Celebrating Impact Through Storytelling: UnoDeuce Multimedia’s 2025 Year-in-Review

As all of us at UnoDeuce Multimedia prepare to step into our 25th year, 2025 offered a powerful reminder of why this work matters. It was a year defined by real stories told alongside nonprofits, community leaders, and mission-driven organizations working every day to make Michigan stronger.

This 2025 Year-in-Review captures more than just finished projects. It reflects moments behind the camera: conversations that sparked new ideas, laughter between takes, and the quiet intensity of interviews where people shared why their work matters. From nonprofit hubs and community foundations to frontline service organizations, UnoDeuce had the privilege of helping bring these missions to life through thoughtful, intentional video storytelling.

Throughout the year, the focus of elevating purpose stayed the same. Each project was designed to help organizations connect more deeply with their audiences, whether through documentary-style storytelling, promotional videos, event coverage, or ongoing content strategies. These weren’t just videos created to be watched; they were tools built to build trust, inspire action, and strengthen communities.

2025 also marked continued growth in collaboration. UnoDeuce worked alongside nonprofit leaders, boards, funders, and partners who understood the value of authentic storytelling. Together, those partnerships turned complex missions into clear narratives and helped organizations share not just what they do, but why they do it.

The highlight reel is a snapshot of that momentum—packed with meaningful visuals, familiar faces, and stories that continue long after the camera stops rolling. It’s a reminder that video, when done with care and purpose, can move people to listen, engage, and support something bigger than themselves.

As UnoDeuce Multimedia looks ahead to year 25, this reel stands as both a celebration and a promise. The commitment remains the same: to tell stories that matter, support missions that serve, and use creativity to create real, lasting impact—one story at a time.

Reflecting on 2025: A Year of Growth, Grit, and Groundwork at UnoDeuce
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a breath, looking back, and doing something we don’t always slow down enough to do—reflect. This past year at UnoDeuce was full of movement: new spaces, new ideas, bold experiments, meaningful wins, and some very real challenges. It was a year that stretched us creatively and emotionally, and one that laid the groundwork for something big ahead—our 25th anniversary in 2026.
So grab a coffee and settle in.
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A Fresh Start at the Nonprofit Hub
Every new chapter starts with a leap of faith, and for us here at UnoDeuce, that leap came early in 2025. When Child and Family Charities invited us to become part of the brand-new Nonprofit Hub, it was a no-brainer. It just made sense.
We moved in January—during Michigan winter, no less—hauling gear, painting walls, and turning an empty space into a functioning studio. It was cold, exhausting, and absolutely energizing.
Before everything was perfectly in place, we went live.
The new studio quickly became more than a workspace. It became a launchpad for creativity, collaboration, and conversations that mattered. From the very first broadcast, it was clear this move was about more than square footage—it was about proximity, purpose, and possibility.
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Launching the UnoCup and Live Event Innovation
One of the first big moments we’d like to highlight in the new space came with the launch of the UnoCup, a live-streamed UNO tournament created for the grand opening of the Nonprofit Hub.
What started as a fun idea turned into a full-scale event that involved a total of nine nonprofits competing, celebrity players and announcers, a packed room and an engaged livestream audience.
The energy was contagious. Laughter, competition and community all came together in one night. More importantly, the UnoCup showed what live, creative fundraising events could be. That night didn’t just break in the studio; it opened the door to a whole new service offering for UnoDeuce: high-quality, high-energy livestream production for nonprofits and community organizations.
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Building Smarter Learning Experiences
Behind the scenes, one of our biggest wins in 2025 was the development of customized learning management tools. We began helping organizations build flexible training platforms—virtual, in-studio, or hybrid—without the tech overwhelm.
Accessibility was a major focus. Through partnerships with 7C Lingo, we integrated ASL interpretation and foreign language captioning into our learning systems, ensuring content could truly reach everyone.
At its core, the goal was simple: make education more inclusive, more usable, and more human.
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Partnerships That Expanded Our Reach
UnoDeuce has never believed in going it alone, and 2025 reinforced how powerful collaboration can be. This year, partnerships with organizations like 7C Lingo, Gold Pro Media, and Lansing Public Media helped us expand beyond production into strategy.
Through our work with Gold Pro Media, we dove deeper into podcast planning—guest acquisition, sponsorship development, continuity, and marketing—helping shows grow sustainably instead of just episodically.
These relationships allowed us to bring more voices forward, more consistently, and with greater impact.
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Podcasting, Broadcast, and Local Stories
Podcast production remained a major pillar of our work. In 2025, shows like Arts Roll Call (with the Arts Council of Greater Lansing) and Mission Control continued to grow—evolving from audio-only formats into full broadcast experiences through Lansing Public Media.
More platforms meant more reach. More reach meant more stories shared. And for us, that’s always the point.
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A Record Year for Fundraising Impact
If there’s one area where 2025 truly stood out, it was fundraising. By fall, it felt like every weekend brought another event. In total, we supported nearly 15 fundraising events, providing audio/visual production, livestreams, and storytelling support.
The result? A record-breaking $1.5 million raised for nonprofits across the Lansing area.
That number matters but what matters more is what it represents: services funded, programs expanded, and communities supported. That’s why we do this work.
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Growth, Recognition, and Real Challenges
This year also brought recognition, including Platinum Community Votes awards for Videographer and Video Production Company. Being recognized by the community always means something special—especially during a year of so much change.
But 2025 wasn’t easy. There were stretches of uncertainty, stress, and moments when the weight of everything felt heavy. And toward the end of the year, our founder experienced a profound personal loss with the passing of his father—a lifelong supporter of UnoDeuce.
Grief has a way of clarifying what matters. Family. Purpose. People.
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Looking Ahead to 2026 and 25 Years of UnoDeuce
Despite the challenges, we’re stepping into 2026 with energy and intention. UnoDeuce turns 25 years old, and we’re planning to honor the journey—past, present, and future.
Expect:
– Special events and creative campaigns
– A refreshed website and new newsletter
– Deeper partnerships and new collaborations
– Continued innovation in how stories are told
We’re grateful for our partners, our clients, our team, our families, and this community that continues to show up.
As we head into the next chapter, one thing remains unchanged: our commitment to amplifying voices, supporting causes that matter, and telling stories that make a difference.
Here’s to 25 years and all of the exciting things that come next.

