She wants to help with the pain

People are gathering to chase their dreams at Black Tech Saturdays in Detroit

Birdie’s Bookmobile making a difference in the heart of Detroit

Watch Flashpoint every Sunday at 10 a.m. on Local 4 News and Local 4+.

Award-winning author and humanitarian Mitch Albom is home safe in Metro Detroit after a terrifying ordeal in Haiti.

Mitch Albom, who founded an orphanage in Haiti in 2010, found himself, along with nine others, stranded in the country when sweeping political violence erupted.

On Wednesday, Albom was on The Great Voice where he spoke about the state of the violence and the safety of the children at an orphanage he runs in Haiti.

The 12th annual S.A.Y. Detroit Radiothon benefiting area charities will be held Thursday at the Somerset Collection in Troy.

"The Little Liar" will be released Nov. 14th

Stephen Rubin, a longtime publishing executive with an eye for bestsellers and a passion for music and public life, has died.

Michigan firefighters to walk from Macomb Township to Grand Rapids to spread cancer awareness.

Anise Hayes is the co-founder and executive director of Atlantic Impact, a student-focused program designed to provide urban youth with rewarding experiences in education, travel and career.

The 11th annual S.A.Y. Detroit Radiothon benefiting area charities will be held Thursday at the Somerset Collection in Troy.

Soccer is life in Southwest Detroit and thanks to Tim Richey, this talented community now has an opportunity to play at a different level.

For Rebecca Abel, the decision to make cookies has lead to a successful business and encouraged her to inspire other entrepreneurs. Award-winning journalist Mitch Albom shared how D’Vine Cookies is doing something sweet in The Heart of Detroit.

Eat Detroit’s city-wide foodie experience is back after a two-year hiatus.

Behind all technology screens, including your phone, computer, tablets, and gaming consoles, there is a code. Coding is the process or activity of writing computer programs. The language electronics uses to understand and execute functions of computer devices. Kids are excited about the idea of coding but not all children have the right access to learn how to code. CODE(313) is here to bring change for all children who are interested in coding.

Let’s take a look at radio personalities from the 20th and 21st centuries who have helped shape the radio community.

Growing up in Metro Detroit, I took a shine to all media. If you had asked me, I likely would have told you I wanted to grow up and “be on television” like Mort Crim, be the funny morning radio guy like Harper & Gannon on WNIC, or a newspaper columnist like Bob Talbert or, later on, Mitch Albom.

Award-winning journalist, New York Times best-selling author, and philanthropist Mitch Albom is back in action with EAT Detroit.

Trinity Community Care offers free services for Macomb County residents.

When Matthew Stafford left Detroit and the Lions for greener pastures with the Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams, he promised his work in the city wasn’t done.

Savor the Journey fundraiser will celebrate 10 years in May.

Hope House Detroit has helped the younger generation for more than decade.

A severe loss can occasionally lead to the discovery of a new purpose, as Chris Casteel discovered. One accident changed his life forever, pushing him into a life of service to others. Award-winning journalist Mitch Albom shared how Chris helps individuals get back on their feet in the heart of Detroit.

The group provides trips to different cities to provide life-changing experiences.

Mend on the Move provides a creative healing environment for victims of domestic abuse.

A neighborhood can provide a sense of community and a park can provide a gathering place where all are welcome.

On this week’s Heart of Detroit, Mitch Albom gives an inside look at a group of Neighbors whose efforts are turning vacant lots into vibrant parks on Detroit’s east side.

The 10th annual S.A.Y. Detroit Radiothon benefiting area charities will be held Thursday at the Somerset Collection in Troy.

Mitch Albom is back with a star-studded Say Detroit Radiothon next week.

“The Stranger in the Lifeboat” is about 10 rich people who survive a boating accident. They have been in a small lifeboat for 3 days and are running out of food and water when they spot a stranger floating in the water.

