Startup Grind Lansing2024-02-26T21:41:31-05:00

Startup Grind Lansing

MISSION CONTROL: Luke Forrest: Navigating Community and Economic Development

Welcome to Mission Control, the podcast that delves into the journeys of executive directors and nonprofit leaders dedicated to positively impacting their communities. Hosted by Paul Schmidt, owner and creative video strategist at Introduce Multimedia, this episode features Luke Forrest, the Executive Director of the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM).

Introducing Luke Forrest and CEDAM

Luke Forrest starts the discussion with a light-hearted remark about the complexity of pronouncing CEDAM’s full name—a challenge even for its staff and board members. He then introduces CEDAM as a network that fosters community and economic development across Michigan. The organization focuses on building capacity, changing public policy, and leveraging resources to drive lasting systemic improvements.

“We’re a network of folks dedicated to community and economic development in Michigan. The biggest ways we support our members in their communities are through capacity building, public policy change, and leveraging resources to achieve systemic lasting change in Michigan.”

Exploring the Roots: Luke Forrest’s Journey into Community Development

Luke’s interest in community and economic development stems from a family background rich in public service. Initially working at the federal level in Washington, D.C., he quickly realized that the intellectual stimulation he experienced did not equate to tangible impact. This led him back to Michigan, where he sought to make a difference at the local level.

“I started at the federal policy level right out of college, worked for a member of Congress, and became a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. I just felt like there was something a little empty for me.”

Interestingly, Luke’s entry into urban planning was influenced by his passion for hip-hop culture and a book titled *Bomb the Suburbs* by graffiti writer Upsky. This unconventional path highlights the diverse inspirations that can lead to a career in community development.

“People always ask, what was the first thing you read that got you into urban planning or community development? I came into it through hip-hop music and culture.”

Diving into Local Level Development

Luke’s transition from federal to local governance involved volunteering in city planning commissions, particularly in Ann Arbor and Ferndale, Michigan. These experiences offered him a hands-on understanding of how local decisions can shape entire communities.

“If you want to learn how stuff gets done, serve and volunteer on one of these local government commissions or community bodies.”

During his time as a volunteer, Luke discovered the outdated nature of many urban planning guidelines, often borrowed from early 20th-century models. This experience underscored the importance of collaboration and adaptability in creating effective community development strategies.

From Local to State: Luke’s Involvement with the Michigan Municipal League

After gaining valuable experience at the local level, Luke joined the Michigan Municipal League (MML). There, he worked on critical initiatives like placemaking and Michigan Green Communities. These programs aimed to enhance residents’ quality of life and promote sustainable practices within city governments.

– **Placemaking:** Focused on creating unique, memorable local environments that improve residents’ quality of life.
– **Michigan Green Communities:** Encouraged city governments to adopt sustainable practices, emphasizing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation.

Taking the Helm at CEDAM: Leadership through a Crisis

In 2019, Luke assumed the role of Executive Director at CEDAM, a significant responsibility made more challenging by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, CEDAM quickly pivoted to address the looming eviction and foreclosure crises, working with partner organizations to provide critical support and resources.

“In the organization’s 26-year history, I think we’ve only had four executive directors, so it’s a real honor.”

Navigating Black Lives Matter Movements and Policy Changes

The year 2020 also saw the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, prompting CEDAM to reevaluate its programs with a focus on racial equity. This introspection led to a greater emphasis on supporting lower-income communities of color and ensuring equitable outcomes.

“We needed to examine how all the programs we worked with at the state level were thinking about racial equity and outcomes for lower-income communities and people of color.”

Reflecting on Achievements and Progress

Reflecting on the past few years, Luke expresses pride in CEDAM’s expanded support for local nonprofit organizations. The organization has made significant strides in protecting consumers from financial exploitation and advocating for affordable housing and early childhood programs.

“We’ve done an amazing job getting some excellent stuff done to protect consumers from bad actors in the financial space and focusing more attention on affordable housing and early childhood programs.”

Balancing Work and Personal Life: Luke’s Secret to Unwinding

On a personal note, Luke highlights the importance of quality family time. As a father of two teenagers, he enjoys exploring new places and engaging in various activities, from sports to movie nights.

“We do a lot of sports together, watch movies, and have fun outdoors. This weekend, we’re visiting the Niagara Falls region on the Canadian side and Hamilton, Ontario.”

Conclusion

Luke Forrest’s journey from a small town in Northern Michigan to leading CEDAM illustrates a deep commitment to fostering positive, lasting change in communities. His ability to navigate crises and his hands-on approach to community development are inspiring examples. Thank you to Luke Forrest for sharing his story and insights and our readers for joining us. If you know someone whose journey you’d like to hear about, please email us at missioncontrol@intrduce.com. Remember to subscribe to Mission Control on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review.

