Mod Market in Northville is hosting its fifth annual autism acceptance art show at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in Novi.

GALLERY: Artwork in Mod Markets 5th Annual Autism Acceptance Art Show

The opening is Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the show will run through May 13.

"Im super excited about the show because, as you see the pieces, they're all very different, different mediums, different subject matter, and the artist is very passionate about the piece that they presented. And then alongside each of the works is a full-page bio, because we think telling the story of the artist is as important as the piece of art itself," said Amy Bonser, MOD Market Director.

Twelve artists with autism will have their work featured.

Malcolm Wang is one of the empowered artists.

Thats white peonies at the Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor between trail markers one and two out of the eight markers, said Wang describing the photo he captured and displayed for the show. It was June in summer.

He's been practicing photography for more than 7 years, entering contests and receiving many accolades inspired by his love of the outdoors and hiking.

I like pressing buttons and cameras involve pressing buttons, said Wang.

Nick Bair is an artist who also enjoys creating art, capturing nature.

"Just like doing something, creating imaginations and creating something realistic, and especially make something cartoon," said Blair.

Both also work at the Mod Market, an inclusive artisan shop and job training program operated by the Living and Learning Enrichment Center.

Bair has gained a following, has worked for the Detroit Zoo, and created sidewalk art in 2024.

The event is held in recognition of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month and aims to shine a light on creativity, inclusion, and opportunity for individuals with different abilities.

"Our objective, of course, is always to build awareness, acceptance, and advocacy for the population of individuals who need a little extra support, and having a month to dedicate for people with autism gives us really a channeled opportunity to share our mission more widely," said Bonser. It's really awesome to see how they support one another, and to witness people appreciating their art and being amazed at their creation is just so rewarding.

All pieces will be available for purchase, with 50% of proceeds going directly to the artists and the remainder supporting Mod Market. They would love continued community support for their mission.

Bonser says empowering artists has helped build confidence and experience.

It's very difficult to know what you want to do for a living if you've never had the chance to try something, and it's very difficult to have the opportunity if you need to learn things differently. And so we're able to provide that first experience, that first opportunity to learn, make mistakes, see what I'm good at, see what I'm what I enjoy doing most, and then it's a good jumping off point for our trainees to find what they really want to do and be an asset to their future employer," said Bonser,

New tariffs and the ripple effect have the bridal industry bracing for impact.

Finding the perfect wedding dress within budget is one of the most important pieces of a bride's big day. Now with new tariffs, that could get a little more challenging.

From the moment she said "yes," bride-to-be Madison Collier has been busy putting all the pieces together for her perfect day. But she's not excited about potentially paying more for a dress.

"I do worry that my dream dress will be over the budget," Collier said.

President Donald Trump's universal 10% levy against all counties is expected to go into effect Friday.

Related video: US stocks tumble 5% as markets react to Trumps global tariff plan US stocks tumble 5% as markets react to Trumps global tariff plan

It's a concern for bridal salon owners like June Eaton, who runs My Dream Dress Bridal Shop in West Bloomfield.

"One hundred percent of everything we possibly touch is an origin from out of the country somewhere," Eaton said.

She says that's standard across the industry for shops in the U.S. Now, many will have to adjust to the changes.

"You're trying to brace yourself for it because you planned in quarter four of 2024 as to what you were going to project or do in first, second and third quarter of '25 and now, you have to pivot. You have to figure out am I able to afford the gowns that are coming over because the price of the gown, they may still honor that. But what's going to happen with the shipping and logistics?" Eaton said.

Eaton has already seen shipping delays and price increases for material from vendors.

"They've doubled just in the last three weeks," Eaton said about a beaded piece of fabric. "Suppliers are getting nervous, right, because what happens is they've gotta absorb it some kinda way in shipping costs and all of those things."

After 20 years in business, she's making the decision to shut down, only taking a limited number of custom design clients and not planning to order any more gowns.

"We've stopped taking new brides because we don't want the impact. They can come in and get a gown off the rack and those gowns can be altered," Eaton said.

She's focusing on taking care of the clients already in her books and will absorb any added shipping costs that come down the line.

"As a local small business owner, you have to make a decision and say what is going to be best for me and my family," Eaton said.

Trump says the tariffs are about erasing the trade deficit between the U.S. and other countries and leveling the playing field long term.

Vic Veda, vice president of communications for the Michigan Retailers Association, says the bridal industry is just one sector of many local retailers bracing to pay more now.

Watch our full interview with Vic Veda in the video player below: Vic Veda with the Michigan Retailers Association talks about potential tariff impact

"We always want to see tariffs used judiciously and responsibly to better our economic climate, and it's hard to tell what the long-term impacts of this will be. But right now, our retailers are certainly feeling the strains of that uncertainty both with the supply chain and being able to source their materials and goods like they need to, as well as the consumer uncertainty," Veda said.

There's a new microbusiness in Berkley this one was started by students.

Hoppy Puppy has brought in hundreds of dollars the past couple of months. Berkley's adult transition programs for students is behind it all.

Spent grains from the bottom of the tank at Dog and Pony Brewing to the kitchen at Berkley's Adult Transition Program (BAT) are the main ingredient in their dog treats.

BAT is currently housed at Berkley First United Methodist Church while construction happens at their permanent home.

"We usually make the dough from scratch, and we do a very good job with that," Derek Van Wormer said.

They mix the ingredients, roll the dough and cut it into shapes for baking.

