Posts Tagged 'Wayne County'
[Thanks to Roy Jones and Joshua Elling for the information!]
Representative Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (3-Detroit) joined the Jefferson East Business Association (JEBA) for their Annual Spring Clean on June 4, 2011. The representative and her executive assistant, Roy Jones (who also volunteered with Detroit Habitat this summer), helped the JEBA staff and community volunteers clear four major area dump sites, collect trash, dispose of over 700 used tires, and conduct maintenance of the neighborhood Community Art Lot.
In addition to working at the cleanup, Rep. Talabi also returned a month later on July 2, 2011 for the 8th Annual Jazzin’ on Jefferson street festival. She graced the stage to speak encouraging words about Detroit’s future, then introduced one of the jazz acts. Says JEBA Executive Director Joshua R. Elling, “It was an honor and a privilege to work with the Honorable Alberta Tinsley-Talabi this past summer and JEBA looks forward to continuing that relationship.”
This year, State Representative Lesia Liss (28-Warren) volunteered her time at Warren Summerfest, a one-day event in the city of Warren that gives back to underprivileged families and children. At the event they are able to get one of the 1,000 book bags full of school supplies given away each year, haircuts, groceries, and much more.
According to the Summerfest website:
Summerfest began in 2004 with a group of people desiring to touch their city. It has grown to dozens of businesses, churches, schools and government officials working together to touch the needs of families in the city of Warren and Southeast Michigan. Since its inception the crime rate in our city has plummeted. The number of people attending has increased dramatically each year, and the stories of lives touched by this outpouring of love abound.
As needs and demands for help grow each year, we are continually looking for sponsors and volunteers to partner with us. Together, we believe we can bring hope to the hopeless, healing to the hurting, and freedom to those overwhelmed by the stress of life. With your help, we believe we can make a positive impact in our world.
[Adapted from a press release by Rich Adams.]
The 17th annual Western Wayne County Senior Celebration Day will take place Friday, Oct. 14. The event is organized by Representative John Walsh (19-Livonia) and Senior Citizen Achievement Needs, a local nonprofit organization for seniors.
“I am honored to have a hand in organizing this thank-you for seniors who have had such an impact on this community,” Walsh said. “This is not only a fun-filled celebration, but it is also very informative. Seniors can learn about nonprofit groups, businesses, health care organizations and more. I truly appreciate all the sponsors that make this important event possible.”
Tickets are now on sale for the event, which will take place at Laurel Manor Banquet & Conference Center, located on Schoolcraft Road west of Newburgh, in Livonia. The celebration runs from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the Livonia Senior Center. Ticket price includes a hot meal, bingo, music by Mike Wolverton, exhibitor booths featuring novelties, influenza shots, a raffle, games and prizes, and a free cloth bag in which to carry the items.
Rep. LeBlanc (18-Westland) rolled up his sleeves on Monday, July 11 to help with The Grange’s Gardenville community garden project in Garden City. The goal of creating this community garden was to provide a place where anyone, including the elderly or disabled, can help volunteer and give back to the community. Sharon Strebbing, president of The Grange, said she hopes it will be a place to educate the community and show that a big harvest can result, even from a small space.
Rep. LeBlanc came alongside several other volunteers from the Garden City Garden Club, Maxwell’s Art and Treasures, and The Grange to help with weeding and fresh planting. They were able to finish weeding almost the entire garden by the end of the morning. Strebbing said that Rep. LeBlanc was a pleasure to have at their site, and the representative said the garden work was relaxing and therapeutic for him.
The mission of the Grange has changed over the course of the hundred years it has been in operation, but they have always remained tied to their grassroots areas of agriculture, legislation, and community service. “We have been given the opportunity to work in each of our communities when a need has arisen and have brought attention to the city, state, and nation regarding those needs,” said Strebbing. Through projects like business community garden, the Grange has educated and helped communities and officials gain both legislative and agricultural awareness. Their goal is to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together to make their community a better place.
 State Representative David E. Nathan (11-Detroit) partnered with YouthVille Detroit to host the District 11 Fullerton Street Community Cleanup last month, to help protect natural resources and keep District 11 families and neighborhoods safe. Many volunteers joined the representative, his staff and members of YouthVille Detroit at the event, which was originally scheduled to take place in April but was postponed due to inclement weather.
“I am very proud to partner with YouthVille Detroit once again for this event,” Nathan said. “I’m also proud of the outpouring of support we’ve seen from our community volunteers and the businesses that are supporting them with the supplies and other resources we need to clean up part of our city. It’s unfortunate that we had to cancel last month’s event, but no amount of bad weather can dampen our spirit and dedication for revitalizing Detroit and supporting our neighbors.”
