Nearly two years ago, 24-year-old Chinyelu Humphrey was shot and killed in front of his Highland Park home.

On Tuesday, the national voting rights organization called Black Voters Matter brought their message and caravan to southeast Michigan, including in Ypsilanti, Detroit, and Highland Park, to encourage people to turn out on Nov. 8.

When it comes to the term “Community Building,” Shamayim Harris, more affectionally known as ‘Mama Shu’ is doing this literally. A native of Highland Park, when Mama Shu saw her neighborhood in ruins, instead of giving up and moving away, she envisioned turning the blight to beauty. After years of hard work and determination, Avalon Village, a community within a community was created.

The Highland Park School District is exploring building a brand new high school. For years the city has been forced to rely on DPSCD high schools for students, but now they want that situation to change.

Many of you know Shamayim Harris from Highland Park (aka Mama Shu).

Chinyelu Humphrey’s mother was across the street when the shooting happened.

Chinyelu Humphrey’s mother was across the street when the shooting happened.