Watch the process of students making dog treats in the video player below: VIDEO: Inside the process: How the students make the dog treats

The treats then go to their other partner Our Neighborhood Academy for packaging. Some students also work there.

All 17 students ages 18 to 26 in the BAT program are business partners and owners in the Hoppy Puppy microbusiness.

"This truly is a student-developed startup, and the students have their hand in every single part of the company and including the development of the company, from choosing the name, choosing our logo, creating and designing our logo, interim Administrator Sharon Berke said. They researched packaging and chose our packaging, everything from the bag that we used to the labels, all of it, every single piece of it. They research and we meet together and as a complete company team, we make decisions and move forward.

Some students have never baked dog treats before.

"It's not always easy, but it's not too bad once you get the hang of it," Van Wormer said.

Its a business theyre proud to play a big role in.

"I feel proud and an accomplishment to do my own business, Isabelle Moss said.

Student Elisheva Tobi balances the books.

"It started as a microbusiness, but I feel like it's more than a microbusiness. I feel like it's a major business to me, Tobi said. "It's an amazing opportunity to grow and learn about different things."

She hopes to learn more about finance and sell her own products one day.

That's what Berke says BAT and this program is all about. A key part of the program is work-based learning and job readiness, helping students develop independence in the community.

"It's a wonderful community collaboration but even more importantly, it's been just such a valuable entrepreneurial experience and pre-vocational experience for our students," Berke said.

The last two months racked in sales over $500. Because of the growth, they're now using the profits to branch out into dog shirts.

"We are in this for the long haul," Berke said.

They're grateful for their community and are hopeful for their continued support.

You can purchase Hoppy Puppy at these locations:

Monarch Market Cafe in Huntington Woods Coffee & Bark in Downtown Berkley Dog & Pony Show Brewery in Oak Park Our Neighborhood Academy in Downtown Berkley

These days, a lot of people are talking about cutting down costs at the grocery store. One way is to watch the snacks you're loading up with.

Every item you add to your cart is adding more dollars to your grocery bill, and that's why we're taking a closer look at the snack aisle.

When Krystal Thompkins goes through the grocery, there's a lot going through her mind.

"What do we already have? I want to be super conscious to not over buy," she said. "I have three kids  nine, seven and three and they have to go to school with snacks, the two oldest every single day, five days a week."

That's a lot of snacks, and recently, she noticed those adding up.

"If we are in like, a snack deficit, and I have to get all, you know, chips, pretzels, cookies, fruit, all the things, the bill is noticeably higher," she said.

It has her switching up brands and being more selective in the aisles to help her stick to her budget.

"Going in on a whim is just not working," she said.

It also has her getting creative.

"Like the charcuterie trend, and so I'll put stuff out so, it kind of, they focus there. If it's out, they will eat it, and that kind of helps with inventory control. And then the other thing is, I've been buying bigger bags of chips, rather than the individual size," she said.

Smart shopping expert Trae Bodge said it's important to look at shopping habits and make some tweaks to save money. Bodge said those little treats make a sneaky impact.

"Especially if you're feeding a lot of people," Bodge said. "For parents who have little kids at home who need those snacks packaged up, ready to go to school lunch, for example, snacks are a really important part of our grocery bill."

Bodge's tips include buying in bulk, using technology to help you save, shopping at your local dollar store and even making snacks at home if you have time.

Where Your Voice Matters

Is it still worth it to shop at your local thrift store? With costs rising, people are looking for ways to save, but inflation has seemed to hit thrift stores, too.

For non-essential items like clothing, people tell me they're trying to be as strategic as possible to save as much money as they can thrifting.

"It is a really good way to save money," Jennifer Johnson told me.

Johnson has been shopping resale for years.

"I've furnished my whole new house by thrifting," she said.

She even has a business that turns vintage textiles into clothing, so she's hip to the trends, noticing an increase not only in resale shopping, but an increase in prices.

"I think it's because of the online reselling. They're trying to get their money out of it, too, instead of re-sellers and it hasn't been good," Johnson said.

Deliechia Borndes has also noticed the increase but said that thrifting is still worth it.

"It makes a big difference because it's much cheaper it helps with our household," Borndes said.

At the Salvation Army in Rochester Hills this week, it was busy. Manager Becky Ramm said it typically is.

"In a lot of big box locations, you might only be able to get a shirt or shorts for under $50. Here you can essentially re-do your entire closet for under $50," Ramm said.

When it comes to rising prices, Ramm said despite inflation, they try to stay within 1/4 of the initial retail cost.

"There might be a $1 or $2 increase, but it's nothing extravagant that makes it unaffordable for the average shopper," she said.

That extra dollar or two is worth it to shoppers like Dawn Devine, who always finds a way to save.

"It still is cheaper than going to the malls etc. Be careful because sometimes they're not the bargains that you hope for but in general, I can always find treasures," Devine said.

It's also worth it for Alexis West-Taylor, who came in needing dress pants for her new job and walked out with Ralph Lauren pants for $2.

"If you get a couple of shirts and a couple pants at like Kohls or a regular store, it costs over a hundred bucks and I'm on a budget," West-Taylor said.

Where Your Voice Matters

The journey to becoming the only African American Oculoplastic surgeon and Neuro-Ophthalmologist in the state of Michigan started decades ago for Dr. Victoria Williams.

When I was 16, I had a car. Part of that responsibility of having a car was taking my grandma to her appointment. So she was seeing an oculoplastic neuro-ophthalmology doctor, said Williams.

