Michigan Chronicle 9.28.22

Beauty Bawse:

Michigan Chronicle

Detroit Land Bank Sold Over 20,000 Vacant Lots to Residents

By Rasha Almulaiki

Since launching the Side Lot program in 2014, the De troit Land Bank Authority (DLBA) has sold more than 21,000 vacant lots to Detroit homeowners, more than any other city nationwide.

The DLBA is invested in re habbing vacant and blighted buildings and returning them to productive use. Residents can direct their inquiries into acquiring home and land own ership opportunities to this overseeing body.

Side lots are defined as res idential vacant lands without a structure. The lot must be “ad jacent to the applicant’s occu pied property on the left side, right side, rear or diagonally behind (even across an alley, but not across the street).”

The criteria for eligible side lots include that the land must measure 7,500 square feet or less and it must not measure more than 300 linear feet on any side.

Oversized lots that exceed these measurements are priced at $200 and accessory structures are priced at $250.

Vacant Lot Rehab Improves Community Health

According to a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, a team at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania reported “in a de cade-long comparison of vacant lots and improved vacant lots, that greening was linked to sig nificant reductions in gun as saults across most of Philadel phia and significant reductions in vandalism in one section of the city.”

Philadelphia, much like De troit, has a comparable history of a manufacturing-led indus try, economic disparities and shared issues with blight.

“Improving the places where people live, work and play, holds great promise for chang ing health and safety,” said Charles Branas, PhD, associ ate professor of Epidemiolo gy. “Greening vacant lots is a low-cost, high-value approach, which may prevent certain crimes and encourage healthy activity for more people and for longer periods of time than many other approaches.”

The researchers found a cleaned up, green lot serves several functions for residents to plan community gatherings, which decrease “the opportu nity for crowd-based nuisance crimes such as disorderly con duct.”

Antonia Smith, constitu ent experiences liaison at the

Will a Ban on Menthol Cigarettes Save Thousands of Black Lives?

By Donald James Senior Writer Real Times Media

In April 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a ban preventing the Tobacco Indus try from using menthol in cigarettes. The ban would also stop the industry from using flavorings such as strawber ry, grape, and cocoa, in cigars. With the Biden Administration driving the pro posed ban nationally, the FDA is con vinced that banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars would significantly reduce disease and death in this coun try, especially in Black communities.

Research has shown that 85% of Black smokers in the United States smoke menthol cigarettes.

“The proposed rules would help pre vent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adults smokers quit,” said the U.S. Depart ment of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Additionally, the proposed rules represent an import ant step to advance health equity by significantly reducing tobacco-related health disparities.”

Menthol is a flavored additive ingre dient with a minty taste and aroma to mask the irritation and harshness that smoking tobacco causes. Research ers believe menthol cigarettes make it easier for smokers to become addicted and more challenging to quit.

“We are very happy that the FDA an nounced its proposed ban on menthol cigarettes in April,” said Menou Jones, founder and CEO of Detroit-based Making It Count Community Develop ment Corporation, a non-profit orga nization created to empower under served communities. “Now, we hope that the rule banning menthol cigarettes

will be extradited and go into effect sooner rather than later to stop menthol cigarettes from being sold in Detroit and other communities.”

Jones also chairs the De troit-Wayne-Oakland Tobacco Coalition, comprised of approximately 100 mem bers in the region, representing health, medical, business, faith-based, and other entities to ensure that commu nities have the tools and resources to help prevent the deadly consequences caused by menthol cigarettes.

The FDA was given the authority to regulate the sales and manufacturing of tobacco products in 2009 when Presi dent Obama signed the Tobacco Cos metic Act into law. In 2010, the FDA banned all flavored cigarettes, but men thol was excluded.

One of the initiatives the Coalition has implemented to help ban menthol cigarettes is “No Menthol Sunday,” a faith-based project created to bring greater awareness to the dangers of menthol products, particularly in Metro Detroit, where there is a significant Afri can American population. More than 20 churches in Detroit, including Second Ebenezer, Greater Grace Temple, New Destiny Christian Fellowship, and Third New Hope, have embraced the unique initiative aimed at helping communities better understand the issues caused by menthol cigarettes.

The event, held briefly after the con clusion of regular Sunday church ser vices, features comedian Mike Bonner delivering a short sermon rooted in humor but references the seriousness of the late Mike “Menthol” Wilson, a fic tional character representing the 45,000 African Americans who die each year from menthol products.

See BAN ON MENTHOL page A2

A Detroiter’s Guide to Navigating Cannabis Law

By Rasha Almulaiki

Whether you are an avid mar ijuana user, involved in the ag ricultural growth and retail in dustry or simply interested in following policy reforms, Detroi ters should be better informed on how to safely navigate the consumption and sales business of the growing cannabis indus try.

Cannabis law experts spoke to the Michigan Chronicle on how the laws have changed over the years and what residents must know before engaging in the cul ture of marijuana.

“I started in 1999 when I was sharing space over Anchor Bar,” Matthew Abel, founder of Canna bis Counsel in Detroit. “I mostly did criminal defense law on can nabis at the time. A lot of people were getting arrested in 2009 and 2010 and before [legalization] and the passing of the medical marijuana law because they just didn’t understand the law.”

Abel is also the former chair of the Cannabis Law Section of the Michigan state law and one of the founders of the International Cannabis Law Association.

He said there were plenty of grey areas of the law at the time that people need help navigating.

In 2008, Michigan became the

10th state to legalize medical marijuana for lawfully registered users 18 years of age or older.

Ten years later, the state became the 13th state to legal ize recreational use. Keeping in mind federal law still bans can nabis use in accordance with the 1970 Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Prior to statewide legislation, several cities in Southeastern Michigan adopted local reforms to decriminalize marijuana use and possession, including De troit, Ferndale, Berkley, East Lansing, Flint, Hazel Park and others.

“My phones were ringing off the hook with people asking questions,” said Abel, “Folks wanted to learn how to become patients and caregivers and then caregivers were looking for a business angle, even though there were almost 10 more years before there was a license. I was

“

The effects of menthol have been devastating and fatal for far too many Black people, Big Tobacco specifically targets our communities, and we are fed up.”

– Derrick Johnson NAACP President

Matthew Abel is founder of the Cannabis Counsel in Detroit, former chair of the Cannabis Law Section of the Michigan state law, and one of the founders of the International Cannabis Law Association. Photo courtesy of Matthew Abel.

Vacant Lots

DLBA, spoke with the Michigan Chronicle on how the side lot pro gram works to clear blight in the city and promote the beautifica tion of neighborhoods.

“The program guidelines stipu late that side lot applicants must occupy property adjacent to the side lot to be eligible for pur chase,” said Smith.

“Owning the lot or lots next door gives neighbors the power to control the land in their commu nity, expand their yards, nurture community gardens, create gath ering spaces, build playscapes and beautify their blocks. Main taining a side lot increases the interest within neighborhoods to ensure a safe and clean environ ment.”

The DLBA runs several pro

mostly cautioning them by saying this isn’t legal and that’s not legal.”

Although policies have relaxed in recent years, there are still stipulations to keep in mind.

“Don’t drive under the influence,” advises Abel. “That’s number one. Most people don’t, they realize it. It doesn’t lower their inhibition like it does with alcohol. If you’re using edibles, gummies seem to be one of the most popu lar varieties, start low and go slow. Don’t overdo it. It takes about an hour to kick in, but everyone’s metabolism is different.”

After legalization passed, Abel and his team at Cannabis Counsel re focused their work with entrepreneurial-minded clients seeking business opportunities in a boom ing industry. The law firm handles license applica tions, support and renew al, regulatory compliance, business law and intellec tual property law.

There are an estimated more than 25 to 50 microand mid-sized licensed grow facilities in Detroit.

Formerly Convicted Detroiters Seek Expunge

grams, including Auction, Own It Now and Nuisance Abatement, to acquire abandoned, often private ly owned, vacant lots and provide support services for new landown ers to renovate the lots.

Since 2014, the effort of these programs has “generated more than 7,300 successful buyer-driv en completed home renovations, with an additional 7,500 currently underway.”

Side Lots are made available exclusively to adjacent neighbors for 180 days. After this period, the side lots will be eligible for sale to interested buyers through other Land Reuse Programs.

DLBA reports that a post-sale survey shows 72 percent of its home buyers are Detroit resi dents.

Smith said the goal of the Side Lot program is to reward Detroit residents who have invested and remained in the City of Detroit

Law

ment to Remove Econom ic Obstacles

In 2012, Detroit voters supported Proposal M: Ordinance to Amend the 1984 Detroit City Code, enabling individuals caught with one ounce of marijuana on private property to face a civil infraction. These early steps amended local policy to “exempt adults, 21 years of age or older, from criminal prosecu tion.”

However, thousands of formerly convicted Detroiters prior to this change still face social and economic barriers due to the drug-related charges on their records.

In 2019, the University of Detroit-Mercy, in part nership with the Michi gan Supreme Court and Michigan State Bar Foun dation, launched a trav eling expungement clinic to assist eligible individu als with “the process for asking a court to set aside a conviction and expunge their criminal record.”

