Jane’s Story: Rebuilding a Cathedral
How a Community Can Restore Hope, One Brick at a Time A Little Girl Full of Dreams When I first met Jane, she was only five years old. She would come to my clinic with her mother and siblings. She was full of laughter, curiosity, and endless questions. Life was an adventure. She dreamed big, […]
Measuring Lives Changed Through Collective Impact
Why Data Matters Every number represents a person. Every statistic represents a family. Behind every data point is a story of resilience, partnership, and hope. At our recent 100 Families Alliance meeting, we shared the latest outcomes from our work together. These numbers remind us that when a community unites around families in crisis, lives […]
Building Stability Together
Celebrating Our Partnership with the Lansing Housing Commission Affordable housing is more than a roof over someone’s head—it is the foundation upon which families can begin rebuilding their lives. Recently, I had the privilege of attending the grand opening of two new affordable housing developments by the Lansing Housing Commission. Together, these developments will provide […]
Building a Cathedral, One Brick at a Time
Why Collective Impact Is More Than Collaboration—It’s a Shared Vision Three Bricklayers, Three Perspectives At our recent Alliance meeting, I shared a story that has stayed with me for years. A traveler came upon three workers laying bricks. Curious, he asked the first man, “What are you doing?” The man replied, “I’m laying bricks.” He […]
Understanding Trauma: Why It Matters in Our Work
100 Families Initiative – Ingham County Alliance At our recent Alliance Meeting, we explored a topic that affects nearly every family we serve: trauma. One of the most powerful moments of the discussion was examining brain images that demonstrated how trauma can physically affect brain development and function. Trauma is not simply an emotional experience. […]
Working Together to Strengthen Families
The Power of Collaboration in Action One of the greatest reminders of why collaboration matters is the story of “John.” John moved to Lansing from North Carolina with his girlfriend and their young child, hoping for a fresh start. But over time, life began to unravel. The relationship broke down, his girlfriend was incarcerated, their […]
Workforce, Dignity, and Hope
Welcoming Amirika Richardson and Made In Amirika Addressing One of the Greatest Barriers One of the greatest barriers many of the families we serve face is the challenge of stable employment. Without consistent income, families often struggle to maintain housing, provide for their children, and move toward long-term stability. Employment is more than a paycheck—it […]
Expanding Hope into Eaton County
Eaton County
Rethinking the System of Care
Partner Newsletter: Strengthening Systems Through Collaboration 🌟 Dear Partners, Thank you for being part of a powerful and growing network committed to helping families move from crisis to stability. Our recent panel discussion brought together leaders across sectors to address a critical question: How do we build sustainable systems that truly support our communities? Several […]
From Fragmentation to Coordination: Strengthening Our System of Care
Message Highlight: Redesigning the System Together Dear Partners, At our recent gathering, I had the opportunity to share a message that is central to the work we are all doing together: understanding and redesigning the system. Too often, when families remain in crisis, we assume something is broken. But I challenged us to look at […]