NWI News and Events
Photo of sunflower in Riddle school garden courtesy of Katie Olender
Panera Bread Distribution Every Thursday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm NorthWest Initiative 1012 N. Walnut St., Room 106; 517-999-2895 Angel Food Ministries Place orders in the middle of the month and pick up at the end of the month. Call Julie @ (517) 485-0174 (Must enroll prior to distribution) Great Food for All Place orders at the beginning of the month and pick up in the middle of the month. Call Jack @ (517) 374-2650 (Must enroll prior to distribution) Food Movers Distribution March 10th, April 7th from 11-12pm NorthWest Initiative 1012 N. Walnut St., Room 107 (517) 482-1270 (517) 999-2894 (Must enroll prior to distribution) Letts Community Center (Supplemental Bread Location) Monday– Thursday; 12-6pm. 1220 W. Kalamazoo St. 517-483-4311 |
| Get Involved! |
| NorthWest Initiative - North Neighborhood Center 1012 North Walnut, Lansing, MI 48906 Phone: 517-999-2894 Fax: 517-999-2897 |
ARRO Hosts Healing Circle For Spouses/Partners Of
Incarcerated Individuals
NorthWest Initiative’s ARRO Program will be hosting a
support group for partners and spouses of currently
incarcerated men and women. The group will focus on giving
helpful tips on how to successfully advocate for your
incarcerated loved one and be a support system for you. It
will be a great place to learn about services that can help you
and your loved one upon re-entry. The first healing circle
will be held on May 6, 2010 at 1012 N. Walnut St., Suite 107
from 5:30-6:30. The group will be held every other Thursday
until November 18, 2010. Linda Archer, ARRO’s Advisory
Board Chairperson, will be coordinating this support group.
For questions or comments Linda can be reached at 999-
2895 or email Maria at maria@nwlansing.org
NorthWest Initiative Summer Enrichment Program
For youth ages 9-16
Monday, June 14, 2010 – Friday, August 20, 2010
Every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
A variety of sessions such as arts and crafts, photography,
gardening, financial literacy, cooking, community service
projects, and educational field trips.
Free Breakfast and Lunch Program for All School Age Youth
For more information and to register call Lori: 999-2894
Summer Garden Camp At 4 Locations!
Gardening, cooking, games & crafts – Ages 7+
Contact Joy Baldwin to enroll @ (517) 999-2894.
Kindergarten Round-Up
The Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy is hosting their last
Kindergarten Round-Up event on Friday, June 4, 2010
between the hours of 8:30am and 2:00pm. Bring in your pre-
kindergarten child for activities and learn about our free, full-
day Kindergarten program! Contact (517) 485-5379 ext.1000
for more information. The Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy
is located at 730 W. Maple Street, Lansing.
Knock, Knock It’s The NWI’s Outreach Team
Canvassing season is upon us. Starting April 20, 2010, a
team of Outreach Workers will be visiting your neighborhood
and going door-to-door in order to help you apply for health
programs such as: Ingham Health Plan, Healthy Kids, Food
Stamps, Medicaid, and many more services! We can also
help connect you to other services not provided in the
community such as food access programs: Food Movers,
Food Pantries, Angel Food Ministries, and many others. If you
are in need of such services prior to some one coming to
your door, do not hesitate to call Maria or Monica at 999-2895.
You can visit our office at 1012 N. Walnut St., Suite 106.
NWI - Site For Free Summer Food Program For Children
NorthWest Initiative in collaboration with the Lansing School
District's Free Summer Food Program will once again host
free breakfast and lunch for neighborhood children. The food
program will start Monday, June 21st through Friday, August
20th. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 - 9:30 am and lunch
from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Please call 999-2894 to register
your child(ren) to participate with this free program!
Join Our Ex-Offender Advisory Board
ARRO is seeking ex-offenders and community members
interested in joining the advisory board. This Advisory Board
will determine the program that will be helpful for people
reentering the community after serving time in a correctional
institution. If you or someone you know has ever been
incarcerated please call Maria or Monica at 999-2895. If you
do not wish to serve on the board, Maria and Monica would
still appreciate hearing your comments, and suggestions.
