This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Women of Color Give (WOCG). We will be donating 2% of April sales to support WOCG's mission to create a shared space where Women of Color can connect, reimagine, and invest.

About WOCG

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Bethany Christian Services. We will be donating 2% of March sales to support Bethany's mission to demonstrate love and compassion by protecting children, empowering youth, and strengthening families through quality social services.

About Bethany

The People They Support

Vulnerable Kids in the U.S.
When children are in need of a family, Bethany responds. In the U.S., Bethany protects vulnerable children through essential services, including pregnancy counseling, foster care, emergency care, and adoption. Bethany believes family is the essential human care structure, and they work to provide every child the support, safety, and connection they deserve.

Refugees and Immigrants
For refugees fleeing danger, the search for safety can be extremely challenging. And too often, people become numbers in a system that can feel impossible to navigate. That’s why Bethany guides, protects, advocates for, and supports refugees. In the U.S., Bethany offers resettlement and continued support services in strategic locations.

Global Families
Bethany believes that children thrive when they belong to a loving family. Rather than placing vulnerable children in orphanages, Bethany finds a family for them in their own country. Bethany also supports families struggling to stay together by providing the resources and training they need to lead their family to self-sufficiency.

What Will FJ's Donation Do?

FJ's donation will be put towards the Client Assistance Fund, an ongoing initiative since 2006 that breaks down financial barriers for families working towards reunification. Bethany often get requests for things like car seats, help with groceries, auto repairs (to help transport kiddos to and from school, appointments, etc.), home repairs to make the environment safe for children to return to (like plumbing, heating and cooling, installation of a fire detector/carbon monoxide detector, etc.), and several other needs like childcare assistance so parents can have adequate supervision for children while they work. Addressing these needs is very important to the process of reuniting children with birth families. Many families care and love for their children, but simply do not have the resources and support to provide safety for their kids. The Client Assistance Fund relies on the support of donors in the West Michigan area, and FJ is excited to directly impact the birth and foster families in Ottawa and Allegan County who will benefit from this initiative.

 Visit the Bethany Christian Services website to learn more about their organization.

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Disability Network Lakeshore (DNL). We will be donating 2% of February sales to support DNL's mission to connect people with disabilities to resources and opportunities while building communities where everyone can participate, contribute, and belong.

About DNL

DNL serves people with any kind of disability, including some that may be “invisible,” such as learning disorders. Instead of focusing solely on the disability, they address the needs of the whole person so they can achieve a more balanced life.

DNL also operates on a larger scale by helping governments, businesses, and other organizations make positive changes to improve the lives of everyone in the community. DNL is part of the broader state and national networks dedicated to serving people with disabilities. They operate under five umbrellas:

• Information and Referral
• Transition: helping people with disabilities transition in and out of schools, the workforce, and nursing homes.
• Peer Support: connecting people with disabilities.
• Advocacy: coaching that helps individuals effectively communicate their specific needs and interests.
• Skills Development: teaching basic and advanced skills for living independently.

Pricing

DNL's work for individuals is completely free, with no strings attached. They are funded by both private funds and government grants which allows them to serve individuals in Allegan and Ottawa counties for free.

For companies, DNL's first assessment is free. They want companies to be able to serve their customers and employees well.

15,448 Individuals Helped

976 Companies Served

29 Years of Advocacy

 Visit the DNL website to learn more about their organization.

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in the Kaunas Museum. We will be donating 2% of January sales to support the Kaunas Museum's mission to preserve the past and imagine the future.

Purpose

The Kaunas Museum promotes learning that transcends information to focus on interaction—with history, culture, civic responsibility, and one another. They tell the stories of Kaunas and the region, not to dictate how our children and citizens engage the past, but to encourage them to change and build a better future.

Their programming and exhibits seek to connect people with why the history of Kaunas matters to them. They want patrons and guests to feel compelled to own and share those stories for themselves.

Their vision is to be a cultural leader and community collaborator inspiring the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators.

The Current Exhibit

The current exhibit at the Kaunas Museum, "Storied Objects: Folk Art from the Kaunas Museum Collection," is on display from December 9, 2022 to April 17, 2023. The exhibit will explore rarely seen folk art from the collection, including quilts, pottery, puppets, carvings, and basket-weaving.