That same doctor later became one of her mentors and inspired her to start a career of her own in the field.

He let me shadow him, and I saw some of the surgeries, fell in love, and I never looked back, said Williams.

She spent 13 years in school and 8 years in private practice before pursuing her dream of opening her own clinic.

I was fortunate enough to have a couple of African American ophthalmologists throughout my career that helped me do research and really guided me on the process and to stay focused and stay motivated because it's not easy, you know, being the only one sometimes and it gets discouraging, said Williams.

Its been about a year since Williams opened a practice of her own, Williams Eye Specialty Clinic in Southfield, a rare combination of both the medical and cosmetic sides of eye care. 

I really wanted to be able to highlight both of those in the same practice. There really aren't many practices that do both, Williams explained. I do anything from eyelid lips, from excess skin or droopy lids, droopy brows. I also do procedures for people who have tearing or watery eyes. I can open up tear ducts. I do reconstructive surgeries for people who have tumors, or they've had skin cancers that need reconstruction, or they've had trauma, and then anything on the optic nerve.

Extended interview: Dr. Victoria Willams shares more about her journey and specializations Extended interview: Dr. Victoria Willams shares more about her journey and specializations

Women account for 20% of all ophthalmologists, and even fewer are specialists.

She says representation, being a person of color able to serve her community in this space, has been a big motivator.

Ophthalmology is such a small field and there's not a lot of minorities and not a lot of women, let alone those that go into specialties after they finish training in residency, said Williams.

Her goal is to educate and help others live a happy and healthy life.

I feel honored. You know, I'm glad that I can bring something to the community and to the state that is needed, but also be able to, you know, provide care for people who need it that look like me, who may not trust other doctors.

It hasnt been easy but Williams hopes her journey will inspire other young women to also take a risk.

Don't think anything is not possible. It may take time, but it's worth it, said Williams.

As recession fears grow with economic uncertainty, a retired teacher is facing the possibility of having to sell his home.

John and Konnie Jeffire have built a lot of memories in the home they thought they'd stay in forever. Concerns about the state of the economy and being able to afford their mortgage in the future have caused them to think about packing up and selling.

"It's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking, said Konnie.

After 25 years in the classroom for Chippewa Valley School, John was grateful and confident about starting a new chapter.

"I'll be 63 next month. It was time to let the younger people come in and take the reins, said John. I felt like, with the way the finances were working out, this was the perfect time to be able to be at home retired, and if she needed anything in a split second, I would be there to be able to help."

Just two months later, he's now questioning that decision.

There's an immense amount of trepidation about, did I do the right thing? And I think in answer to your question, I'm still trying to figure that out," said John.

He now checks his 401 (K) retirement savings plan almost daily.

They are concerned about whether they'll be able to afford to pay their mortgage and navigate inflation and tariffs with enough money to care for Konnie's serious brain illness.

"We've got some investments that have declined in value, and we, you know, we're gonna have to wait and see, like anything with the stock. You gotta kind of ride it out. And then the other issue with the majority of our income now comes from Social Security," said John.

"It's frightening, because that's what we that's what we planned on to get us through the rest of our retirement. We're young, and that's going to last for a long time, said Konnie.

We took their concerns to a financial advisor with Bloom Advisors.

"Certainly, people are always concerned when they see their accounts go down. I always tell them, don't look at your accounts every day, said Rick Bloom. When you're an investor, you're looking long term, particularly someone saving for retirement, someone in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s. What happens day to day is relatively immaterial. People have to focus on what they're trying to achieve and the length of time they have to achieve it.

For those thinking about retiring soon, there is a strategy to deal with volatility.

"Money that you're going to need over the next six months, over a year, you should keep that money out of the market, said Bloom.

Bloom says it's smarter to wisely adjust your investments rather than panic.

"What people tend to do is they never rebalance their portfolio. So, when the markets are doing well, they have more money in the market. They never want to sell. Well, I always tell investors that you sell when the markets are high. Sell high, buy low. That's how you make money."

Bloom also suggests not basing those decisions on politics and focusing on the long-term.

I think people shouldn't panic. I think people should also not make decisions based on fear, or greed, or politics. A lot of people think that whoever the President is, that's the way the stock market goes. It doesn't work that way, said Bloom.

While the anxiety remains, the Jeffires say theyre even more concerned for those without resources like a pension to help support them.

We're very blessed in that regard and very thankful, but I think a lot of our concern goes to the people that don't have the blessings that we have, and how is that going to affect them, said John.

Where Your Voice Matters

At Salon Head West in Novi, it's business almost as usual, but the feeling in the air is that something is missing.

"It's been a lot quieter. It's different now. You don't have those funny little jokes that he would have and, you know, his nicknames," stylist Maia Wolnowski said.

Jeff West ran a salon full of energy until August 2024, when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer.

"He joked with everybody. He made them feel at home here. He loved his clients," longtime client Lynda Novak said.

He had a personality that could fill any room.

"We had fun together. All we ever did every single day was have fun," said stylist Rosie Marchesotti, who spent 26 years with West. "He was the life of the party. Every person that walked into the salon felt welcomed and valued by him.

West volunteered his services in the community and was well known by locals who became regulars.

His mother owned a salon in the Novi area and taught her children to do hair. Some of her clients became his.

West carried on her legacy and now his sons are hoping to do the same for him.

Now motivated by a love of their father and a burning desire to preserve his legacy, his sons Nash and Walker are trying to keep his salon.

They are not licensed hairstylist and do not plan to do any hair. They will operate as owners managing operations.