Volunteer Canvassers Needed
The Outreach team needs highly motivated and enthusiastic
volunteers to go door-to-door and connect the neighborhood
members to quality resources in our community that can help
with transportations, food access, housing assistance,
employment services, and many other services. If you can
volunteer for 2 to 3 hours a week please call Maria at 999-
2895 or email her at maria@nwlansing.org.
Look At Them Move
We are at it again! The group, otherwise known as the
Fitness Newbie’s is on the move! We’d like to invite you to
join us on Wednesday nights for a little fun and fitness! Every
week varies as to what exactly we are doing and what time.
We could walk, dance or strike a new Yoga pose! Either way,
we have loads of fun and get fit in an easy way! If this sounds
like something you’d like to do, please contact Stephanie for
times and events. She can be reached at (517) 999-2894 or
you can e-mail her at stephaniec@nwlansing.org. We look
forward to getting fit with you!
Attention Ingham Health Plan Member
Have you had your first Doctors Appointment? If not, we can
help you get established with your assigned doctor or clinic.
Did you also know that if you don’t use your card you might
loose your benefits. So let us help you get your doctors
appointment scheduled. Call Maria for an appointment at
999-2895 or email her at maria@nwlansing.org.
Caring And Learning Group
Are you a relative care provider or day care aide enrolled with
DHS? Do you care for an infant or toddler (birth to 36
months)? Is the child’s behavior upsetting or hard to
handle? Does it worry you? If so, check out this opportunity!
The Caring and Learning Group, lead by a child care
consultant will provide you with a chance to meet people and
share ideas and concerns about the children you care for.
The group will assist parents and child care providers with
ways to help infants and toddlers with behavior problems.
Problem behaviors can get in the way of learning. The
sooner we find out what is causing a problem behavior, the
easier it is to help the child. Then the child can get back to his
“job” - playing and learning! For more information please
contact Annette Stamm at 517-999-2895.
Ban-The-Box
For the past few years, A.R.R.O has tried to get some
momentum going for a city ordinance called “Ban the Box”.
Many other cities have attempted to adopt it. Kalamazoo has
been the first city in Michigan to do so. The ordinance
requires the removal of the box on job applications that asks
if you have ever been convicted of a felony. This ordinance
would eliminate the practice of applications being
automatically thrown into the trash with out proper
consideration, a practice that discriminates against ex-
offenders. This ordinance would allow a fair consideration of
an individual based on work experience and education rather
than just on their previous convictions. Once selected for a
job interview the ex-offender can let the employer know of
their past record and how he or she has been rehabilitated.
At this point, the employer can choose to run a background
check on the person and negotiate terms of employment if he
or she is the best candidate for the job. We all make
mistakes, some worse than others, but we all need a job to
make a living and not be a burden on society. Without the
support of our community, we can’t get these laws and
ordinances changed without you. To find out how you can
help please call Monica at 517-999-2895.
CSO Construction Starts March 15, 2010
CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) Construction is coming to
W. Saginaw Street in 2010, including the following closures:
If during construction, you have a concern or issue about the
work being done, please call the CSO Hotline at 394-5566, or
go online to their website at www.LansingCSO.com.
Lets Garden Lansing!
A group of community partners have come together to provide
a calendar listing of gardening education events and
workshops throughout the Lansing area. For more
information, visit www.letsgardenlansing.org.
NWI Photo Student Wins Competition!
Ten-year-old NorthWest Initiative Photo
student Mikayla Spyker won at the
Perspective 2 photo competition. On
Sunday, March 7, Mikayla won first place in viewers’ choice
and second place in the amateur competition. She competed
against professional photographers and college students.
Her hard work and dedication have paid off. Congratulations
to Mikayla. We are so proud of you!
We Need Your Help to Plan a Neighborhood Conference
We are looking for individuals, especially in their 20's, 30's
and 40's, who are willing to help us plan a Lansing area
Neighborhood Conference to be held in September 2010. If
you have a few hours to volunteer over the next several
months; are interested in improving your neighborhood; want
to make Lansing the best place to live and work, or have
expertise in event planning, then we need you! Contact
Peggy at 999-2894 for more information.