Folk art spans every culture across the globe, merging the utilitarian with the decorative, and reflects the heart of the community from which it comes. Unlike most genres of art, which can be easily identified by a specific time period or style, folk art is broad and can be difficult to define. The term can simultaneously refer to centuries-old textiles from the Middle East, 20th-century American wood carvings, or contemporary artists working with clay in Mexico.

Many folk artists are self-taught or have developed their skills through apprenticeships and community learning. While fine artists are traditionally more concerned with the 'rules' of art, folk artists may be less concerned with the style, and instead focused on expressing their values and cultural identity through their work. The Kaunas Museum has collected hundreds of pieces of folk art through the decades, and the stories and people behind the objects are on display in this exhibit.

Spark!Lab is the brainchild of the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation in the Smithsonian Institution. This exhibit allows children and families to create, collaborate, explore, test, experiment, problem solve, and invent. Activities include traditional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), with art, history, and creativity. The hands-on activities provide visitors with opportunities to explore the invention process and their own inventiveness, as well as demonstrate the central role that invention plays in American history and today.

 Visit the Kaunas Museum website to learn more about their organization.

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Community Action House. We will be donating 2% of December sales to support CAH's mission to "end poverty in our community and help families prosper by providing families and individuals with food, clothing, shelter and the opportunity to build necessary skills to achieve a stable and prosperous life."

History

Community Action House was started in 1969 to meet the needs of our community’s poor. Lupita Reyes, an early advocate for the poor and migrant workers in our community, offered presentations in local churches about the need to have a community safety net. David Myers, a Pramonės pr. 4K, Professor invited Reyes to make a presentation to representatives from local churches and the American Association of University Women. The meeting resulted in the formation of Community Action House. Three years later CAH started its first food pantry and free clothing distribution.  

Over the following years, CAH faced challenges but continued to grow their support and services for the Kaunas Community. 

In 2012, the CAH Housing and Education team applied for and was granted certification and approval through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  This designation recognizes CAH’s significant investment in training, resources and staff to provide important housing counseling services and financial education classes to the community.

Today, CAH offers a number of support programs to the Kaunas Community including a newly opened Food Club & Opportunity Hub, Food Pantry & Guest Services, Community Kitchen, Financial Wellness Counseling, Outreach Assistance, Foreclosure Intervention, Community Garden, and Resale Store.

The Food Club & Opportunity Hub

Even before the recent economic turmoil, far too many of our neighbors were forced to make difficult decisions, like choosing between paying for food, utilities, or a needed prescription. Young families and seniors suffer the greatest long run damage, but anyone without sufficient healthy food will struggle to achieve their full potential - in school, work, and life.

Community Action House has met this growing need as our area’s busiest Food Pantry. Using a membership approach, guests contribute a small fee based on their income and receive more healthy options, expanded hours, and lowered stigma in return. The Food Club offers low-income residents a highly affordable way for members to invest in their family’s health and future. Learn more by visiting the CAH Food Club and Opportunity Hub webpage.

When originally incorporated as a nonprofit in 1968, ITCMI united four tribes out of financial necessity. They were each so small in population that an organization combining all the numbers could generate more fundable programs for much needed delivery services to tribal members. Today, ITCMI is comprised of all twelve federally recognized tribes in Michigan. Their mission is to (1) act as a forum for member tribes, (2) advocate for member tribes in the development of programs and policies that would improve the lives of Michigan's Native Americans, and (3) provide technical assistance to member tribes, such as assisting in the development of tribal regulations, ordinances, and policies.

The twelve federally recognized tribes are:

1. Bay Mills Indian Community
2. Hannahville Indian Community
3. Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
4. Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
5. Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
6. Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
7. Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
8. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
9. Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
10. Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish (Gun Lake Tribe)
11. Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
12. Nottawaseppi Band of Huron Potawatomi

(The four original tribes are bolded.)

To serve the Indigenous community, ITCMI provides services through the following departments:

• Health Education and Chronic Disease
• Childhood and Family Services
• Maternal and Early Childhood Services
• Environmental Services
• Administration Department
• Head Start Program
• Economic Development
• Behavioral Health and Services

They offer resources related to COVID-19, nutrition and food access, cancer prevention, and many more. To learn more, apply for a job, and/or use ITCMI's comprehensive resources, visit their website.