Behind the Scenes: A Candid Conversation with Sarah Laurie at the Child and Family Charities Nonprofit Hub

Walk into the Child and Family Charities Nonprofit Hub on any given day and you’ll feel it right away—the hum of conversations, the smell of coffee drifting through the air, the steady buzz of people doing real work that matters. It’s the kind of place where handshakes turn into collaborations and hallway chats turn into new ideas. That’s where Melik sat down with Sarah Laurie, CEO of Community Mental Health for Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties (CMH), for a conversation that felt less like an interview and more like two people pulling back the curtain on what community care really looks like.

And if you know UnoDeuce, you know we love moments like these—where the mission meets the people behind it.
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Serving the Community Starts with Humility

Melik kicks things off with a question that makes any leader pause: What’s it like to run such a massive, mission-driven organization?

Sarah doesn’t miss a beat.

She smiles, leans forward, and answers not with the polished script of a CEO, but with sincerity: it’s humbling. It’s an honor. CMH is “woven into the fabric of the community,” she says, and that responsibility isn’t lost on her.

No buzzwords. No grandstanding. Just honesty.

And that’s the heart of CMH in a nutshell—real people meeting real needs, without making it complicated.
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So… What IS Community Mental Health?

Sarah breaks it down simply: CMH serves people—from birth through adulthood—who are navigating serious emotional or developmental challenges. They’re the public behavioral health provider for three counties, and they take that role seriously.

Think of CMH as a lifelong partner in behavioral health, offering:
– Support for youth and adults with severe emotional or developmental needs
– Specialty mental health services
– A Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic that anyone in the community can access
– 24/7 crisis services, mobile crisis teams, and walk-in support
In a world where “access” often means a maze of referrals, CMH keeps it refreshingly simple.

