If you've ever heard a teenager say "low key" or "ate that up" and had no idea what they meant, you're not alone.

Campers and counselors at Skull Island Camp recently offered a crash course in Gen Alpha slang, breaking down the words and phrases defining how young people communicate today.

See the full story from Jeffrey Lindblom in the video below A crash course in the language of Gen Alpha

The lesson started with some basics.

"Skibidi," said Ethan Krezel-Wilding, a camper at the camp.

"Or rizz," said Cecilia Kakoz, a lifeguard at the camp.

"Ate that up," said Kiera Ritter, a camper.

"That's mewing," said Ryan Gambrel, a camper.

The kids explained that mewing means working on your jawline to look like a sigma which means attractive as opposed to chopped, which means the opposite.

Kathryn Chipman, who owns and runs Skull Island Camp, said she hears the kids use their slang all day long. She said that despite the rapidly changing dialect, it brings the kids joy and at any rate, it's just how they communicate.

"Nobody really understood that to begin with I try and forget them as soon as they come in," Chipman said.

"It's different. It keeps you young," Chipman said.

"It's like a second hand language," Ritter said.

The snack shack served as a classroom for a deeper dive into the vocabulary.

"Chud. Let's say I had a day off of work I say, oh I get to be a chud today it means I'm being lazy," Kakoz said.

When asked what "on god" means, Krezel-Wilding had a straightforward answer.

"It means that you're telling the truth even if you aren't," Krezel-Wilding said.

And "to eat?"

"It means you did really good, or I did really good," Ritter said.

12-year-old Gambrel explained that "low key" means on the down low, and "locking in" means focusing.

"I low key have to lock in, I'm scared," Gambrel said. "'I got to lock in so I do good."

"I like low key too, I'm always like, mom I low key want to get starbucks," Ritter said.

For anyone who thinks the slang sounds strange, Gambrel had a simple explanation if you're over 25, you're just an "unc."

"Yeah, you're an unc," Gambrel said.

"It does get to a point where it's kind of annoying, but they're just kids so it's good," Kakoz said.

"I would say you just don't get the culture," Gambrel said.

"Clock it, girl!" Kakoz said.

"It's meant to be funny," Gambrel said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Dearborn nonprofit that has served the community for four and a half decades has opened a major expansion after just nine months of construction.

Leaders Helping and Advancing Communities, known as LAHC, cut the ribbon on a new 6,500-square-foot behavioral health and workforce development hub. The $3 million project was funded through local, federal and private sources including grants from Comcast and Amazon.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Dearborn nonprofit LAHC opens $3M behavioral health and workforce development hub

LAHC President and CEO Wassim Mahfouz said the milestone was an emotional one.

"We did it. My heart is full." Mahfouz said.

The new facility brings career training, behavioral health services, education and English as a second language classes for immigrants under one roof. LAHC says it touched 80,000 lives last year, and Mahfouz says the expansion will dramatically increase that reach.

"We're going to be able to serve 20,000 individuals." Mahfouz said.

The hub also includes a partnership with Dearborn Public Schools to house their special needs program on site.

Dozens of contributors attended the opening, including state legislators, county and community partners and business leaders from Comcast and Amazon. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said the nonprofit's approach to serving people of all backgrounds is exactly what the community needs.

"Whenever you help people get into the workforce, you're helping shatter the cycle of poverty, which often is passed down generation to generation." Hammoud said.

Ginna Holmes, executive director of the Michigan Community Service Commission, echoed that sentiment.

"And make sure people are helped." Holmes said.

James White, president and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, praised the organization's inclusive mission.

"I could not be more proud of an organization like this that gives people like me an opportunity," White said.

Hammoud said the culture inside the new facility sets it apart.

"Everyone who walks through these doors is treated like family and that's all you can ask for." Hammoud said.

Mahfouz said LAHC's approach has always been rooted in meeting people where they are regardless of their background.