“When someone calls for a marijuana convic tion, I always ask them, is this conviction posing problems for you?” said Rebecca Nowak, director of clinical operations and

focused on rebuilding their neigh borhoods. Side Lots put public ly-owned vacant lots back into the hands of Detroit residents for pri vate ownership.

“Side Lot sales are good for homeowners’ property values, and property taxes on Side Lots help support City services that benefit our communities,” said Smith. “Real estate is a powerful tool in building generational wealth and the Side Lot program provides a direct, accessible and affordable pathway for land ownership.”

There are currently approxi mately 12,500 side lots still avail able for purchase by residents.

For other land and purchaser criteria, the DLBA provides a list of requirements on the Amended and Restated Vacant Land Policy.

For residents interested in pur chasing a side lot, visit buildingde troit.org/sidelots for more infor mation.

outreach at University of Detroit Mercy Law.

“Occasionally, you get people that might not, but a lot of people say yes. Housing, employment, these are barriers if you have a record.”

In 2021, Governor Whitmer signed legisla tion allowing a clean slate for non-repeat Operating While Impaired (OWI) of fenders. The law was ex pected to provide an es timated 200,000 eligible people an opportunity at a clean record.

Earlier that year, in anticipation of the bill’s passage, Mayor Mike Duggan urged thousands of Detroiters to apply for expungement assistance through Project Clean Slate.

“Under the old statue in 2019,” said Nowak, “We assisted 370 people over a few months. A lot of people were not eligi ble under the old stat ute. In 2019, to be eligi ble you could only have one felony and two mis demeanors. Now [since 2021], you can have three felonies and unlimited misdemeanors. There are some nuances and ex ceptions, but it opens up hope for a lot of people.”

If you are involved in an auto accident where you are deemed at fault

for driving under the in fluence, you are ineligible for expungement.

For people who are still incarcerated on drug-re lated charges, Nowak said she has advised folks to be patient with the wait ing time for expungement eligibility once released, even though it can be frustrating.

“Ultimately it’s the judge that decides,” said Nowak. “The clock starts ticking on the last day of probation. It’s a sev en-year waiting period if a person has more than one felony, five years for one felony or one or more serious misdemeanors, and three years for one or more misdemeanors.

“You’ve just got to wait, there is nothing I can do for you while in carcerated, but there is something you can do for yourself. If you stay out of trouble for this amount of time, you could be eli gible to have your convic tion set aside.”

Ban On Menthol

“The church is a foun dational institution in the Black community, and our congregants often look to us for moral guidance,” said QuanTez Pressley, lead pastor of Third New Hope Baptist Church. “Consequently, we felt it was our obliga tion to participate in No Menthol Sunday and be lieve that a consequential message blended with levity is an effective way to share this kind of so bering news,”

While many advo cacy organizations are championing FDA’s pro posed ban and anxious ly await its enactment, which could be anoth er year, not everyone is on board. Powerful civil rights voices such as Rev. Al Sharpton and Attor ney Ben Crump believe the ban could put Afri can Americans in further jeopardy at the hands of law enforcement agencies attempting to enforce the ban in Black communi ties.

In a New York Times story published on April 28, 2022, the print jour nalist writes that Sharp ton, after meeting with White House officials about the proposed ban, wrote a letter to Susan Rice, the Domestic Policy Council director, saying, “a menthol ban would impose serious risks, in cluding increasing the illegal sale of smuggled, black market menthol cigarettes as well as the street sales of individual menthol cigarettes – loos ies - and in turn place menthol smokers at a significant risk of enter ing the criminal justice system.”

Nevertheless, the NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil rights orga nization, favors the pro posed ruling by the Biden Administration and FDA.

“The effects of men thol have been devastat ing and fatal for far too many Black people,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson in a statement. “Big Tobacco specifically targets our communities, and we are fed up.”

Other national orga nizations supporting the proposed ban of men thol cigarettes and fla vored cigars include the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Amer ican Heart Association, American Lung Associa tion, and more.

When enacted, the FDA has clarified that its proposed ban “cannot and will not be enforced against consumers who possess or use menthol cigarettes. The ban will focus on the manufac turers, distributors, and retailers of menthol ciga rettes and flavored cigars.

“The tobacco industry has been a wolf in sheep’s clothing by funding lots of Black events, civil rights organizations, politi cal leaders, and HBCUs, making it difficult to dis cern that the tobacco in dustry is, in fact, the No. 1 killer of Black people,” said Jones. “And just like we fight police brutal ity, we must fight against tobacco-related deaths in the Black community. Detroit has a huge major ity Black population, so we must prioritize this as a major issue and bring everybody to the table to protect Black lives.”

For more information about Making It Count Community Development Corporation’s initiatives to end menthol cigarettes in Metro Detroit, log on to www.umakeitcount.org or email Mjones@youma keitcount.org. To learn more about the national campaign to end menthol cigarettes in Black com munities, log on to www. endmenthol.org.

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Artist Residency Program Inspires Blight Murals

By Rasha Almulaiki

Detroit is tackling the city’s most blighted neighborhoods by engag ing local artists in City Walls’ Blight Abatement Artist Residency Program (BAARP).

“We work with the Department of Neighborhoods and the Detroit busi ness liaisons to try to identify commu nity stakeholders who would benefit from these resources,” said Zak Meers, manager of City Walls.

“So, the three resident artists who paint murals for us throughout the seasons do so at no cost to the prop erty owners because [they] are essen tially donating their walls and saying I want to be part of this community-driv en process.”

Headed by the city’s General Ser vices Department, City Walls was launched in 2017 as a dedicated pro gram to enhancing public spaces in Detroit by focusing on the transforma tion of city walls.

This year, the City Walls program is running the fourth cohort of artists with BAARP. The initiative enables art ists to work with property owners who have received a blight violation ticket; a portion of the ticket cost will be eligi ble to be covered.

Roots.

“We try to find folks who would really benefit from it,” said Meers, “The qualifications are is it a public facing wall? Is it easily accessible by the public and will it be a high-impact location? These are the common three qualities we look for.”

Meet the 2022 BAARP Resident Artists

The city partnered with SpaceLab Detroit for the 2022 season of BAARP to sponsor three Detroit artists: Haba cuc Samuel Bessiake, Ivan Montoya and Quinn Faylor.

Each artist receives a stipend during their time, covers the cost of their sup plies and assistance with City Walls over the course of five months. Each artist engages community residents in the available spaces to bring their re spective visions to life in five murals throughout different neighborhoods.

“I really love that I do the kind of thing that means something to me in places that I’ve lived around,” said Bessiake, a Detroit-based multimedia artist, muralist and gallery exhibition ist.

He recently started his first mural on the Comstock Playground near the James Couzens Freeway.

Into the Wild: Black Detroiters Reconnect to Nature

By Rasha Almulaiki

Michiganders are fortunate to live in a state with many natural resources, from the five Great Lakes to state and local nature parks. In every season, there are opportunities to venture into the great outdoors on adventures away from city life and embrace our harmony with the natural world.

Black Detroiters can take advantage of several initiatives and programs the city offers to reconnect folks with the flora and fauna, starting in their own backyards.

It’s so powerful for Black people to get outside and [for] Black children [as well],” said Rachel Felder, naturalist for the Detroit Parks and Recreation De partment.

“Nature is something that’s sur rounding us and can help heal, offering knowledge from plant life to grow your own food and a change to help destress. Even taking a walk outside or sitting under a tree, there is something for ev eryone.”

The Parks and Rec Department pro vides opportunities for residents to step outside everyday life to go on hikes, attend summer camps, take bird walks, be a part of nature clubs at different rec reation centers and schools. Many pro

grams are available to learn about differ ent plants, animals and training on how to interact with the outdoors from short hikes to long camping trips.

Felder told the Michigan Chronicle that sometimes people are hesitant to engage in any outdoor activities because of a lack of prior experience outside as regular urbanites.

“Nature is a space that can feel in accessible,” said Felder. “It’s a space that can feel a little uncomfortable and depending on the level of exposure that you’ve had with it. It’s very powerful for Black folks to connect with nature, whether you live in the city or not be cause of the simple fact that nature is for everyone.”

The city’s Detroit Outdoors program provides training for residents coming into nature from different levels of expe rience, programming for youth groups, scout troops and school classes to have an overnight camping experience in the city. The program also helps offset costs that can be a huge barrier by offering ac cessible rentals of nature gear.

Felder said she witnessed more folks venture outside during the pandemic as people needed to think more creatively about safe ways to gather.

“Families started to get together as a family unit,” said Felder, “which can

be huge, especially if parents or elders haven’t done so before, it models for the kids that it’s fun to try new things. Even if you don’t like camping, you can find something to do together to spend time unplugged from devices and enjoy each other’s company in the natural world.”

Agriculture and Urban Farming

Several national agricultural sourc es have cited Detroit as the first urban “agrihood,” with suburban develop ments on sustenance farming for indi viduals and urban communities that has grown across the city’s vacant lots and underutilized green spaces.

Tepfirah Rushdan is the co-director of Keep Growing Detroit and co-founder of the Black to the Land Coalition. Both organizations are dedicated to serving Black and Brown Detroiters in recon necting to nature, including recreation, education, agriculture and sustenance farming.

