica to its listing of America’s Greatest Workplaces For Diversity. Comerica is one of 1,000 companies from across the country earning the designation. The listing, conducted by Newsweek and market data research firm Plant-A Insights, included a three-part evaluation reviewing publicly available data, surveys with HR professionals and anonymous online surveying of a diverse pool of employees at companies with 1,000 or more employees in the U.S.

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION: Perfect score of 100 for eight consecutive year on Corporate Equality Index

NATIONAL DIVERSITY COUNCIL: Best U.S. Companies for Diversity, Top Employer for Latino Leaders

NEWSWEEK: World’s Most Socially Responsible Banks

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S

MAGAZINE: Best of the Best 2022 Top Financial & Banking Company, Top Employers and Top Supplier Diversity

Wreaths Across America

Michigan supported five different Wreaths Across America in the Metro Detroit area, which was the most sites of any of the bank’s regional markets.

Nationally, thousands of volunteers place holiday wreaths on the graves of America’s veterans as a reminder of all their service to the country and the sacrifice they made service this country.

“Wreaths Across America continues to present a unique way to honor those who have fought and served for this county. To lay a wreath, to say their name, and to take a few moments to reflect and to say thank you is a touching experience. We are so proud of our veterans and we want to make sure they are not forgotten, even if a century or more later.” said McCann.

Veterans from the Revolutionary War to present day conflicts, including beloved devoted sons and daugh-

The annual tradition was formed in 2007. And the following year, Congress unanimously voted December 13, 2008, as “Wreaths Across America Day.” In 2008, more than 300 locations held ceremonies in every state, including Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries. Since then, hundreds of thousands of wreaths have been placed on the headstones of fallen service members with the help of volunteers nationwide.

MLK Day National Day of Service Inspires Comerica to Volunteer

“If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness. This this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”

-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; “Drum Major Instinct”; Feb. 4, 1968

Observed every year on the third Monday of January, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day recognizes the life and contributions of the Baptist minister, activist and perhaps the most prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement.

While the day does provide the opportunity to remember and reflect upon Dr. King’s legacy, MLK Day is the only federal holiday that is also designated as a National Day of Service.

For Comerica Bank, the banking centers and offices may be closed, but for many colleagues the day is not a day off but and day on as they give back to the community.

This year, volunteers, led by the Comerica African American Network employee resources group, spent MLK Day supporting Forgotten Harvest assisting with cleaning and food packing at the organizations 8 Mile warehouse.

During the afternoon shift, Comerica Cares volunteers packed nearly 10,000 pounds of food.

Founded in 1990, Forgotten Harvest sets out each day to reduce both hunger and food waste. Located in Oak Park, the organization rescues and redistributed over 50 million pounds of food annually.

Forgotten Harvest provides rescued food and produce for metro Detroit families who are food-insecure and struggle to cover the cost of basic life necessities.

When first launched, Forgotten Harvest delivered donated food, free-of-charge, to emergency food providers in south-

east

In

“Diversity,

holds important. Through diversity, we strengthen our organization, allowing us to better serve our customers and communities.”

Nate Bennett Comerica Bank Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer.

Mausoleum-Dearborn Great Lakes National Cemetery-Holly; Oakview Cemetery- Royal Oak; Romulus Memorial Cemetery-Romulus), North Carolina (Raleigh National Cemetery-Raleigh), and Texas (DFW National Cemetery-Dallas; Houston National Cemetery-Houston).

ters, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers are honored.

Comerica colleagues at Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Comerica’s Patricia McCann lays a wreath and spends a few moments to reflect and honor a fallen veteran during Wreaths Across America.

Comerica’s Kevin Watkins, Shaelese King, Linda Nosegbe, and Hassan Melhem attend 31st Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Luncheon hosted by Greater Pontiac Community Coalition.

Michigan. Now, they have expanded to include fresh food grown from the Forgotten Harvest Farms.

Pontiac, Comerica Bank joined Pontiac city leaders and local officials to support the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition 31st Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Luncheon.

Founded by Reverend Douglas Jones, GPCC generates individual, social, and institutional change by focusing on youth, educations, economic development, and communication.

Comerica volunteers at Forgotten Harvest warehouse located off 8 Mile in Oak Park.

Comerica Cares volunteers package nearly 10,000 pounds of food on MLK Day, the only federal holiday that is also at National Day of Service.

Money.

Property Is Power! New Year’s Resolution Success

As the calendar turns to a new year, resolutions on self-improvement launch to the forefront of our minds. If your 2023 goals include buying a home, home improvement, or paying off debts we’ve got you covered.

Nearly two in five Americans make New Year’s resolutions. However, the vast majority of people will fail at meeting their desired goals. Setting your focus is one key to success. Instead of working toward a long list of goals, narrow your goals down to your top three. Better yet, try to make these goals build on one another. For example, if you accomplish the first goal, you’ll be prepared to accomplish the second goal. Then take these goals one at a time.

What goals are important for you to accomplish this new year? Do you want to:

• Buy a new home?

• Renovating your home?

• Paying off your debts?

Maybe the most important thing on your to-do list for 2023 is buying a new home. If so, It’s an exciting time. This time often takes patience as you move through the steps of homebuying, including mortgage loan approval, finding your home, negotiation and closing. Having the right real estate professionals on your side can make all the difference in today’s market.

Know

yourself and set realistic goals

An easy way to set yourself up for failure is to set unattainable goals, and then get discouraged when they don’t come to fruition. Recognize what has helped you achieve goals in the past (or held you back from success), and keep these in mind when setting realistic goals for 2023. Then set realistic and attainable goals that will work for you. Many people like to use the SMART method of goal setting. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. By creating detailed goals, you help set yourself up for success. It may also be helpful to break down big goals into smaller steps very similar to creating goals that build on one another. For example, say one of your big goals for 2023 is to enlarge the square footage of your home with an addition. What is one piece of that addition that must be completed first? You might start with making a goal to secure funding, then find an architect and contractor, etc. By breaking a big goal into smaller steps, your project becomes more manageable and less overwhelming.