"We're looking to hire immediately. We want hairstylists, we want to open up a nail tech area. There's gonna be a lot of renovations done that's gonna allow more business," Nash West said.

Hear more from Jeff Wests' sons Walker and Nash in the video player below: Extended interview: Brothers fight to save late father's Novi salon

To them, Salon Head West is more than just a salon.

"This is what we have from him left to us," Nash West said.

The third-generation owners are hoping for community support as they work to make the place a cut above the rest.

"Low and behold, here we are, and it was an easy decision. It wasn't even a second thought," Nash West said.

All of the products in the picture below were made in China. Because of new U.S. tariffs on China, you could be seeing an increase in prices at your local beauty supply store.

In the hair capital of the world, the journey often begins at Beauty Supply store.

I grew up in Detroit. I saw that, you know, shopping and beauty supply stores with my mom, there wasn't much representation at all," said Jessica Kwalli, the owner of Beauty Supply Store.

That's what motivated Kwalli to open up her own shop on Detroit's west side in February, filling it up with diverse and American-made products by small business owners like herself.

But, you know, in the beauty industry, it's kind of impossible for everything to be US based," Jessica said. "So I do have that portion of hair extensions that are coming from China and coming from other countries overseas."

From wigs to accessories and tools, China is one of the largest manufacturers and main suppliers of hair products to the U.S.

The human hair definitely you have, um, bundles, closures, frontals, wigs, I mean, majority of the wigs all come from China," she said.

Now, Kwalli's facing the reality that prices on those could get higher with U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports rising to 20 percent.

That's horrible," Kwalli said. 10% was already, you know, unexpected, and it's like you can kind of maneuver through that, but 20% is that's, I just don't even wanna think about that...Ive actually had a few customers who've come in and have asked me, you know, personally just ask, 'how are you being impacted by this as a new beauty supply store?'

Kwalli won't know the actual numbers until she places her next wholesale order. But she's already bracing for impact, researching new vendors.

"I kinda had to go back to the drawing board to figure out like, OK, how can I still give my customers the best quality products without having to have them break the bank to cover some of the cost. So I have been researching different vendors. I've been in conversations with different US based vendors who provide some of the same products just to see like, you know, is it a cheaper route, you know, can I get it from you guys? Is the, is it the same quality, but is it for a better price," Kwalli said. "And you know, am I gonna have to let go some of my Chinese vendors? because I, at the end of the day, I don't want to offset the cost onto my customers, and then it's like as a new business, it's already like, you know, You're trying to budget every single thing just to make sure you're covering all your grounds and not overspending.

Kevin Ketels, associate professor of Global Supply Chain Management at Wayne State University, says while every day, consumers may not see the impact on these tariffs now, they likely will soon.

20 percent tariff is a, is a very large percentage, and most companies can't eat um those costs, and they would ultimately have to be passed on to the consumer," Ketels said. "So initially we'll have some, you know, there's some existing inventory that will be burned off, but if it lasts more than a few weeks, it could have a large impact and could result in higher costs for consumers.

Ketel says when and for how long are a part of the ongoing uncertainty disrupting the supply chain.

While everyone is trying to figure out what's happening here, it will have a chilling effect on the American economy because everyone's waiting to just see," Ketels said.

Kwalli is staying positive; she's determined to get creative and make it work.

"You have to be open to trying other things," she said.

Where Your Voice Matters

At Pepper Elementary in Oak Park, the education staff doesn't just want kids to learn how to read. They want them to enjoy reading, and "Dog Man" is helping them do just that.

When it comes to literacy, you may be surprised by the power of one book.

"He's like super funny and little Jim is so cute and he likes cupcakes," said Bethany Duller, a third grader.

One book at a time, students at Pepper Elementary are falling in love with reading.

"I feel like I can do it, because I read like 116 books," said Parker Cornelious, a second grader.

Encouraging the joy of reading is why every second and third grader is taking a break from the classroom and stepping into Dog Man Day!

"For whatever reason, our students are just enamored by Dog Man," said Emanuel Haley, the principal at Pepper Elementary.

Principal Emanuel Haley declared Tuesday, March 4, Dog Man Day at the School.

"We have to think outside of the box and that includes incentivizing reading," said Principal Haley.

The incentive Tuesday: a copy of "Dog Man: Big Jim Begins."

Haley says it's a big deal for the school where 80 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

"What this giveaway does is it provides us with the opportunity to expand our children's home library," said Principal Haley. "It extends their vocabulary, they're interested in it and when children are reading what they like to read, they have a tendency to want read more, and the more you read, the better you become at reading."

It was a fun kickoff to National Reading Month and an extension of WXYZ and the Scripps Howard Fund's "If You Give A Child A Book" program. This past summer, WXYZ-TV did a call out for donations from employees and the community, and with funds collected and a matching contribution from the Scripps Howard Fund we are giving out more than 20,000 books to children in the community.

Related Video: Check out the 'If You Give A Child A Book' giveaway at Schickler Elementary in Lapeer 'If You Give A Child A Book' giveaway at Schickler Elementary in Lapeer

A few weeks ago, we were here with Scholastic when each student got five books to take home.

Now the author of the "Dog Man" series, Dav Pilkey, is gifting even more books.

Related Video: Dog Man author-illustrator Dav Pilkey sits down for interview with 7 News Detroit 'kid correspondents' 'Dog Man' author-illustrator Dav Pilkey sits down for interview with 7 News Detroit 'kid correspondents'

"I'm so happy about this. I love this book and it's new, so I want to read it when I get home," said Prezelle Cunningham, a second grader.

