Author: Noah Hansen

Growing Hope, Filling Gaps: The Welcome Home Organization’s Vision for Jackson

Written by Noah Hansen on August 5, 2025. Posted in Featured Stories.

On the east side of the City of Jackson, seeds of sustainability are growing – and it’s more than just fruits and vegetables. It’s opportunity. It’s stability. It’s community. And it’s all rooted in the mission of The Welcome Home Organization (WHO), a nonprofit working to close the gaps too many families fall through.

Founded in 2012 and revitalized in 2019 by a team of passionate changemakers, the Welcome Home Organization is guided by three pillars: youth mentorship through sports, veteran family outreach, and urban agriculture. Since relocating to Jackson, the organization has supported more than 4,000 families, launched multiple community programs, and cultivated meaningful partnerships to address generational challenges with fresh solutions.

A Multi-Promise Mission
The Welcome Home Organization’s impact stretches far and wide. The WHO’s efforts reflect a deep commitment to addressing both short-term needs and long-term change, from free stores in Jackson and Albion to youth golf and bowling mentorship programs, academic tutoring, and veteran outreach. At the core of its philosophy: meet people where they are, and plant seeds that will grow for years to come.

One of those seeds is the Urban Roots initiative, which reintroduces agriculture into urbanized communities in Jackson. With a farmer ID and a new grant-funded market opening in the Flatiron District, Welcome Home is addressing Jackson’s food insecurity while also creating economic opportunity. “We’re not just growing food, we’re growing futures,” says Vittoria.

Through its child care center, Gems of Jackson, the organization delivers 24-hour STEM and STEAM-based learning, ensuring working families have access to flexible, enriching education options. Its on-site greenhouse, Grandma T’s Learning Garden, is named after Vittoria’s grandmother and allows children to grow, harvest and eat their own produce. Over the last two summers alone, the program has distributed more than 1,000 pounds of fresh produce to the community at no cost.

Community at the Core
The Welcome Home Organization isn’t working alone. Through collaborations with Jackson Interfaith Shelter, Altering Outcomes and MyPlace, it was awarded a $2 million grant to create a wraparound service model. This joint effort will provide early childhood education, transportation, transitional housing and job opportunities, embracing a holistic approach to healing and uplifting Jackson families.

And it doesn’t stop there. In 2025, the team was selected by the City of Jackson to construct two transitional homes: one for a veteran family and one for youth in transition. With a growing property portfolio and an energized board, the organization is building not just programs but the physical foundation for sustainable impact.

Filling the Gaps, One Step at a Time
From helping single-parent households whose loved ones are incarcerated to opening doors for youth through access to sports like golf and bowling, where scholarships and future careers are possible and in-reach, Welcome Home’s mission is both personal and far-reaching.

“We want to create opportunities in Jackson that weren’t there before,” said Vittoria. “A kid can get a two-year turf degree from MSU or Penn State and make an incredible wage. We want them to know that.”

Through relentless commitment and divine inspiration, The Welcome Home Organization continues to ask: Where are the gaps? Then, it does the work to fill them.

Because when you believe in a better future and build it with your own hands, Welcome Home isn’t just a name. It’s a promise.

Learn more about The Welcome Home Organization at www.whovision.org

Drive Jackson: A Vision Rooted in Real Voices

Written by Noah Hansen on July 23, 2025. Posted in Featured Stories.

Meet the Drive Jackson Co-Chairs

Carolyn Bloodworth spent more than 40 years building relationships and leading philanthropy at Consumers Energy. Christopher Simpson served Jackson as a soldier, a police officer and now as Chief of Police at Jackson City Police Department. They’ve both seen Jackson’s struggles. More importantly, they see its potential.

That’s why they’re helping lead as co-chairs of Drive Jackson: a 20-Year Vision Plan for the future of Jackson County.

“If not me, then who?” Simpson said.“I’ve taken that attitude toward most of the things I’ve gone after, things that are worthy of seeking.”

“I want to give back to the community that has given so much to me and my family,” Bloodworth said. “I really want to make a difference, particularly for those people in the next generations to come.”

What Is Drive Jackson?
Drive Jackson is the most ambitious effort launched by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce since the Anchor Initiative. Backed by partners like Accelerate Jackson County, Experience Jackson and the Jackson Community Foundation, the plan is being facilitated by planning NEXT, a firm known for community-first strategic planning.

Like other successful and vibrant communities, Drive Jackson aims to unify Jackson’s goals into a cohesive 20-Year Vision Plan. It is a living vision, shaped by the people who live and work here. The only way to build a future worth investing in is by including the voices who are already invested.

“Nobody should be left behind,” Simpson said. “And that does not discriminate against any color, any age, any place or profession. It should include everybody who is devoted to this community.”