If someone needs help, they call. They walk in. They show up—and CMH is there.
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A Better Way to Get Help: Quick, Local, Human

Sarah shares CMH’s philosophy of accessibility like it’s second nature. Crisis shouldn’t come with barriers, and CMH keeps their doors—and phone lines—open around the clock. The Jolly Road location, tucked between Pennsylvania and Cedar, serves as their home base for walk-in crisis care.

No complicated process.
No red tape.
Just support.
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Building the Crisis Care Center: A Game Changer for Mid-Michigan

As Sarah talks about the future, her voice shifts—you can hear the excitement behind the logistics. Right on the nonprofit hub campus, CMH is developing a full Crisis Care Center in a former women’s and children’s building. It’s more than a renovation; it’s a reimagining of how crisis care should work.

This center will bring together:
– Walk-in crisis services
– A recovery center for withdrawal management
– A crisis residential unit
– And the newest addition: a Crisis Stabilization Unit for both youth and adults

This unit is the missing puzzle piece—offering up to 72 hours of safe, supportive care with access to psychiatry, nursing, therapists, and peer specialists. A place where help starts immediately, without sending people out of town or parking them in an ER waiting room.

“Proximity makes a difference,” Sarah says—and she’s right. Keeping people close to their support systems isn’t just convenient; it’s transformative.
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Collaboration at Its Core

One of the most striking takeaways from this conversation is how tightly knit the nonprofit community is inside the Hub. CMH staff, Child and Family Charities, NAMI Lansing, and others share space, ideas, and mission energy—daily.

There’s no ego in the room, just people doing the work.

The new center will house:
– 8 youth beds
– 13 adult beds
– On-site specialty services
– A recovery center operating right alongside crisis services
Instead of being shuffled around the city, individuals can transition seamlessly through levels of care without ever leaving the building.

That’s what partnership looks like—not just meetings and emails, but proximity, intentional space, and shared purpose.
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Looking Ahead: Opening Soon

Sarah estimates the building will wrap up construction by March, with services launching in the summer. It’s ambitious, but she’s confident—and considering the demand, it can’t come soon enough. Beds will fill quickly, because the need is real, local, and growing.
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The Real Backbone: The Staff

When Melik asks what keeps CMH moving, Sarah doesn’t hesitate. She lifts up her team—the therapists, nurses, crisis workers, peer specialists, support staff. They’re the ones doing the hands-on work, the emotional labor, the late-night calls.

“It really is the staff… they are the backbone,” she says.

And that acknowledgment feels like the perfect note in a conversation grounded in real community commitment.
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Final Takeaway: We Can Do More Together

If one line sums up the entire interview, it’s this:

“Proximity makes a difference. We can do more together.”

It’s simple. It’s powerful. And it’s exactly what the Nonprofit Hub is built for.

If you want to get involved, learn more, or get support, CMH and Child and Family Charities are ready to welcome you in.

# Celebrating Community, Collaboration, and Legacy: Inside the UnoDeuce Multimedia Livestream with Danielle Robinson

Welcome to a behind-the-scenes look at the recent **UnoDeuce Multimedia Livestream interview at the Child and Family Charities nonprofit hub.** Hosted by Melik, this special conversation featured **Danielle Robinson, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Responsibility at Jackson**, who reflected on her career, her upcoming retirement, and the lasting impact of community partnerships.

This conversation was more than an interview—it was a celebration of legacy, unity, and what happens when people come together for the common good.

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## At the Heart of Community Action

Melik welcomed Danielle with his trademark warmth, inviting her to reflect on her decades of service. Danielle’s career has been shaped by her passion for corporate responsibility, with a focus on helping communities thrive. With retirement right around the corner, her reflections carried extra weight—highlighting lessons learned and the importance of leaving a legacy rooted in service.

The exchange felt less like a formal interview and more like two neighbors talking about the things that matter most: community, family, and the power of collaboration.

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## A Career Defined by Impact

One of Danielle’s most powerful memories from her time at Jackson involved **supporting teens experiencing homelessness** through Child and Family Charities’ Gateway Youth Services.

She recalled how then-CEO Julie Thomas approached Jackson with a bold request: to help expand services for vulnerable teens. Jackson stepped up, working hand-in-hand with Child and Family Charities to create what is now known as **Jackson House.**

The result? The capacity to serve teens doubled, providing safer, more effective support. Danielle calls it a legacy project that she and her colleagues are “really proud of.” It was more than philanthropy—it was partnership in action.