"We welcome everybody. We don't ask about your background. We ask what your need is, and that's what we try to fulfill." Mahfouz said.

Mahfouz said LAHC is already welcoming people into the new building.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Thousands of classic cars, custom builds and the stories behind them lined Woodward Avenue for the Woodward Dream Cruise in metro Detroit.

Among them: a 1956 Big Job C-800 that began its life as a fire truck and is now a hot rod complete with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and a rocket ship on board.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Indiana man's fire truck hot rod brings Toy Story magic to Woodward Dream Cruise

Dan Newby drove it from Indiana.

"I come from Indiana and I love this place," Newby said.

The truck cruises comfortably at 70 miles per hour and gets 20 miles per gallon on a diesel engine.

"It just floats down the road. Easy ride," Newby said.

Newby said the vehicle's life began as a fire truck before it fell into his hands and he got to work transforming it.

"Now it's a hot rod. It's like having a toy," Newby said. "You can build things out of nothing and turn it into something you never thought about. And to be a part of this makes me feel good."

This is Newby's third time bringing the truck to the Dream Cruise. Back home, he teaches robotics to high schoolers and challenged one of his classes to pitch Woody and Buzz to a rocket ship a concept that has a knack for getting kids excited about cars.

5-year-old spectator Ethan Ball was among those drawn in by the Toy Story characters.

"I really like it," Ethan said.

"It brings a smile and they just go crazy over Woody and the rocketship," Newby said.

Ethan said what caught his eye most was the cool truck and the tires.

"I like how they look or the tires," Ethan said.

Newby said the Dream Cruise is full of stories waiting to be told.

"There's a million stories out here," Newby said.

The Dream Cruise, he said, is where history and the modern day meet and his truck does a little bit of both.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Three metro Detroit men say their shared love of Pontiac GTOs has kept them connected for decades and every summer, Woodward Avenue feels like home.

Stan Chodun, Jerry Moss and Steve Lutren show up to the Woodward Dream Cruise with three lawn chairs, three cars and years of memories to go along with them. Between them, they own a 1965, a 1966 and a 1967 Pontiac GTO.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Three Detroit-area men say Pontiac GTOs sparked a friendship that has lasted decades

"The three of us go back quite a number of years," Lutren said.

Lutren's first car was a Pontiac GTO, and he never quite let it go.

"There's nothing like it," Lutren said. "I love the car and I love talking about it."

For Moss, his GTO ranks among his most prized possessions.

"Next to my daughter and my grand kids. This is my baby," Moss said.

Moss keeps his engine spotless clean enough, he says, to cook on.

"You can probably cook an egg on it. It's that clean," Moss said.

Moss said he has been coming to Woodward since the late '60s and never stopped. He said he never expected that his love of cars would lead him to his closest friends.

"No," Moss said. "Absolutely not. Not in your life. It has formed great friendships. You tend to want to keep people like that around."

The three men are all retired, which means they can arrive early and stay as long as they like.

"We just happen to be retired, so we can come out early and we can stay all day and all night," Lutren said.

From their lawn chairs along Woodward, the three agree that nostalgia is the word that comes to mind.

"All the good times you had on this street, which you can not imagine," Chodun said.

Chodun and his friends reflected on the hustle and bustle of their younger days, when they say things seemed simpler in the '60s right down to the engine technology.

"You can open it up, fix what you need to fix and probably have a piece of pizza while you're inside there," Chodun said. "It's in the heart. Gear heads. We grew up in the Motor City. Great memories, great cars, great friends, great conversations."

Moss called the whole experience "a labor of love."

Lutren said his GTO feels like an old companion.

"It's an old friend," Lutren said. "I used to come out here every day."

Related video: Woodward Dream Cruise weekend kicks off with cars, family and community Woodward Dream Cruise weekend kicks off with cars, family and community

The three said the spirit they share is something you can see on every face at the Dream Cruise.

"Everyone is walking around with a smile. It doesn't get any better than that," Lutren said.

