Affirmations! Have you heard of the concept?

As early as elementary school, Jonae Maxey remembers seeing the negative effects of drugs and crime in her eastside Detroit neighborhood.  She has also witnessed friends and family members choose the wrong path and could have easily been right along with them, if not for her parents. 

“They instilled the values of responsibility, being secure with who I am, and the importance of helping others,” said Maxey. 

Trigger Warning: This article contains information and statistics surrounding sexual assault.

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, an American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds. While the report says sexual violence numbers have fallen nearly half since 1993, only five out of every 1000 rapists are convicted.

Running a successful business is hard. 

In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail within the first year, and about 50% fail after five years.  So, the last thing entrepreneurs need is an obstacle as they try to get started. 

Sept. 5 is International Day of Charities. The international day of giving began after the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution in 2012 to observe and honor Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The Nobel Peace Prize winner was known around the world for her devotion to ending poverty. International Day of Charities urges the public to continue Mother Teresa’s legacy by giving to those less fortunate and helping to end poverty worldwide.

On July 2, auto insurance reform was implemented in the State of Michigan, meaning lower rates for many drivers. Detroiters are already taking advantage.

Known as Peggy to family and friends, Gladys A. Noble, a senior citizen, has lived in Detroit for more than 50 years. She’s seen auto insurance rates skyrocket, especially for those living in The D.

“I had to choose between putting food on the table or paying my auto insurance,” said Peggy. And there’s no doubt, those words resonate with countless residents.

“When my youngest daughter graduated from high school, we planned to put a for sale sign on our lawn.”

Embarrassed and frustrated with abandonment and blight in her community, Jacqueline Moore, a west side resident, was ready to call it quits and move somewhere more desirable. In fact, the property next door was so bad, all that was left was the exposed basement, along with other unflattering debris.

“Like Lululemon but better and Blacker.”

These are the words of athleisure wear designer Crystal White. She is the owner and face of the Detroit based W by Crystal White. The line has taken the female workout wear by storm in just a few short months.

In March, many Detroit restaurant owners made the tough call to close their doors due to the rise of the coronavirus in the United States. Under Governor Whitmer’s executive order, restaurants were allowed to serve customers with take-out only options, but fears of the virus had some businesses suffering drastically.

“You’re not going anywhere!”

Hard to imagine someone telling you that, right?  Now imagine those words coming from your own child. 

Well, that’s what Whitney Thornton faced when her five-year-old son jumped in her truck and demanded she stay home.

Thornton is a truck driver and, after years of being on the road, her kid had had enough.  But as a mother, she did what she thought was necessary to provide for him.  “He was young, and I don’t think he understood,” said Thornton.