To these students, "Dog Man" is much more than a character in a book.

"Dog Man encourages his self to do more things and he never gives up," said Jalayah Hopkins, a third grader.

"Dog Man is very funny and confident about many things," said Zoe Van, a third grader.

"He's funny and I like all his books," said student Illy Dye.

Illy says she has read nine "Dog Man" books, saying it's taught her how to be a better reader.

"I like to read new words and if I don't know some of the words I look at the picture," she said.

And that's what all of this is all about.

"What happens is eventually they're gonna get hooked on reading," said Principal Haley.

Water heaters and furnaces have been installed in five homes in southwest Detroit after delays, but the city isnt as far along in the process as some homeowners would like.

When it comes to the process of getting people back in their homes, many people are waiting on furnaces and water heaters to be replaced by the city.

We lost everything. I had a lot of tools, my furniture, everything, said Ruben Rodriguez, who lives on Army Street.

Rodriguezs basement was cleaned on Monday so that his new furnace and water heater can be installed. Jimmy Rios, also known as Jimmy the Plumber, was there assisting contractors with accessing water.

I was waiting for about a week. They always make appointments, and they don't show up, said Rodriguez.

With no hot water or heat, his entire family has been staying at the hotel paid for by the city.

We want to come back to our house, he said.

On Monday, he learned his furnace and water heater will be installed Wednesday, but he says he was told it would be much sooner.

Friday, I cancelled to work, and nobody showed up, Rodriguez explained. Right now they're helping but we don't see no help before.

Community volunteer Veronica Rodriguez says their family isn't the only one still waiting on promises to be kept.

Our main concern is just the communication. There's a not a good enough communication plan in place with the city officials and if volunteers have come up with a system that works and we're all just volunteers, people that have their own jobs and families and its come this far that they can contact us and they know that we'll reach out and it should be happening the same way or even better with the city, said Veronica Rodriguez.

Bryan Peckinpaugh, Deputy Director of Public Affairs with the City of Detroit, says they are ramping up work this week with more contractors and people answering phone lines to help coordinate scheduling.

We recognize that we have, there is a gap, so we got feedback from the community and these residents so we understand their concerns. We appreciate their concern and their patience so we are adding dedicated staff that are going to work the phone lines as well as with our project manager who is working on this specific project with the contractors so theyre going to be fully dedicated to this work scheduling with the contractors, scheduling with the homeowners, said Peckinpaugh.

Hes thankful for volunteers from the community working to help coordinate and fill gaps.

An issue that we're handling now for example, here a couple houses down, the cleaning crews here they a don't have a pump truck to receive offsite water, so what I'm going to do is Im going connect them a hose fitting on the meter so they can have access so they can continue the work and we can move things forward, said Jimmy Rios, also known as Jimmy the Plumber.

The U.S. House passed a budget resolution this week, which some fear could bring significant cuts to Medicaid.

Medicaid provides health insurance to over 2.6 million Michiganders, among them those living with disabilities like Warriors on Wheels bracing for what comes next.

Carrie Bradley and her son Darryl Goldsmith, who was born with Down syndrome, recently got a letter in the mail informing them about a stop in Medicaid benefits due to changes to his Social Security Income.

Darryls Medicaid is going to be cut off as the 13th of March, said Bradley. This came about because he got a $469 raise in his Social Security because his father died.

Bradley says they have no choice but to reapply because the need is still there to cover needed services he uses weekly.

Trying to get family members to take you to counseling appointments, doctor appointments, picking up medication, that's going to be a lot. I'm totally blind, so I can't drive. I have to depend on other people, Bradley explained.

Now, they're working with Lisa Franklin, who lives with a disability herself and spends most of her time advocating for equity for people with them through her non-profit Warriors on Wheels.

We advocate for better transportation, accessible, affordable housing options, also advocate for better healthcare, said Franklin.

Franklin says she and many of her members rely on Medicaid benefits and is very concerned more letters like it could be coming as the federal government focuses on cutting spending.

If Medicare were to be cut, it would be dire because you already have too many people falling through the crack, said Franklin.

As budget talks continue in Washington and lawmakers are tasked to come up with ways to save $2 trillion in spending over the next decade to pay for tax cuts, Franklin is hoping Medicaid benefits won't be on the chopping block, but shes hearing many different messages.

Too many questions, too many questions, so we're asking people to call the legislature and let them know their concerns, said Franklin.

We asked the chair of the Oakland County GOP office about the growing fears.

I think it's unfortunately fear mongering by the Democrat party because they're losing on all fronts right now and Lisa McClain, one of the congresswomen out of my district, she said just yesterday there's absolutely no - the Republican party is not going to be slashing Medicaid, said Vance Patrick, Chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party.

Patrick says the focus should be on the fact that the work being done in Washington is addressing fraud and reducing government spending.

We're saving money. How could we not all get behind saving money? said Patrick.

Rocky Raczkowski, former Republican majority leader of the Michigan House, is echoing that message.

If we want to make sure we preserve these systems without any future cuts and we make sure that our seniors and our most needed and our most protected, we need to take care of those seamsters and fraudsters that are taking money away from those that did pay into the system or that did earn their rights, said Raczkowski.

Franklin says they'll be paying attention to what that process looks like.

