Tag Archives: Detroit

Big Sean Donates $100,000 to Flint Water Crisis Relief

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D town’s own refuses not to let the water crisis in Flint, Michigan be off news feeds.

So, Big Sean shared his philanthropic scoop on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Wednesday: he donated $100,000 to Flint water crisis relief through his foundation.

Despite the AP reporting Flint’s lead levels below the federal limit, residents are still encouraged to drink bottled water. Big Sean says the city is still in a precarious situation.

“It’s not even close to being over,” Big Sean said. “That situation wasn’t a natural disaster. It’s something that should’ve been prevented and could’ve been prevented, so it’s just disgusting to think about the damages that these families and even kids have to go through with the lead poisoning.”

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The “Bounce Back” rapper revealed his mom suffered from a bout of lead poisoning, but luckily could reverse it through holistic medicine.

What will be a constant is Big Sean’s love for his hometown. Last night, the rapper held a cozy album first listen party for I Decided in Detroit.

Annnddd featured the Flint Chosen choir On his album. Telling Rolling Stone he wanted to “reach out and show some support from that side, creatively. It’s a song called ‘Bigger Than Me’ and once you hear it you’ll see why I wanted them to be on it. But I was just happy to have Flint be a part of my album in that way as well.”

For us regular folk, I Decided will be released on Friday, February 3.

 

 

IYB Woman Crush | Delivering Solutions to Homelessness

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Veronika Scott and an Empowerment Plan employee

Happy New Year!!

I’ll spare you the new year, new me mantra (insert eyeroll here) I espoused last year around this time. Or the laundry list of resolutions I’d likely break this week. I’ll approach 2016 with Nike philosophy–just do it. And encourage everyone else to do the same.

Before charging toward your goal like a Kardashian stalking a TMZ camera crew, take some notes on how it’s done from Veronika Scott. She’s the 24-year-old Founder and CEO (yaaaasss, honey!!) of Detroit-based non-profit The Empowerment Plan. The org hires homeless women as seamstresses to make coats that transform into sleeping bags for the homeless.

Veronika’s aha! moment came as a result of a college class assignment (she majored in Industrial Design at College for Creative Studies) to “design something to fill actual needs.” After visiting homeless shelters to gage their needs the slumber coats were born. During the day they serve as a normal winter coat and at night a flap is brought down and can be stepped into up to the knees, then zipped up like a regular ol’ sleeping bag.

The Motor City has a homeless population of 34,642, according to Michigan’s Campaign to End Homelessness. Overall there are over 86,000 people in Michigan without homes and 69 percent are single moms.

Veronika realized her slumber coats were a good start, but not the answer to preventing homelessness. When a woman living in the shelter told her to forfeit the outerwear for some much needed jobs.

Veronika did just that. The Empowerment Plan hires only people living in homeless shelters. And not just as seamstresses they are trained in manufacturing and tech as well. Whatever will help lead them closer to an independent life. The org has it sewed up.

” I believe people can tackle far more than they think they can.” Veronika says.

Thanks to Veronica and all those like her for making the path straighter.

Click here to donate and here to order a coat from the Empowerment Plan.

 

 

If You Blinked Woman Crush|How to Save a Student

Move out the way, Make room for the teacher of the decade, or IfYouBlinked's wcw Image Courtesy: The Detroit News

Move out the way, Make room for the teacher of the decade, or IfYouBlinked’s wcw
Image Courtesy: The Detroit News

Here’s a story to top all inspirational teacher stories. Sorry,valedictorians your fave teacher comes no where close to our woman crush.

When Detroit gym teacher Nadirah Muhammad found out her 18-year-old dance student A’Ja Booth was in need of a new kidney, she wasted no time offering hers last year.

And whaddayaknow they were a match!?

According to Global Grind, Nadirah’s kidney was removed seven months later at Henry Ford Hospital. Nadirah returned to class seven months later.

Just in time to see A’Ja graduate from West Side Academy next month.

This is what our Woman Crush–mom and wife too–told The Detroit News:

This is what we do as teachers. I did not do it for the accolades. I saw a human being in need and if it were my child, I’d want someone to step forward and help him.”

Here’s hoping there are more Nadirah’s out there.

Happy Turkey Drive!! RHOA Kandi Burruss, Ludacris and Mike Epps’ Thanksgiving Giveaways

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Needy families from Atlanta and Detroit have RHOA Kandi Burruss, rapper Ludacris and funnyman Mike Epps to thank for doling out turkeys through their respected charities.

Kandi partnered with Walmart–as well as requested turkey donations from the community–to collect the turkeys and trimmings she used to offer select single-parent homes in ATL, through her Kandi Cares charity. The housewife chanteuse distributed the thanksgiving goodies yesterday alongside daughter Riley.

Not far away, rapper Ludacris kicked off his annual holiday food basket giveaway to 250 families through his Ludacris Foundation.The rapper/actor not only distributed butterballs to the ATL, but also set up a coat and toy driver. Luda set up a one stop shop of generosity to needy Atlantans at the Utopia Academy for the Arts.

eppsieturkeydriveNot to be outdone comedian Mike Epps joined Big Sean in Detroit to take part in the All Star Give back turkey drive held at River Rouge Schools. The giveaway aimed to feed over 1,000 families in the motor city.

Finally, to round out the various acts of kindness that kick off the holiday season, FLOTUS Michelle Obama and “Extra’s” Mario Lopez plan a Thanksgiving surprise to a worthy veteran. The California native army sergeant fell on hard times after his tour of duty finished; became unemployed and lost his Vietnam veteran grandfather to cancer. “Extra” and FLOTUS stepped in to get him back on his feet. Watch “Extra” to see how the surprise plays out.

Kudos to these celebs and everyone for serving up blessings to needy families. Let’s pass that love and generosity around more.

‘Think Like a Man’ Actor Romany Malco Visits Detroit Non-Profit Org

Biggie instructed us to “spread love it’s the Brooklyn way,” and Brooklynite Romany Malco of “Think Like A Man” movies  did just that on a recent visit to Motor city.

Fresh off his “Think Like A Man Too” promo tour, Romany jetted to Detroit for some R&R and embraced an impromptu good works tour of non-profit orgs aimed at teens.

After posting a selfie on Instagram the “Weeds” actor asks followers to send him some local charities he could make surprise visits too.

He narrowed the avalanche of recommendations to three: Wolverine Human Services that offers a safe haven for at risk youth; Boys Hope Girls Hope is a charity that gives teens the guidance they need to independent and Covenant House that supports homeless youth.

photo credit: romany malco twitter

photo credit: romany malco twitter

Romany visited all three non-profit orgs and spoke to teens about his journey and learned theirs. He had this to say about his mentoring sessions:

The kids seemed grateful, open and receptive to my message. I was especially touched and look forward to doing more.

He also urged his followers to donate money or time to all three necessary charities.

Let’s hope other celebs will follow in his generous footsteps…