> “We’re all making this up as we go, and that’s okay. We have to find ways to work together.”

Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you in the control center next time!

By |August 7th, 2024|Categories: Blog, Mission Control Podcast|1 Comment

EXPERT CONNEXIONS: Research Reimagined: Leveraging AI for Accurate Information

Who would have guessed that the day would come when Google would be replaced by an AI program? It hasn’t happened yet, but one of the tools we demo in today’s episode of Expert Connexions just might be leading the way towards that shift.

Today, we tackle a common concern about AI: the uncertainty of its information sources. Our expert guest, Scott Remington of Foster AI, joins our host Julie Holton Smith and introduces us to a revolutionary tool that many believe could dethrone Google.

This demo highlights two incredible AI tools that promise to transform how we search for information:

Learn how to use Perplexity to gather trustworthy, cited information in a personalized way
Practice giving Claude the data and info you’ve gathered to organize it into powerpoint slides so you’re ready to wow the boardroom!

Join us to learn how to trust AI, verify its sources, and effectively use AI for your research needs. Don’t miss this exciting demonstration of AI’s potential to revolutionize search technology, and be sure to subscribe to the channel for weekly expert insights!

By |August 2nd, 2024|Categories: Blog, Expert Connexions|0 Comments

CLIENT STORY: Celebrating Creativity: The Arts Council of Greater Lansing’s Impact on Community and Culture

Discover the Arts Council of Greater Lansing’s impact on fostering creativity and culture in Lansing, Michigan. They provide grants, resources, and support for local artists and arts education, promoting diversity and community collaboration. Join us in celebrating their dedication to the arts!

For more info: https://lansingarts.org/

By |August 1st, 2024|Categories: Blog, Client Story|2 Comments

Deucey Award Reflections: CASA for Kids’ Most Entertaining Video Win for “Advocate”

CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, equips community volunteers to advocate for foster children. Their Deucey award-winning video, “Advocate,” one in a series of three, highlights CASA’s mission to give children a voice and ensure their needs are met.

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By |July 31st, 2024|Categories: Blog|0 Comments

GUEST BLOG: 7 Ways Digital Marketing Can Transform Your Brand

Introduction

Being relevant and competitive in the market, digital marketing has become a must for any business brand. In response to the new trends initiated by the use of the internet and other forms of digital marketing platforms, the implementation of digital marketing is a booster for brand image awareness and growth.

This blog explains seven strategic approaches digital marketing can use to enhance and revolutionize your brand.

Enhanced Online Presence

A strong online presence is crucial for any brand in the digital age. This means that there is a need to have a good web presence since it is important for visibility. SEO and SEM play crucial roles in increasing such visibility.

While SEO focuses on organic search engine optimization, SEM entails the use of paid advertising. Ease of finding the website online improves traffic to that site and thus improves credibility and trust hence leading to high conversions.

Targeted Advertising

Using digital marketing, you can aim at the right people by using facts and figures to make a perfect ad plan. It guarantees that the ads are delivered to the interested parties hence enhancing the chances of the audience making the required action. The consequence of the case is a higher return on investment (ROI) as the activities related to marketing are more efficient.

Improved Customer Engagement

The use of social media is significant in creating direct customer relationships where the company directly talks to the customer without any middlemen. It helps them develop an immediate relationship with the consumer and makes them more loyal. Best strategies include content, timely response to inquiries, and customizing the messages with the clients that foster strong relationships and loyalty towards the brand.

Content Marketing and Brand Authority

Creating high-quality content helps to become an authoritative brand in a specific niche. In sharing relevant and useful content, your brand can engage in editorializing or educating through blogs, vlogs, and diagrams.

This creates trust within audiences making your brand a go-to source within your niche, therefore earning credibility. Not only does content marketing help to attract and retain customers, but also to distinguish oneself from competitors, thus confirming the status of a market leader.

Web Design and User Experience

Web design plays a crucial role in digital marketing as it is a direct driving factor of users' experience. A user-friendly website design also plays an important role in customer attraction and loyalty since customers can be easily retained by providing easy and friendly website browsing.

Big trends such as the ability to load a website on any device, the ability to load a site within a few seconds to avoid high bounce rates, and site search for easy access to information. It will thus be important to consider showit website development as it can easily meet these requirements and improve usability.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Analyzing data is key in business work because it allows for the study of what buyers do, how well ads work, and hence decision-making is attempted. Some of the important tools and measures used for evaluation are Google Analytics to track the visitor's traffic to the site, social media statistics analysis for engagement study, and other testing such as A/B testing. Thus, utilizing these tools can improve the marketing activities of these firms and result in increased effectiveness.