Web extra: Rocky Raczkowski talks about possible cuts Web extra: Rocky Raczkowski talks about possible cuts

Work has been at the center of Black History and culture for years. From enslaved Africans that built America to the Black Business owners charting their own paths today, this Black History Month, as we explore the role of Black people and labor, we're talking to innovators and change makers here in Metro Detroit.

Today, we're highlighting a Detroiter making an impact in the toy industry. The owner of Healthy Roots Dolls tell me this is all about bringing curl power to the toy aisle with products that reflect the diversity of our reality.

When you look at these brown dolls with carefully crafted outfits and kinky, curly hair, what you don't see, is the journey Detroiter Yelista Jean Charles took to get here.

We never had dolls that had our noses, our lips, our hair texture, and you have to do more than paint a doll Brown. All Brown in order to connect with children of color," said Yelista. So much of it has been worth it because of the impact that we're having on children's lives and the response that we've received."

A Black woman with Haitian Immigrant parents, growing up in New York City.

I grew up in basically three cultures, American culture, black American culture, and then my Caribbean culture. And on top of that, I was also very involved in the arts," Yelista said.

This led her to art school, where her passion about representation in media and drawing led her to transform Rapunzel into a little brown girl princess with textured hair.

My classmates ultimately said, 'this looks like a doll', and I didn't really see it at the time, but I went on to Facebook and had a conversation with some peers, and over 100 comments later, realized there was definitely an opportunity here to address the lack of representation in children's media and toys that we didn't have growing up."

Her class project evolving into a crowdfunding campaign and eventually a successful business, launching in more than 1600 Target stores and into the hands of thousands of kids.

It was great getting to see us go from just healthy roots Zoe to Guyana to Marisol, having a wide range of skin tones, facial features and hair textures," Yelista said.

Putting these dolls in stores are not only furthering the representation that she didn't see growing up, but also teaching Black and Brown kids the magical experience of loving their natural hair.

I learned in the process of creating the products toys, influence how kids think, act and see themselves," Yelista said. "So giving them the opportunity to connect with a product that represents them looks like their family, and it's showing them how beautiful they are, and how beautiful their hair is."

Her hope is that this brand will inspire others to continue promoting self-acceptance and inclusivity, not just during Black History Month, but year-round.

It shouldn't be exclusive to a designated time of the year. It should be a part of our everyday lives," Yelista said. "We should be shopping from diverse creatives, from people of different cultural backgrounds, just being inspired by each other's work."

Where Your Voice Matters

Governor Gretchen Whitmer will address the state tonight.

RELATED: What metro Detroiters want to hear before State of the State address Here's what metro Detroiters want to hear before Governor Whitmer's State of the State address tonight

Among other topics we're expected to hear from the Governor about cell phone use in schools. There's currently no statewide law requiring districts to set specific policies, but the Governor wants to change that.

The Governor's office says this is about supporting local school districts and their efforts to limit cell phone use in the classroom. We talked to parents and a local administrator about how they feel about this.

Giovanni De Jesus says monitoring the cell phone use of his sixth grader is a big deal in his household.

We have applications that can actually limit what they can and cant do during certain times," Giovanni said.

But when it comes to limiting cell phone access outside of the home and inside school walls, local districts vary.

I actually would agree that we should limit that just a bit more," Giovanni said

RELATED: DPSCD Superintendent opposed to potential cell phone ban DPSCD Superintendent opposed to potential cell phone ban

Michigan does not have a statewide ban on cell phones in schools. But Governor Whitmer does want the legislature to take a look at supporting local districts in the effort to limit cell phone use in school.

In her State of the State address tonight, Governor Whitmer is expected to call for bipartisan legislation limiting the use of phones in class. One reason for that? To improve mental health.

Some parents agree.

Its needed," Emily Tonkovich said. "We know that cell phones are not only a distraction but they also have an impact on kids mental health, well being..I think it would be helpful to have a clean cut policy across the state that would help the schools enforce restrictions on cell phone use."

I agree 100 percent," said Jeff G. "I think itd be a good thing for all schools and I think every school has to partake in it that way no student feels."

I dont think cell phones belong in the schools, theyre supposed to be there to learn not to be playing on their phone," said Jan McQueen.

John Bernia, the Superintendent of Warren Consolidated Schools says he'll be watching.

I'm just curious because from my perspective, I wonder what the state can do that is gonna be more effective than what I can do with my administrative team and what our school board can do through policies," Bernia said.

Grades K-8 in his district already have restrictions on cell phones in the classroom. Bernia said he's looking for state help in what he sees as bigger issues.

I understand where the governor is coming from. I want to minimize distractions. I see the harm that cell phones do, but that to me is a local issue, and I'd rather see us focus our energy statewide on things like math, reading, and attendance," Bernia said.

The Governor will deliver her address at 7 p.m. tonight on 7 News Detroit.

FULL INTERVIEW: Warren Consolidated Schools Superintendent John Bernia talks about what he's looking for in the State of the State FULL INTERVIEW: Warren Consolidated Schools Superintendent John Bernia talks about what he's looking for in the State of the State Where Your Voice Matters

We're continuing to follow a community-led push to preserve green space in the Village of Romeo.

The nonprofit Green Space Romeo said it has raised over $600,000 in donations and pledges to purchase property from Romeo Community Schools.

However, the district will be looking for potential developers and others interested in buying the property.

Preservation is why Susan Kane, who's lived in Romeo for decades, has been supporting the grassroots effort to buy property from the district and turn it into a green space.