“At Keep Growing Detroit,” said Rushdan, “we offer classes, one on one technical assistance with farming in the community, seasonal distribution of plants, and design assistance with black clubs and community gardens.”

Founded in 2013, Keep Growing De troit is focused on the priorities related to food sovereignty and community en

Neighborhood Leaders Speak Out on Housing Issues

By Sherri Kolade

Don’t be fooled by her small stature.

Field Street Block Club Vice President Daisy Jackson, 67, is Detroit – she may as well be at least.

The Islandview resident who has lived in her Lower Eastside of Detroit home for the past 54 years, told the Michigan Chroni cle while at a nearby friend’s home on Wednesday, September 7, that her life, well-being and her fami ly’s lives have revolved around her cherished property.

Her fourth generation family home is one that she has taken care of since moving there in 1971.

“I’m the first generation,” she said after living in Black Bottom before it was torn down. “I hate that we don’t have that anymore. It was a good time where everybody looked after everybody.”

Nowadays, Jackson is on a mission to continue to look after

others like how she grew up by having an eagle eye on her neigh borhood’s progress. She knows who is moving in and out, and what doesn’t belong – mostly big buildings that are responsible for raising local home costs, which she doesn’t like.

Jackson is like the mother hen you don’t mess with over her neighborhood club made up of both young and old residents who envision a safe, healthy and sus tainable future for their neighbors.

From helping longtime resi dents with home repairs to cre ating a safer and more affordable neighborhood – Daisy and her nearby friend, Toyia Watts, talked about their passion for being “hell” raisers for the neighborhoods they represent in the best way.

“We’ve been here for genera tions,” Jackson said passionately across the table from Watts, who also represents Islandview as the president of the nearby Charlevoix Village Association.

Watts, also a longtime Detroit

resident and one of the gener ations that make up her family home, talked at her wooden dining room table, which her parents pur chased for their house in 1951 –before she was even born.

“If these walls could talk – we had a party at this house,” Watts said. “I’m leaving it to my kids. I tell my nieces and nephews – this is the family home. I don’t see it as my home because all of us grew up in this house. There were good times and bad times.”

Watts said that her association, around since the 1970s, is very active. The street boundaries are Mack to Kercheval and Mt. Elliot to Maxwell.

Many other Islandview fami lies have lived in that community for generations, and more people become new residents and move there daily, according to their web site.

Yet, there have been forms of movement, too. Mass school clos

Resident artist Quinn Faylor recently completed this mural of the night sky and sun elements on I-94 and Van Dyke.

Toyia Watts (left) and Daisy Jackson (right), Field Street Vice President, are both community leaders at their neigh borhood associations.

Photo by Sherri Kolade

Murals

From page A-3

“There’s a peewee football team that plays out there and they have this stor age space for their equipment and for a while it’s been kind of an eyesore, so they reached out to me, and I painted a design surrounding the team.”

The mural is that of the team mascot, a cougar, as well as her three cubs. Ad ditionally, the art work has a football player and cheerleader running through tall grass with an inspirational quote for the home team, “Obstacles never last, but you got to keep pushing through the tall grass.”

Quinn Faylor moved to Detroit in 2016 from Petoskey, Mich. They began painting murals in their bedroom walls when they were younger before branch ing out to public spaces.

“I would describe my style as abun dant, joyful, and abstract, but some times they have figurative elements,” said Faylor. “I like to think about shapes as having characterizations, like how do these shapes behave in this world? So, it’s very grounded in a call and response to each other.”

Faylor has two walls lined up for murals. The first one is a few blocks away from their own, located off I-94 and Van Dyke on the other side of the Ketter ing-Butzel neighborhood.

“When I first got the residency,” said Faylor, “I really wanted at least one in my neighborhood because there aren’t any murals over there and still a lot of abandoned homes and a lot of vacan cy. It was really cool to meet some of my current neighbors drop by, talk to people and blog about it. It felt really good and very of my home.”

Faylor’s upcoming murals include one on the side of the Williams Recre ational Center on Rosa Parks Boulevard, followed by another on the wall of the

Detroit K-9 Supply Store on Gratiot Ave. near Seven Mile.

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Ivan Montoya moved to Southeastern Michi gan 20 years ago, before residing in De troit in 2013.

In 2018, Montoya worked at Murals in the Market as a wall manager and was given an opportunity to contribute a mural of his own, a space lady and a computer on Gratiot Ave. off the I-75 exit.

“I’m trying to get my murals to be very organic and grounded in nature and humankind, a little allegorical,” said Montoya. “Also, [it is] influenced a lot by my Mexican culture.”

The first one he completed is on I-75 and Dequindre St. in Hamtramck. Mon toya described the work as a parent hoisting a child on their shoulders while climbing a construction lift. The child is putting the sun in the sky, as if chang ing a light bulb.

“We were told to go into the process with ‘Opportunity Rising’ in mind,” said Montoya. “We do a lot of community en gagement to figure out what the commu nity wants. They want to see themselves reflected, Black people and the figures representing the working class.”

Montoya is beginning the next mural in the Fall, set to be located in the Mc Dougal-Hunt neighborhood.

“Our tagline is ‘Art should represent the values and identity of the community that it’s being created with,’” said Meers. “We really want to make sure that we’re empowering Detroit artists and the com munity is getting to be a part of it.”

In November, the resident artists will celebrate their contributions to the city with an art show.

Residents can view the progress of the City Walls Detroit Mural Map at detroitmi.gov/departments/general-ser vices-department/city-walls.

A Historic Victory Brings Drug Price Relief to Michigan’s Seniors

By Paula D. Cunningham

AARP State Director

Here in Michigan and across the country, millions of seniors will get relief from a new law that will help reduce out-of-control drug prices. For the first time in decades, Big Pharma’s relentless grip on their wallets, med icine cabinets and peace of mind will begin to be pried loose.

After years of calling on Congress to make prescription drugs more af fordable, we won the fight for Medicare to ne gotiate lower drug prices and help millions of se niors save money on their medications. That, in and of itself, is huge. But the new law, passed by Congress and quick ly signed by President Biden, will significant ly help in other ways. It will also limit the cost of insulin to $35 a month for people on Medicare and put a $2,000 annual cap on what seniors in Medicare plans will have to pay out of pocket for their medications. The new law makes shingles and other vaccines free, and it keeps the heat on drug companies by penalizing them if they raise prices higher than the inflation rate.

tion or buying gas and groceries.

For millions of seniors, this new law is genuinely life changing. Just ask Pam from Rockford who has re sorted to splitting dosages of her more expensive medications to make them last longer. “I’m struggling. I’m living paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “I thought I’m a teacher with a good salary and putting money away. And I thought I would be ok in retirement. But it is hard.”

From page A-3

ings, home mortgage and tax foreclo sures, and the gutting of city services like libraries, recreation centers and public transit, have caused families to leave in droves, which Watts is not happy about.

“We face mass displacement through higher rent, higher taxes, price gouging by insurance companies, and the rising cost of living, among many other fac tors,” their website added. “We want real guarantees built into redevelopment plans that prevent displacement of the poor, working-class, and largely Black long-term residents of our community.”

Watts echoed similar thoughts and told the Michigan Chronicle that her corner of the world has seen problems revolving around gentrification among other things.

“Since the [Detroit] bankruptcy in our community and neighborhood ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money has not uplifted the community at all.

“I’m so frustrated with the light, water [and electric] authority,” she said, adding that there is not much help for the residents when they need it most. “We’re struggling to pay our bills”

D.R. (Dirra) Castelow, 49, of Detroit, vice president of the North End Neigh bor Block Club, faces blight issues for the North End.

The North End Neighbors is a block club that has grown to serve and repre sent the entire North End Neighborhood. About 150 to 200 homes (or roughly 300 families) represent the neighborhood bordered between Hamtramck, High land Park and to the east of the Motown Museum.

Castelow (also the president of the Men of the North End club) told the Michigan Chronicle that the groups he belongs to, which include a lot more, all center on growth for his area.

“I’ve lived in my home for over 30 years – I’m a lifelong North End resi dent,” he said, adding that while he has stayed in different parts of Detroit, the North End calls him back. “I always came back.”

Over the decades, however, he’s no ticed a continual decline in services that residents rely on.

“I can recall a time any services you need can get them off of Oakland Avenue, now it’s sporadic,” Castelow said adding that many residents don’t have vehicles and the closest grocery store is a mile away. “We don’t have cleaners, laundro mats, don’t have local stores -- basically nothing here but us residents.”

Shirley Davis, 74, president of the North End Neighbors, said during an in terview that the organization was start

Nature

From page A-3

gagement in the cities of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park.

The organization also offers Urban Roots, an ed ucational program series offered to Detroiters who are mostly new to farm ing or come from a legacy farming background and need help navigating their own garden goals depend ing on respective needs.

“Some people come from communities with a high level of land vacan cy and want to use gar dening as beautification. And others are from more densely populated areas and want to find land to grow on. There are also folks who aren’t English speakers. So, it’s about trying to be helpful for all types of folks.”

ed in 2012 to up safety measures.