The beginning of a new year is always an exciting time. The new year brings with it chances for a fresh start and all that can occur over time. Property is Power! is a movement to promote home and community ownership. Studies indicate homeownership leads to higher graduation rates, family wealth, and community involvement

New Chick-fil-A Restaurant in Livonia Opens with Community Building in Mind

When local businesswoman Vikki Hardy Brown began her latest venture in opening up a Chick-fil-A location in Livonia, she did it not only to make a financial win professionally but also to bring an additional ingredient to the fast-food chain that customers will remember long after they’re done eating.

“It’s my vision for our restaurant to infuse joy within the Livonia community through our passionate team members, great-tasting food, and signature hospitality,” Hardy Brown told the Michigan Chronicle recently.

Opened in early January, the restaurant didn’t waste time serving the Livonia community after Chick-fil-A, Inc. tapped Hardy Brown as the independent franchised owner/operator of Chickfil-A Livonia.

Hardy Brown told the Michigan Chronicle that while on family vacations, the family of four (including her husband and two daughters) made it a priority to stop at Chick-fil-A restaurants in the southeast, where they had “great meals and remarkable service.”

“I had always hoped the brand would expand into my home state of Michigan, and in 2016, I received an email for an informational session for people interested in becoming a Chick-fil-A franchise operator,” she told the Michigan Chronicle of her choice to run this particular restaurant. “I also really resonated with a quote from Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, ‘We’re not just in the chicken business, we’re in the people business.’”

Hardy Brown added that during the intentional application and interview

process, she also reached out to operators in the state, who couldn’t have been more “gracious” with their time to share more about their experiences as local operators.

As full-time, hands-on leaders in their restaurants and communities, Chick-fil-A owners/operators proudly reside in the areas where they serve.

“Now, I’m so grateful to serve alongside those operators as we grow Chickfil-A’s presence in Michigan and as I serve the Livonia community that means so much to me and my family,” she said.

Located at 11700 Middlebelt Road, Chick-fil-A Livonia will be open for dine-in, drive-thru, and carry-out from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through

The Livonia restaurant joins 12 other Chick-fil-A restaurants serving the broader Detroit market.

In Livonia, Brown is responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business, including employing approximately 130 full- and part-time team members, serving guests, and growing relationships with local organizations and businesses.

“I’m so grateful for the invaluable experience gained, ranging from the auto industry to the food industry, where I’ve been afforded the opportunity to cultivate relationships with other community leaders, businesses, and organizations,” she said.

A proud Michigander, Brown was raised in Detroit, attended Cass Technical High School, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Communications and a B.A. in African American and African Studies.

“At our restaurant, we’re committed to infusing joy within the Livonia community through our passionate Team Members, great-tasting food, and signature hospitality,” said Brown. “We have so many opportunities to show care, and I look forward to Chick-fil-A Livonia serving as a place where our guests can create memorable moments with their friends and family.”

Before operating Chick-fil-A, Hardy Brown’s career over the past three decades spanned business operations,

Financial Resolutions: 4 Tips And Tools To Improve Your Family’s Money Skills in 2023

To help start the new year off strong, have open and honest conversations as a family about finances.

The beginning of the year is a great opportunity to review your family’s expenses. Use this moment to review spending and savings habits, and discuss how to improve them this year. By having these open conversations with your kids, you can help them better understand the basics of money and lay a strong foundation for financial independence.

Not sure where to start? Check out these four tips that can help your family talk about your finances and build better money habits together.

1. Saving made easy for 2023

Managing your money can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. The end of the year can be especially hectic with additional expenses like holiday shopping and travel costs. To make things easier in 2023, automate your savings to help reach your financial goals faster.

With tools like Chase Autosave, customers can set up repeating, automatic transfers from their Chase checking

This presents a great learning opportunity for families to discuss the importance of savings, working towards a goal and building healthy habits.

Parents,

help them set up a plan to get there.

2. Work together as a family to improve your finances

Working toward a common goal can make everyone feel like they have a stake in the ground. Setting financial goals together for 2023 and creating a monthly budget will help organize finances throughout the year.

As a Chase checking customer, you can open a bank account with a debit card for kids. For kids 6-17, Chase First BankingSM comes with its own debit card and parental control, while offering several other benefits like setting spending limits and allowing them to experience money firsthand. This opens the line of communication between parents and kids about building good money habits.

3. Build healthy financial practices

Make financial discussions a regular part of family conversations.

Whether it be what or where they’re spending, how much they’re earning or their savings goal, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to discuss good money

Anthony O. Kellum

into their Chase savings account.

you can show your children how you determine your savings goals and then help them set their own financial goals for the new year. Once they’ve figured out how much they want to save,

Photo credit: Getty Images

Saturday. Guests of Chick-fil-A Livonia will soon be able to place an order for pickup, dine-in, or delivery on the Chick-fil-A App or online

Vikki Hardy Brown

Chick-fil-A

From page A-5

marketing, and consulting.

“Now, as the local Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Livonia, I look forward to continuing to grow those relationships in our community,” she added.

Hardy Brown said that the primary keys to success as a leader begins with walking in one’s purpose.

“When you’re walking in your purpose, people show up and want to collaborate and make an impact together. I also believe that for any business to thrive, care needs to be at the core - caring for each other, our guests, and the community,” she said.

Money Skills

habits with your kids. To get a clearer picture of your spending and saving habits, check out their Spending Snapshot in the Chase Mobile® app. You and your kids can also set up real-time account alerts to ensure you know exactly where and how they are spending their money.