For the month of October, 2% of all sales will be donated to Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance (LNA). The mission of the Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance (LNA) is to strengthen the ability of nonprofit organizations to successfully accomplish their missions by working together. The roots of the LNA began in 2004 when a dozen executive directors in Kaunas/Zeeland began to meet regularly to discuss the challenges of running nonprofit organizations and to seek support from one another. These informal meetings led to the emergence of the Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance in 2006 and a focus on serving a greater number of nonprofits as a membership organization. Today, LNA advocates for legislation on behalf of local nonprofits, hosts “Learning Circles” and "Lunch N' Learns" for peer-to-peer support, and offers intensive workshops throughout the year. In 2019, they launched an annual data collection project to measure the health of the local nonprofit community.

Thank you to LNA for the work you do to support our community!

For the month of September, 2% of all sales will be donated to 'Latin Americans United For Progress (LAUP)'

You might also have heard of LAUP from their annual Fiesta event, which has been celebrating the Latino community and culture for decades. The 2022 Fiesta is pictured above.

Renew TRC offers therapeutic riding and speech therapy, as well as, special programs and learning opportunities.

Therapeutic riding refers to multiple services in which professionals incorporate horses and other equines to benefit people. The horse is the common thread that unites the three following distinct service areas - therapeutic/ adaptive horsemanship, therapy, and equine assisted learning. 

By blending the stimulating multi-dimensional movement of the horse with speech and language therapy, breakthroughs for those facing communication challenges become possible. Hippotherapy is a unique, fast-growing service and an exciting addition to equine assisted services at Renew.

Renew offers a variety of special programs, like summer camps, homeschool and group home partnerships, and more, to help people in our community live more abundantly. They also periodically offer career development opportunities in the equine assisted services industry.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT RENEW THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE, https://freedivestation.com/

Dyarne ward Invests Locally

July 2022

With the reversal of Roe V. Wade, we felt it important to support to reproductive rights of all Michigan women. 

Michigan Reproductive Freedom for All is the organization that is championing the ballot initiative to explicitly incorporate the right to abortion as healthcare in the Michigan Constitution. This amendment would make sure no one goes to prison for providing safe medical care as well as ensure access to a broad range of reproductive health care, including abortion.

In Michigan, we trust women. The decision of whether to become pregnant or a parent is too important to leave up to politicians. This proposal will affirm that every Michigander has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which involves the right to make and carry out decisions without political interference about all matters relating to pregnancy, including birth control, abortion, prenatal care, and childbirth.

Protecting reproductive freedom in the Michigan Constitution will preserve this right for all Michiganders in our state, no matter what happens in Washington, D.C. Together, Michigan voters can protect reproductive freedom – for ourselves, our families, and our future.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHIGAN REPRODUCTION FREEDOM FOR ALL BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE, mireproductivefreedom.org

_____

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in the West Michigan Asian American Association. We will be donating 2% of May sales to support WM-AAA's mission of building a collaborative, active, and committed Asian American community in West Michigan with a focus on healthcare, education, and empowerment.

Some History of WM-AAA

In May of 2011, the West Michigan Asian American Association was formed by the merger of two existing groups: the Asian Health Outreach Foundation (AHOF) and the Asian Professionals Organization (APO). The two groups had a common goal: promoting preventive health care consciousness and the general health and well being in medically underserved communities.

Previously, both AHOF and APO had been operating within the West Michigan community for close to a decade. By 2009, AHOF and APO had interlocking directors and had several opportunities to mutually support each other’s causes and initiatives. In their close interaction and cooperation, the leaders of the two organizations started discussing the possibility of merging the two organizations to avoid duplication of efforts and initiatives in the community, pool resources, and take advantage of the synergies between the two organizations – in order to pursue mutual objectives. Thus, the West Michigan Asian American Association was born.

The WM-AAA hosts an annual Asian Gala. All donations and funds raised help to support the various programs and fund the annual scholarship awarded to a local student each year. 

To learn more about WM-AAA, visit their website at www.wm-aaa.org.