“To cut down on debris because crim inals were hiding in the bushes when police were chasing them down,” Davis said. “Because criminals were hiding in them. I’ve been doing a lot of clean up throughout the years and I’m getting older and I want to pass down what I know to the younger generation who will be able to carry on what we’re doing over here.”

Davis, whose husband of 30 years passed last year, was part of building that legacy.

“Everything I know how to do I am teaching to Castelow so he can pass it on,” she said.

Davis, her husband and Castelow discussed the importance of neighbor hood improvement and after her hus band passed away, she decided to pass the baton to Castelow, which all began from the mighty work of the late Delores Benett who started it all.

“She spearheaded what we are doing,” Castelow said. “We focus on getting rid of illegal dumping.”

“That’s number one,” he added.

From voicing opinions in neigh borhood planning to starting a neigh borhood garden, pocket park or other community space, joining a block club through the City of Detroit Block Club program encompasses many different local community groups, which are reg istered with and recognized by the City of Detroit. These groups have direct access to their district managers who provide resources, information and a link to Mayor Mike Duggan.

The Department of Neighborhoods (DON) offers a direct link between the City of Detroit and block clubs, commu nity groups, business owners, faith and school leaders, and everyday residents. The 14-member team includes a district manager and deputy district manager in each City Council district. Their top responsibility is fighting blight and re building and strengthening the fabric of the neighborhoods.

Each City Council district also has a business liaison focused on helping neighborhood businesses grow and suc ceed.

For more information, go to degc.org/ district-business-liaisons/.

Residents are encouraged to reach out to their District Manager for help in starting a block club.

For more information on joining a block club or neighborhood association visit detroitmi.gov and search “block club.”

Davis said that while the North End has a lot of issues and problems, they’ve been fixed bit by bit by a group who have a lot of grit, love, and some deep-rooted pride in their city and homes. “We want to make this a proud community.”

ters to walk through hes itations that are rooted in historical trauma associ ated with farming.

“A farmer out of up state New York…said it best, ‘the farm was the battlefield for Black folks,’” said Rushdan. “Black folks are really facing the scariness of the past, in terms of their positions on the farms.

“You’ll also have some Black folks who have taken up farming as a way to discover their self-de termination and their an cestral roots. And there are folks that are repelled by farming because of that history. Saying, ‘I don’t want to go back to that.’ There is a complex range of emotions, par ticularly for formerly op pressed people.”

grew into a nonprofit.

“We started off with camping trips, then COVID kind of derailed us a bit and we opened up some ideas,” said Rush dan, “Like a few over night events as a strong camping component with Black to the Land. We also do kayaking, hiking trips with youth, a team squad that does outdoor activities with teenagers. And winter spots, like cross country skiing and sledding.”

Black to the Land pro vides low-entry barriers for anyone in the com munity that doesn’t know where to start when it comes to cost and trans portation issues.

Paula D. Cunningham

AARP led the fight to lower drug prices for America’s se niors, and we won. Our members, activists and volunteers here in Michi gan and across the coun try stood up to the big drug companies’ army of lobbyists with their massive war chest and millions of dollars in misleading advertising, and we won. Few people thought it would get done, but we did it. With that success, AARP applauds Michigan’s U.S. senators and the members of the state’s Congressional del egation who stood up to Big Pharma.

Rushdan said educa tion is a big component to helping Black Detroi

Similar to the nature healing work of Keep Growing Detroit, Black to the Land began as a group of Black and Brown people helping others be in touch with nature and

For residents that want to follow upcoming events with Detroit Out doors and Black to the Land, follow both social media accounts @out doorsdetroit and @black tothelandcoalition for in formation about outdoor Fall activities and events.

It’s estimated the law will save tax payers and Medicare hundreds of bil lions of dollars over the next ten years by lowering out-of-control drug prices.

This is a historic victory, and it couldn’t come at a more needed time. Americans have had to pay three times more for their medications than people in other countries pay for the same drugs. And with the impact of infla tion on all of us, seniors who worked hard their entire lives, raising families, building this country and giving back to their communities, shouldn’t have to choose between filling a prescrip

As sweet as this victory is, though, the fight isn’t over. Drug companies are already spending millions to over turn the new law and stifle competi tion so they can drive up their high profits and keep charging Americans the highest prices in the world for the drugs they need.

AARP will keep fighting here in Michigan and across the country, and we won’t back down until all Ameri cans 50+ can afford their medication. It’s the right thing to do, and older Americans deserve nothing less.

Resident artist Ivan Montoya painted the “Opportunity Rising” mural off I-75 and De quindre St. in Hamtramck.

Money.

Property Is Power! What To Know About Your Debt-To-Income Ratio When Buying a Home

When you apply for a mort gage, your mortgage broker will do some quick math to figure out how much of a loan you can afford.

Your mort gage lender will consider many factors, and one of the most import ant ones is your debt-toincome ratio. It is usually shortened to DTI, and un derstanding this formula can help you better understand how big of a house you can afford.

An Overview of a DTI

Your DTI represents the amount of money you spend compared to the amount you make. Your lender is going to have very strict DTI requirements when deciding whether you can be approved for a mortgage. The lender wants to make sure you are not taking on a loan that you cannot afford to pay. If you cannot pay back your mort gage, your lender ultimately loses that money. Generally, your lend er will want to see a lower DTI as they go through your application.

Front-End DTI

Your front-end DTI includes all expenses related to housing. This includes your homeowners’ asso ciation dues, your real estate tax es, your homeowners’ insurance, and your future monthly mortgage payment. In essence, this will be your DTI after your lender gives you a potential loan.

Back-End DTI

Then, your lender is also going to take a look at your back-end DTI. This the first two other forms of debt that could go into your DTI. A few examples include car loans, student loans, credit card debt, and personal loans. Generally, this is the most important number because it is debt that you already carry when you apply for a mort gage. Your lender can always make adjustments to your home loan to fix your front-end DTI, but your lender does not have any control over your back-end DTI.

What Is a Strong DTI?

Every lender will take a slight ly different approach, but lenders prefer to see a total DTI some where around 36 or 43 percent. If you already have this much debt when you apply for a mortgage, you may have a difficult time qual ifying for a home loan above 43%. On the other hand, if you don’t have a lot of debt, your lender may qualify you for a larger home loan.

Detroit Employment Rate

“Stone’s Throw Away” from Pre-COVID Growth

By Rasha Almulaiki

Leaders in Detroit’s work force development are hope ful at the growth rate of em ployment for residents as the numbers climb closer to pre-pandemic levels and are expected to continue rising.

“Last I checked, there were about 12,000 open [job] oppor tunities at Detroit At Work,” said Nicole Sherard- Freeman, group executive over Jobs, Economy & Detroit At Work Program, City of Detroit.

Detroit At Work is a city initiative focused on preparing job seekers in Detroit to meet and get hired by prospective employers, from small mi cro-businesses to corpora tions.

In 2021, Mayor Mike Dug gan launched Detroit At Work’s Skills For Life, a $75 million three-year initiative designed to provide up to 2,200 Detroiters with finan cial support to build their skill sets and remove educational barriers to employment.

“The opportunities are across several high growth, high demand industries. There’s construction and re lated trades, manufacturing, including auto with inter nal combustion engine and EV work, and our suppliers, healthcare, IT, and now we consider small business its own industry to carve out and invest.”

Sherard-Freeman said roughly half of the residents in Detroit are working for small businesses, making in vestment in this sector a vital part of our city’s continued economic growth and neigh borhood economic develop

ment strategies.

“There is no shortage of opportunities for Detroiters,” said Sherard- Freeman. “One of the measures of success or progress is resident employ ment.”

According to the U.S. Bu reau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate as of Au gust 31, 2022 in the Detroit area is at 7.4 percent.

Tracking this year’s trend, the number dropped from 10.1 percent in June 2022 to 8.1 percent in July 2022.

Compared to previous years, the unemployment rate was at 16 percent in July 2021 and at 28.6 percent in July 2020.

“We are up to 227,000 De troit residents employed,” said Sherard-Freeman. “That doesn’t just mean employed in Detroit, just employed any where. And that number was

up from 224,000 in June. So that’s only 4,000 or so off from our pre-pandemic high…the numbers are trending up.”

Overcoming Barriers to Employment

Dave Meador is the co-chair of the Mayor’s Workforce De velopment Board and retired vice chairman and chief ad ministrative officer at DTE.

The Board is designed to help carry out the administra tion’s priorities in the work force by engaging hundreds of service professionals across Detroit At Work Career Cen ters to support employers and potential employees alike by identifying and removing bar riers.

“Some of them [barriers] that we’ve taken on are state wide issues,” said Meador.

“Auto insurance reform, for example, was a barrier. An other one was expungement reform. One of the biggest bar riers is just connecting busi nesses to people and vice ver sa. It’s ironic right now where people are looking for a job, they can’t find it, and employ ers can’t find people.”

Working closely with She rard- Freeman and the team at Detroit At Work, Meador said large-scale employers look ing to expand their operations in the city, such as Amazon, have reached out seeking a large quantity of workers with particular skill sets.

The Board works with hun dreds of employer partners in Detroit, the largest being Stel lantis’ manufacturing plant on the city’s eastside along Jef ferson Ave. and Connors St.

Job opportunities include Rush Trucking, a suppli

er-partner for the city’s three automakers.