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## Finding Help or Lending a Hand

Danielle also emphasized how individuals can get involved.

* **Child and Family Charities Website:** The central place for anyone seeking services at Jackson House or wanting to learn about programs.
* **Jackson’s Giving and Grants Page:** A resource for those interested in corporate giving, funding priorities, and nonprofit partnerships.

Her message was simple: whether you need help or want to help, the resources are right at your fingertips.

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## Why the Nonprofit Hub Matters

When asked about the value of the nonprofit hub, Danielle didn’t hesitate: **collaboration.**

Instead of competing, organizations here come together to maximize efficiency, expand impact, and create unity. Danielle noted that this culture of partnership is what makes the hub unique—and what allows it to serve more people, more effectively.

“We know that there are efficiencies that can be gained. We know that there are many different ways to serve the community, but working together, we serve the community best.”

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## What’s Driving Change at the Hub?

Though less than a year old, the nonprofit hub is already making waves. Danielle credits its success to:

* **Bold Leadership:** Julie Thomas from Child and Family Charities made the vision possible by offering the physical space.
* **Shared Responsibility:** Big Brothers Big Sisters, under Megan’s leadership, stepped in as fiduciary, managing the business side.
* **Clear Roles:** Each organization knows its lane, collaborates without competition, and keeps the mission first.

The result? Less drama, more action, and a spirit of unity that fuels real progress.

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## Danielle’s Next Chapter

Retirement for Danielle doesn’t mean slowing down. Her plans include more time with family, volunteering at church, and supporting local causes. She jokes about “just showing up” as a supporter, but it’s clear her impact will continue—just in a more flexible, joy-filled way.

As she put it: “When work and passion really click, it’s not really work.”

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## Signs of a Thriving Community

Danielle lit up as she described the hub’s grand opening: every parking space filled, people from across the community coming together, and a buzz of energy surrounding tours, events, and activities.

It wasn’t just an event—it was proof that the hub is already serving as a unifying space for collaboration and connection.

Lessons from Danielle’s Story

Here are some of the key takeaways from the UnoDeuce Multimedia Livestream:

1. **Collaboration is Key** – Community work is strongest when done together.
2. **Leadership Means Stepping Up** – Progress happens when someone takes action.
3. **Unity Brings Strength** – Put ego aside and keep the mission first.
4. **Giving Never Ends** – Retirement or not, there are always ways to serve.
5. **Celebrate Your Team** – From volunteers to local businesses, everyone plays a role.

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## Spotlight on Partnerships: Paper Image Printing Center

The event also highlighted the role of local businesses like **Paper Image Printing Center,** which provides custom branded apparel for nonprofits and businesses alike. As Melik noted, these items help teams become “walking billboards,” spreading visibility and pride. It’s yet another example of how collaboration—whether through services, funding, or creativity—strengthens the community.

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## Final Thoughts: The Real Meaning of Community

The UnoDeuce Multimedia Livestream with Danielle Robinson was more than an interview—it was a reminder of the **power of unity.** Danielle’s career, her ongoing commitment, and the energy of the nonprofit hub all point to one truth: **when people work together, they can achieve extraordinary things.**

So whether you’re donating, volunteering, or simply showing up, remember Danielle’s words:

> “There’s no community without unity. Put pride aside, work together, and see how much more you can accomplish.”

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Take a tour inside the Child and Family Charities Nonprofit Hub with Executive Director Julie Thomasma and host MetroMelik. What was once an empty hospital campus has been transformed into a thriving space where nonprofits and mission-driven businesses work side by side to serve families, kids, and the Lansing community. From CASA to Big Brothers Big Sisters, Origami Rehab, NAMI, and more, this hub brings essential services together under one roof—making collaboration seamless and support easier to access. You’ll hear success stories, discover how organizations share resources, and get a look at how the hub is designed to help nonprofits thrive on tight budgets. 👉 Learn how community partners turned old hospital corridors into collaborative spaces. 👉 Meet the organizations already making a difference inside the hub. 👉 Find out how YOU can get involved, tour the space, or support the mission.