A Diverse Committee
Out of nearly 100 applicants, 24 individuals were selected for the Drive Jackson Key Leadership Committee. These are not figureheads. They are educators, entrepreneurs, city officials and everyday citizens who care deeply about the county’s future.

They are the ones asking tough questions, listening to their neighbors and helping define what a thriving Jackson looks like.

“The voices that need to be heard are from every point of the community,” Simpson emphasized. “Because they live in the community, and they should have a voice in what the community should look like in the future.”

What Does a Thriving Jackson Look Like?
Drive Jackson is built on possibilities. From both Carolyn and Chris, you hear a vision grounded in reality but motivated by hope:

“I see a Jackson where people across the county are able to walk around and feel comfortable in the places they live and frequent.”

“I see an economic atmosphere that produces recreation, that produces education, that produces a safe environment.”

“A thriving Jackson includes a strong education system, pre-K through college. We need to make our students successful so they can be great citizens.”

Carolyn put it like this: “I hope people look back and say, ‘Wow, those folks in 2025 did the right thing by creating a plan, by creating a vision for this community.’”

That future Jackson is one where businesses thrive, young families stay, nonprofit organizations are empowered and collaboration becomes second nature. The first step toward this reality is to work together through cohesive goals that are unified through a strategic plan.

Why Now?
There is a shift happening in Jackson County. People in their 20s, 30s and 40s are deciding where to live, where to work, and where to raise their kids.

Carolyn and Chris both agree: These voices matter most right now, and these voices are already here in Jackson.

“They’re making decisions for their family; where they want to live, where they want to send their kids to school,” Bloodworth said. “Those decisions are vital. And we need to be able to hear from them so that community decisions can help respond to their needs.”

How to Get Involved

Drive Jackson is an invitation to think differently. To act collectively. And to believe that Jackson is worth fighting for.

Drive Jackson is just getting started. By completing this short survey, you can help Drive Jackson forward and share what your ideal Jackson looks like.

Complete the Survey (open through July 31, 2025) by clicking the link below:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Czlism8GGE6oxEA5AXq-4HG9dXvgi6lArhK031kjHHlUOFhMN1dJOUU5MkxFOUhMQ1JHV1VOUVhaMy4u&route=shorturl

Learn more about Drive Jackson at www.drivejacksoncounty.com

WellWise Services: An Area Agency on Aging Supporting Independence, Health, and Happiness

Written by Noah Hansen on July 10, 2025. Posted in Featured Stories.

For more than 50 years, WellWise Services Area Agency on Aging has quietly shaped the lives of thousands across Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties. What began as Region 2 Area Agency on Aging has grown into a community cornerstone and a lifeline for older adults, adults with disabilities and their caregivers.

At the heart of WellWise is a simple but powerful mission: to help people live independently, safely and with dignity.

“Our staff and volunteers are deeply rooted in the communities we serve,” said CEO Kara Lorenz-Goings. “We don’t just respond to needs, we anticipate them.”

With more than 80 employees and over 80 community partners and contracted providers, WellWise’s impact is expansive. Last year alone, the agency received more than 20,000 calls from individuals seeking support, guidance and hope.

WellWise Services Building in Brooklyn, Michigan

Meeting Needs Before Crisis Hits

“People often wait until they’re in crisis to call us,” said Deanne Matthews, access supervisor. “But there’s so much we can do before it gets to that point. We help with Medicare, Medicaid, exercise programs, tech help, social connection and we walk alongside people through every step.”

From walk-in support to in-home care assessments, the agency’s services are accessible, personal and warm. Whether someone needs help with energy bills, navigating insurance or simply a connection to a friendly voice, WellWise is there.

The My Choice Waiver: A Gateway to Aging in Place

One of their flagship programs, the My Choice Waiver, enables eligible participants to receive long-term care support in their homes instead of a nursing facility. “We support more than 700 people through this program alone, most of them right here in Jackson,” said Angie Shepherd, clinical supervisor. “We help them remain in their homes with services like caregivers, meals or even emergency buttons. It’s about dignity and independence.”

A Safety Net for Those Who Need It

The stories that pour out of WellWise are not just statistics. They are about saved homes, restored relationships and renewed hope. One woman, caring for a husband with severe dementia, came to the agency at her breaking point. “She thought her only option was to leave him,” recalls Shepherd. “But we helped her enroll in the My Choice program. That support allowed them to stay together safely in their home.”

Another example came through the agency’s elder abuse prevention initiative, Safe Haven. “A client had been financially exploited and was facing eviction,” Shepherd recalls. “We were able to connect him with legal help and use Safe Haven funds to cover his rent. We kept him safe and off the streets.”

Built by the Community, for the Community

WellWise’s new headquarters in Brooklyn, made possible by a local property donation from Dr. Cole, reflects both growth and commitment. Rebranded in 2023, the agency now operates from a beautiful, modernized facility: another symbol of their forward-thinking evolution.