“It’s been multiple projects that have added up to thou sands,” said Meador. “So, when you put all of this to gether, we’ve put in our 30,000 people into jobs. We have a [10 year] long-term goal of 100,000 people finding work.”

New job openings are avail able for Detroiters coming into the workforce from all skill sets and background ex periences.

Looking to the future of the labor force and ris ing industries, Meador and Sherard-Freeman agree that tech-related work with less education requirements is where the current generation of jobseekers need to have their sights set.

“Changes are taking place in the workforce, with auto mation and otherwise,” said Meador. “If you went to even the auto companies, they have jobs that previously required college degrees and they are methodically going through all their positions right now. It might have been required at one time, but it’s not required now. “

For example, General Mo tors is currently offering the GM ASEP program as a “high school plus” hands-on job training initiative and ap prenticeship for technically inclined students pursuing a career in the field.

“We in Detroit, we are a re gion, and across the state of Michigan,” said Sherard-Free man, “and consistently as a nation, need to be ever more aggressive with getting resi

The Freelon at Sugar Hill Brings Impactful, Equitable Housing to Midtown

The Freelon at Sugar Hill is an insti tution in its own right.

Detroit’s newest multi-use housing complex, located in Midtown, brings 68 units online in the city’s historic Sugar Hill neighborhood.

On Thursday, September 22 in the Sugar Hill Arts District, city and area officials broke ground on the multi-use housing complex 119 Garfield St.

The $38 million housing project from Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Develop Detroit includes housing for Detroit residents and deeply affordable units for veterans, as well as commercial space for entrepreneurs.

Twenty of 68 apartments are reserved for residents earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income.

Fourteen apartments are reserved for veterans with six other affordable apartments for those earning up to 80 percent area median income (AMI). All residents will reap the benefits of using shared spaces in the building’s commu nity lounge, workout room, and other amenities, including outdoor greens pace, attached parking, and new busi nesses, including a coffee shop.

The project replaces a vacant lot at Garfield near John R with 11,900 square feet of retail space and a 160-space park ing garage.

Anthony O. Kellum

The site is across from the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, and 14 of the 20 affordable units were created for vet erans served by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s HUDVASH (VA Supportive Housing) voucher program through the Dingell VA Medical Center. All veterans’ apartments come

fully furnished and decorated.

Sonya Mays, president & CEO of Develop Detroit Inc., told the Michigan Chronicle before the ribbon cutting that it’s been a “long time coming.”

“We started working on this in 2017, it got interrupted by the pandemic,” Mays said. “It’s been a journey, a tough

journey to get done. I’m excited because it looks great and I’m happy to be able to celebrate it with everybody today.”

Behind The Name

For decades, beginning in the early 1900s, the Sugar Hill Arts District was

Nicole Sherard- Freeman is the group executive over Jobs, Economy & Detroit At Work Program, City of Detroit.

The Freelon

From page A-5

home to African-American-owned jazz clubs and other business and cultural establishments.

Sugar Hill was not only a thriving entertainment and nightlife district in the 1940s-60s but it was also designat ed a national and local historic district in 2002, because of its rich history and well-known for being the hub of jazz and entertainment venues. Nowadays, Sugar Hill boasts a blend of residential, mixeduse, and arts-related businesses, and is home to cultural mainstays like the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) and the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art.

Local artist Judy Bowman’s work is displayed around the building, which she told the Michigan Chronicle person ifies Sugar Hill and more.

“This all ties into Black Bottom, Par adise Valley, Sugar Hill,” she said. “It was quite an honor because I’ve always wanted to do a public installation in my hometown of Detroit.”

The building is named in honor of the late Phil Freelon, one of the most cher ished Black architects in U.S. history. The building was one of the last devel opments that he worked on before his death in 2019. Freelon’s other works include the Smithsonian National Mu seum of African-American History and Culture in Washington and Atlanta’s National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Freelon’s widow, Grammy-nom inated jazz singer Nnenna Freelon, at tended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and spoke on the impact that the housing complex will have going forward.

Mays said during her speech that a few hundred people have touched the project.

“It just takes a lot of people,” she said thanking the many collaborators who helped make the project possible.

The groundbreaking ceremony, which coincides with the 12th annual

Employment

From page A-5

dents ready for advanced mobility op portunities in STEM or STEM-related careers. We’ve got to figure out how we keep pace with technology advance ments across a whole host of indus tries.”

As the city continues to emerge from the economic lows of the pandemic and coupled with the costs of inflation, Meador and his colleagues in the city’s leadership in workforce development

Detroit Month of Design, is a moment that Mays said (although coincidental) represents the continuous creative lega cy that she purposes to keep alive.

“We have a really deep and rich leg acy of creative energy and expression here and from the very beginning of this building design process our devel opment team wanted to honor that cre ative and artistic legacy,” she said, add ing that the units are nothing short of “amazing.” “They’re all different; they’re trauma-informed design.”

Mays added that she hopes Freelon would be proud of their work, which he more than likely would be.

“Phil explained (previously) that when he works on a building he wants a building designed to be of its place and of its time, and to have a reference back to the culture that is specific and spe cial about that location,” she said. “We want to do that here at Sugar Hill.”

Antoine Bryant, director, of Planning and Development, City of Detroit, told the Michigan Chronicle that it’s an ex citement to be working with prolific de veloper Mays and tribute the building to Freelon — not only a tremendous Afri can American architect but his personal mentor.

“It is a great representation of who he is, who he was as a designer and more importantly as a person,” Bryant said. “All of these things collectively are go ing to be tremendous for the greater, atlarge community and city of Detroit.”

Freelon’s wife, Nnenna Freelon, said that “this is a moment when dreams are coming true.”

Nnenna Freelon

“And we are glad about it,” she said. “My husband was a dream builder. He was a listener. … Before we agreed on concrete and steel and other materi als, there were dreams. Dreams that included the least of us. … dreams that included those who do not have a roof over their heads. Because we know that justice begins with home.”

In addition to bringing much-needed quality affordable housing, the project

are confidently leaning toward contin ued growth and opportunities for resi dents.

“We are now back within a stone’s throw range of where we were pre-COVID and at that point we had experienced multiple years of growth, “said Meador.

“We measure workforce participation on unemployment because unemploy ment alone doesn’t tell the real stories, so we look at work force participation. We are pretty close to where we were pre-COVID and then next year will sur pass that [and is] projected to continue to grow.”

is also significant because it extends the thriving green alleyway that has become a major destination in the popular Mid town entertainment and restaurant dis trict. An outdoor space adjacent to the building, developed in coordination with Midtown Detroit Inc., connects to the existing green alley and will be enjoyed by the building’s tenants, community residents, and visitors. The Freelon also adds a garage with 160 parking spaces for use by residents and the public.

“This project brings much-needed housing, not only for the growing num ber of Midtown residents but also for our veterans,” said Julie Schneider, di rector of HRD. “HRD is committed to ensuring our city provides high quality, affordable housing for Detroiters of all means and walks of life. We are proud to partner with Develop Detroit and POAH on this project.”

“POAH is honored to help bring more quality, sustainable housing and access to opportunity to Detroiters,” said Aaron Gornstein, president and CEO of POAH. “We couldn’t be more excited about this project in the heart of Midtown and to have partnered with Develop Detroit to make the Freelon at Sugar Hill a reality.”

Develop Detroit is a mission-focused real estate development company le

veraging the power of real estate to strengthen neighborhoods and over come housing inequity.

“At Develop Detroit, we believe in high-quality housing for all,” said Son ya Mays, president, and CEO of Develop Detroit. “This development not only will become home to Detroiters of all walks of life but is also one that reflects the needs and desires of our neighbors in the community. We are also proud to be serving our city’s veterans and to be adding affordable housing to Midtown.”

The project exemplified public-pri vate partnerships and brought together many partners, with several including funds from the City of Detroit, New Mar ket Tax Credit (NMTC) equity from PNC Bank, and a $4 million first mortgage from PNC Bank and $5 million in financ ing through Prudential Financial and POAH.

For more information on how to ap ply to The Freelon at Sugar Hill, res idents can visit the City’s affordable housing website, Detroit Home Connect here. The property listing is available here. The veterans’ units are available to HUD-VASH recipients through referral by the VA.

For more information, go to www. poah.org and www.developdetroit.org.

You Informed At All Times Of The Day

During his freshman year of college, Randy shattered records in the 100-meter dash. Unfortunately, he also shredded his knee on the gridiron. His surgery and nine months of grueling physical therapy paid off when he broke two conference records – and walked away with the Most Valuable Runner award.

I didn’t let a broken knee keep me from breaking records.

Randy’s story, and find your inner-Henry

henryford.com/IAmHenry

When a knee injury took Randy off the field, our sports medicine surgeons put him back on track.

HBCUs are more than a place for higher education

They are a legacy, a place you become your true self and where past generations uplift you to your destiny. It's your family's history and your community’s future. It's your HBCU.

Xfinity recognizes the legacy, harmony, necessity, and impact of HBCUs. And as the world changes, the more we must remain connected to the culture. Just say, "Black Experience," into your Xfinity Voice Remote to experience more HBCU.