4. Prepare students heading back to school

Now that 2022 is coming to a close, it’s time to prepare students heading back to school for their second semester. Before winter break is over, talk with your high school and college students about their finances and help them feel confident in their future by laying the groundwork for financial independence.

Accounts like Chase High School CheckingSM, for students 13-17 and co-owned by the parent, and Chase College CheckingSM, available to students 17-24 with no monthly service fee for five years while in college, provide access to digital banking tools to help them stay on top of their finances throughout the semester.

Using these four tips, your family can start the new year off with optimism about the state of their finances. To learn more and continue the conversation, visit chase.com/studentbanking.

Chase Mobile® app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.

Bank deposit accounts, such as checking and savings, are subject to approval.

Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

The restaurant has big plans for the community, which is already evident in its work.

In honor of the opening, Chick-fil-A, Inc. will donate $25,000 to Feeding America on behalf of the new restaurant. According to a press release, these funds will be distributed to partners in the greater Detroit area to aid in the fight against hunger.

Chick-fil-A Livonia also recognizes 100 local heroes making an impact in the community by providing them with free Chick-fil-A meals for a year.

Brown’s restaurant will also plan to participate in Chick-fil-A Shared Table This initiative redirects surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks, and nonprofits in need. To date, more than 15 million meals have been served nationwide from

Chick-fil-A Shared Table donations, the release added.

Hardy Brown will also sponsor the Detroit Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. to participate in the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, a national high school leadership program hosted by Chickfil-A Operators focused on making an impact through action.

“I’m a proud Michigander and the greater Detroit community means so much to me and my family – this is home for us,” she said. “As a local operator, I’m inspired to not only serve great-tasting food to our guests but to continue to give back to the community as best I can. As a Black female leader, wife, and mother of two, I’m passionate about using this platform to develop the next generation of leaders.”

She added that amid challenging

seasons throughout her career, she is glad she didn’t take “no” for an answer and continued to follow the grain of the wood to overcome the obstacles.

“I hope to serve as a resource, advocate and mentor for my restaurant’s Team Members, and for anyone else that I can help care for and encourage, personally and professionally,” she said.

Chick-fil-A, Inc., with headquarters in Atlanta, is well-known for its hallmark hospitality and the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich. More than 2,800 Chick-fil-A restaurants are located in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

Visit chick-fil-a.com/delivery to view delivery options in your area.

More information on Chick-fil-A is available at chick-fil-a.com and @ChickfilANews.

Michigan Chronicle

Keeping You Informed At All Times Of The Day

michiganchronicle.com

q 50 years of age or older

Cancer q Chronic kidney disease

Chronic liver disease

Chronic lung diseases

Cystic fibrosis

Dementia or other neurological conditions

Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)

Disabilities

Heart conditions

HIV infection

Immunocompromised condition or weakened immune system

Mental health conditions

Overweight and obesity

Physical inactivity

Pregnancy

Sickle cell disease or thalassemia

Smoker, current or former

Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant

Stroke or cerebrovascular disease

Substance use disorders

The list above does not include all possible conditions that put you at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Learn more at CDC.gov.

When it comes to severe illness from COVID-19,

If it’s on the list, it means high risk.

These risk factors can increase your chances of severe illness from COVID-19 If it’s been at least 2 months since you completed primary series vaccination or received an original booster, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about getting an updated booster designed for recent Omicron variants. Available to eligible people 5 years and older.

Updated boosters are currently available at no cost to you.

Scan or visit vaccines.gov to check eligibility and schedule an appointment.

© 2022 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. PP-CVV-USA-2090

Comerica Sponsors Aktive Minds Foundation’s Toast to the Youth Fundraiser

Aktive Minds Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide quality programs and resources to low-moderate income families in Detroit. Their overall goal is to make every childhood memorable and provide support to parents to make that possible.

Through the bank’s Michigan Hispanic Business Resource Group (BRG), Comerica served as a sponsor of Aktive Minds Foundation’s Toast to the Youth annual fundraiser at Hollywood Greektown Casino Hotel in Detroit.

During the event, the organization highlighted year-end accomplishments and presented their goals and vision for the year to come while raising funds in support of their S.T.E.A.M, Sports and Music programs that provided participants with the opportunity to fulfill their individual needs and make them feel like a valued member of society.

Comerica and the AACC partner to Host Second Business $ense Bootcamp in Michigan

The Greater Detroit area is home to one of the largest, oldest and most diverse Arab American communities in the United States. Recently Comerica Bank, in partnership with the Arab American Chamber of Commerce in Michigan recently hosted a second Business $ense Bootcamp for AACC’s members.

The session provided attendees with direct access to leaders of Comerica’s Middle Eastern Business Resource Group and other colleagues who could provide guidance and assist with their banking needs.

Geared towards business owners in the healthcare industry and medical professionals, the workshop presented various topics including wealth management, private banking lending, investments and access to capital.

Michigan’s American-Arab business community has become one of the most economically affluent communities, and Comerica’s Middle Eastern BRG supports American Arab Chamber of Commerce’s mission to build economic bridges by promoting and empowering the Michigan business community.

Comerica Bank was recently honored by two Asian Indian American organizations for the bank’s ongoing partnerships.

The Detroit Indian Women’s Association awarded Comerica’s with their 2022 Supporter of the Year Award at their annual Empowerment Gala in December. The award recognizes the important role community partners play in support of the DIWA’s mission to do their part in making the world a better place for all women.

The DIWA brings together women of all age groups from diverse cultural backgrounds, ethnicities and across industries to inspire and empower other women striving for success in their personal or professional life, alongside attaining a work-life balance.

Comerica supports the organization’s goal to strengthen and empower the network of all women who want to explore diverse industries through strategic partnerships and collaboration.

