Traverse City Bikes to School Day is a community-wide, multi-school celebration of National Bike & Roll To School Day. This year, Traverse City Bikes to School Day is Wednesday, May 8th. As with most things in life, biking to school is best with friends, so please make sure to invite your crew. WHAT IF IContinue reading “2024 Traverse City Bikes To School Day is May 8th”
Category Archives: We Fight
Humans of TCAPS’ School-Based Mentorship Program
Shortly after We Fight was created in December, 2021, Stephanie Slawnik pitched the idea of lunch-time mentors to connect with students during lunch. The Lunch Buddies program was created and piloted at Traverse Heights Elementary and Central Grade School in 2022/23 to help: In the 2023/24 school year, Lunch Buddies expanded to all ten TCAPSContinue reading “Humans of TCAPS’ School-Based Mentorship Program”
Elevate Northern Michigan #5: Reflections on a Youth Mental Health Summit
“Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.” ~ Noam Shpancer, PhD. Lisa Thomas, Dean of Students at Northwestern Michigan College, opened the fifth Elevate Nothern Michigan Youth Mental Health Summit with this quote. It was a great reminder that our mental health is aContinue reading “Elevate Northern Michigan #5: Reflections on a Youth Mental Health Summit”
Elevate Northern Michigan #5 Set For November 29th at Northwestern Michigan College
Elevate Northern Michigan is a summit series focused on boosting knowledge, shifting attitudes, decreasing stigma, and building support for youth mental health by learning about: I hope that aspiring youth leaders leave this summit with a better understanding of the skills required to project their voice and tackle systemic change with the youthful determination thatContinue reading “Elevate Northern Michigan #5 Set For November 29th at Northwestern Michigan College”
Coach Traverse City: Filling a Gap in Northern Michigan’s Capital
Coach Traverse City is a community of quality adults who help coach youth elementary school-based sports in Northern Michigan’s capital. Why Coach Traverse City? Many school-based elementary sports are coached by parents of kids who play. Sometimes, parents cannot coach because of work/family/other commitments. Teams have been canceled recently because there hasn’t been anyone toContinue reading “Coach Traverse City: Filling a Gap in Northern Michigan’s Capital”
Equity, Innovation, Empowerment: Roadrunner Nation to Help Level the School Wellness Playing Field in Northern Michigan
This summer, Jay Berger, Mary Van Valin and I created Roadrunner Nation to help Traverse City’s Traverse Heights Elementary: – Level the playing field regarding equitable access and opportunities to critical co-curricular things like field trips, recess equipment, and after-school activities, including sports and arts scholarships – Strengthen the school-community connection to improve wellbeing and safetyContinue reading “Equity, Innovation, Empowerment: Roadrunner Nation to Help Level the School Wellness Playing Field in Northern Michigan”
Paula Colombo to Speak at Elevate Northern Michigan Mental Health Summit #4
Dr. Paula Colombo, MD, is a compassionate and experienced psychiatrist with over 20 years of practice in Traverse City. She earned her medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1995 and is affiliated with Munson Medical Center and Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, where she provides outstanding mental health care to her patients. Paula’sContinue reading “Paula Colombo to Speak at Elevate Northern Michigan Mental Health Summit #4”
No Keener Revelation of a Society’s Soul
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” ~ Nelson Mandela Jennifer Whitten, Grand Traverse Probate Court judge, ended her presentation to my Sunrise Rotary Club with this quote. It made me think about Northern Michigan’s soul. It made me think about how weContinue reading “No Keener Revelation of a Society’s Soul”
Nancy Dow to Speak at Elevate Northern Michigan Mental Health Summit #4
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Nancy is a Connecticut Community For Addiction Recovery (CCAR) trained Family Support Coordinator/Family Recovery Coach with Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) in Traverse City. Having lived experience with being affected by family members with Substance Use Disorder and tragically losing her daughter, Dana, in 2017 toContinue reading “Nancy Dow to Speak at Elevate Northern Michigan Mental Health Summit #4”
Corey Hansen to Speak at Elevate Northern Michigan Mental Health Summit #4
“We need one another…we need everything else too.” Exploring the neural biological imperatives that connect us to everything. As a naturalist, outdoor educator, and permaculture practitioner, Corey understands that it is the strength of our relationships that makes us who we are and shapes the stories we tell. Corey is the Lead Wilderness Guide andContinue reading “Corey Hansen to Speak at Elevate Northern Michigan Mental Health Summit #4”
Good Works Lab 