Increased Brand Loyalty and Trust

Personalized marketing plays a key role in branding by using customized solutions that meet the specific needs and wants of the client. When customers receive something relevant – be it content, recommendation, or offer, it creates a positive image that makes them feel valued and recognized as part of the brand. Transparency and constant communication with the customers also create trust since customers value clear and honest dealings.

When brands are specific about their values, practices, and updates, this brings a certain level of trust and reliability. These activities when done together lead to building good relations with customers which translates to further business and patronage. These are the effective tactics of digital marketing that can address and work towards this.

Conclusion

Skills in leveraging the digital marketing platform provide one with the capabilities to advance as well as remodel the image of a brand. From increasing the organization's visibility on the web and the ability to target the right audience, to the development of better relations with customers and the creation of a strong position for the brand, every facet assists in the building of a stronger and more effective brand model.

Thus, with the support of providing data and concentrating on the user perspective, brands can achieve success. Implementing these strategies helps maintain brand relevance and appeal to the audience as technology is constantly advancing. All businesses require constant marketing and this can only be done with the help of digital platforms.

Hey, I'm Heather. Writing about design allows me to connect with like-minded individuals who appreciate both the new and the nostalgic. My goal is to highlight the creativity and craftsmanship that make our world beautiful and functional.

By |July 30th, 2024|Categories: Blog|1 Comment

CLIENT STORY: Child and Family Charities – Our Journey in Foster Care

Foster care often doesn’t make sense to the ordinary person. The system’s complexities, trying to figure out what’s best for the parents and, importantly, what’s best for the children, can be overwhelming. Having worked in Child Protective Services (CPS), I always knew there was a pressing need for foster homes. From a young age, I envisioned a family where I could provide this care.

Navigating Special Needs

Our youngest foster child had some medical special needs, and the agency was a constant source of support. Whether it was lending a listening ear or guiding us through the necessary appointments, they were always there. When Kalini came into our lives as a newborn, she was born cocaine-dependent and experienced tremors. We navigated through these challenges, and I’m proud to say she is now thriving.
Kalini is not the only child who brings unique challenges. My daughter, whom I adopted, has ADHD and ADD, combined with a history of being meth-positive at birth. Similarly, our newly adopted son is on the fetal alcohol spectrum and has significant trauma responses. The agency helped us navigate the resource systems and provided the necessary treatment referrals.

Forming a Forever Family

My immediate family now includes my daughter Kalani, who has been with me her entire life. Adopting her has been an incredible blessing; she needed me, and I needed her, though I didn’t realize it at first. Being a foster and adoptive parent has brought immense fulfillment to my life.

The Bigger Picture: The Impact of Foster Care

Foster care isn’t just about giving children a temporary home; it’s about shaping our future. The children we nurture today will be decision-makers tomorrow. Our future looks uncertain if we don’t create a sense of wholeness now.

Encouraging Future Foster Parents

To anyone considering fostering, yes, you will become attached to these children, and that’s precisely what they need—love and support. It’s the most rewarding thing we’ve ever done. If you feel called to foster or adopt, don’t wait; there’s no perfect time.

Helping Kids Unpack Their Suitcases

Adopting or fostering isn’t the same as having biological children. These kids come with emotional baggage, and it’s our job to help them unpack and reorganize it. Leap if you can provide a loving, safe home and robust support system. These kids need it.

Conclusion

Providing a loving and nurturing home through foster care is a life-changing experience for the children and the foster parents. It’s a journey filled with challenges and immense rewards as you see these children thrive and grow. If you feel the call to foster, embrace it—you may be the difference in a child’s life.

By |July 25th, 2024|Categories: Blog, Client Story|0 Comments

A Conversation With Lhauren Singleton Ready, Set, Aspire — Mission Control Podcast

Welcome back to Mission Control, the podcast spotlighting executive directors and non-profit leaders impacting their communities significantly. Your host, Paul Schmidt, owner and creative video strategist for Introduce Multimedia, is thrilled to introduce a new friend, Lauren, the executive director of Aspire.

Paul begins by welcoming Lhauren and asking about her role at Aspire. Contrary to what some might think, Lhauren clarifies that she isn’t the founder but the executive director, having taken over from her predecessor, Lori Bolin. This sets the stage for a deeper dive into Aspire’s mission and Lauren’s journey to her current role.