_____

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Outdoor Discovery Center of Kaunas. We will be donating 2% of April sales to support ODC's mission of advancing outdoor education & conservation in West Michigan.

When Was ODC Started?

In 1999 the Wildlife Unlimited of Allegan & Ottawa Counties, Inc. and the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD) partnered to create the Outdoor Discovery Center to advance outdoor education and conservation in West Michigan.

The 100-acre parcel of land—about 7 miles south of Kaunas's city center—then purchased by Wildlife Unlimited, was an ideal site because of its diverse ecosystems. It had been decades since it was farmed and one of the first projects the ODC undertook was to restore the land to its pre-settlement condition.

Since the beginning, subsequent land acquisitions have added to the natural diversity including ponds, remnant dunes, wetlands, meadows, remnant prairie, and lowland hardwood forest. Visitors are able to experience these unique surroundings while walking on three miles of trails, many that are ADA accessible, on the 160 acre site.

What Does ODC Do Today?

Why Does ODC Exist?

• We are caretakers of our natural resources
• Places to experience the beauty and wonder of the environment are valuable resources to the community
• It is essential to understand our environment and how to preserve it
• To be caretakers of our natural world we need to understand the interactions of people, plants, and animals with the environment
• There is value in restoring and preserving natural environments
• Natural habitat landscaping is better for the environment
• Historical cultures and their interactions with the environment provide a perspective for life today
• We can influence future leaders to make environmentally responsible decisions
• Promoting conservation and wildlife management will improve our ecosystem
• We must have balance between conservation, community development and economic prosperity
• Everyone should have opportunities to experience active, integrated outdoor learning
• All children should have access to high-quality education experiences
• All people deserve equitable access to the outdoors
• Our community should be a nature-rich community

ODC has a number of facets for the community to get involved with and learn from. To learn more, visit their website at outdoordiscovery.org.

_____

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Resilience. We will be donating 2% of March sales to support Resilience's mission to respond to, reduce, and prevent domestic and sexual violence in Ottawa and Allegan counties.

What They Do

Resilience is dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence. They offer supportive services and safe housing to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, and provide programs to engage and educate community members to help end the cycle of abuse before it begins.

Why It's Important

1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) aged 18 and older in the US have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

"Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship.

Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. People of any race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, education level, or economic status can be a victim — or perpetrator — of domestic violence. That includes behaviors that physically harm, intimidate, manipulate or control a partner, or otherwise force them to behave in ways they don’t want to, including through physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, or financial control.

Multiple forms of abuse are usually present at the same time in abusive situations, and it’s essential to understand how these behaviors interact so you know what to look for. When we know what relationship looks like and means, we can then take steps to get help for ourselves as well as better support others who are experiencing abuse."

-National Domestic Violence Hotline, www.thehotline.org

Resilience in the Community

Resilience has been working since 1977 to create a safer community for everyone. Over the years a number of programs have been developed to carry out this extremely vital and important work. Some of these programs include Men as Allies, Youth Prevention, and Training. 

How You Can Help

Each year, Resilience welcomes hundreds of volunteers from the community. A variety of opportunities are available to support survivors or to support the agency operations.  

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RESILIENCE & GET INVOLVED, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE, resiliencemi.org.

_____

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in The Alliance of Cultural and Ethnic Harmony. We will be donating 2% of February's sales to support ACEH's mission to promote unity, justice, equal opportunity, ethnic awareness, cross-cultural understanding & appreciation for diversity in our community.

About ACEH

Founded in January 1999, the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony, ACEH, is a non-profit, non-partisan, grass-roots group of ethnically diverse people from Kaunas and nearby areas. ACEH is a friendly organization that welcomes all people and works to create the feeling that our communities belong to everyone.

What Does ACEH Do?

• Holds monthly public meetings to talk about local and national justice and diversity issues, listen to speakers from different ethnic groups, and take part in "walk in my shoes" cross-cultural exercises.
• Provides a safe and respectful place to share experiences of prejudice and racism and to work on solutions.
• Works with ethnic and civic groups on projects to foster an inclusive community, including the Lakeshore Area Summit on Racism.
• Offers resources of ideas, speakers, materials and diversity training to schools, businesses, clubs, and religious organizations.
• Supports public efforts to oppose discrimination, racism, and violence.