"I don't know what summer would be like without a cruise," Moss said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Tens of thousands of classic cars and hundreds of thousands of fans from across the country are rolling into metro Detroit for the Woodward Dream Cruise.

From vintage Oldsmobiles to race cars and pace cars, drivers are making the trip to Woodward Avenue for what many call the ultimate celebration of car culture.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Woodward Dream Cruise draws hundreds of thousands of fans to metro Detroit

Dick Hunter brought his 1950 Oldsmobile all the way from Austin, Texas one of 34 cars in his personal collection.

"Man, I've loved cars my whole life," Hunter said. "My wife says I need an intervention."

Hunter said he enjoys the opportunity to share something special with fellow enthusiasts.

"I enjoy bringing something that's a little unique, a little different," Hunter said

Gary Wemple made the trip from Illinois and wouldn't miss the event, attending alongside a group of more than 20 fellow Crossfire enthusiasts.

"Probably the most variety of cars you can see in one place on one weekend," Wemple said. "We've got a 14-mile stretch of road filled with show cars in every place you can walk. We have 800 show cars right here."

Car enthusiasts from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, California, Missouri and beyond filled the avenue, with license plates from every corner of the country on display.

James Yaeger traveled from Ohio and said the cruise is a rare chance to connect with fellow car lovers from across the nation.

"We travel all over the country," Yaeger said. "This is an opportunity for us to all get together from different states."

Tom Baugues made the drive from Indiana and said arriving early with the sun shining is exactly the kind of experience he lives for.

"The roads were good. The sun was out. It was an enjoyable day," Baugues said. "It's not something you see every day."

Andrew Treece trailered Rusty Wallace's 1992 Super Speedway Car from Texas to Woodward Avenue, saying there is no better place to experience the freedom the car scene brings him.

"Lifestyle isn't important in the car culture. It's the love of cars and that's what brings everyone together," Treece said. "I think it's just the allure of a living, fire-breathing machine. Woodward Avenue, Motor City what else is there."

Dave Hensel brought a 1972 pace car from Ohio, saying the event serves as a welcome diversion from day-to-day life a chance for friends to kick back and cruise down Woodward Avenue.

"And you get to see a lot of cars you don't normally see," Hensel said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

From fathers teaching their kids about engines to families making annual trips to metro Detroit, the Woodward Dream Cruise is as much about tradition as it is horsepower.

The Woodward Dream Cruise draws car lovers from across the country and around the world and for many families, that passion starts young and never lets go.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: At the Woodward Dream Cruise, the love of cars is a bond passed down through generations

Steve Pasteiner runs Pasteiner's, a car hobbyist shop sitting off Woodward Avenue that has been part of every single Woodward Dream Cruise.

"This is our 38th year."

Pasteiner takes pride in the Motor City tradition and says the event could not happen anywhere else. As for how he caught the bug himself, Pasteiner says he never had much of a choice.

"We were poisoned at a young age."

That early exposure is a common thread among cruise-goers. Don Schieltz, a Woodward Dream Cruise advocate, traces his love of cars back to his father.

"My dad showed me how to tune up our car. I would say I'm a car person."

See more of our Woodward Dream Cruise coverage.

Craig Miller has been around cars his entire life.

"Been going to car shows since I could walk," Miller said.

Miller passed that passion on to his sons 13-year-old Tristan and 16-year-old Brayden who traveled from Kansas City to attend the cruise.

"It bit me and I passed it onto my boys. They've taken right to it, and it's a way for us to bond," Craig Miller said.

Tristan said his love of cars comes naturally.

"My dad's a big car guy. I love cars. The look and the sound of the engine rumbling," he said.

Brayden echoed his brother.

"Grew up with them, so I still love them," he said.

Related: 2026 Woodward Dream Cruise: Everything you need to know

For the Miller family, the connection to Woodward Avenue runs even deeper than a shared hobby. Craig Miller's parents actually met on Woodward Avenue before the Dream Cruise even existed.