COLLEAGUE SPOTLIGHT

Comerica Names

Kevin Watkins Vice President, Southeast Michigan External Affairs Manager

Comerica Bank has named Kevin Watkins Vice President, Southeast Michigan External Affairs Market Manager.

In his role, Watkins will support Comerica Bank’s community commitment and engagements as he manages and coordinates community reinvestment and external affairs outreach throughout southeast Michigan.

Watkins responsibilities include building and cultivating relationships among philanthropic organizations, as well as community, civic and government leaders. He will help guide the bank’s community reinvestment activities, community investments and financial education initiatives, which include the wide-reaching Comerica Money $ense programs (Business $ense, Money $ense, Education $ense, Sports $ense, Senior $ense, and Church $ense). Additionally, Watkins will advise the bank’s Market President on external affairs-related issues.

“Kevin will be a valuable asset to our nonprofit and civic partners, as well as to Comerica’s ongoing programming focused on uplifting the communities we serve,” said Irvin Ashford, Jr., Comerica Bank Chief Community Officer. “His nearly two decades of service in southeast Michigan provides a deep understanding of our residents and small businesses.”

Previously, Watkins served as Vice President and Banking Center Manager of Comerica’s Ford RoadBeech Daly Banking Center in Dearborn Heights. He began his career at Comerica in June 2005 as a Management Trainee and has held various assistant banking center manager roles with increased levels of responsibility at numerous locations since then. In 2012, Watkins was elevated to banking center manager/assistant vice president.

Watkins earned both his Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees from Eastern Michigan University.

Watkins’ previous community involvement includes Board Membership with the Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan and Joy-Southfield Community Development Corporation. He also served as a mentor with the Real Life 101 Scholarship Fund and volunteered with Operation Hope’s Banking On Our Future, which teaches financial empowerment principles to children and adolescents. Watkins continues to actively volunteer with various nonprofit organizations, including neighborhood and school beautification projects and financial education. Additionally, he has served as a Comerica team captain for the UNCF Detroit Walk for Education and co-chair for Comerica’s African American Business Resource Group.

For more information on how Comerica colleagues are giving back to our community, visit www.facebook.com/Comerica.

Comerica Sponsors

Detroit International Celebration’s New American Entrepreneurship Symposium

New American entrepreneurs are pivotal to a bourgeoning and thriving U. S. economy. Immigrant entrepreneurs made up 21.7% of all business owners, created 8.0 million jobs, and generated $1.3 trillion of sales in 2019 in the United States. Due to lack a robust entrepreneur infrastructure supporting the new American entrepreneurs, many new Americans encounter enormous challenges because of their backgrounds.

Comerica Bank values the impact entrepreneurs have on local, diverse communities and continues to provide resources to help small businesses succeed.

Recently through Comerica’s Asian Pacific Islander Business Resource Group, the bank served as a sponsor of Detroit International Celebration’s New American Entrepreneurship Symposium, which is designed to equip new American entrepreneurs with the tools and resources need to overcome any obstacles they may face as business owners.

Wendy Holmes, Diversity and Inclusion Market Consultant–Michigan served on the symposium’s “Build a DEI&B Community for New American Entrepreneurs” panel, discussing how organizations can build a diverse, equitable, inclusive organization and the impact of these initiatives to their organizations.

Kevin Watkins

Comerica colleagues at the Aktive Minds Foundation Toast to the Youth annual fundraiser.

Wendy Holmes (right), Comerica Bank Diversity and Inclusion Market Consultant–Michigan, participated on the Detroit International Celebration’s “Build a DEI&B Community for New American Entrepreneurs.” Joining Holmes was Senior Relationship Banker Rassoul Ancouni.

The Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America’s Mid-West Chapter presented Comerica with their “Appreciation Award” in recognition of the bank’s support of the organization’s 2022 Diwali Celebration.

Diwali is one India’s biggest and most important holidays of the year, is a festival of lights that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and the human ability to overcome.

Detroit Indian Women’s Association and Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America

Honors Michigan Asian Indian Business Resource Group

Vice President and Banking Center Managers Usha Naidu and Duriya Lakdawala display Support of the Year Award from Detroit Indian Women’s Association Naidu with Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America’s Mid-West Chapter “Appreciation Award.”

Comerica and the Arab American Chamber of Commerce in Michigan Business $ense Bootcamp focused topics on business owners from the healthcare industry and medical professionals.

Comerica Colleagues and members of the bank’s Middle Eastern Business Resource Group present a Business $ense Bootcamp in partnership with the Arab American Chamber of Commerce.

It has become a national Indian festival, outside of India, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and others across the world celebrate the holiday. The business community considers Diwali an auspicious time to start new ventures.

The MMN Mid-West Chapter’s Diwali celebration brings together the community with food, fun and laughter. Their annual Diwali celebration inspires the community to promote cultural values, to provide fun and entertain-

ment, acknowledge societal and individual achievements and network with each other.

Comerica’s Asian Indian BRG is professional development and community outreach focused business and community initiatives that impact the Asian Indian community in Michigan. Comerica BRGs operate across the bank’s primary markets to pursue strategies that meet the banking needs of our diverse communities.

C ity. L ife

4 Steps to Live in the Present Every Day

(Family Features) Living in the present means celebrating each moment as it happens without worries about the past or anxiety for what the future holds and enjoying life to the fullest. Many people find themselves thinking about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow, making living in the now a challenge.

You can overcome those hurdles and live each day more fully by adopting habits that promote physical and mental well-being, including these suggestions from the experts at Natrol, the No. 1 drug-free sleep aid brand, according to data from Nielsen^.

Regular Exercise

You’ll find exercise on virtually every list of self-care advice, and for good reason. Exercise stimulates your body in numerous beneficial ways, not the least of which is getting your heart pumping and oxygen flowing throughout your body, including your brain. Exercise also pairs well with meditation or mindfulness activities, which allow you to align your body’s movement with your thoughts and focus on the act of nurturing your body while freeing your mind.

Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

2023: The Year of the Black Woman Still Choose You

By Sherri Kolade

“I need to see my own beauty and to continue to be reminded that I am enough, that I am worthy of love without effort, that I am beautiful, that the texture of my hair and that the shape of my curves, the size of my lips, the color of my skin, and the feelings that I have are all worthy and okay.”

Deep Breathing

Focusing on the here and now can be easier said than done. However, it’s possible to train your body and mind to concentrate on specific thoughts and tasks. Deep breathing exercises are an example of physically focusing yourself. Initiating a slow, steady breathing pattern and paying close attention to that rhythm can be an effective way to ward off negativity, whether it’s fear, anxiety or another undesirable emotion. Managing your breathing gives you a degree of control that can help you navigate a tricky situation or establish a deeper connection between your body and mind.

Quality Sleep

Getting quality sleep is linked to improved concentration and productivity, consciously managing your sleep habits can help you be more present each day. Creating a bedtime routine and establishing a comfortable, quiet sleeping environment are important steps. In addition, drug-free sleep aids like Natrol Melatonin products are designed to work with the body’s natural cycles and help users fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and wake up revitalized with a clearer, calmer mindÜ. Made with clean ingredients and no artificial flavors, sweeteners or preservatives, the line of melatonin products may help you rethink your relationship between sleep and living life to the fullest.

Time Management

For many people, the modern world’s frenetic lifestyle often demands constant multitasking. However, that continual juggling act makes it virtually impossible to give your full attention to any one aspect of your life. While a full stop to your multitasking tendencies may be impractical, you can carve

Actress Tracee Ellis Ross knows the deal about womanhood, Black self-love and knowing to walk away when that is not serving you anymore.

Black women, it’s time to choose yourself in the new year and every day after that.

Why?

Simply put, it’s opposition that speak negatively about Black women’s bodies, come for them through mainstream media, partners, family and friends, and other forms of oppression that could leave them feeling helpless.

But it’s a new day and creating positive narratives (and ignoring the false ones) can do wonders for self-esteem and shape one’s reality.

Author and world-renowned traveler Zee Clarke recently talked to the Michigan Chronicle about Black women prioritizing themself through her new Black women affirmations and talks about going beyond new year’s resolutions.

“In my book, ‘Black People Breathe,’ I invite people to adopt the phrase, ‘Today, I choose me,’” she said. “We often prioritize work and family obligations over our own self-care. However, if we consistently neglect ourselves, this can slowly lead to burnout. Our mental and physical health can suffer to such a degree that we can’t be there for others.

To me, cherishing your soul means taking the time to pause and ask yourself, ‘How am I doing? And, what do I need right now?’”

As an avid traveler, Clarke notes that different cultures practice mindfulness, which can make all the difference.

“I noticed huge contrasts in how different cultures practice mindfulness,” she said of her travels that include India and Ghana. “When I was in Ghana, I had the opportunity to learn djembe drumming and dancing. This, too, brought me a sense of inner peace and wholeness. I felt connected to something

much greater than me. Many people might not consider African drumming and dancing to be mindfulness, however, your entire attention is focused on the here and now. You are fully immersed in the rhythms. You allow your entire being, your body, mind and soul, to be one with the music. This, too, is mindfulness.”

Clarke uses deep breathing techniques, which she describes as a “game changer” along with sound healing.

“We hold a lot of stress in our bod-

ies. This rejuvenating practice allows us to release the stress and finally rest,” she said. “It is in rest that we can deeply connect with our truest selves.”

Another new book, “Affirmations for Black Women: A Journal,” is designed to help Black women feel empowered and embrace their self-worth through reflective journaling,

Oludara Adeeyo, psychotherapist and author of “Self-Care for Black Women,” presents her new interactive journal with over 100 affirmations to support, empower and build up Black women in all aspects of their lives — emotional, physical, professional and more.

The book’s readers will discover the significance of affirmations, how to leverage them to pursue their goals, and how to include them into a selfcare routine.

Adeeyo is passionate about helping people—especially Black women—improve their overall wellness.

“In a world that perpetuates negative stereotypes about Black women, it’s more important than ever to affirm Black women for their power, brilliance and bravery,” according to the book’s description. “You’ll also learn specifically why affirmations are essential for Black women in order to heal from the effects of misogynoir, to build up your

Unexpected Hotel Travel Trends for 2023

tions and hotels that cater to evolving traveler needs are heavily influencing travel choices.

Consider these conclusions from the experts at Hotels.com: 3-Star Superstars

However,

“We see a detailed and robust picture of travel into 2023,” Expedia Brands President Jon Gieselman said. “We’re seeing a surge in trips to culture capitals, a new wave of interest in wellness retreats and a spike in demand for outdoor destinations beyond just beaches and mountains. It’s not a new normal so much as people branching out to unexpected trends in what we’re calling the ‘no normal.’”

A close look at these trends suggests there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to travel in 2023. Insights sourced from the company’s first-party data, and from custom research of thousands of travelers and industry professionals across 17 countries, show value, alternative wellness op-

Travelers are seeking smarter ways to see the world without compromising on comfort or cool factor. In the U.S., nearly one-third (32%) of travelers are more concerned with value for money than ever before with data showing interest is up more than 20% globally in three-star hotels.

In 2023, 40% of U.S. travelers plan to stay in 1-3-star hotels, and 34% plan to book a vacation with added value inclusions, such as free parking or breakfast. Showing a shift in mindset from the post-pandemic bucket-list mentality and moving toward a more spontaneous approach, one-third of travelers would rather go on more trips in threestar properties than splurge on one big luxury getaway.