Are You Providing Childcare?
If you are registered with the Department of Human Services
(DHS) to provide childcare as a Relative or Day Care Aid
provider, we have some very important information to share
with you. Did you know that you must attend an orientation
training in order to continue being paid by DHS? Please call
999-2895 or 887-4319 for more information.
Westside Commercial Association – Revitalizing the
Saginaw/Oakland Area
The Westside Commercial Association works to revitalize the
business and residential areas along Saginaw and Oakland
on Lansing’s Westside, using projects related to design,
promotion, business development, and organization. Click
here for news, events, and to learn more about WCA!
New Program for Children with An Incarcerated Parent
Do you have or know of a child between the ages 5-18, who
has a parent or other close relative who is incarcerated?
Would you be interested in helping them learn how to
communicate with their absent parent/relative via letter
writing, drawing pictures, making cards, and taking pictures
to send to their loved one who is behind bars? The goal of
this program is to help children maintain a positive
relationship with a parent/relative who has been
incarcerated. This program will be held on the second
Saturday of each month from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon (first
session, Saturday, September 12th). If you are interested in
registering your child, please contact Jeana-Dee at 999-2984.
New Photography Class for Children!
Calling all children who
are interested in learning
about photography!
Children will learn about
techniques to taking and
composing wonderful
pictures. The youth will
also learn how to write
about each of their
pictures with the goal of having the art images displayed in a
local art gallery at the end of the school year. This class is
free and all equipment will be provided by NorthWest
Initiative. The class will meet on the 1st Saturday of the
month. The class will meet on the 1st Saturday of the month
from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. To register for this class, please
call Jeana-Dee at 999-2894.
Click here to view some of the photo's they have taken so far!
Stay Connected with Nixle!
The City of Lansing has launched a new Community
Information Service designed to deliver important and timely
information to residents in our area using the latest
technology.
Stay connected to your community, from the public safety and
traffic alerts that are relevant to you, to the important
neighborhood advisories you want to know about, as well as,
other valuable community information.
Register now and learn more at www.nixle.com
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group meetings are now
held every Thursday from 7-8:30 pm at the NorthWest
Initiative, 1012 N. Walnut Street, Room 107. Please use the
southern entrances into the building (closest to Kilborn). On-
street parking is available along Walnut or Kilborn Streets or
in the parking lot. For more information, call 485-4904.
Riddle Garden and Hoophouse Open Time
The Riddle Garden and Hoophouse is now open every
Thursday from 2-4. Come on in and see what we got
growing on! For more information on the Riddle hoophouse,
please contact Ramona at 999-2894.
Need Health Coverage or Have a Child With Asthma?
If you are uninsured, live in Ingham County, and are income
eligible then you may qualify for coverage under the free
Ingham Health Plan (IHP) and/or the Healthy Homes
University (HHU) Program. IHP covers doctor visits,
prescriptions, x-rays, lab tests and urgent care all for a small
co-pay of $5.00. HHU provides extensive assistance to
families who have a child with asthma under the age of 18.
They provide products and services designed to reduce
asthma triggers and prevent injuries in your home.
For more information about IHP or HHU or other health and
human service needs, please call our Outreach Office at NWI
at 999-2895.
Incarcerated Individuals
NorthWest Initiative’s ARRO Program will be hosting a
support group for partners and spouses of currently
incarcerated men and women. The group will focus on giving
helpful tips on how to successfully advocate for your
incarcerated loved one and be a support system for you. It
will be a great place to learn about services that can help you
and your loved one upon re-entry. The first healing circle
will be held on May 6, 2010 at 1012 N. Walnut St., Suite 107
from 5:30-6:30. The group will be held every other Thursday
until November 18, 2010. Linda Archer, ARRO’s Advisory
Board Chairperson, will be coordinating this support group.
For questions or comments Linda can be reached at 999-
2895 or email Maria at maria@nwlansing.org
NorthWest Initiative Summer Enrichment Program
For youth ages 9-16
Monday, June 14, 2010 – Friday, August 20, 2010
Every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
A variety of sessions such as arts and crafts, photography,
gardening, financial literacy, cooking, community service
projects, and educational field trips.