The rescheduled cleanup took place on Saturday, May 14 at the Fullerton and Hubbell Street areas, between Hubbell and Schaefer. Rep Nathan was part of a team that cleaned the grounds of an abandoned apartment building, making the property both safer and more attractive. Check out the during and after photos below – this crew worked hard!
 Senator Hoon-Yung Hopgood (8-Taylor) pitched in on May 21 to help the city of Ecorse with a community-wide cleanup. Called Project Sparkle and Shine, the event engaged a wide variety of volunteers to improve a local park and clean up businesses, homes and public spaces.
Read on for more information on the project’s goals.
[The following story about the kickoff event was written by Lisa Yensen and originally published in The News Herald on May 7, 2011. Click here for the full article and a video.]
ECORSE — Community members and city officials gathered at 15th Street Park on Monday to kick off a citywide cleanup effort.
Emergency Financial Manager Joyce Parker, state Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor), City Council members, employees of U.S. Steel-Great Lakes Works and residents gathered for the Project Sparkle and Shine kickoff event.
“Most property owners, for example, residents prepare for the spring with their own spring cleanup in and around their homes,” Parker said to the crowd. “Spring signals rejuvenation and a fresh approach. We at the city of Ecorse want to be a part of this movement and want to encourage others to do the same thing.”
U.S. Steel workers will be fixing the park as their way of helping clean up the community. They plan to fix broken fences, put new mulch under the playground equipment, build benches, paint and cut and edge the park’s grass. U.S. Steel will pay for all the materials needed to fix the park.
“They are the best,” said Gerald Champagne, public safety director and cleanup committee member. “There’s no way we’d be able to do it without (them).”
Hopgood was present to show his support. “It’s my pleasure to join with everyone here to promote this day,” he said. “I think it’s wonderful to see so many people come out. I am a true believer in people coming together to take care of issues and to solve problems, and that’s really what I see here happening today.”
Construction at the park, Outer Drive at 15th Street, could begin as early as this week. The rest of the citywide cleanup is set for 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 21.
The goal of the event is to unite residents, community organizations, corporations and organized labor to positively impact the city.
Residents are encouraged to clean up as an individual, family, civic organization or school or church group.
—click here to read the full story—
[This story comes from Erin Evans, Communications Manager at Wayne Metro Community Action Agency.]
 State Representatives Doug Geiss (22nd District) and Dian Slavens (21st District) were on hand to help Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency distribute over 30,000 plants for the agency’s Community Garden Program on Monday, May 23, 2011.
This season, Wayne Metro is coordinating 61 community gardens throughout the Out-Wayne County area. During the annual Plant Distribution at Heritage Park in Taylor, staff and volunteers distributed over 700 flats in addition to packages of seeds, garden equipment and garden signs. “The Community Garden Program continues to increase in popularity each year” said Louis Piszker, Wayne Metro CEO. “We’re proud to support 61 gardens this year, as these gardens have a significant impact on the communities and neighborhoods in which they are located.”
Representative Geiss and Slavens volunteered to help at the event as part of the Legislators Building Communities event. The Legislators Building Communities is a summer-long opportunity for legislators to learn more about housing and  community development activities through volunteering. The events are led by the Living in Michigan Coalition and a network of statewide and regional housing & community development advocates that is co-chaired by CEDAM and Habitat for Humanity.
Last year, the program’s 50 gardens yielded over 40,725 lbs of fresh produce given to low-income families or food pantries. Wayne Metro supports each of the Community Gardens with plants and seeds and the assistance of Master Gardeners. Community Gardens are required to give all fresh produce that the garden yields to low-income people or local food pantries.
 The Community Garden Program was designed to help low-income families and local food pantries increase access to fresh produce and healthy food. For more information on the program, please contact Shirley Moore at (734) 729-7706.
Legislators Building Communities is definitely underway! We have three projects coming up in the next three days.
Saturday, May 21: Senator Hoon-Yung Hopgood (8-Taylor) is working with the City of Ecorse on their Project Sparkle & Shine, cleaning up targeted areas all around the city.
Sunday, May 22: Representative Gail Haines (43-Lake Angelus) will volunteer at the 3rd annual Walk On Common Ground, a walk to support youth, adults and families in crisis in Oakland County.
Monday, May 23: Rep. Dian Slavens (21-Canton Township) and Rep. Douglas Geiss (22-Taylor) will help distribute plants and tools to community gardens all around Wayne County in conjunction with the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency. Other Wayne County legislators have plans to help in their districts’ community gardens later this summer.
We hope the weekend brings good weather for these outdoor events! Stay tuned for pictures and stories in the coming weeks.
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