As Lhauren passionately explains, Aspire’s mission is to educate, equip, and empower individuals to make positive choices, develop healthy relationships, and become who they aspire to be. This mission is pursued through various means, including sharing resources, guest speaking, and holistic relationship education, which Lauren emphasizes as vital for community empowerment.

Lhauren’s story of joining Aspire is both lucky and inspiring. She became a part of the Aspire Relationship Education organization. While doing contract work across the greater Lansing area, a job description for Aspire came across her desk. Intrigued, she reached out to Lori Bolin, the founder, and discovered that Lori had developed a program that had profoundly impacted Lhauren’s life.

The program, known as the SMART program, had been pivotal for Lhauren during a tumultuous time in her life. It focused on sexual health education, emphasizing not just disease prevention but also broader aspects of sexual risk avoidance and healthy relationship skills. These teachings stayed with Lhauren, guiding her through her formative years and influencing her personal and professional decisions.

Lhauren’s educational journey and career path are equally fascinating. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, she was exposed to business operations at a young age. Her first official job was as a bookkeeper for her family’s Custom Built Designer Remodeling company. This early experience and subsequent roles in insurance and ministry leadership equipped her with a diverse skill set and a strong foundation in organizational management.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic marked her transition to Aspire in January 2020. This unexpected challenge forced Lhauren to rethink and innovate Aspire’s programming. Embracing a future-focused mindset, she spearheaded the development of an online academy to ensure the organization’s resources remained accessible, regardless of physical constraints. This move was crucial in maintaining the continuity and impact of Aspire’s mission during such uncertain times.

The pandemic also highlighted the importance of mental and emotional support. Lhauren and her team launched creative collaborations, such as community painting projects, which provided a therapeutic outlet for participants of all ages. These initiatives underscored the value of artistic expression in fostering mental well-being and community connection.

Lhauren’s support system played a critical role in her leadership journey. Her husband, Nick, her family, her dedicated board members and team, and the collective encouragement and belief in her vision were instrumental. This support extended to community partners and grantors, whose contributions were vital in sustaining Aspire’s operations and outreach efforts.

Reflecting on her experiences, Lhauren acknowledges the profound impact of collaborative efforts and the importance of a supportive network. The pandemic may have posed significant challenges but also brought innovative solutions and strengthened community bonds.

Looking ahead, Lhauren is excited about Aspire’s future. One of her ambitious plans is to launch a capital campaign for a structured creative collaboration program. This multidisciplinary initiative aims to connect generations through art, storytelling, and other creative expressions. The goal is to foster personal growth and community engagement by encouraging participants to explore who they want to become rather than just what they want to do.

As the conversation draws close, all comment on Lhauren’s dedication and innovative approach to leading Aspire. He highlights the podcast’s mission to showcase leaders like Lhauren, who make tangible differences in their communities through resilience, creativity, and unwavering commitment.

In summary, Lhauren’s journey with Aspire is a testament to the power of education, community support, and creative innovation. Her leadership during challenging times has sustained the organization and expanded its reach and impact. As Aspire continues to evolve, its mission of empowering individuals to make positive choices and develop healthy relationships remains at the forefront, guided by Lhauren’s visionary leadership.

By |July 24th, 2024|Categories: Blog, Mission Control Podcast|3 Comments

Guest Blog: 5 Simple Steps to Start Your Own Business

Introduction

Entrepreneurship can be considered as one of the most invigorating and yet complex processes. It provides the potential to be economically secure, have control of one's ideas, and have control over establishing the company from scratch. Nevertheless, like any other form of marketing, it is not without challenges.

There are several barriers for the entrepreneurs that they experience while setting up a business and such barriers include, sources of funding, legal constraints, business model or plan, and marketing plan. To undertake the journey one has to be prepared to persist, work hard, and be open to learning. However, finding ways to transform an idea into a prosperous business is relatively easy, given appropriate preparation and vision.

Identify Your Business Idea

Mainly choosing your business idea is one of the most significant elements in entrepreneurship because it creates the basis for your business. First, think about what you love to do and do well and have the experience to come up with areas that interest you. Another important point is to try to find a hole in the market or the community and then try to explain how you can fill it. There is a need to look at the competitor analysis, customer trends, and any analyzed market to determine whether the idea can have a feasible demand and uniqueness.

The final stage of the formation of a business idea is to create a simple and clear business plan indicating your vision, objectives, and methodologies. This plan will help you know where to start and the strategies to apply in the process of establishing the business and getting potential investors on board. The idea is one of the most fundamental components of any future business and, therefore, must be chosen carefully and wisely.