"The spirit of the Woodward Dream Cruise and what led to the Woodward Dream Cruise is what brought me into this world practically," Craig Miller said.

Tristan confirmed the family lore.

"My dad's parents met on Woodward Avenue," Tristan said.

Related video: 100-year-old Michigan-built fire truck to make its 7th appearance at Woodward Dream Cruise 100-year-old Michigan-built fire truck to make its 7th appearance at Woodward Dream Cruise

Now the Kansas City family makes the trip every year and brings home a sign each time. Tristan said the annual visit never gets old.

"I'm very excited. I go like every year," he said.

Brayden has made the trip many times himself.

"This is like my eighth year, so I've seen a lot of people and met new people year," Brayden said.

For Pasteiner's which sees a business boom during the cruise the event is about being a steward of automotive history while also embracing what is current and whatever the future brings.

"The cars change, but the people's love for cars don't change," Pasteiner said.

Pasteiner said the connection between people and cars seems almost instinctive.

"You watch a 1-year-old play with a match box and they're always driving the right direction. It's just something you grow up with, and are born with," he said.

A young attendee named Hanz summed up the appeal simply.

"They go really fast," Hanz said.

Schieltz said the feeling the cruise brings is difficult to put into words.

"It's just feeling. It's hard to describe," Schieltz said.

A century-old REO Speedwagon fire truck, built in Michigan and once used in Canada, will roll down Woodward Avenue during this year's Dream Cruise.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's report below 100-year-old Michigan-built fire truck to make its 7th appearance at Woodward Dream Cruise

The 100-year-old Michigan-built engine, which once served Canadian communities, will make its 7th appearance at the annual event complete with American and Canadian flags on either side.

Sam Girimonte calls the century-old fire engine a family heirloom. When the Canadian township where his father-in-law, the fire chief, served was annexed more than 20 years ago, he purchased the truck, restored it, and his family has adored it ever since.

"It's a piece of American and Canadian history here," Girimonte said.

The crank-start, 9,000-pound, three-speed stick shift is a reminder of past firefighting technology and Girimonte says he feels the history every time he unlatches the locks and takes it out for a ride, with passenger Shelby, his dog, regularly at his side.

"I've never been on a motorcycle, but it feels like a motorcycle. Top speed is 35 MPH, though. I tell you, there's just so many people who take a look at this and have to stop to take pictures. Yeah, it's a beast. It's priceless," he said.

The truck has drawn plenty of admirers. Diane Burch called it a beautiful and historically significant machine.

"It is a beautiful machine. It's great to see. It's great to hear," Burch said.

Raul Garza said he could not pass it by without stopping.

"The moment I saw it, I was like 'Oh, my God. I have to stop and take a picture of it."

Antonio Colley was equally impressed.

"Man, it's impressive. It seems like there's a lot more work that goes into make these type of vehicles. If he wants a second driver, I can help out."

Burch said the truck is sure to be a showstopper at the cruise.

"It will definitely be turning heads."

With a firefighting nephew and a son who grew up in the passenger seat, Girimonte says the truck will stay in the family perhaps for another century.

"This is our heritage right here. It's a family heirloom."

Anyone who spots Girimonte at the cruise is welcome to stop for a photo.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Romeo Theater will shut its doors in mid-September, ending four decades of movies in the small Michigan community.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's report below Romeo Theater to close after 40 years, citing pandemic impact and declining attendance

The Romeo Theater announced on Facebook it will close in mid-September after 40 years in business, citing the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, changing viewing habits, and declining attendance.

The family-run theater said a mixture of today's economic realities and a nationwide decline in movie viewership have made it impossible to keep the business afloat. In its farewell post, the theater said it was never able to weather the storm the pandemic brought to movie theaters, with turnout declining in the years that followed as more people turned to streaming movies at home.

The announcement drew hundreds of reactions on Facebook, with community members calling the theater "a little gem," expressing sadness, and thanking the theater for the memories.