Weve lost so much of our open spaces out here. All of our farms and that have been bought up and subdivisions put in them and theres not going to be any open land, so why not preserve what we have for the future?" Kane said.

We first told you about the group's plan in the fall when they were raising money to submit a bid. Their bid of $605,000 was rejected. A for sale sign is now up on the property, making it clear the process is open to anyone else who wants to buy.

Watch below: Major effort under way to transform old Romeo Middle School

Major effort under way to transform old Romeo Middle School

Its a little discouraging of course, but from then weve just pulled ourselves up from our bootstraps and decided to get back to work," Elizabeth Miller said.

The nonprofit has gotten nearly 300 responses on their latest survey about how they should move forward. They have started a petition and are not giving up.

We believe this is still possible but its not without hurdles. We will not be able to compete financially with the developers, but what we do have that they dont have is that we have a community that really believes in this space," Miller said.

Community members not involved in the process are paying attention.

I'm excited to see what they do with the schoo, where the school used to be," James Akers said. "To see about housing or a park or anything really. I think it would good for this place. I just want them to do something good with the space really."

I think there are a lot of buildings around here and it is growing, so I think it should just be a space where people can go hang out in a park. A lot of kids are here. So I just think it should be left how it is," Sophia Romine said.

We reached out to the school board for an interview. They sent us a statement, saying in part, "The School District desires the proposed development to be neighborhood/family friendly and requires all Proposals to include a concept plan."

All bids are due by March 14, and Green Space Romeo is preparing for the next board meeting on Monday.

Where Your Voice Matters

Jessica English is breaking barriers one construction project at a time. A native of Detroit, she says the latest People Mover project was not only about her but also about building up her community and the next generation.

These rail cars have been rounding across Metro Detroit since 1987. Now, Detroiter Jessica English is a part of keeping that legacy going.

I am Detroit, born and raised. I went to Cass Tech and my community means a lot to me," English said. "I knew that building something that, like generations can be a part of later on down the road was exactly what I wanted to do."

As Capital Project Manager, English was in charge of the People Mover's latest multi-million dollar track improvement project.

I would not have had a successful project if it was not for my team," English said. We're all like very happy and fulfilled that we were able to turn over such a successful project on time and on budget. It definitely did. This was probably one of the tightest schedules I've ever worked with.

She's representation in an industry dominated by men. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023, woman made up around 11 percent of the construction workforce, and even less than that were Black women.

"I think we have a little ways to go to become a little more inclusive, but I'm really proud of the progress that everyone is making," English said.

Growing up on construction sites with her Dad, English didn't see a lot of women. That's why she values being visible and highlighting the importance of Diversity and Inclusion.

"We've come a long ways, for sure, having more black women presence on job sites and things like that," English said. I find it extremely important to go to schools. I attend a lot of different panels and things like that, to show little girls that you have it in you.

As she reflects on Black History Month, she's really grateful for her past and where her family came from.

Everyone is a product of the city, and they've always been in the forefront of making things better," English said. "They've always been the leaders of the community. And when you just have awesome people like that to look up to, I knew I wanted to be just like them growing up."

And English hopes sharing her story will help inspire future generations of Detroiters to come.

We're strong, we're resilient, we know how to speak up when we need to, but we're also graceful and poised, and we also we have like, great leadership qualities. So you could take all of that and put it into a career," English said.

Where Your Voice Matters

As some people choose to stay in their homes amid the cleanup of a massive water main break in Southwest Detroit on Monday, community groups like Detroiters Helping Each Other are stepping in to help meet their needs.

Founder Jessica Ramirez says not all people want to leave their homes in Southwest Detroit due to deportation fears, a lack of trust or comfort.

"Exactly what was said to me. Those exact words," Ramirez said. "Nope, we're not leaving because we don't want to be carded. We don't want to be checked. We don't want to be registered because what if we get picked up. Then we'll lose everything, so we'll stay home."

Related video: 54-inch water main break floods SW Detroit neighborhood The latest on a 54-inch water main break in SW Detroit that flooded neighborhood

Ramirez says some people are scared to utilize resources shared by local officials. She says her group and others like hers have been going door to door and canvassing to make people still get access to resources they need.

"You got to build that relationship. You have to have a relationship with your residents and your community and at the end of the day, Southwest, we take care of each other. That's what it boils down to," Ramirez said.

Their call to action is for people to help and get involved. Right now, they are collecting non-perishables, clothing, shoes, blankets, air mattresses and pet items.

Related video: Who will pay for repairs from massive Detroit water main break flooding? Who will pay for repairs from massive Detroit water main break flooding?

"Just know that these families are still going to need help next week. That's the biggest thing. I look ahead. I look in advance of things because they're still going to need help. We're going to try to need resources. Yes, the state government might help pay for things, but in the meantime, life still goes on," Ramirez said.

To help those in need, drop-off information is listed below:

Detroiters Helping Each Other313-704-5392 Kemeny Recreation Center 313-628-28192260 S. Fort StreetDetroit, MI 48217 Patton Recreation Center 313-628-20002301 Woodmere StreetDetroit, MI 48209

Black history continues to be made - even now in metro Detroit. We sat down with Carrie Budzinski, Livonia City Councilor; Quinn Wright, Madison Heights City Councilor; Clarence Black, Berkley City Councilor; and Michael Howard, Macomb County Commissioner.

VIDEO EXTRA: Our interview subjects give their advice to those who want to get involved VIDEO EXTRA: Our interview subjects give their advice to those who want to get involved

All were elected last November by voters, the first in their communities.