A gang that kidnapped 17 members of a U.S.-based missionary group demanded $1 million ransom per person, although authorities were not clear whether that amount included the five children being held, a top Haitian official said Tuesday.

Seventeen missionaries including children were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti over the weekend. The group is comprised of 16 Americans and a Canadian. They’re with the Ohio-based organization Christian Aid Ministries. The work the missionaries are doing in Haiti is similar to humanitarian efforts by Detroit’s own Mitch Albom.

A lesson learned thousands of miles away is helping feed hundreds of people right here at home. It’s a service that helped many get through the pandemic when everything shut down and some were wondering how they were going to get their next meal.

Sometimes we never take a second to appreciate the essentials in our own home like a shower, sink or other appliances that help us daily. For those that don’t have that, those essentials for us are a gift to those in need.

DETROIT – Seniors and first responders living in Highland Park do not have access to the Detroit Health Department’s vaccine program. When Albom’s charity SAY Detroit opened a clinic in 2006 he didn’t think they would end up being on the frontlines of a pandemic. AdThrough an initiative of the Wayne County Health Department, doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have become available for people in Highland Park and Hamtramck at the SAY Detroit family health clinic. That would be only people who live in Highland Park or Hamtramck. Anyone who wants it can call 313-590-0470 for an appointment or just walk inside the SAY Detroit clinic on Glendale Avenue.

For today’s “Heart of Detroit” series, Mitch Albom showcased Motor City Mitten Mission. He first visited the charity two years ago when they were primarily focused on providing mats and pillows to our city’s homeless population. On top of that, Motor City Mitten Mission is now helping unsheltered people transition into housing. The challenges for Detroit’s homeless population have changed and Motor City Mission is trying to meet them. It is because of their tireless outreach efforts, that Motor City Mitten Mission is constantly in need for volunteer drivers as well as financial support.

DETROIT – Matthew and Kelly Stafford will soon be leaving the Motor City to make their way west to Los Angeles. Matthew Stafford will be taking on a new role as quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams. “We wanted to leave something to show how grateful we are to this place,” Kelly Stafford said. Matthew is a regular at the SAY Detroit Radiothon and the couple donated time and money to make Stafford Field a reality at the SAY Detroit Recreation Center. They donated $1 million to make the Kelly and Matthew Stafford and Friends Education Center a reality.

There is an organization here in Detroit that is working in neighborhoods to help local kids discover their brilliant selves. Brilliant Detroit works with local youths to help better their education and opportunities. Mitch Albom profiled the organization back in 2018 for his Heart of Detroit Series. It is now in 13 neighborhoods in the Detroit area and that feat is in no small part due to Cindy Eggleton, the founder of Brilliant Detroit. In the video above, Eggleton spoke to Tati Amare about her organization’s growth and their mission to make sure a zip code does not determine a child’s success.

In 2015, two actors/educators started 4th Wall Theatre Company. Katie Mann and Annie Klark started the company for actors with special needs. The organization gave these actors a place to really shine on stage and teaches them everything from acting to singing to dance. Mann and Klark have opened chapters in Pittsburgh and New York and are looking to open more. Katie Mann and Annie Klark sat down for an interview with Tati Amare to explain how anyone can get involved.

Mitch Albom first met with Rebel Nell in 2014, a company that makes the majority of their products out of graffiti. Albom says he was drawn to the company because of their mission to provide employment opportunities to underserved women in Detroit. Since the pandemic began, Rebel Nell started a nonprofit wing of their organization to protect their employees. Each piece from Rebel Nell is one of a kind, and is made out of recycled materials. For more information on Rebel Nell watch the video above.