Visit x finity.com/blackexperience to learn more.

ife

Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

Simple Tips for Mindful Eating

(StatePoint) Mindful eating doesn’t have to be restrictive and you don’t have to give up your favor ite foods.

“Simply incorporating more foods that are crafted with integrity and align with your values into your day-to-day eating can go a long way toward helping you feel your best,” says Kara Lydon, a registered dieti tian nutritionist. As an intuitive eat ing counselor, Lydon advises people to stop looking at food as “good” or “bad” and instead, listen to their bodies and eat what feels best in the moment.

With those principles in mind, here are a few simple choices you can make to nourish your body and enjoy your food.

Beauty Bawse:

Snacking can keep you satiated between meals and help you regu late your blood sugar and energy levels. It can also be an opportunity to take in essential vitamins and nu trients. Common processed snack foods are often loaded with sodi um, added sugars and trans fats. Try these wholesome alternatives: Greek yogurt with raw honey, hum mus with carrot and celery sticks, apple slices with peanut butter, eda mame, egg and cheese bites, nuts or fruit salad.

Choose Grass-Fed Dairy

In conversations about healthy eating, dairy products sometimes unfairly get a bad rap. But dairy actually has essential nutrients that can be incorporated into a well-rounded daily diet. Lydon says that it’s helpful to be intentional with your choices. The next time you visit the dairy aisle, take a clos er look at the labels and search for the term “grass-fed.”

“Grass-fed cows produce dairy with significantly higher concentra tions of beta-carotene and certain fatty acids, including conjugated linoleic acids and a more optimal omega-3/omega-6 ratio,” says Ly don. “These nutrients play key roles in disease prevention, mood regula tion, cognitive function and more.”

Grass-fed dairy not only tastes better and is healthier for you ver sus grain-fed dairy, it’s often more humanely produced. Check out brands committed to farming prac tices that are good for people, an imals and the planet, like Truly Grass Fed. The premium brand of Irish dairy products makes cheese and butter that is always non-GMO, growth hormone rBST-free, and an tibiotic free. Its cows live their best lives outside grazing on green grass maintained using regenerative farm ing practices. To learn more and find wholesome recipes, visit tru lygrassfed.com.

Grow at Home

If you have the space, consider starting a small garden in your yard or even indoors on your kitchen counter. Growing your own food is sustainable and can help you con

Expert Tips to Organize Your Home for Fall

(StatePoint) From the walkin closet to the kitchen pantry, catch-all spots make all the dif ference in daily routines -- but only if they’re kept neat and tidy.

Family organizing expert Jessica Litman, also known as “The Organized Mama,” is on a mission to help families declut ter and stay organized. She’s sharing her pro tips for getting your home in shape for this busy time of year.

Clear Away Cabinet Clut ter. ‘Tis the season for autumn chili, stew and other comfort foods. That means it’s also time to put your essential slow cookers and pans where you can reach them, so food prep will be hassle-free.

“When the weather starts to cool, I swap out summer cook ware for winter bakeware,” says

Litman. “I put the grilling items in the back of the cabinet and pull the turkey roaster and bak ing dishes to the front.”

For added storage, Litman recommends using a shelf rack or vertical organizer to keep cutting boards and pie pans neatly upright and easily acces sible.

Prep the Pantry. Create a system that gives grab-and-go snacks and cooking necessi ties a home. This will help keep the kitchen tidy in the midst of busy work and school sched ules.

“Do a pantry cleanout,” Lit man says. “Remove everything from the area and wipe down the shelves. Take the canned goods you didn’t eat and donate them to a local food bank.”

Use a combination of Duck

C o s item

T h e L pi BarFounderExpands WithThreadBeauty

By: Sherri Kolade

What does beauty brand inclusivity look like?

For The Lip Bar Founder Melissa Butler, it all boils down to looking within and knowing you are a baddie inside and out.

On the 10th anniversary of The Lip Bar, Butler launched her second brand, Thread Beauty, also now selling at Target.

In 2015 she was laughed out of the room after be ing rejected on Shark Tank.

Described as a beauty brand for humans of col or, Thread was developed for humans of color who are “expressive and unapologetic in their being.”

“We believe makeup is the greatest tool for self-expression, it’s a connecting thread that weaves itself through all of humanity, no mat ter our ethnicity, pronouns or orientation. Periodt,” according to its website.

Butler, a Detroit native who strategically launched a start-up beauty brand, The Lip Bar in 2012, developed a nationwide phe nomenon.

“I started the company making lip stick in my kitchen,” Butler said.

Butler obtained her bachelor’s de gree in Business Finance from Flori da A & M University before going on to work on Wall Street as a licensed stockbroker.

“Everyone deserves to have rep resentation. Without it, we are left seeking validation” she says. It was her belief in health and inclusion that led her to make lipstick in her kitchen and develop the vegan line, The Lip Bar. Her goal is to empower women everywhere of all ages, races, and body types to be confident in their

brand’s Clear Classic EasyLiner shelf liner and new containers to restore order to the space. Measure the shelves, cut the liner to length and then lay it flat. The shelf liner is durable, waterproof and designed to keep surfaces dry while mak ing them easy to wipe clean. Use the measurements to get an idea of what size bins will best fit the area. Store crackers, cereal, oats and pasta in clear containers with labels, and put spices and seasonings in a slim organizer.

“Set up items similarly to grocery store shelves by plac ing like items together,” Litman suggests. “When you do this, it’s like you are shopping in your pantry instead of hunting for things.”

Out with the Old. Before pulling out your fall wardrobe,

declutter the piles of “stuff” from the closet. This will make your space seem bigger and more organized.

“Remove clothes from this past season,” Litman recom mends. “Look through each

garment. If you didn’t wear it, donate, toss or sell it.”

Now that there is more room, hang an over-the-door shoe

Snack Smart

The Lip Bar and Thread Beauty Founder and CEO Melissa Butler.

Thread Beauty models are wearing a variety of Thread makeup products.

The Mental Health Crisis of Moms: What You Need to Know

(StatePoint) A new sur vey reveals that the men tal health of American moms is going largely un attended, with many liv ing under a near-constant state of stress and few seeking support to ease the burden.

The research, commis sioned by MDLIVE, an Evernorth company and leading provider of virtual care services in the Unit ed States, finds that 33% of mothers feel stressed or overwhelmed by their responsibilities as a mom at least five days a week. Drivers of their stress and anxiety may include financial concerns, ripple effects of the pandem ic, including the men tal health crisis among teens, work responsibili ties and being a caregiver simultaneously to both children and aging par ents.

Yet, for many moms, the prospect of managing their mental health has become a source of stress in and of itself. For 37% of moms, concerns about their own mental health are among their biggest stressors, second only to finances (40%).

Possibly even more concerning is that 70% of moms admit to holding back their feelings and not telling their partner or family when they’re stressed, and 61% feel that they have no one to turn to or confide in for help.

“Our research shows that many moms are suf fering in silence and not getting the support they need,” says Dr. Shaki ra Espada-Campos, who brings more than two de cades of direct practice experience to her role as behavioral health medi cal director at MDLIVE.

“I cannot stress enough how important it is for them to prioritize their own well-being.”

To help moms man age their mental health, MDLIVE offers the follow ing tips:

1. Prioritize self-care: Recognize that practicing self-care is not selfish.

In addition to things like eating well, exercising, practicing good hygiene, getting enough sleep, and seeing a health care pro fessional routinely for preventive screenings and other care, self-care also means taking time to pur sue hobbies or personal interests that bring you pleasure or fulfillment or offer you a way to relax and unwind – activities you may have abandoned after having kids because it would mean time away from family responsibili

ties. Practicing self-care puts one in a better po sition to help care for others because your own well-being is in check.

2. Make time to cul tivate relationships: Connecting with people who are important to you is essential to mental health. Make it a priority to spend time with part ners, family, friends, col leagues, or anyone else who may be important to you, away from the house and kids, even if it’s just for a short period of time.

3. Seek help when strug gling to manage stress and anxiety: If your emo tional state is interfering with your daily life – if you’re having difficulty controlling your mood, withdrawing from loved ones, feeling fatigued, having trouble sleeping, lacking motivation, or

frequently “zoning out” –it’s definitely time to seek professional help.

Acknowledging the

From page B-1

importance of mental healthcare, many health plans and employers have expanded the resources available to their mem

rack for rain boots and work shoes and use a closet organizer to store accesso ries, such as belts, purses and scarves. Litman also recommends dry cleaning winter jackets now so they’re ready to wear when cold weather comes.

Find Balance in the Bathroom. Whether it’s the primary bath or the kids’ washroom, make the most of your space by organizing everything into dif ferent categories, like towels and hair care. Once everything is grouped, you can decide what will be kept where based on the available areas. Use a tray on the counter and bins in pullout drawers.

bers and employers in recent years. New options include digital tools that can help with tracking mood, support medita tion, help build life skills, and provide self-care ad vice. Additionally, tele health visits with behav ioral health professionals offer private, convenient, quality care quickly. For example, MDLIVE’s plat form makes it easy to search for providers and schedule appointments with one of their psychi atrists or licensed ther apists. MDLIVE is a cov ered benefit for more than 60 million Americans through health insurers such as Cigna, Aetna, certain Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and many regional and local plans. To learn more or to regis ter, visit www.mdlive.com.