Free Breakfast and Lunch Program for All School Age Youth
For more information and to register call Lori: 999-2894
Summer Garden Camp At 4 Locations!
Gardening, cooking, games & crafts – Ages 7+
- Where: Riddle Elementary; 221 Huron St, Lansing, MI
48915 - When: June 15 - July 1; Tue., Wed. & Thurs. from
12pm-3pm
- Where: Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy; 730 W.
Maple Street, Lansing, MI 48906 - When: July 6 – July 22; Tue., Wed. & Thurs. from
12pm-3pm
- Where: Cavanaugh Elementary; 300 W Cavanaugh
Rd Lansing, MI 48910 - When: July 27 – August 12; Tue., Wed. & Thurs. from
12pm-3pm
- Where: Willow Elementary; 1012 W. Willow Street,
Lansing, MI 48915 - When: August 17 – Sept 2; Tue., Wed. & Thurs. from
12pm-3pm
Contact Joy Baldwin to enroll @ (517) 999-2894.
Kindergarten Round-Up
The Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy is hosting their last
Kindergarten Round-Up event on Friday, June 4, 2010
between the hours of 8:30am and 2:00pm. Bring in your pre-
kindergarten child for activities and learn about our free, full-
day Kindergarten program! Contact (517) 485-5379 ext.1000
for more information. The Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy
is located at 730 W. Maple Street, Lansing.
Knock, Knock It’s The NWI’s Outreach Team
Canvassing season is upon us. Starting April 20, 2010, a
team of Outreach Workers will be visiting your neighborhood
and going door-to-door in order to help you apply for health
programs such as: Ingham Health Plan, Healthy Kids, Food
Stamps, Medicaid, and many more services! We can also
help connect you to other services not provided in the
community such as food access programs: Food Movers,
Food Pantries, Angel Food Ministries, and many others. If you
are in need of such services prior to some one coming to
your door, do not hesitate to call Maria or Monica at 999-2895.
You can visit our office at 1012 N. Walnut St., Suite 106.
NWI - Site For Free Summer Food Program For Children
NorthWest Initiative in collaboration with the Lansing School
District's Free Summer Food Program will once again host
free breakfast and lunch for neighborhood children. The food
program will start Monday, June 21st through Friday, August
20th. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 - 9:30 am and lunch
from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Please call 999-2894 to register
your child(ren) to participate with this free program!
Join Our Ex-Offender Advisory Board
ARRO is seeking ex-offenders and community members
interested in joining the advisory board. This Advisory Board
will determine the program that will be helpful for people
reentering the community after serving time in a correctional
institution. If you or someone you know has ever been
incarcerated please call Maria or Monica at 999-2895. If you
do not wish to serve on the board, Maria and Monica would
still appreciate hearing your comments, and suggestions.
Volunteer Canvassers Needed
The Outreach team needs highly motivated and enthusiastic
volunteers to go door-to-door and connect the neighborhood
members to quality resources in our community that can help
with transportations, food access, housing assistance,
employment services, and many other services. If you can
volunteer for 2 to 3 hours a week please call Maria at 999-
2895 or email her at maria@nwlansing.org.
Look At Them Move
We are at it again! The group, otherwise known as the
Fitness Newbie’s is on the move! We’d like to invite you to
join us on Wednesday nights for a little fun and fitness! Every
week varies as to what exactly we are doing and what time.
We could walk, dance or strike a new Yoga pose! Either way,
we have loads of fun and get fit in an easy way! If this sounds
like something you’d like to do, please contact Stephanie for
times and events. She can be reached at (517) 999-2894 or
you can e-mail her at stephaniec@nwlansing.org. We look
forward to getting fit with you!
Attention Ingham Health Plan Member
Have you had your first Doctors Appointment? If not, we can
help you get established with your assigned doctor or clinic.
Did you also know that if you don’t use your card you might
loose your benefits. So let us help you get your doctors
appointment scheduled. Call Maria for an appointment at
999-2895 or email her at maria@nwlansing.org.