Otis Freeman, who has brought his family to the Romeo Theater for years and works at an Enterprise location nearby, said the news hit hard.

"To be honest with you, I'm hurt," Freeman said.

Freeman commended the theater for keeping ticket prices affordable and for regularly bringing leftover popcorn to his team on Fridays.

"He tried to keep everything the same as before COVID. I like the vibe. You don't have to be around a whole bunch of people." We hate to see him go. You know, he need a rental or he need us, we got him."

Christine Taylor, who is also saddened to see the theater go, reflected on what the closure means for the community.

"Sad. We don't have much around here," Taylor said. "Us older people like to go and get away, not have to be in the house."

Another community member shared a personal memory tied to the theater.

"We will miss them. We have lived in town for 31 years. It's been here since I've lived here. In fact, I think my son saw Lion King here. It was his first movie."

Lyne Parziale said she hopes the area does not lose more than just the theater.

"It's an up and coming area, so I hate to see this area lose anything."

The theater said in its post that the property owner plans to bring something new to the community, though no details have been announced. The space will no longer operate as a theater.

The Romeo Theater is currently showing "Young Washington" and the new Spider-Man movie, which could be among the last films it screens. Despite closing its doors, the theater hinted that its well-liked popcorn may still make appearances around town.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Clarkston Eagle Scout has built a set of free outdoor "joy libraries" stocked with games, puzzles, crafts and activities outside a local nonprofit creative space for teens giving kids a new way to connect and have fun together.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's report below Eagle Scout builds joy libraries outside Clarkston teen space to connect kids through play

Connor Quinlan completed the project to earn his Eagle Scout rank, which meant filling a series of outdoor cubbies with items like Barbie doll models, arts and crafts supplies, Frisbees, juggling balls, playing cards and puzzles. The libraries now stand outside Social Medium, a nonprofit teen creative space in Clarkston.

"Feels really good to give back," Quinlan said.

Quinlan and 15 others built the joy libraries in just a couple of days. Each library was painted and decorated by volunteers, featuring unique designs including tops covered in puzzle pieces and old CDs.

"Work wise it was pretty easy," Quinlan said. "Showed me that hard work pays off eventually."

Social Medium founder Andrea Smith-Knieper started the nonprofit four years ago. The organization has operated in its current space for a year and a half, with a mission centered on bringing young people together.

"We're here about the things that bring us together, not the things that divide us," Smith-Knieper said.

The joy libraries grew out of a practical need. Parents of teens frequently asked whether they could drop off spare games and toys rather than throw them away.

"And so, I'm like how can these things be put out so they don't go in the garbage," Smith-Knieper said. "It's going to bring joy and fun to our neighborhood."

Sixth grader Braxton Lauinger described what Social Medium means to the kids who come through its doors.

"It's a place where every kid is welcome," Lauinger said. "Be yourself and have fun. If I'm not alone, I feel better."

The joy libraries had been open for less than a week.

Quinlan's father, Pete Quinlan, said the family is proud of what his son accomplished.

"Glad he made it all the way through and we're really proud of him," Pete Quinlan said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Orion Township officials are warning of major cuts to police and fire protection after voters rejected two public safety millages in Tuesday's primary election.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's report below Orion Township voters reject public safety millage proposals

Township Supervisor Chris Barnett says the failed millages leave emergency services without local funding starting in the new year.

"As of January 1, Orion Township will have zero dollars coming in for police and zero dollars coming in for fire," Barnett said.

Barnett calls the situation critical, saying townships can only fund emergency services through special assessments or millages.

"This is the single only funding resource we have for public safety," Barnett said.

Both millages would have supported four years of service. The fire millage sought a 28-percent increase to fund 9 additional staff members and expanded quarters at the station. It failed by a margin of 1 percent of votes. The police millage, a 9-percent increase renewal tied to a 36-percent rise in the township's contract with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, failed by a wider margin.

Barnett says creating an independent police force is not a viable alternative.