New Wave Wellness

According to the survey, more than half (53%) of Americans are seeking wellness breaks but cite

(Family Features) Following the COVID-19 lockdown, outdoor and drivable destinations were in high demand for domestic travelers. As the country has reopened, Americans embraced the idea of getting back to normal and began traveling much as they did prior to the pandemic.

travel trends for 2023 suggest there is no normal when it comes to travel planning. Instead, individual interests are driving decisions about where to go and what to do.

Author and world-renowned traveler Zee Clarke talks about Black women prioritizing themselves.

Oludara Adeeyo, psychotherapist and author of “Self-Care for Black Women.”

Photo

confidence, to build a self-care practice and much more. You’ll discover how to apply affirmations to your daily life and use them in order to manifest what you desire and deserve.”

Adeeyo told the Michigan Chronicle she grew up in a predominantly white and Asian neighborhood, a neighborhood without representation that looked like her.

“So, I always had to pull from within to be inspired, which is an exhausting experience as a child and adolescent,” she said, adding that because of that she internalized negative beliefs about herself and built walls to protect herself from the pains of being rejected. “Sometimes, I didn’t even know I was being rejected until reflecting on it years later. That being said, as a Black woman, I’ve felt the most rejection in the workplace and the doctor’s office.”

At work, Adeeyo was overlooked for a job despite her experience in favor of another woman “fresh out of school.”

“I felt rejected because, at the time, that was my dream job in which I was qualified,” she said, adding that the medical field is racist because some medical experts did not take her pains seriously. “I was constantly met with doctors who redirected and ignored my own insight into my health.... Having to navigate these situations was exhausting.”

Travel Trends

From page B-1

boredom with traditional retreats and want to experience something more exciting in 2023. Millennials are the top drivers of this as 60% of 25-34-year-olds are seeking alternative wellness getaways. Most travelers want to explore new offerings in the U.S. However, Gen Z has a different view and would prefer to book an adventure to Norway, Turkey, Switzerland, Iceland or Sri Lanka.

To capture this awakened market, some hotels are offering advanced rejuvenation programs and hands-on activities that encourage travelers to get up close and personal with nature. Sylvotherapy (forest bathing) and fruit harvesting are popular alternatives to cooking courses, sport holidays and meditation sessions.

Hot Hotel Openings Around the World

Hotels that cater to evolving traveler needs are opening around the world. These properties offer far more than a place to sleep with destination restaurants, coworking spaces and beautiful interiors. From an art-filled social hub in London to unbridled luxury in Rome, these are some hotels to have on your radar for the year ahead:

• La Palma, Capri, Italy

• 100 Princes Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

• Ikos Odisia, Corfu, Greece

Live In The Present

From page B-1

out time to dedicate your mind more intentionally and completely. You may be surprised by how much joy you derive from simply being present.

Explore more advice and products to help you stay present at Natrol.com.

Develop Healthy Sleep Habits

■ Healthy sleep begins with 7-9 hours of sleep a night, but there’s more you need to know to achieve the sleep you deserve. By getting the recommended amount of sleep and hitting all your sleep stages, you can wake up feeling more refreshed and ready to own the day.

■ Create healthy sleep habits. Establishing a consistent sleep-wake schedule helps regulate your circadian rhythms and increases your quality of sleep.

■ Avoid bright screens 60 minutes before bedtime. Exposure to bright LED

•

Adeeyo, who is a second-generation American (Nigerian-American and Black American) said that she was heavily shaped by her cultural upbringing.

“I do believe that having strong African roots did help me develop a sense of self-worth and identity,” Adeeyo said. “It also made me gain empathy and compassion for others in the African diaspora who do not know their African roots. Because, ultimately, we are all connected. The combination of my strong identification with being Nigerian, as well as learning to fully embrace my Blackness in America resulted in me being very proud to be Black and Nigerian. Identity is a journey. Sometimes you cling to your identity and other times you reject it. I’m so glad to be on the side of loving myself and my identity.”

She adds that Black women especially should reject the boxes that people try to put them into.

“It starts with getting to know yourself. When you know who you are, you are not intimidated by anyone trying to dictate how you should be,” Adeeyo said. “This is why I encourage Black women to practice radical self-care by engaging in activities like affirmations and journaling. Building up your selfworth and confidence will make it easier for you to step out of the way of these prejudices. For example, this can look like speaking up when someone tries to burden you with the role of being a specific Black woman trope. Or, disconnecting from relationships or spaces that are not aligned with your identity.”

Keeping You Informed Away or at Home.

•

•

•

•

• Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• art’otel London Battersea Power Station, London, Great Britain

Find more inspiration to take advantage of upcoming trends at Hotels.com.

Source: Hotels.com

lights such as smartphones, laptops and TV screens before bed can interfere with your body’s natural release of melatonin.

■ Consider taking a melatonin supplement. When you need a little extra nudge toward dreamland, melatonin may help you fall asleep and stay asleep so you wake up refreshed.

■ Create a calm and dark bedroom oasis. A dark, noise-free bedroom can help you sleep better throughout the night. Mask noise pollution with calming sounds and block out disruptive light with darkening curtains or a sleep mask.

■ Walk or exercise daily. Walking as little as 10 minutes a day can help improve sleep quality.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Source: Natrol

Celestial Suites, Kefalonia, Greece

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Princeville, Kauai

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, Tamarindo, Mexico

Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, Maldives, Indian Ocean

Six Senses, Rome, Italy

New Year, New Tech: New Year, New Tech:

(Statepoint) 2023 is off to a roaring start, and according to a recent YouGov poll, 37% of Americans have set a goal to accomplish this year. Whether you made a resolution or not this year, upgrading your tech can help you be more productive. Here are several ways to refresh and update the tech in your life this year.

1. Reset Passwords: With cyber fraud and security threats always present and ever changing, it’s a good periodic practice to set new passwords on all your accounts. From social media accounts to bank accounts, make it a habit to reset your passwords every few months to prevent fraudulent activity.