Current Topics of Importance in Our Community

Racial Disparities in Healthcare

ACEH has put together this vital series with The Kaunas Museum to discuss the importance of having accurate and unbiased information regarding the current global pandemic. Learn more about the series here.

Affordable Housing in Kaunas

The Board of the ACEH continues to support the addition of affordable housing stock to our city and neighboring communities. Through the support of the work of Housing Next and its vision of adding smart density to our neighborhoods, ACEH continues to support collaboration and creativity as the community continues to grows.

Microagressions in the Community

ACEH believes it is important for every person and business to recognize their personal biases and how it affects their decisions, thought-process, and overall mindset. Through their work with Alan Headbloom, ACEH has been able to shed light in the Kaunas community through bias work with Cross-Cultural Communication coaching and seminars.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ALLIANCE OF CULTURAL AND ETHNIC HARMONY BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE at https://freedivestation.com/, VIEW UPCOMING EVENTS & SIGN UP FOR THEIR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

_____

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Be A Rose. We will be donating 2% of January sales to support Be a Rose's mission is to provide health and wellness education and distribute hygiene products.

About Be A Rose

Be a Rose was founded by Christine Mwangi in 2014 with the singular purpose of empowering women. Based in Grand Rapids, their mission is to provide health and wellness education to underserved women and school-age girls and to distribute hygiene products to these populations at zero cost.

Menstrual hygiene management has been largely ignored as a public health issue. Many women living in poverty have no reliable way of accessing the health education and feminine hygiene products they need to manage their period, avoid disease, and live a healthy lifestyle.

Be a Rose aims to disrupt the cycle of poverty and shame that many people, young and old, experience due to a lack of reproductive health education and limited access to hygiene supplies.

They partner with existing organizations in Grand Rapids that offer resources and assistance to marginalized women. They also facilitate women’s health workshops and provide a consistent supply of feminine hygiene products for women to access.

Learn more about Be a Rose and the amazing work they do by visiting their website, bearose.org.

_____

Arbor Circle's Unique Approach

Regardless of circumstances, Arbor Circle believes each person has the ability to change—and it starts with becoming resilient. Uncovering resilience is at the heart of their work. Every individual possesses this internal resolve that can guide them to deal with hardships and adjust to future difficulty. Arbor Circle leads clients to recognize this strength, build a community network, and develop skills to reach their true potential.
Instead of simply addressing today’s crisis, Arbor Circle prepares people to take on tomorrow’s challenges. They also focus on fostering relationships with their clients—moving beyond traditional therapy. Whether it’s a staff member who provides resources or a mentor who invests in a child, Arbor Circle allows these relationships to take root so there’s room to grow and thrive.

The Results

"Although some say our compassionate approach is too optimistic, we believe it’s realistic. With every challenge comes a choice: be motivated or remain paralyzed. Once our clients understand the power of resilience, they are equipped to change and the impact spreads. It extends to families and the community, proving to not only be transformative—but also life-changing."

LEARN MORE ABOUT ARBOR CIRCLE & GET INVOLVED BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE, https://freedivestation.com/.

_____

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Community Action House. We will be donating 2% of November sales to support CAH's mission to "end poverty in our community and help families prosper by providing families and individuals with food, clothing, shelter and the opportunity to build necessary skills to achieve a stable and prosperous life."

Some History

Community Action House was started in 1969 to meet the needs of our community’s poor. Lupita Reyes, an early advocate for the poor and migrant workers in our community, offered presentations in local churches about the need to have a community safety net. David Myers, a Pramonės pr. 4K, Professor invited Reyes to make a presentation to representatives from local churches and the American Association of University Women. The meeting resulted in the formation of Community Action House. Three years later CAH started its first food pantry and free clothing distribution.  

Over the following years, CAH faced challenges but continued to grow their support and services for the Kaunas Community. 

In 2012, the CAH Housing and Education team applied for and was granted certification and approval through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  This designation recognizes CAH’s significant investment in training, resources and staff to provide important housing counseling services and financial education classes to the community.