But even with a new name and building, their core remains the same. “We’re here because our community needs us and they always will,” said Lorenz-Goings. “Our advisory council, our board, our volunteers, they all come from the counties we serve. This is their mission too.”

Ways to Get Involved

WellWise welcomes community involvement in many forms, from volunteering and donations to simply reaching out to someone in need.

“You might be the person who notices a neighbor is struggling,” said Matthews. “Sometimes a phone call or a warm meal is all it takes to keep someone safe and connected.”

Volunteers assist with everything from friendly reassurance calls to Medicare counseling and Connection Café lunches. Donations help fund under-resourced programs like the Unmet Needs Fund or Safe Haven, directly supporting vulnerable residents.

A Call to Action

“The aging population is growing rapidly,” said Lorenz-Goings. “Advocating for them isn’t just compassionate, it’s smart. Aging in place reduces health care costs and improves quality of life. But we need voices, volunteers and support to keep making that possible.”

“Don’t wait for a crisis,” Lorenz-Goings urges. “Call us now. Let’s walk this journey together.”

To learn more, get help or join their mission, visit wellwiseservices.org or call 517-592-1974.

From a Jail Visit to a Movement: How SOAR Café & Farms Is Restoring Lives in Jackson

Written by Noah Hansen on June 11, 2025. Posted in Featured Stories.

A Faith-Based Nonprofit that Feeds the Soul

Seven years ago, Michelle Cochran had no idea she would one day be leading one of Jackson’s most impactful reentry and restoration programs. In fact, SOAR Café & Farms wasn’t something she planned: it was something she answered.

“I really didn’t have the idea,” Michelle says. “It was a God thing. It just showed up.”

Michelle had spent years coaching and mentoring through personal leadership development and church ministry. Life was good. She had just finished writing a book and was content with where she was. But everything changed when her son began dating a young woman named Danielle. When Michelle later discovered Danielle had been arrested and was facing prison time, her focus shifted, not toward judgment, but compassion.

“I had no idea what this was going to look like,” Michelle remembers. “But I told her, if you’ll have me, I just want to walk with you through this.”

Jail Visits and Bible Study

So she did. Michelle began visiting Danielle every week, supporting her through court dates and, eventually, a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Along the way, a simple Bible study offer turned into something much bigger. After a flurry of coincidences, Facebook reminders, serendipitous song lyrics and spiritual nudges, Michelle felt called to start something more.

Inspired by a nonprofit in Nashville that helps women survivors of trafficking, addiction and prostitution, Michelle heard God whisper a name: “You’ll call it SOAR, because it will give them wings.”

And it has.

SOAR Café & Farms now operates as a community-rooted nonprofit with a two-part mission: restoration and reintegration. It began with a residential home, a safe space for women to heal after incarceration or trauma. That was just the beginning. Michelle knew that healing needed to be followed by purpose, empowerment and employment.

That’s where SOAR Café came in.

Feeding the Community: SOAR Café

When longtime local eatery Anna’s Coffee Shop went up for sale, Michelle and her board saw an opportunity. With support from community partners, SOAR secured the building. This was all the more confirmation for Michelle that this was the mission she was meant to fulfill. Standing in the doorway of the newly secured building, she recalls hearing a voice:

“Done and done.”

SOAR Café officially opened as a vibrant, welcoming space for community to come and enjoy true purpose. The café employs women in transition, offering them a supportive, mentoring environment to rebuild their lives with dignity, structure and community. Each sandwich served and latte poured is another step forward for someone on the path to independence.

But SOAR is more than just a café. It’s a movement.

Empowering, Encouraging, and Employing

“We go into the county jail every Wednesday,” Michelle says. “We mentor at the women’s correctional facility. We host community support groups every Monday night. We meet women at their lowest and walk with them toward something higher.”

It’s working. One woman met SOAR mentors during a jail session. She later joined the community group, gave birth to a child with nowhere to go and was taken in by another mentor. Today, she works at the café.

“It started with one woman,” Michelle reflects. “And because of that, her children’s lives are different. Her family is different. You heal one woman, and you start healing generations.”

What makes SOAR unique is not just the model — it’s the heart behind it. There’s no cookie-cutter plan or corporate blueprint. The “business plan,” Michelle says, is faith. Faith in transformation. Faith in second chances. Faith in community.

And Jackson has shown up.

Soaring with Jackson County

“Our community is incredible,” she says. “Churches, businesses, individuals — they’ve come around us in so many ways. They eat here, pray for us, support us, encourage us. That’s what makes this work possible.”

Michelle sees SOAR as part of a bigger vision for the city she loves.

“Jackson is a shining city on a hill,” she says. “There’s so much potential, so many good people. I’m excited to see how that unfolds.”

To learn more about SOAR Café & Farms or support their mission, visit soarcafeandfarms.com