"We can't start a police force of our own cheaper than what we're getting from the county right now," Barnett said.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard says his office saves the township money through a force-multiplier model, which includes deputies on the streets and a lieutenant-run substation in the township handling calls for service. He says the contract increase reflects a jump in the county's cost of operation.

"If they had their own police department, they would have their own command structure, their own civilian staff, records" Bouchard said.

Bouchard warns that cuts to the contract could have serious consequences for residents.

"If there's any cuts in what's left it's going to increase response times," Bouchard said.

He says without a funded contract, the Sheriff's Office would only respond to emergency calls from other parts of the county.

"We will respond from other parts of the county for emergency only calls, but that means pretty much everything else doesn't get a response," Bouchard said.

Orion Township Fire Department Chief Ryan Allen says a citizen study led him to believe voters would support the 28-percent millage increase for additional staffing and resources.

"It would mean a decrease in services in some way, shape or form," Allen said.

Allen expressed disappointment in the outcome and hopes better information will help build support going forward.

"And I hope that moving forward we can supply better information for them to get behind," Allen said.

Orion Township resident Bob Yeokum says he is not surprised voters turned down a tax increase in a community he describes as safe, but says the potential drop in emergency response has him hoping residents make more informed decisions in the future.

"People don't want to spend money," Yeokum said. "If they're not knowledgeable about it, they're not going to vote for it."

Barnett says he believes the outcome is an anomaly and that the township will move quickly to place the millages back before voters.

"I believe this is an anomaly and we will fix it," Barnett said.

Officials have a few days to finalize how the millages will be brought to November's ballot, where residents will once again decide the future of public safety funding in Orion Township.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Howell man has gone to extraordinary lengths for his pet capybara building her a custom room, a personal swimming pool and helping her amass hundreds of thousands of social media followers.

Steve Spisz describes his nearly 4-year-old capybara, Daisy, as a bit of a diva.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Meet Daisy, the 140-pound capybara living her best life in Howell

"Basically, like owning a teenager," Spisz said. "She's stubborn at times. If she gets mad at me, she'll go stare in the corner for 20 minutes."

The idea to bring a capybara home came about four years ago after Spisz went looking for something beyond the ordinary.

"We had a couple of dogs and I wanted to get something different," Spisz said.

After a Google search for exotic animals and some research, Daisy and her brother George arrived at the Spisz household. Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world, are semi-aquatic, and are closely related to guinea pigs.

"I bought them as family members, as pets, just like you would a dog," Spisz said.

Daisy and George quickly bonded with the family's dogs and settled into life in Howell. Spisz rearranged his home to accommodate the changes the animals brought to his daily routine, including building them a dedicated room and installing a personal swimming pool for Daisy.

"She should be thankful for everything I did for her. I didn't re-do the house for the dogs, but I did for her. She's got her own swimming pool," Spisz said. "Daisy sleeps by me every night."

Capybaras lack vitamin C, which typically comes from fruit, but Daisy more than makes up for it with her affectionate personality she loves to cuddle and mark her closest companions with the scent from her nose.

What Spisz did not anticipate was how quickly Daisy and George would take off on social media. The pair, often spotted around town wearing pink and blue leashes, attracted hundreds of thousands of followers as fans followed their adventures.

Then, misfortune struck. George, who had grown up alongside Daisy since she was a 10-pound baby in the bathtub, recently died.

"For the first two or three weeks, she'd just go sit on the deck and not do much at all," Spisz said.

Spisz said the loss has been hard on him, too. While getting another capybara is not out of the question, for now, he is helping Daisy heal by introducing her to new people and says he is grateful for the outpouring of support from their followers.

"Once she walked through the door, she was like a family member," Spisz said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

As city leaders work to address dangerous teen gatherings across metro Detroit, one longtime nonprofit says the answer starts with giving young people something many say they're missing connection, community and a safe space to belong.