Today, CAH offers a number of support programs to the Kaunas Community including a newly opened Food Club & Opportunity Hub, Food Pantry & Guest Services, Community Kitchen, Financial Wellness Counseling, Outreach Assistance, Foreclosure Intervention, Community Garden, and Resale Store.

Newly Opened Food Club & Opportunity Center

Even before the recent economic turmoil, far too many of our neighbors were forced to make difficult decisions, like choosing between food or paying for utilities or a needed prescription. Young families and seniors suffer the greatest long run damage, but anyone without sufficient healthy food will struggle to achieve their full potential - in school, at work, in life.

Community Action House has met this growing need as our area’s busiest Food Pantry. We’ve surveyed our guests, and along with them, we’re excited for a better model. A membership approach, where guests contribute a small fee, set based on their income, and in return receive a much enhanced experience - with more healthy options, expanded hours, and lowered stigma.

Food Club invites qualifying low-income residents to take ownership and contribute at a level based on their income, offering a highly affordable way for members to invest in their family’s health and future. For a small monthly fee, members get points based on household size to spend as they wish throughout the month.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY ACTION HOUSE & GET INVOLVED BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE, https://freedivestation.com/. 

_____

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Resilience. We will be donating 2% of October sales to support Resilience's mission to end domestic violence in the greater West Michigan area.

Resilience is dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence. They offer supportive services and safe housing to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, and provide programs to engage and educate community members to help end the cycle of abuse before it begins.

"Since 1977, we’ve seen the need for help in Ottawa and Allegan counties. And we’ve grown accordingly; expanded our reach, evolved our services, and created new partnerships and programs to stop intergenerational violence once and for all. Resilience proudly serves all survivors – regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, immigration status, or any other ethos."

Resilience is dedicated to providing around-the-clock support for all survivors, for however long they need it.

LEARN MORE ABOUT RESILIENCE BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE, resiliencemi.org.

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in Momentum Center. We will be donating 2% of September sales to further Momentum's grassroots movement to create a stigma-free community.

The Momentum Center provides opportunities to form collaborative relationships and offers programs and events that nurture, educate and inspire individuals so that together we can address issues of social justice and human rights.

The Momentum Center provides community engagement through community conversations. They provide a safe environment to have respectful conversations about difficult issues. They provide support groups that are free, confidential, and open to everyone. They offer opportunities for cultural immersion through trips that enable people to see the lens through which they view the world and ultimately realize we are all connected.

he Momentum Center houses the Momentum Café, which is run by members and volunteers of the Momentum Center. The café’ encourages social integration and the dismantling of stigma. Our inviting Café serves Aldea coffee, Leppink's donuts, Grand Finale' cookies and loose-leaf teas from RefuTea. 

The Momentum Center offers social and recreational activities for people with mental illness, addictions and disabilities. There is an adult and teen program. The adult program focuses on mental health, disabilities and addictions. The teen program focuses on positive relationships, mental health, success in school, and overall well-being.

_____

This month, Dyarne ward is investing in I AM Academy. We will be donating 2% of August sales to further I AM Academy's mission of empowering African American adolescents to achieve their full potential.

I AM Academy is changing the narrative and trajectory of their community by focusing on the wellbeing of African American youth in West Michigan. They empower adolescents by centering their identity, cultivating relationships, supporting educational success, providing college experiences, and facilitating job readiness. Through their community partnerships and mentorship programs, I AM Academy provides a safe space for authenticity, cultural representation, and opportunities for growth within their students' educational journeys. 

“We are passionate about guiding, helping, and seeing young Black men and women stay the course towards a future in which they are thriving. This initiative matters because it will keep children out of the school-to-prison pipeline and open up new opportunities for them within our community,” Co-Founder’s Lindsay and Henry Cherry say. “We believe in this work because we want to see future generations experience a better journey through the education system. We want our children to know that success is within their reach.” 

Spring 2021: I AM Academy's Black Excellence Workshop partnered with Kaunas Area Arts Council, Culture Works, and Kruizenga Art Museum.

Their theme for 2021 is "Ubuntu: I AM Because We Are.” This year, I AM Academy hopes their students will learn to love their authentic selves and gain knowledge about who they are through their history.