My goal was not to make history. My goal was just to make sure that change was made and that we were taking the steps for my daughters and for the future generations, said Wright. I knew that it was time for new leadership just in general in our political process and I wanted to be a part of it.

Wright is the first Black City Councilor elected in Madison Heights.

I think, sometimes, we kinda sit back and we give our opinion. I wanted to make sure I was interjecting mine into the conversation and into the room. It needed to happen, said Wright.

That also motivated Carrie Budzinski, the first Black woman on Livonia City Council. The idea first came to her in 2020 during the pandemic.

I really wanted to run for office, just being a woman and a mom, to be perfectly honest, said Budzinski. I felt compelled to get out of my comfort zone and get involved. When you literally cant leave your house, you realize how important your neighborhood is, and so I decided to dive deep into local politics and local government really and how could I get involved and make a better world for my boys and do my part for our community.

One of her goals is to dispel myths about government and help others get involved.

I feel like we have such negative perceptions about government or just what impacts we can have, and we can have a big impact. Change is possible, said Budzinski.

Michael Howard, the first Black man elected in the city of Warrens history, is seeing the evidence of that.

I serve on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, who had previously had one Black man serving 34 years ago, and he was the first, said Howard. Macomb, the county that I live in, is named after a slave-owning family, so now to serve the county of Macomb is - its impactful.

U.S. Army Major Clarence Black is the first Black man on Berkleys City Council.

I didnt find out until midway through our campaign that there had never been anyone of color in that seat, and that was just kind of jaw-dropping, and it pushed us even harder, I think, said Black.  

He was also a long-time resident of the area but did not obtain two open appointments before he ran.

I have four beautiful, biracial children who live in Berkley, go to Berkley schools, and Id been a Berkley resident since 2008, so I really felt like I had earned to have some say. I wasnt some newcomer. I had been there almost 14 years when I ran. So I really just wanted to be a part of it, said Black.

Being a part of history continues to motivate them all as they work to expand labor opportunities throughout their communities for those coming behind them.

Black folks have been at the crux of the labor movement here in America. It started not by choice, and then we built a middle-class lifestyle through labor unions, and labor is really the heartbeat of the middle class, said Howard.

Howard says it's about creating and taking up space.

If they wont give us a seat at the table, we need to build a bigger table because your voice matters, said Howard.

We asked about the intersection of black history and labor: Given the history of Black labor in America, what do you see as the most pressing labor-related issues today that need political attention in your cities?

Black: I think for us in Berkley, it really comes down to AI. We really need to get a handle on it. I think, like a lot of communities, were really trying to figure out what is this going to mean for us, especially as we look at a possible refit of city hall and our services and things like that. For us, we really want to try to figure out where is AI going to try to make labor easier.

Wright: Making sure that our workers have a prevailing wage and that were doing the best value contracting to make sure that were not just taking the lowest bidder but making sure that were providing an economic stimulus and development for our residents. Our city is a union town, and so we got a lot of folks who are labor, and we gotta make sure they can have a working wage, and they can afford the groceries and things that everyone is kind of up in arms about.

Budzinski What we really have to focus on is the next generation of kids and our students both at the high school level but also at the college level.

Howard: Making sure that our responsible contracting ordinances reflect practical and responsible labor responsibilities like project labor agreements, prevailing wage, and these are things that impact all communities, not just Black communities, not just white communities. It impacts everybody that is trying to work hard and provide for their family.

As Tahiry Broom's family mourns her tragic death, they are calling for understanding as they honor her amid ongoing investigations.

Broom, a 29-year-old transgender woman, was shot and killed on Sunday morning in Southfield.

Police arrested Robert Ridges III, 28, at a casino just hours after finding the murder weapon in his apartment. Now, we're hearing from the aunt of Broom about who she was.

Southfield man charged in murder of transgender woman over the weekend

"It's like, it's really like it got the whole family in like an uproar. It's like one of those things like you don't know what to feel. You wanna be angry, you wanna be sad, you wanna cry, you wanna scream, Broom's aunt Patricia Bender explained.

Even after the arrest of the person police believe is responsible, there are still a lot of questions going through Bender's mind.

Related video: Bodycam shows suspect arrest in murder of transgender woman BODY CAMERA VIDEO: Man arrested in murder of transgender woman

"That brought some peace, but that don't take away the pain, Bender said. You just wanna know why, like why did you do that? Why do you feel like she deserved for that to happen, you know, and then that way and that magnitude."

Bender says her niece loved making people laugh, was full of energy and confidence and loved Nicki Minaj.

"Funny, smart like one of those people that can walk into the darkest room and find some light in it," Bender said.

She's hoping people see Broom in that bright light instead of focusing on what she did for work.

"You can't judge a person by their actions or something that they do, Bender said.

Southfield police say they haven't ruled out the possibility that Broom was targeted. The suspect made 33 calls to sex workers, including Black transgender women like Broom.

"I believe that now that this has happened, he wants to try to distance himself from that reality, but no he knew. I believe it was possibly maybe even a motive for the robbery as well because when he was interviewed, turns out he didn't have any money, so how was he going to pay for services if you will, but he was carrying a gun," Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren said.

But the evil that happened and investigation into it won't stop them from celebrating who she was.

"She shine a light that's gonna shine forever and ever and ever and ever," Bender said.

The family says they're grateful for the outpouring of support in Michigan. There will be a balloon release in Cleveland, where Broom is from, at Woodhill Park Friday.