Caring And Learning Group
Are you a relative care provider or day care aide enrolled with
DHS? Do you care for an infant or toddler (birth to 36
months)? Is the child’s behavior upsetting or hard to
handle? Does it worry you? If so, check out this opportunity!
The Caring and Learning Group, lead by a child care
consultant will provide you with a chance to meet people and
share ideas and concerns about the children you care for.
The group will assist parents and child care providers with
ways to help infants and toddlers with behavior problems.
Problem behaviors can get in the way of learning. The
sooner we find out what is causing a problem behavior, the
easier it is to help the child. Then the child can get back to his
“job” - playing and learning! For more information please
contact Annette Stamm at 517-999-2895.
Ban-The-Box
For the past few years, A.R.R.O has tried to get some
momentum going for a city ordinance called “Ban the Box”.
Many other cities have attempted to adopt it. Kalamazoo has
been the first city in Michigan to do so. The ordinance
requires the removal of the box on job applications that asks
if you have ever been convicted of a felony. This ordinance
would eliminate the practice of applications being
automatically thrown into the trash with out proper
consideration, a practice that discriminates against ex-
offenders. This ordinance would allow a fair consideration of
an individual based on work experience and education rather
than just on their previous convictions. Once selected for a
job interview the ex-offender can let the employer know of
their past record and how he or she has been rehabilitated.
At this point, the employer can choose to run a background
check on the person and negotiate terms of employment if he
or she is the best candidate for the job. We all make
mistakes, some worse than others, but we all need a job to
make a living and not be a burden on society. Without the
support of our community, we can’t get these laws and
ordinances changed without you. To find out how you can
help please call Monica at 517-999-2895.
CSO Construction Starts March 15, 2010
CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) Construction is coming to
W. Saginaw Street in 2010, including the following closures:
- March - November: Saginaw reduced to one-lane
between; Westmoreland and Chestnut (expect lane
reductions to begin further west of Westmoreland) - July - August: MLK Jr. Boulevard temporarily closed at
Saginaw for approximately six to eight weeks.
If during construction, you have a concern or issue about the
work being done, please call the CSO Hotline at 394-5566, or
go online to their website at www.LansingCSO.com.
Lets Garden Lansing!
A group of community partners have come together to provide
a calendar listing of gardening education events and
workshops throughout the Lansing area. For more
information, visit www.letsgardenlansing.org.
NWI Photo Student Wins Competition!
Ten-year-old NorthWest Initiative Photo
student Mikayla Spyker won at the
Perspective 2 photo competition. On
Sunday, March 7, Mikayla won first place in viewers’ choice
and second place in the amateur competition. She competed
against professional photographers and college students.
Her hard work and dedication have paid off. Congratulations
to Mikayla. We are so proud of you!
We Need Your Help to Plan a Neighborhood Conference
We are looking for individuals, especially in their 20's, 30's
and 40's, who are willing to help us plan a Lansing area
Neighborhood Conference to be held in September 2010. If
you have a few hours to volunteer over the next several
months; are interested in improving your neighborhood; want
to make Lansing the best place to live and work, or have
expertise in event planning, then we need you! Contact
Peggy at 999-2894 for more information.
Are You Providing Childcare?
If you are registered with the Department of Human Services
(DHS) to provide childcare as a Relative or Day Care Aid
provider, we have some very important information to share
with you. Did you know that you must attend an orientation
training in order to continue being paid by DHS? Please call
999-2895 or 887-4319 for more information.
Westside Commercial Association – Revitalizing the
Saginaw/Oakland Area
The Westside Commercial Association works to revitalize the
business and residential areas along Saginaw and Oakland
on Lansing’s Westside, using projects related to design,
promotion, business development, and organization. Click
here for news, events, and to learn more about WCA!
New Program for Children with An Incarcerated Parent
Do you have or know of a child between the ages 5-18, who
has a parent or other close relative who is incarcerated?
Would you be interested in helping them learn how to
communicate with their absent parent/relative via letter
writing, drawing pictures, making cards, and taking pictures
to send to their loved one who is behind bars? The goal of
this program is to help children maintain a positive
relationship with a parent/relative who has been
incarcerated. This program will be held on the second
Saturday of each month from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon (first
session, Saturday, September 12th). If you are interested in
registering your child, please contact Jeana-Dee at 999-2984.