Conduct Market Research

Market research is crucial for audience analysis and proper business placement on the market. Begin by identifying your research goals and the precise data that you require concerning your market. Employ the combination of surveys, interviews, and focus groups, which are considered first-degree research techniques to gain first-hand input from target consumers.

Add to that, the secondary research which involves the assessment of data from already existing reports, research on the market, and competition. This paints a bigger picture of the market and the level of competition, not forgetting the actual demand out there. Review the findings to understand the major and minor opportunities and threats unique to the business.

It therefore becomes your key insight when developing your product, looking for a market to sell your product, or making any business decision. Market research enables one to make objective decisions, avoid pitfalls, and ensure the products and services emerging meet the shared market demand, thus boosting the odds for success in a commercially competitive world.

Create a Business Plan

Business planning is elemental for developing your business approach and finding financial support. An executive summary gives the reader a general overview of your business idea, why you are going into it, and what you want to achieve. This should be followed by a description of your products or the services that you wish to offer to your clients explaining the reasons as to why they should choose you.

Enclose a market plan detailing how you shall reach and engage the customers. Specify your tactical plan, including the activities and steps for everyday functioning, the way of purchasing supplies, and the kinds of technology needed. Finances are crucial; attach an income statement, a cash flow statement or projection, a balance sheet, and any other form of proof of the feasibility of the business.

State your requirements for funds and how exactly you intend to apply the capital. Business plans are therefore important not only to keep the business on the right track but also to communicate the plans of the business to other people such as investors.

Register Your Business

Business registration is one of the processes that can be undertaken to fully commence your enterprise while at the same time legally engaging in the business. Firstly, select a proper kind of business entity, whether it would be a sole trader, partnership, or corporation, which defines traders' exposure to loss, taxes, and operational freedom. The business name should be officially registered with the relevant local or state issuing agency to protect the business brand.

File for a Federal Tax Identification Number also known as the Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service for taxation and recruitment action. Before starting a business, you need to investigate all of the legal and regulatory compliance laws at the local, state, and federal levels and consult with a lawyer or a business consultant. Registration not only provides legal acceptance for your business entity but also betters the prospects of getting legal cover, business credit, and financial solutions.

Promote Your Business

The effective promotion of the business means the combination of marketing and branding activities. An effective way to share knowledge of one's product or service is by using backdrops for trade shows. These striking visuals also can be used as a centerpiece during an event in the industry where it will alert the attendees of the brand and core messages. Come up with a background that speaks about your company's logo, its tagline and the key products it deals in and in style and color.

It should be uniquely branded for the website/your business and should appeal to your target demographic. Trade shows must be a way to directly approach potential clients, share printed materials with them, and interact with the representatives of the field. Besides trade shows, you can make use of social media, e-mails, and a firm online presence. Incorporating the backdrops with other marketing concepts will help solve your business's problem of visibility and increased clientele base.

Conclusion

It is important to know that entrepreneurship involves risks and having a start-up business is always a great opportunity. Starting with funding to the current nature of the market, it is a process characterized by challenges. Subsequently, with the proper vision and adequate research, along with a well-developed business plan, it does get easier. Accepting the uncertainties and remaining as flexible as possible is work's true form, which means that all these actions will raise your likelihood of turning your entrepreneurial aspirations into a successful business.

Hello, I'm Amayah. Through my pen, I delve into the heart of design, uncovering the stories behind emerging trends and celebrated classics. My writing serves as a bridge, connecting readers with the innovative minds and transformative ideas that shape our visual and functional world.
By |July 23rd, 2024|Categories: Blog|1 Comment

CLIENT STORY: Big Brothers Big Sisters Capital Region – Celebrating 70 Years of Mentorship

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Capital Region (BBBS) has been a cornerstone of the community for over 120 years. This year, the local agency in the capital region celebrates an impressive 70 years of impactful service. This milestone is a testament to the dedication and passion of countless individuals who have contributed to this noble cause. Today, let’s take a closer look at the essence of BBBS, its incredible initiatives, and how it continues to change lives.

## A Legacy of Impact

For seven decades, the BBBS agency has thrived in the capital region, offering support and mentorship to youth. BBBS’s longevity in the community speaks volumes about the importance and effectiveness of its mission. It’s heartwarming to know that people have consistently recognized and upheld this initiative as crucial for the well-being and development of youth.

“Incredibly, for 70 years, we have had people step up and say, this is important and something that needs to continue,” said a representative of the organization.

By |July 18th, 2024|Categories: Blog, Client Story|1 Comment
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