“Although it’s natural to feel like you need to be a superhero, it takes a toll. You should never feel like you’re alone in your mental health journey or that you need to suffer in silence,” Dr. Espada-Cam pos.

Thread Beauty

From page B-1

own skin and remember that they are enough.

Thread Beauty, which began earli er in February, is also “proud af” to be the first beauty brand designed with the Generation-Z BIPOC community as the main attraction, “never the afterthought – while also being hella inclusive and welcoming to our allies too.”

Thread Beauty products include con cealer, contour, lip gloss, complexion stick, bling products, blending sponge, foundation, and more.

“At Thread, we say what we mean and do what makes us feel good, all while freely expressing our creativity – espe cially through makeup,” according to its website.

Thread features 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free makeup products.

Butler said that the company was named Thread because of human con nectivity.

“The idea no matter who we are, our shape, body, sexual orientation – we’re still just connected by a thread,” she said.

“At Thread, we believe that makeup is the greatest tool for self-expression,” Thread’s website stated. “It’s a connect ing thread that weaves itself through all of humanity, no matter our ethnici ty, pronouns, orientation, or how much money is in the bank. We also believe that while makeup isn’t necessary –even though social media tries to make us feel otherwise – we’re perfect just the

way we are. Periodt.

Butler told the Michigan Chronicle that her journey into the beauty indus try began because she noticed a stark lack of diversity in this space. Her finan cial background also took a different path from the traditional beginnings of people entering this makeup space.

“Many people have a background in beauty, makeup artists, and that is really far from my truth,” Butler said. “I start ed my career on Wall Street and ended up starting Lip Bar because of a lack of diversity and an excessive amount of chemicals, and beauty products looks like one thing and so many people are trying to transform but they’re already beautiful.”

Butler added that Thread Beauty is about trying to change the way people think about beauty and pleasure and it is an honor to serve the beauty commu nity and be the reminder that “beauty doesn’t look like anything, anyone.”

Melissa and The Lip Bar have been featured in Forbes, Essence, People, Elle and Cosmopolitan magazines as well as LinkedIn, Fast Company and The Huff ington Post. And in 2018, she solidified her passion for disrupting beauty norms in her Ted Talk on beauty and culture.

“Thread was able to grow so quickly because of all of my years of learning with The Lip Bar for the first several years of The Lip Bar I didn’t even pay me a salary,” she said. “I was reinvesting all the money back into the business. I knew I wanted to do something purpose ful and needed in our community, [I] al ways believed that.”

For more information visit thread beauty.co/.

Litman says to wipe and line surfac es, especially under the sink, with Sol id Grip EasyLiner with Clorox before putting essentials away. Antimicrobial agents inhibit mold and mildew growth to protect the liner, and will catch make up smudges and water spills to give the area an extra clean feeling. She also rec ommends waiting until after the orga nizing process to buy bins and caddies,

so you know exactly what you need.

Mindful Eating Organize For Fall

Once these organizing projects are complete, your home will be ready for all the fun fall festivities and family gath erings.

From page B-1

nect more deeply to what you feed your family. What’s more, being able to har vest produce at its peak means more nutritional value and flavor per bite. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the pros pect of growing plants from seeds, start by buying a few pots of herbs, such as basil, chives and mint. These can be found at many grocery stores. They’re relatively easy to maintain, and can in stantly add zest to salads, soups and other meals.

Better eating should never feel like a sacrifice or leave you feeling hun gry. The good news is that wholesome, healthier-for-you choices that nourish the body and soul abound today.

Keeping You Informed Away or at Home.

Thread Beauty cosmetic products.

We support the local news our communities need

That’s why Google partners with publishers like Bridge Michigan, a statewide nonprofit news organization headquartered in Ypsilanti that covers people, politics, and the economy.

Bridge Michigan increased traffic tenfold and grew recurring donation revenue 400% after participating in our audience development program, one of the many ways we work with local publishers nationwide to build a stronger future for news.

Learn more about how Google supports local news g.co/supportingnews/local

The Detroit Public Schools Community District is seeking proposals for hard construction subcontractors under 23-0085 –

2022 Capital Improvements – Series 2a

Pre-bid conferences will be held at each site on the following schedule:

•Academy of the Americas (3811 Cicotte St.) – October 4, 2022 @ 4:00 p.m.

• Neinas (6021 McMillan St.) – October 4, 2022 @ 4:30 p.m.

• Clipper t (1981 McKinstry St.) – October 4, 2022 @ 5:00 p.m.

• Bow (19801 Prevost St.) – October 5, 2022 @ 4:00 p.m.

• Bethune (8145 Puritan Ave.) – October 5, 2022 @ 4:30 p.m.

• Bur ton (2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) – October 5, 2022 @ 5:00 p.m.

To obtain bidding documents, please contact Brad Anderson: Brad.anderson@christmanco.com or visit detroitk12.org/ procurement and click on the “Bids, Requests, and Proposals” link in the upper right corner.

The due date for Proposals is October 13, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.

Hard copy sealed bids addressed to Sabrina Gujral must be received at 3011 West Grand Boulevard, Suite 1100, Detroit, MI 48202 by a member of DPSCD’s procurement department. No oral, fax, or emailed bids will be considered or accepted. Late proposals will not be accepted. Ensure that the bid category is clearly labeled on the envelope/bid package.

A virtual Public Opening will occur shortly after 12:00 p.m. on October 13, 2022.

Call-In#: 1 313-462-2305 Conference ID: 112 941 743# https://tinyurl.com/2dxnhvje

All bids must be accompanied by a sworn and notarized statement disclosing any familial relationship that exists between the submitting company and any employee of DPSCD. DPSCD shall not accept a bid that does not include this sworn and notarized disclosure statement.

A bid bond per the specifications detailed within the bid package is also required with submission.

If you have questions, please contact the Procurement Department at (313) 873-6531.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting proposals for Armored Car Services for RFP Control No. 23-3684 may be obtained beginning September 28, 2022 from http://www.mitn.info. Responses to RFP are due by 3:00 PM ET, October 31, 2022.

HEALTH PROMOTION ADVOCATE

Starting Salary: $53,340

The Health Promotion Advocate (HPA)

care team

clinic,

The Health Promotion

organization’s

create brief interventions, health education, and referral to treatment. The HPA conducts patient follow-up as well as provides educational opportunities regarding the model for the team.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

Education Requirements:

•High School Diploma or GED.

Preferred - Associates or Bachelors’ degree in a relevant heath or human services field.

Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates):

Peer Recovery Coach -OR- Alcohol & Drug Counselor

Certification from:

•The State of Michigan/MDHHS (Peers only).

Michigan Certification Board of Addiction Professionals (MCBAP) Peer credential- CPRM or Alcohol and Drug Counselor – CADC.

•Or - a MCBAP Development Plan to acquire certification in Peer Recovery or Alcohol and Drug Counseling filed within 1 month of hire and completed timely per MCBAP guidelines (CPRM or CADC).

•Or - Community Health Worker certification.

Experience Requirements:

Experience navigating the behavioral and/or physical healthcare systems.

To be considered for this position, all candidates must submit an application online by visiting OCHN’s careers website: www. oaklandchn.org/ Click the About Us link / Click the Careers link on the left side of the screen / Right click the job posting to open the link in a new tab.

Oakland Community Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PRODUCT ENGINEERING MANAGER IN OAK PARK

Eaton Steel Bar Company, Inc. (d/b/a Eaton Steel) has an available position of Product Engineering Manager in Oak Park, MI. Position requires a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering or Metallurgical Engineering & 36 months experience as a Quality Engineer &/or Metallurgist. Position also requires: Exp. must include: 1) 36 mos. exp. working in a steel processing manufacturing facility; & 2) 36 mos. exp. resolving & establishing process requirements for cold drawn & heat-treated SBQ (Special Bar Quality) steel bars. Exp. reqs. may be met concurrently during the same time period. Job duties: Lead & be accountable for all product engineering activities at Eaton Steel Bar Company. Activities for which the Product Engineering Manager will be accountable include reviewing of customer requirements, determination of capability, implementation of design, bill of material & routing, applicable product testing, incoming material conformance, & final certification. Directly supervise Certification Coordinator, Associate Quality Engineer/Customer Service Representative, & Training & Development Coordinator. Perform job reviews & provide training as necessary to directly supervised employees. Direct Quality Engineers to design & optimize process routings based on process capability, outside processor availability, non-destructive testing, & industry knowledge. Represent Product Engineering in any high-level corporate or company meetings & initiatives. All offers of employment with Eaton Steel Bar Company are contingent upon an applicant completing & passing background checks & drug screening test. Qualified applicants should e-mail resume & verification of reqs. to David Gunsberg, Vice President Human Resources, Eaton Steel Bar Company, at dgunsberg@eatonsteel.com.

