Startup Grind Lansing
Match. Recognition. Bigs. Foster. – UnoDeuce Visual Storytelling for July 2024
Four stories were told in July 2024, and we will showcase them visually. Watch as we show our premiere visual storytelling with MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, United Way South Central Michigan, Big Brothers Big Sisters Capital Region, and Child and Family Charities. For the full video of each of these, please visit our Vimeo channel.
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Remember, there’s always another story to tell, and we would love to tell your story. Please connect with us: https://www.unodeuce.com/contact/
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EXPERT CONNEXIONS: Marketing with Empathy: How Kindness Shapes Customer Journeys
Recently on Expert Connexions, we highlighted how employing kindness may be just the underutilized strategy you need to emphasize to create a more thriving company culture and achieve genuine success in your business.
In today’s short but jam-packed episode, we take this idea further, diving into how empathizing with customers’ needs and challenges can reshape your approach to user experience (UX) and marketing.
Learn the importance of not just starting with empathy in your marketing but carrying it throughout the entire customer experience; discover how to embed kindness and understanding into every touchpoint, ensuring your customers feel seen and valued at every stage!
Tune in for insights that can elevate your business by prioritizing the human side of your strategy, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!
CLIENT STORY: Ingham County Health Department: Life-Changing Home Visiting Programs in Ingham County
Ingham County’s home visiting programs provide invaluable support to pregnant and parenting families, helping them recognize and embrace their vital roles in their children’s lives. Catering to families with children up to five, these programs offer a comprehensive network of home-based and community-focused services designed to support parents and enhance child development.
What is Home Visiting?
A diverse group delivers home visiting programs of professionals, including nurses, social workers, parent educators, and community health workers. These dedicated individuals educate families on topics such as safe sleep practices, child development, and discipline approaches. They also connect families with educational groups and avarious cmmunity resources.
“The goal of home visiting is rto help parents recognize that they are the most important peoplein their child’s life.”
Who Are the Home Visitors?
In Ingham County, home visitors come from varied professional backgrounds, each bringing unique expertise to their roles:
– Nurses: Provide medical guidance and health-related support.
– Social workers: Offer emotional and mental health support, and esources for social services.
– Parent educators: Guide parents in educational and developmental activities for their children.
– Community health workers: Bridge families to community resources and services.
These professionals tailor their support to meet each family’s needs, ensuring a practical and respectful personalized approach.
Educational Support and Resource Connection
The support provided by home visiting programs is comprehensive and adaptable. Families receive guidance on crucial topics, including:
– Safe Sleep Education: Ensuring safe sleep environments for infants.
– Child Development Guidance: Understanding and supporting developmental milestones.
– Discipline Techniques: Learning positive and effective ways to guide children’s behavior.
– Community Resource Referrals: Connecting families to resources like food banks, child safety equipment, and more.
“We might provide education on things like safe sleep, approaches to discipline, or child development.”
The Tailored Approach
Home visiting programs are designed to meet families where they are, providing support that is as unique as the families themselves. This approach is especially beneficial for first-time parents, who may find parenting responsibilities overwhelming. One parent shared how, with her first child, she managed day-to-day tasks on the fly. However, with the assistance of a home visitor for her second child, she could delve deeper into educational activities and focus on what was most important for her family.
Mental and Emotional Support
Beyond practical guidance, home visiting programs offer crucial mental and emotional support. For parents who may feel isolated or overwhelmed, having a familiar visitor can significantly enhance their emotional well-being. This support also extends to children, providing them with opportunities to socialize and interact with people outside of their immediate family.
Real-Life Success Stories
The impact of home-visiting programs in Ingham County is evident in the numerous success stories shared by participating families. These programs have provided essential support in areas such as:
– Monitoring and assisting with hearing or speech concerns: Helping parents understand and address developmental delays.
– Activities tailored to child development stages: Offering age-appropriate activities that support growth and learning.
– Emotional support and validation: Offering reassurance and encouragement to parents.
To have somebody come in as a home visitor to help you clear out all of the noise, focus on essentials, and tell you, hey, you’re doing a good job, is validating.
Positive Outcomes for Children
Children with special needs have particularly benefited from early intervention and tailored therapies provided through these programs. For example, one parent shared how early home visiting helped her autistic daughter find her voice, while another parent noted significant developmental strides in her prematurely born child.
“Early on in MIHP, home visiting gave my oldest daughter a voice.”
Community and Emotional Support
In addition to practical assistance, home visiting programs foster a sense of community and emotional support that many parents lack. In a world where family and community ties are often fragmented, these programs help rebuild a sense of belonging and provide crucial support networks.
Accessible and Non-Judgmental Support
One of the standout features of Ingham County’s home visiting programs is their accessibility. They are free of cost, making them available to all families who need them. Families can enroll through various channels, including community partnerships and self-referrals.
“Families can enroll in many different ways. We get referrals from many different places. We also have many people who will refer themselves to home visiting.”
The relationship between home visitors and families is built on partnership and mutual respect. Visitors aim to support parents in setting and achieving their goals, withot judgment.
“It’s not our role to judge. We’re here to help support them.”
Conclusion
Home visiting programs in Ingham County offer a lifeline to families, providing essential support that fosters child development and parental well-being. Through educational materials, emotional support, and connections to community resources, these programs ensure that parents are not alone in their parenting journey. For more information about these programs, visit the Ingham GreatStart website and explore the “Local Leadership Group” section.
Ultimately, these programs empower families with the tools and support they need to thrive, making a lasting, positive impact on their lives and communities.
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!
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!
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/
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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► Subscribe to the UnoDeuce Multimedia Channel Here:
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https://vimeo.com/unodeuce
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Remember, there’s always another story to tell, and we would love to tell your story. Please connect with us: https://www.unodeuce.com/contact/
#videostoryteller #nonprofitvideo #unodeucemultimedia
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.
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.