Teen HYPE has spent more than two decades creating programs designed to bring teens together, build leadership skills and keep them engaged in positive spaces.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Detroit nonprofit Teen HYPE offers teens community, connection and a safe space to belong

"I think we underestimate the power and brilliance of young people," Teen HYPE CEO Ambra Redrick said.

The nonprofit, now in its 22nd year, serves more than 2,200 teens annually from all walks of life. Its approach centers around fun activities while allowing teens to guide their own programming aiming to help them advance into the next stages of their lives by building leadership skills and exposing them to new experiences.

"Just like grown ups and just like littles, teenagers need a place to play," Redrick said.

Teen takeovers have made headlines nationally and within Detroit, in some cases claiming lives. Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and Police Chief Todd Bettison have sought to address the issue by finding teens places to congregate.

"They need structure and occupied things to do," Sheffield said.

"And have a safe place with activities," Bettison said.

Redrick said her organization offers exactly that.

"They need a place where they can find their tribe," Redrick said. "They surround themselves with other young people who are all striving to go in the right direction."

For the teens themselves, the impact is personal.

"Teen HYPE is a safe space," 15-year-old sophomore Payton McLeish said.

"It's people who you always know you can go to," 16-year-old junior Charlie Schmitt said.

McLeish described the community as something deeper than friendship.

"Like your family, but not your blood," McLeish said.

For 16-year-old junior Tyriq Aaron, the sense of belonging is something he carries with him beyond the program.

"My mom talks about it all the time: don't hang out with the wrong crowd of people, don't hang out with people who don't support you for who you are. They'll be there for me and I'll be there for them, and accept me for who I am and what I want to do," Aaron said.

The teens say the experience also helps them grow individually.

"It helps me understand myself better, and that's important to me as well," Schmitt said.

"We help each other. We are there for each other. We learn from one another," McLeish said.

"They want to do something in the future and try new things as well," Aaron said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Josh Caldwell-Clark and Jason Riley, known online as Josh and Jase, are letting their followers guide their Michigan adventure from Coney dogs in Detroit to a possible climb up the Mackinac Bridge.

The England-based content creators are on a mission to visit as many states as they can, and Michigan is among their favorites. The duo, who have millions of social media followers combined, kicked off their latest visit to the Mitten with a stop at American Coney Island in Detroit.

"I feel like people come down here looking for a bit of history and they get it here at Coney Island," American Coney Island waiter Tyler Ralston said.

Caldwell-Clark admitted the experience came with a learning curve.

"And I made the mistake of having lettuce on said Coney Dog," Caldwell-Clark said.

Riley was quick to respond.

"I've got to share the bathroom with him," Riley said.

The two met half a decade ago and later discovered they had been raised in the same place in the UK. They have been best friends ever since.

FULL INTERVIEW: British influencers Josh and Jase are back in Michigan for the summer

"We are best mates, and we travel America together," Caldwell-Clark said.

"The only thing we fight over is the bigger room. And we can finish each other's sandwiches!" Riley said.

Their last visit to Michigan was during the winter. This trip, they say, is a different experience entirely.

"Two words to Michigan strap in!" Caldwell-Clark said.

The pair curate their travel experiences largely through fan comments, letting locals guide where they go and what they do. Caldwell-Clark has already weighed in online about Michigan's bumpy roads, cyclosporiasis headlines making the news, and a refusal to chant anything Ohio-related outside of Michigan Stadium.

Riley said the key to their content is trusting the people who know each state best.

"The people who know the state better than any other are the locals," Riley said.

The two teased what could be a memorable moment still ahead on this trip.

"Inside scoop. We could potentially be climbing the Mackinac Bridge," Caldwell-Clark said.

Both said they are grateful for the warm reception from Michigan fans.

"We want to try and give back as much love as we're getting," Riley said. "Thank you for embracing us during the summer. We're excited."

Ralston, for his part, extended an invitation of his own.

"Maybe one day we'll make it over there and have some beans and toast," Ralston said.

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