Back in 2014, we sat down with Amy Peterson and Diana Russell of rebel Nell, the Detroit centric jewelry company that uses graffiti to make beautiful jewelry. What resonated with me is their mission to provide employment opportunities for underserved women in Detroit, many of whom are homeless. Watch the story above. For more information Rebel Nell, visit their website here. More: Heart of Detroit stories

DETROIT – It’s time to tune in or click-on for one of Detroit’s biggest fundraising events of the year when SAY Detroit hosts its ninth annual radiothon on Thursday. “Due to Covid-19 and the recession, non-profits in Metro Detroit are really struggling” said SAY Detroit founder Mitch Albom. The annual Mitch Albom Radiothon has raised more than $5.7 million dollars since 2012. All of the proceeds raised goes to one of SAY Detroit’s nine programs or affiliated charities in Detroit that it supports. SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and is committed to working in Detroit’s neediest neighborhoods with health care, housing and education including the SAY Detroit Family Health clinic, Working Homes/Working Families and Detroit SAY Play Center at Lipke Park.

This Thursday December 10, Mitch Albom is encouraging you to give a gift back to the Detroit community by donating to the SAY Detroit Radiothon. The fundraiser gathers money for charities across Metro Detroit, and is more important than ever during the uncertainty of the pandemic. Usually, Albom and co-host Ken Brown would host the event out of Somerset Mall, inviting guests onstage with them and drawing large crowds. This year though, Albom and Brown will be the only ones onstage and guests will be tuning in over video chat. Albom said they’re hoping that even now when times are tough, there will still be those who decide to donate.

DETROIT – It’s time to tune in or click-on for one of Detroit’s biggest fundraising events of the year when SAY Detroit hosts its ninth annual radiothon on Thursday. “Due to Covid-19 and the recession, non-profits in Metro Detroit are really struggling” said SAY Detroit founder Mitch Albom. The annual Mitch Albom Radiothon has raised more than $5.7 million dollars since 2012. All of the proceeds raised goes to one of SAY Detroit’s nine programs or affiliated charities in Detroit that it supports. SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and is committed to working in Detroit’s neediest neighborhoods with health care, housing and education including the SAY Detroit Family Health clinic, Working Homes/Working Families and Detroit SAY Play Center at Lipke Park.

Beth and Fred Pellerito first met Mitch Albom on The Heart of Detroit in 2018, when they took over running O.A.T.S., a equine therapy organization for children and adults with special needs. Now Albom has checked back in with them to see how things are going since the pandemic began. They said that it has been a challenge just trying to start things up since they were initially able to reopen in June. The Pelleritos shared some of the inspirational stories of students who have seen drastic improvements from meeting with the horses every week. They said that even with the pandemic, its important that they are able to keep helping people as safely as they can.

Her work here in Metro Detroit and around the world has gotten her recognized by outlets like CNN and People Magazine. Najah Bazzy is a woman who saw a need and is now impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. She started a Zaman International out of the back of her van in 1996 and now it has grown to a 40,000 square foot facility in Inkster. Through a voucher program, women have access to free basic needs like food and clothing. Watch the video to see how Mitch Albom shows us exactly how Najah is helping others in the Heart of Detroit.

Najah Bazzy is a nurse who was doing transcultural work at a local hospital after the Gulf War when she met a refugee family living in extreme poverty. “A baby in a laundry basket, hat was dying in a laundry basket,” she said. Food, Clothing, Shelter,” Bazzy said. Through a voucher program, women have access to free basic needs like food and clothing. “I see the human family you know the totality of the human family and if God made somebody the way he made them skin color you know shape,” she said.

It is often said that dogs are mans best friend, and thats something Amy Johnson took to heart. In Heart of Detroit, Award-winning journalist Mitch Albom introduced us to Johnson who created Teachers Pet, an organization that pairs unwanted dogs with at-risk youths. With the program, kids help train dogs with behavioral issues to make them more adoptable. Owners who adopt the dogs that go through the program, praise the obedience and loving nature of the animals. To learn more about Teachers Pet, click on the video above.

Detroit hives brings local raw honey to the city

Mitch Albom is an award-winning journalist, the author of six consecutive No. 1 New York Times Bestsellers including “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “The Next Person You Meet in Heaven”. Now he has a new inspirational novella that is written one week at a time and available online for free. While the story is free, readers can donate to help people impacted by the COVID-19 crisis on the same website. Watch the video to hear more about how Mitch Albom is helping to support the Detroit community.

