Feel Good Friday - Winning Futures

Happy New Year! January  is National Mentoring Month, making it the perfect time to spotlight Winning Futures and their transformative approach to helping students plan their futures.

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the mission of Winning Futures is "to be an exemplary business-education partnership that inspires and prepares young people to be self-reliant and successful through workforce preparation, life skills, strategic planning, mentoring, and scholarship programs.” 

Winning Futures runs a unique seven-year Workforce Prep Mentoring Program that starts when students are in 10th grade and continues through four years of college, trade school, or other continuing education. Each student is paired with a volunteer career mentor from the business community who attends monthly sessions at participating schools across Metro Detroit—including Detroit, Harper Woods, Warren, Sterling Heights, Hazel Park, and Pontiac. This video explains more about what mentors do and the impact they have.

The program covers everything from career exploration and goal setting to financial literacy, emotional intelligence, and strategic planning. Students learn to create five-year academic and career plans, develop resumes, practice interviewing, and build the life skills they need to thrive. That means tackling topics like time management, overcoming obstacles, networking, and coping with stress—all the real-world skills that don't always get taught in traditional classrooms.

Winning Futures has had a big impact in the community. Since they began, they’ve worked with more than 50,500 students and awarded over $2.2 million in scholarships! In the 2024-25 school year alone, 98% of their seniors graduated from high school, and 92% of Year 3 students reported being more prepared to persevere through challenges. A University of Michigan study found that the program has a statistically significant and equitable impact across all races, income levels, and genders.

Winning Futures is the first and only mentoring program in Michigan to earn the National Quality Member designation from MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership—a testament to their commitment to excellence.

If you'd like to support Winning Futures, there are many ways to do so. You can volunteer as a career mentor or help with scholarship judging, make a donation and amplify their message on social media. Follow Winning Futures on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to their YouTube channel, and share their stories of student success with your network.

Feel Good Friday - Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa so let’s kick off the celebrations with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History an organization that celebrates African American heritage year-round.

Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, the mission of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, known as The Wright, is "to open minds and change lives through the exploration and celebration of African American history and culture.” 

Dr. Charles H. Wright, a Detroit obstetrician and civil rights activist, envisioned a space where African Americans could explore their history and take pride in their heritage. What began in Dr. Wright's home in 1966 has grown into one of the world's largest museums dedicated to the African American experience. Each year, more than 500,000 visitors explore The Wright's collections, making it a cornerstone of Detroit's cultural landscape.

The heart of The Wright is And Still We Rise, a powerful permanent exhibition spanning more than 20 galleries. This interactive journey takes visitors from ancient African kingdoms through the Middle Passage to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. The Wright houses more than 35,000 artifacts including documents from leaders like Malcolm X and Rosa Parks. It's also home to the National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Beyond its exhibitions, The Wright produces the African World Festival, one of the largest festivals celebrating the food, fashion, music, and dance cultures of the African diaspora. The museum also offers over 300 annual programs including film series, lectures, performances, and workshops in their newly renovated theater.

Starting today, The Wright is hosting a seven-day Kwanzaa celebration in partnership with seven community organizations. Each day honors one of the Seven Principles (Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith) through ceremonies, African drum and dance performances, libations, youth showcases, poetry, and vendor marketplaces. Check it out if you’re in Detroit!

Visiting the museum is one way you can support The Wright, and there are many others. Become a member or a volunteer, make a donation, or shop for African and African American art, books, and merchandise at their museum store. 

As always, you can amplify their message on social media by following The Wright on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and sharing their stories of resilience and pride with your network. Happy Kwanzaa!

Feel Good Friday - Housing Works

December is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, making this the perfect time to spotlight Housing Works.

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of Housing Works is "to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts."

Born from the AIDS activism of four ACT UP members—Keith Cylar, Charles King, Eric Sawyer, and Virginia Shubert—Housing Works emerged during a time when tens of thousands of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS were facing homelessness and had nowhere to turn. These founders believed that stable housing was the key to helping HIV-positive people live healthy lives and prevent further spread of the virus.

Since 1990, Housing Works has served more than 30,000 homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Their comprehensive services include supportive housing (over 800 units), healthcare through five health centers across the city, mental health and substance use treatment, nutritional counseling, legal assistance, and their Ready For Work program—an eight-week workforce development initiative that provides job training and guarantees employment opportunities for graduates.

What sets Housing Works apart is their pioneering social enterprise model. To sustain their mission while reducing dependence on grants, they operate nine acclaimed thrift shops throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, the beloved Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in SoHo, and even opened New York State's first legal recreational cannabis dispensary in 2022. Every purchase at these businesses directly funds their lifesaving services.

Their advocacy work is equally powerful. With offices in New York City, Albany, Washington D.C., Haiti, and Puerto Rico, Housing Works fights tirelessly for legislation ensuring all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, and protection from discrimination.

If you'd like to support Housing Works, there are many ways to do so. You can volunteer at their bookstore, thrift shops, or special events like their annual Design on a Dime benefit. Consider donating items to their thrift shops or bookstore, making a financial contribution, shopping at their retail locations or online store, and amplifying their message on social media. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay connected with their work.