New Photography Class for Children!
Calling all children who
are interested in learning
about photography!
Children will learn about
techniques to taking and
composing wonderful
pictures. The youth will
also learn how to write
about each of their
pictures with the goal of having the art images displayed in a
local art gallery at the end of the school year. This class is
free and all equipment will be provided by NorthWest
Initiative. The class will meet on the 1st Saturday of the
month. The class will meet on the 1st Saturday of the month
from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. To register for this class, please
call Jeana-Dee at 999-2894.
Click here to view some of the photo's they have taken so far!
Stay Connected with Nixle!
The City of Lansing has launched a new Community
Information Service designed to deliver important and timely
information to residents in our area using the latest
technology.
Stay connected to your community, from the public safety and
traffic alerts that are relevant to you, to the important
neighborhood advisories you want to know about, as well as,
other valuable community information.
Register now and learn more at www.nixle.com
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group meetings are now
held every Thursday from 7-8:30 pm at the NorthWest
Initiative, 1012 N. Walnut Street, Room 107. Please use the
southern entrances into the building (closest to Kilborn). On-
street parking is available along Walnut or Kilborn Streets or
in the parking lot. For more information, call 485-4904.
Riddle Garden and Hoophouse Open Time
The Riddle Garden and Hoophouse is now open every
Thursday from 2-4. Come on in and see what we got
growing on! For more information on the Riddle hoophouse,
please contact Ramona at 999-2894.
Need Health Coverage or Have a Child With Asthma?
If you are uninsured, live in Ingham County, and are income
eligible then you may qualify for coverage under the free
Ingham Health Plan (IHP) and/or the Healthy Homes
University (HHU) Program. IHP covers doctor visits,
prescriptions, x-rays, lab tests and urgent care all for a small
co-pay of $5.00. HHU provides extensive assistance to
families who have a child with asthma under the age of 18.
They provide products and services designed to reduce
asthma triggers and prevent injuries in your home.
For more information about IHP or HHU or other health and
human service needs, please call our Outreach Office at NWI
at 999-2895.
| Share your Ideas Are you interested in what this community is doing to improve the area and want to help the people living and working in the Northwest Lansing area? Spare some time for a good cause, come and share some of your ideas with us! Our agency is fuelled by the support and ideas of prominent community leaders like you! (Contact info below) |
| Donate It feels good to give and it helps your community. Every effort is appreciated and together we can make a difference and have fun while doing it! You can even specify which programs you would like to fund! (Contact info below) |
| Volunteer We are always looking for volunteers to work in our office, school gardens, and to help with projects like flower planters, events, advocacy and more! Giving your time for a good cause is a rewarding experience! (Contact info below) |
| Intern We are always looking for student interns to work in a wide variety of settings, with skills ranging from human services and social work to computer technology. NWI is a great place to gain some experience and to begin your career! (Contact info below) |
| Contact Us! If you would like to learn more about becoming a partner, sponsor, volunteer or intern; contact Peggy at 517-999-2894; peggy@nwlansing.org |
VITA Tax Site Mondays from 4-8 pm; Wednesday and Saturday from 10 am -2 pm. Call 2-1-1 for an appointment Senior Coffee Hour Thursdays; 10am -12 noon 1012 N. Walnut, Suite 107 Young Phoenix & Young Athena Programs Saturdays; 9 am-12:00pm 1012 N. Walnut, Suite 107 After School Homework Help Monday-Thursday 3:30-5:30 1012 N. Walnut, Suite 107 Photography Class for Kids 1st Saturday of the month 11:00-12:30pm Call Jeana-Dee to enroll (517) 999-2894 After School Garden Club 3:45-4:45 @ MMLA on Mondays Cavanaugh on Tuesdays Willow on Wednesdays Riddle on Thursdays Chess Club Fridays; 7:30 pm MMLA; 730 W. Maple NAMI Support Group (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Thursdays; 7 - 8:30 pm 1012 N. Walnut, Suite 107 |
| Food Resources |
| Weekly Programs |