HELP WANTEDHELP WANTED

Project Engineer

Mubea Tailor Rolled Blanks LLC, a German based automotive supplier in Auburn Hills, Michigan seeks a Project Engineer for the development of battery cooling plate automotive programs from acquisition to serial manufacture and plan and coordinate battery cooling plate program activities according to program timelines, budget, and customer and quality requirements; among other duties. Requires bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering or foreign equivalent and two years of experience in a design engineer or project engineer position with a Tier 1 automotive supplier Domestic and international travel 15%. Telecommuting permitted. Apply to Job Number: NAM00861 at: https://www.mubea.com/en/career

Senior Software Engineer

BorgWarner Transmission Products, LLC seeks a Senior Software Engineer based out of our office at 3800 Automation Avenue, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the aforementioned office address. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance of the aforementioned office address. Note, this position does not require travel. Duties include: Develop and deploy our technologies for key customer projects and ensure software product deadlines and deliverables are achieved; among other duties. Bachelor's degree in Software, Computer Mechatronic or Electronic Engineering or other closely related engineering field and five years of experience in the job offered or related Apply to job reference number R2022-6577 at borgwarner.com/careers

Product Engineer – Electrical BorgWarner Transmission Products, LLC seeks a Product Engineer Electrical based out of our office at 3800 Automation Avenue, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. Note, this is a hybrid position whereby the employee will work both from home and from the aforementioned office address. Hence, the employee must live within a reasonable commuting distance of the aforementioned office address. Note, this position requires international and domestic travel, as needed, up to 10%. Duties include: Provide program management and technical leadership in the execution of customer programs and internal development projects and primary technical customer contact for BorgWarner’s ECUs in the Electronics Systems & Controls (ES&C) team; among other duties. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical and Computer Engineering and five years of experience in the job offered or related Apply to job reference number R2022-6564 at borgwarner.com/careers

Service-Oriented Architecture / Oracle Service Bus (SOA/OSB) Developer Warren, MI, General Motors. Perform Oracle middleware (MW) appa administration including installation, configuration, maintenance, upgrades, deployments, performance tuning, &troubleshooting of operating systems. Support &assure the day-to-day operations for SW apps running on Oracle MW products incl WebLogic, SOA/OSB server &webservers. Gather info about level of activity expected on servers, anticipated no. of users, no. of requests, acceptable response time, &optimal HW configuration incl fast CPU, disk size vs. speed, &sufficient memory. Design, architect, develop, &deploy web-based apps on MW compnts. Design inplace upgrade solutions. Automate MW installation process thru Chef Automation tool. Work on fixing with upgrade for database adaptors &database pool configurations converting multiple pool to single pool. Complete MW cmpnts upgrade. Use Oracle SOA Suite 12c framework to design technical solutions based on bus. processes. Master, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Computer Engineering, or related. 24 mos exp as Developer or Engineer, installing &administrating Oracle MW products, or related. Mail resume to Ref#1556, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

Senior Design Release Engineer Warren, MI, General Motors. Engineer, design &release conventional ICE, BEV &AV brake lines &ICE psgr vehicle fuel lines, using Teamcenter &Tc Vismockup tools. Perform qlty assessment reviews to ensure variation/failure modes are documented &comprehended. Develop &maintain template DFMEA for brake &fuel lines. Conduct benchmarking analysis incl performance testing &physical analysis. Support cmpnt integration w/ other engrg teams. Develop &maintain technical specs &design best practices for brake &fuel lines. Produce EWO &TWO, using Engineering Change Management tool, &bill of material builds &build site directions to address issues identified by mfg plants &suppliers. Continuously improve product designs, release, &validate fuel syss cmpnts, to assure qlty, reliability, &compliance w/ regs, such as U.S. FMVSS 301 (Fuel System Integrity), 105 (Hydraulic &Electric Brake Systems), &116 (Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids). Bachelor, Mechanical, Automotive or Chemical Engrg, or related. 24 mos exp as Engineer, engrg or designing psgr vehicle fuel line, brake line, or fuel tank system, &developing or maintaining cmpnt level DFMEA, or related. Mail resume to Ref#1292, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

Information Technology Group –Vehicle Safety Data Scientist Warren, MI, General Motors. Develop

(DL)

Seeking BOILER OPERATOR/ STATIONARY ENGINEER at Oakland University Plant Maintenance

The successful candidate will become part of a skilled trade’s team responsible for the Central Heating Plant (CHP) and campus-wide maintenance activities. This individual will be called upon to perform a variety of tasks associated with maintaining and operating CHP, High Temperature Hot Water (HTHW) distribution system, building HVAC, and various mechanical / plumbing / electrical/ control systems. Minimum Qualifications: High school graduation, endorsed trade school or an equivalent combination of education. Proof of four years of experience operating heating plants, power houses or boiler rooms with high pressure steam and/ or High Temperature Hot Water (HTHW) operations. Individual must possess a valid current City of Detroit high pressure boiler operator’s license. Applicant must demonstrate operation and maintenance working knowledge of operation and maintenance of hydronic heat systems, fans, motors, isolation valves, control valves, pumps, expansion tanks, heat exchangers, cooling towers and water chemical treatment. This individual is to evaluate and take corrective steps to resolve equipment malfunctions. Candidate to have knowledge, experience and training for flame monitor safety controls. Applicant to perform boiler inspection teardown and restore boiler to service. Applicant to understand, troubleshoot and reset boiler management system components. Candidate must also possess a working knowledge of other trades including electrical and plumbing installations and have ability to perform repairs on these systems. Competence to repair equipment in a professional manner. Ability to read, understand, interpret, and follow blue prints, sketches, job specifications, layout piping, directions, safety labels, equipment manuals, etc. is required. Aptitude and skills necessary to operate a personal computer is also needed. Applicant must be available to work weekends, holidays and evening shifts as needed and respond to emergency calls. Applicant must have the physical ability to perform the full range of proposed job duties and capability to tolerate high levels of heat and noise. This individual must be able to work without supervision. Candidate must communicate effectively with supervisor, students, staff, faculty and visitors. A Valid Michigan vehicle operator’s license and a driving record acceptable to the university are required. See online posting for additional position requirements. Salary is $33.40 per hour after 90 days/$29.69 per hour probationary. Oakland University offers an excellent benefit program including a comprehensive medical plan with low contribution amounts for our employees, dental and vision plans at no cost for our employees, generous paid time off, University contributions to our 403(b) retirement plan after eligibility is met, tuition assistance for employees and dependents after eligibility is met, free access to our Campus Recreation Center and workout facilities, and flexible work schedules and wellness programs. These are current benefit levels subject to future changes. Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu.

Seeking OFFICE ASSISTANT I at Oakland University Admissions

Minimum Qualifications: High school graduation or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Three years general office work or related experience in the specified area. Knowledge of proper grammar, spelling & punctuation, basic word processing, spreadsheet and database applications. To perform a variety of multi-step clerical procedures required for the maintenance and support of a unit. This is a full time, clerical-technical position. Salary of $40,725 annually. See online posting for additional position requirements. Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

Seeking VETERANS CERTIFICATION COORDINATOR at Oakland University Center for Multicultural Initiatives Coordinate the Department of Veteran Affairs educational benefits, according to Educational Bill Title 38 U.S.C. to eligible students and their dependents. To serve as the primary School Certifying Official and will keep the Veteran Administration (VA) informed of the enrollment status of veterans and dependents as well as ensure appropriate payment of those benefits. Minimum Qualifications: High School graduation or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Five years progressively responsible office experience, including direct experience in office coordination, i.e., prioritizing work assignments, maintaining workflow to meet deadlines. Experience in group leading with ability to instruct and direct lower level non-exempt employees and student assistants in work methods and procedures. This is a full time, clerical-technical position. Salary is $48,339.00 annually. See online posting for additional position requirements. Must apply online to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

Employment Opportunity CITY OF EASTPOINTE

Youth Services Librarian

Starting: $42,692 - $59,641

To direct and coordinate services and staff in the youth department through the application of professional library principles and broad general knowledge. To develop and administer basic library programs for children, young adults, and parents and to direct and supervise the acquisition of materials appropriate to the informational, recreational, and cultural needs of the young people of the community. To plan, implement, and evaluate efficient procedures; to organize and manage departmental operations within the total library framework.

To review the minimum qualifications, details on the position and to apply, please visit our Employment Opportunities web page at https://www.governmentjobs.com/ careers/eastpointemi

machine learning (ML) &deep

that classify billions of

&predict safety hazards

on full lifecycle of ML model

exploration &preprocessing,

engineering, model training, hyperparameter tuning, model performance evaluation &deployment. Apply advanced analytics methodologies &approaches for vehicle safety emerging issue monitoring &product investigation/safety analytics areas. Use natural language processing to parse &preprocess unstructured data &develop machine learning models in Python to identify safety issues across passenger vehicles. Focus on new text classification methods &structured data analysis, incl ML &DL, w/ data sources incl. customer complaint, warranty, engineering, crash, telematics, survey, &research data. Use transformer architectures, encoder &decoders to create contextual word embeddings for DL models &adapt models to downstream text classification tasks. Master, Info Management, Math, Bus. Intelligence, Computer Science, Electrical or Computer Engineering, or related. 12 mos. exp as Data Scientist, Engineer, Architect, or Analyst, working on full lifecycle of ML model development including data exploration, data preprocessing, feature engineering, model training, hyperparameter tuning, model performance evaluation &deployment, or related. Mail resume to Ref#2402-207, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.

to