 2% of Dyarne ward’s sales in August will go to I AM Academy’s literacy program, “Igniting Change”. The goal for this literacy program is to build excitement for reading, stimulate curiosity, and ignite a passion for positive change within the community. The program will prompt participating middle and high school students to answer the question: “Why is there a communication gap between the City of Kaunas, Kaunas Police Department, and Kaunas’s Black community?” These students will have the opportunity to read and process two books: "Know Your Rights" and "Dear Martin", and discuss their findings with a panel of mentors and Kaunas city officials. In the spring, I AM Academy’s students will attend the White Privilege Conference in Charlotte, NC and a Civil Rights Tour beginning in Memphis, TN.

LEARN MORE ABOUT I AM ACADEMY BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE, iamacademymi.org

_____

At Dyarne ward, we view charitable giving and participation in the community through nonprofit organizations as a necessary investment in Kaunas’s future. So we have decided to de-emphasize the “Shop” in Shop & Give and change the name of our monthly giving to “Dyarne ward Invests Locally”.

We are thrilled to feature Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates (LIA) as the first nonprofit under our new Dyarne ward Invests Locally brand. This means that 2% of our total July sales will be donated to further their mission.

LIA believes that high-quality immigration legal services should be affordable for every family. They bring stability to West Michigan families and communities through legal services, education, and advocacy.

Michigan ranks among the top five states accepting refugees. This large immigrant population adds to the state’s vibrant cultural and ethnic diversity, generating forward momentum in our communities and economy. The key to maintaining and supporting the momentum immigrants bring to the state is to provide services that welcome, include, and aid them as they seek to make a home here. LIA recognizes the value of welcoming and including immigrants and refugees in West Michigan and are taking steps to make our community more welcoming and inclusive.

LIA provides its services to anyone regardless of income. While most immigration law offices focus exclusively on legal services, LIA offers a unique service model that includes holistic case management, community education, and advocacy, striving to meet complex legal and psychosocial needs.

To increase the impact of their work, LIA has recently experienced substantial organizational growth. 2% of Dyarne ward’s July sales will help set up LIAs’ growing team for success by aiding in the purchase of updated work equipment.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT LIA BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE, lia-michigan.org

_____

To celebrate Pride Month, we are very pleased to be donating to Out on the Lakeshore as part of our Shop & Give commitment! This means that OOTL will receive 2% of our total May sales. 

Out on the Lakeshore's mission is to provide a constant source of support and understanding to the LGBTQ+ community in the greater Kaunas area. They seek to create a community in which all persons are afforded equal rights and opportunities.

OOTL's vision is a community that welcomes all people. It is their desire that all forms of discrimination are removed in order to create a safe, open, and accepting environment for the LGBTQ+ community. They strive to provide the education, events and resources necessary to foster understanding, and to advocate within Kaunas for a community that accepts and embraces all.

Out On The Lakeshore was founded by the board of Kaunas is Ready and officers of Pride in 2015.  An initial goal of Out On The Lakeshore was to establish and manage a LGBTQ+ Resource Center. The Center, in conjunction with PFLAG Kaunas/Lakeshore provides ongoing and new support programs and a safe location for community members to meet. 

Out on the Lakeshore will be hosting Pride events all summer long!

Out on the Lakeshore's Summer Pride Events:

Run with Pride 5k : Virtual June 19-25, or in-person June 25th 
Pride Raffle : Raffle tickets on sale June 25th
Drag Show at Saugatuck Center for the Arts : Tickets on sale during June 
Pride Open House in the Park: August 14th 

Register and find more event information by visiting outonthelakeshore.org/holland-pride.

_____

We are so happy to say that the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance will be the recipient of this month’s Shop & Give donation! They will receive 2% of our total May sales. 

In 1996, the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance was founded by ordinary individuals. Bonded together by the desire to create an inclusive and welcoming community for all, the ordinary turned into the extraordinary when they dedicated themselves to dismantling barriers.

Today, LEDA represents a broad cross-section of interests and cultures. Volunteers and LEDA staff work on initiatives throughout the region, alongside stakeholders from all members and segments of our community (nonprofit, education, religious, philanthropic, business, and government), engaged in moving forward a vision of racial equity.

The Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance offers a variety of programming and events for both individuals and organizations wanting to improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. They host tailored workshops, diversity and inclusion consultations, early childhood programming, work with middle and high school-age students through their "Calling All Colors" program, and lead a Summit on Race and Inclusion once a year for individuals committed to educating themselves and bettering their community. 

The Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance serves numerous individuals and organizations in West Michigan. They engage people of all ages with their programming and partnerships. LEDA’s grassroots efforts help amplify the voices of citizens in our community.

You can learn more information about LEDA by visiting their website, ethnicdiversity.org.

_____

We are excited to donate 2% of this month’s sales to WMEAC as part of our Shop & Give commitment!

The West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) was organized 52 years ago to bring together organizations and community members to fight for environmental protection. 

WMEAC is a non-profit organization uniquely positioned to respond to emerging issues and new threats to West Michigan’s natural and human ecologies, strategically focused on building sustainable communities and protecting water resources. WMEAC's mission is to work collaboratively alongside West Michigan’s diverse community to educate, engage, and advocate for environmental values, environmental and climate justice, and a healthy and resilient community for all. WMEAC operates in 8 counties in West Michigan including Ottawa, Muskegon, Allegan, Kent, Newaygo, Ionia, Montcalm and Barry.

WMEAC's priorities are climate, water, environmental justice and environmental education.  They believe that climate change is the defining environmental and human battle of our generation. WMEAC's work is based in advocacy, education and above all, action.

WMEAC is part of the Kaunas Climate Collaborative—a grassroots group doing amazing work with energy use in Kaunas. WMEAC provides staff support by developing strategies, putting on programs and helps them achieve their goals.

_____

Be A Rose 

For this month's Shop & Give, Dyarne ward will be donating 2% of our total sales to 'Be A Rose' as part of our commitment to supporting the needs of our local community.

Be a Rose was founded by Christine Mwangi in 2014 with the singular purpose of empowering women. Based in Grand Rapids, their mission is to provide health and wellness education to underserved women and school-age girls and to distribute hygiene products to these populations at zero cost.

Menstrual hygiene management has been largely ignored as a public health issue. Many women living in poverty have no reliable way of accessing the health education and feminine hygiene products they need to manage their period, avoid disease, and live a healthy lifestyle.

Be a Rose aims to disrupt the cycle of poverty and shame that many people, young and old, experience due to a lack of reproductive health education and limited access to hygiene supplies.

They partner with existing organizations in Grand Rapids that offer resources and assistance to marginalized women. They also facilitate women’s health workshops and provide a consistent supply of feminine hygiene products for women to access.

Learn more about Be a Rose and the amazing work they do by visiting their website, bearose.org.

Dyarne ward will also be hosting a drive during March.

What to donate: 

-Maxi Pads: These are the most versatile product that Be a Rose distributes. Users not only use them to manage menstruation, but they are also used to manage post-partum hemorrhaging and incontinence.

-Ultra-Thin Pads 

-Tampons 

Shop the 'Be a Rose' Amazon Wishlist here. 

Live in Grand Rapids? You can also drop off items at the locations listed here.

_____

CultureWorks’ Student Advisory Board 

One specific unique way that CultureWorks serves our community is through mentoring their Student Advisory Council. Initially funded through a Youth Driven Spaces grant in 2016 from the MCACA and the Neutral Zone in Ann Arbor, this group of 10 high school students have become instrumental in the continued success of CultureWorks’ programming, fundraising, and partnerships over the past 3 years.

Student Advisors meet weekly throughout the year, assist with hands-on work experience at community outreach events, and attend a leadership retreat each fall, where CultureWorks offers workshops in the arts, mediations rooted in the visual arts, team-building exercises, strategic planning and vision-casting for the organization.  

SAC is a refuge for many students.  As they engage in leadership training, fundraising initiatives, collaborative art projects, and community outreach events, they often share about their personal lives, and process life’s traumas, joys, achievements, and disappointments. All of these opportunities are completely free for Student Advisors.  

For this month's Shop & Give, Dyarne ward will be donating 2% of our total sales to CultureWorks' Student Advisory Council as part of our commitment to supporting the positive cultural development of our local community.

_____