2. Upgrade Your Smartphone: The average American is forecasted to keep their smartphone for more than two and a half years, according to Statista. However, more regular upgrades may benefit you. Upgrading your smartphone will allow you to utilize enhanced security features, better battery life, faster performance and the latest 5G network. And with T-Mobile, you can get the best of both worlds without breaking the bank: America’s largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network, and the full potential of the latest Samsung Galaxy A14 5G smartphone. Samsung’s most affordable device yet, it packs a punch with a 5000mAh battery, 15W fast charging, 13 megapixel front-facing camera and triple-lens rear camera. Check out an unboxing video at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wXx-S7xHo74! Also, for a limited time, new and existing T-Mobile customers can get the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G for free with 24 monthly bill credits when adding a line on a qualifying plan in stores and online at www.t-mobile. com/cell-phones/brand/samsung.

3. Purge and Delete: If a new smartphone isn’t in the budget quite yet, there are a few ways you can refresh your phone to give it new life and improve performance. First, remove all large files taking up space. Next, clear your storage and internet browser history to speed up your phone. Apps that track your activity tend to drain your battery life. Delete apps you haven’t used in more than six months. If you’re still at full storage, try uploading items to a cloud provider or your computer and reset your smartphone.

4. Enhance Your Network Experience: The network your phone uses may need a major upgrade, and now there’s a way to test out another wireless provider’s network before making the switch. T-Mobile’s Network Pass allows you and your family to keep your current wireless provider, compatible phone and phone number and try out T-Mobile’s network free for three months. You’ll get access to T-Mobile’s largest 5G network

and the ability to compare your network performance to pick the best carrier for you. The best part, it all can be done online via an app, without having to go into a store.

5. Revamp Your Workspace: Whether your workspace is a traditional desk from home or the office, on your feet or in a vehicle, make sure you have all the necessary tools to help you work smarter, not harder this year. Upgrade your

workspace setup to be more ergonomically friendly – making sure your head and neck are straight, you have a chair with lumbar support and your computer monitor is about an arm’s length away. Invest in a Bluetooth headset and get your work apps connected to your smartphone so you can take calls and send important documents on the go.

Give your tech an upgrade and you’ll see success throughout the year.

(StatePoint) Plants add color, life and vibrancy to your home’s indoor and outdoor spaces and can even improve indoor air quality. However, if you are new to plant ownership, you may be wondering how to make your foliage thrive. Here’s are three tips for healthier plants:

1. Make a move: Many plants that do well outdoors in the warmer months can’t tolerate the cold. So don’t wait for subfreezing temperatures to bring planters indoors for the season. Be sure to give your newly-transported plants the right amount of light. This may require using special grow lights. Keep in mind though that different types of plants thrive better with different color spectrums and intensities, so group plants under the right lights accordingly. If your indoor air is dry in winter, you may find that misting the leaves of your warm climate and tropical plants will help provide needed humidity.

2. Prevent pests: Unfortunately, keeping houseplants often attracts insects that can harm them and bug you. But there are steps you can take to prevent a pest problem in your home. One important thing you can do is to be sure you are not overwatering plants. Too much water in effect drowns plants. It can also create standing water that becomes a breeding ground for flying insects. You can also provide round-the-clock protection from fruit flies, gnats and flies by plugging a Zevo Flying Insect Trap into a regular outlet near your plants and wherever flying insects enter your home or gather. Rather than chemical insecticides, the traps use multi-spectrum light technology to attract flying bugs into a discreet glue sheet cartridge. When the cartridge is full, replace it and toss the used one without ever having to touch a dead bug. To learn more, visit zevoinsect.com.

3. Know your lifestyle and limitations: There are many plant species that while beautiful, don’t require much care. So, if you’re new to owning plants, consider starting out with lower-maintenance options, such as succulents or snake plants. Because these plants don’t need much water, they are also great options for those who travel frequently or those who are simply forgetful. Have furry friends? Always check whether a given plant is toxic to pets before bringing one home.

Having a green thumb can seem like magic. However, with the right tools and knowledge, anyone can become a nurturing plant parent.

PHOTO SOURCE: Courtesy of @thatsbriannab

Enjoy Better-for-You Foods Focused on Flavor

FAMILY FEATURES

From salads and snacks to breakfast, lunch and dinner, rounding out a full menu of healthy meals shouldn’t be a chore. In fact, you can still enjoy your favorite flavors and tickle your taste buds with nutritious recipes that capitalize on powerful ingredients you actually want to eat.

A fruit-forward breakfast is a nutritious way to start your morning, and a fresh twist on pasta salad can make lunches or your evening side an enjoyable way to stay on track. Bowls filled with grains, veggies and a favorite protein are all the rage, and this seafood-fueled version is no exception when you’re craving a combination of your personal favorites.

Take your better-for-you eating plan from bland and boring to delightfully delicious by visiting Culinary.net for more recipe inspiration.

Eat Smart with Seafood

No matter if you’re searching for a healthy family dinner, a quick lunch at home or an easy idea to meal prep for the week ahead, these Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls are perfect for seafood lovers who also enjoy a hint of spice. Fresh, healthy and full of deliciously prepared shrimp, these bowls are also loaded with mushrooms, peppers and cucumbers.

The homemade sauce is light with a sweet yet spicy vibe. Resting over a cup of steamy quinoa for a filling base of healthy grains, it’s a quick and easy recipe you can customize with favorite toppings like sesame seeds and cilantro.

Find more wholesome, healthforward recipes at Culinary.net.

Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls

Servings: 2

1 cup quinoa

1 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon soy sauce

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon white miso

1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed

1/4 cup butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup mushrooms, sliced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 cucumber, sliced into half moons

5 green onions, sliced

1 avocado, sliced

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

Cook quinoa according to package instructions. Set aside.