Mitch Albom has a new book "Finding Chika" on Live in the DIf you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

Sometimes all it takes is one moment that will change your life forever and for a man in Detroit, that's exactly what happened. Mathews eventually became the principal at a high school in the Detroit Public School Distric. To change this Matthews along with other administrators worked on restructuring overcrowded high schools to help make each student feel important and cared for. "They were the first graduates of high school for their families and first graduates of college for their families." Matthews believe he has now found his own purpose, to inspire his students every day right right here in the heart of Detroit.

A man is on a mission in Detroit to give those less fortunate an opportunity in this changing city. Mitch Albom shows us how one man's idea is showing there is a better way to get things done in the heart of Detroit. Father Marko Djonovic has organized a mission to keep parks, alleyways, neighborhoods and churches clean. Father Marko provides supplies and labor wages with money raised though Better WAY Detroit, an initiative of the priests of the Detroit Oratory of St. Phillip Neri in Midtown. He also enlisted the help of Marcus Cobb, who was once homeless and in need of work.

Award-winning journalist Mitch Albom introduced us to Amy Johnson who's putting dogs and at-risk youth together and getting amazing results in the Heart of Detroit. Johnson took her compassion for unwanted dogs and paired it with her desire to help at-risk youth. The result is Teacher's Pet, where she offers a at-risk kids a stepping-stone to a better life. This program gives kids a chance for kids to better themselves with the help of a "hard to adopt" dog, a shared stigma that the kids understand. Johnson said she sees a connection these kids have with the dogs through their shared experiences.

This one features a woman who empowers girls to find their most beautiful selves in the Heart of Detroit. Her after-school workshops focus on empowerment topics to help the self-esteem and self-worth of girls in third grade grade and older. Palka said she watches the girls grow before her eyes and knows the classes give them the ability to handle different situations. With the help of partners and 30 volunteers each year, "A Beautiful Me" reaches 1,000 girls. Palka said these classes will not only affect the girls' self-esteem it has helped some improve their grades and promote healthy life habits.

She moved to the city and educated herself on what families really needed: food security. Food Security is when there is a enough food for everyone to eat. Seeing the lack of security, Buffington needed to find a solution. Eden Gives fills that gap and gives food to those who need that little extra help. If you would like to help you can always volunteer or check out Eden Gives website: https://www.edengives.org/.

For over 40 years the mission of the Central United Methodist Church was simple provide their community with food. Albom interviewed Amy Brown, executive director of the NOAH project. The NOAH Project is committed to ending homelessness in the Heart of Detroit by providing a step to self-sufficiency. As they got to know her and her story, they successfully got her into a home and now Joyce comes back and volunteers with the NOAH Project. If you would like to find more information about the NOAH Project, you can visit their website, http://noahprojectdetroit.org/.

Mitch Albom introduced us to Bob Cindric and the Saline Swarm of Voices in this week's Heart of Detroit. Cindric spends his days teaching music to students at Woodland Meadows Elementary in Saline. Five years ago a fourth grader brought him a unique request: a choir club. The fourth grader got many people interested in the club, and by the end of the year there were 85 students involved in the school choir club. The choir performs at many places throughout the year, including local schools and nursing homes bringing joy to all who watch.

Photojournalist Mitch Albom brings us a Heart of Detroit story about, Rodd Monts and Larry Gardner, who are on a mission to share stories of the residents in Detroit.

Video journalist Mitch Albom brings us a story about Bob Singh, who is the founder of Abscott Institute. For more information click here https://abcott.edu/

Journalist Mitch Albom brings a story about Sam White who is on a mission to bring Shakespeare to Detroit. Go to ShakespeareinDetroit.com for more information

This week on Flashpoint, Devin Scillian sits down at the roundtable to discuss nothing but good news about Detroit. The first segment includes an appearance by Mitch Albom (@MitchAlbom,) who shared details about his work with SAY Detroit and other upcoming projects. The roundtable guests are:Dennis Archer, Jr. (@DennisArcherJr)Jeanette Pierce (@WeKnowDetroit)Chastity Pratt Dawsey (@CPrattDawsey)John Gallagher (@JGallagherFreep)Writer and founder of S.A.Y. Detroit Mitch Albom talks about the spirit of giving, and a special roundtable of only good news.

In this week's Heart of Detroit, Mitch Albom introduces viewers to a Paralympic athlete who is moving on to a new challenge in her life. Cheryl Angelelli is showing the world why a wheelchair shouldn't necessarily keep anyone from being able to dance. You can watch this week's edition of Heart of Detroit in the video posted above after it airs on Local 4 News at 5. Sign up for ClickOnDetroit Email Newsletters (click here) for more stories like this.

DETROIT Rhonda Harvell could be called a giving spirit. As a former restaurant owner, Harvell spent years serving customers delicious food, but she is cooking for a new crowd. "I just went out, and I saw there was a need for the people in Detroit, the homeless, and it just touched my heart," Harvell said. Through her food and her nonprofit group, Believe in the Light, Harvell is finally able to fulfill her life-long dream of serving her community. From restaurant owner to community chef, Harvell is cooking up Sunday dinner for those in need in the heart of Detroit.

DETROIT Music makes you move. "I had a general music teacher and he played all kinds of music for us, from Beethoven to Diana Ross to William Grant Still," Crutcher said. As founder of Crescendo Detroit, Crutcher's career as a music teacher and conductor gave him the skills needed to enrich the lives of students in Detroit, especially since so many performing arts programs have been eliminated from the schools. Whether they are playing the trumpet, learning choreography or singing in the choir, the kids of Crescendo Detroit are reaping the benefits of arts education. With a little music and a little dance, Crutcher and Crescendo Detroit are hitting all the right notes in the heart of Detroit.

PONTIAC, Mich. – Several parishioners from All Saints Church in Pontiac saw a need for tutoring at a local elementary school 21 years ago. We'll work on their academic skills,'" said Jane Porter, executive director of Bound Together. Tutoring program Bound Together meets three days a week and caters to "at risk" students in Oakland County in first through sixth grades. You know, you give an hour once a week and you see a big difference in a child," Porter said. Carrying on a tradition, Bound Together is creating a world of learning in the heart of Detroit.

DETROIT Every summer we see the classic cars of yesteryear traveling up and down Woodward Avenue. "Give me, like, one example of something that people don't realize about Woodward Avenue," Mitch Albom said. There are nine national historic landmarks in the 27 miles, two counties and 11 municipalities that Woodward Avenue encompasses. "You would be the person in the car going down Woodward Avenue going slower, slower, slower -- wait, look at that, look at that -- at every corner, you got another story," said Albom. The Woodward Avenue Action Association plans to return Woodward to the "Avenue" that it once was with the addition of bike paths and improved retail space.

CLAWSON, Mich. The men and women of our nation's fire service risk their lives every day fighting fires. "Because if they ever get stuck in a house fire, they're going to be terrified," Engel said. From "stop, drop and roll" to crawling below the smoke, Engel and the firefighters from the Clawson Fire Department are teaching the basics of fire safety. It's neat to teach them from when they're first graders, you know, right up until when they are in high school," said Engel. You got to teach them so they will pass it on to the next generation."

Today, University Prep graduates 90 percent of its high schoolers and sends 90 percent of them to college. Ed Parks is the board president of University Prep and a beloved figure around campus. Thanks to a huge grant from a Plymouth couple named Bob and Ellen Thompson, University Prep could focus its resources and teachers and talent. "Small class sizes, college prep type curriculum and obviously teachers with passion," Parks said. He, this and University Prep prove that educational ideals can still fly high in the heart of Detroit.