In medium bowl, whisk orange juice, hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, vegetable oil, lime juice and miso until combined. Pour 1/4 of liquid into separate bowl. Set aside.

Add shrimp to remaining mixture and marinate 15 minutes.

Heat large skillet over medium heat with butter. Add shrimp, salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes on each side until pink. Add mushrooms and cook until tender.

In two serving bowls, divide quinoa, bell pepper, cucumber, onions, avocado and shrimp. Sprinkle sesame seeds and cilantro over both bowls.

Drizzle with reserved dressing.

Starting the new year with fresh intentions, whether you’re trying to reset for 2023 or simply add more greens to your meals, b

with delicious, nutritious and easy recipes.

With more than 100 varieties of fresh, healthy and convenient ready-to-eat salads, Fresh

information and incentives to help you achieve

be made ahead of time. Discover more fresh recipe ideas at FreshExpress.com.

Pesto Pasta Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes

Servings: 6

1 quart cooked red lentil rotini 2 packages (9 1/2 ounces each)

Fresh Express Twisted Pesto Caesar Chopped Salad Kits

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup walnuts, toasted

Prepare red lentil rotini according to package directions; cool 15 minutes.

In bowl, mix rotini and one dressing packet from salad kits. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; mix well. Refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes, or until rotini is cold.

In large bowl, mix lettuce from both salad kits with remaining salad dressing package. Add rotini and tomatoes; toss to combine. Sprinkle with garlic brioche croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese from salad kits and walnuts.

Substitution: Traditional rotini can be used for red lentil rotini.

A Fruity Twist on

Visit Culinary.net to find more nutritious breakfast ideas.

Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls

egins

Express provides plenty of inspiration,

your goals. For example, this Pesto Pasta Salad features red lentil rotini and Twisted Pesto Caesar Chopped Salad Kits loaded with a fresh blend of crisp iceberg and green leaf lettuces, crunchy garlic brioche croutons, Parmesan cheese and creamy pesto dressing. Add fresh grape tomatoes and toasted walnuts for a simple side or easy lunch that can

Pesto Pasta Salad

City of Highland Park 2023 March Board of Review

Current Year Appeals, Poverty Exemptions & Mistakes Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Members

Monday, March 13, 2023 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.

MASK IS REQUIRED City Hall

Specialist, Associate, or related, integrating, testing &releasing SW, electronic control units, tools, sensors, actuators, &harnesses into electronic system to control products in a variety of user apps, or related. Mail resume to Ref#39340-101, Human Resources, Ricardo, Inc., 40000 Ricardo Dr., Van Buren Twp, MI 48111.

them to work off-site on a permanent basis. Mail resume to Ref#3015-405, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

in Shape in

Don’t Forget

(StatePoint) While you may want to tone your abs, glutes and triceps in the new year, there’s one often-overlooked area of the body that deserves your attention too: your feet!

“A lot of people hit the gym or dust off their home exercise equipment in January,” says Danielle Butto, DPM, FACFAS, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and a Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). “But without proper precautions, a new exercise routine can cause foot and ankle injuries that could sideline you just as you’re hitting your stride.”

According to ACFAS, here’s what to know as you follow through on your resolution to get fit:

Common Injuries

• Don’t play through the pain of an ankle sprain. Avoiding treatment can not only cause further damage to the ligaments which may take much longer to heal or possibly require surgery, but you may be overlooking a more serious injury -- a stress fracture.

• A stress fracture may feel like an ankle sprain at first, but you’ll notice additional warning signs, such as swelling without bruising, and pain even during normal activities or when touching the area. If you have any of these symptoms, have your foot and ankle evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon as soon as possible.

• Pain or swelling around your Achilles tendon after a workout could be indications of Achilles tendonitis. Untreated, a stretched or strained Achilles tendon may worsen over time, leading to stiffness and fatigue in your injured leg. Worse yet, untreated Achilles tendonitis could result in a ruptured tendon requiring surgery and a rehabilitation of several months.

• Heel pain that lasts for more than a day or two, or worsens when you stand after sitting for an extended amount of time, may be plantar fasciitis. This common condition is a result of inflammation of the tissue extending from your heel to your toes. If caught early, your foot and ankle surgeon can recommend at-home conditioning.

In late stages, plantar fasciitis is harder to treat and takes longer to resolve.

Prevention Tips

The good news? Many injuries are preventable. Foot and ankle surgeons offer five tips to help you keep your feet and ankles healthy:

1. Be smart. Consider consulting a personal trainer at first to ensure you’re practicing good form, and to increase the duration and intensity of your workouts gradually and safely.

2. Stretch. Incorporate mobility and stretching into your fitness regimen, particularly before and after workouts.

3. Be footwear aware. Wear properly-fitting athletic shoes that support the arch of the foot, provide heel cushioning and are designed for the exercise in which you’re engaged. These measures can help you avoid plantar fasciitis and neuromas. Wear cotton or nonslip socks to help prevent painful blisters, which can become infected and cause more serious issues, especially if you have diabetes.

4. Guard against bacteria. Sweaty shoes, public showers, exercise equipment and the pool deck are breeding grounds for fungus, viruses and bacteria. Wear water shoes in public areas, and after workouts, and get your feet clean and dry quickly.

5. Book an appointment. Foot and ankle pain isn’t normal. It signals a problem that needs to be evaluated, diagnosed and treated by a specialist who fully understands this part of the body. To find a foot and ankle surgeon near you, use the “Find a Physician” search tool at FootHealthFacts.org.

“When you exercise, your feet and ankles do a ton of work holding you up and absorbing the shock of each step you take,” says Dr. Butto. “So, as you kick off your new fitness routine, don’t forget to protect them.”