Connect with us

Detroit, MI

Southwest Detroit nonprofit helping to shape the future, empower the community

Published

on

Southwest Detroit nonprofit helping to shape the future, empower the community


DETROIT (WXYZ) — Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off on Sunday and for the next month, we are going to be highlighting the history, culture and contributions of people with Hispanic roots.

On Monday, we spoke with an organization about its ongoing mission to connect youth, stakeholders and residents in Southwest Detroit.

Congress of Communities is a small nonprofit making big changes in a neighborhood that’s also known as Mexicantown for its rich Hispanic culture.

Lisa Gonzalez says her 15-year-old daughter has been able to learn about her Hispanic heritage through the youth program offered at CoC.

Advertisement

“It boosted my self-confidence, like oh wow, I’m actually doing great as a mom getting her into these programs,” Gonzalez said. “This morning, she woke up and said ‘¡Feliz día de la independencía de Mexico, mom!’”

“It’s like happy Independence Day, like you know, we celebrate our Fourth of July here in American. And in Mexico, they celebrate their independence on the 15th of September,” Gonzalez continued.

CoC program manager Flor Rivera Hernandez told us the organization welcomes everyone who lives in Southwest Detroit.

“It really is a cultural melting pot,” Rivera Hernandez said. “One individual cannot change the entire world but if you have a group of people who share the same beliefs and same values and want to be able to see their community succeed, and you’re able to create spaces like Congress of Communities does to empower youth and young adults and the next generations of leaders and doers and dreamers.”

CoC member Elizabeth Amezcua-Tepehua is one of those dreamers.

Advertisement

“There’s a lot of passions within just being Hispanic, Mexican or any other Latin origin,” Amezcua-Tepehua said.

We asked everyone we spoke with what Hispanic Heritage Month meant to them.

“It’s great to be able to celebrate openly and freely,” Amezcua-Tepehua said.

“It’s a really beautiful mixture of different backgrounds and just being able to celebrate that openly and freely,” Rivera Hernandez said.

“She loves being Mexican American, and that’s something we have a really big passion for,” Gonzalez said.

Advertisement

CoC is almost always putting on a fundraiser or event. If you are interested in what’s coming up next for Coc, visit congressofcommunities.com.





Source link

Detroit, MI

Pistons News: Malik Beasley Feels Detroit is ‘a Second Home’

Published

on

Pistons News: Malik Beasley Feels Detroit is ‘a Second Home’


Over the past years, Malik Beasley has suited up for countless different franchises across the NBA. His journeyman voyage continued this summer when he inked a one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons in free agency.

Through the first few weeks of the season, Beasley is looking like one of the best value signins of free agency. His outside shooting has provided a much-needed dynamic to Detroit’s offense, and he is putting up some of his best numbers in the process. Beasley is currently averaging 15.4 PPG and shooting 39.3% from beyond the arc on 9.1 attempts per game.

Along with having success on the court, Beasley seems to be enjoying his new life outside of basketball as well. During a recent appearance on The Detroit Pistons Podcast, the veteran sharpshooter opened up on how Detroit is a bit of a second home for him.

“My mom’s from here born and raised,” Beasley said. “My mom used to bring me out here every summer with my sister. To be out here right now playing for the Pistons is a dream come true. It’s like my second home…I’m just glad to be here.”

Advertisement

At the moment, Beasley finds himself in the midst of one of the best offensive streaks of his career. Despite shifting between the second unit and starting lineup, he has racked up five straight 20+ point performances. Beasley has notched a season-high 26 points on two occasions in the past week, once against the Milwauke Bucks and once against the Washington Wizards.

Between his complementary play on the court and being a veteran leader behind the scenes, Beasley has been a huge addition to the Pistons this season. His presence on and off the floor has been a catalyst to their impressive start to the year.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

Family of well known Detroit-area pastor killed in crash questions why suspect was released

Published

on

Family of well known Detroit-area pastor killed in crash questions why suspect was released


A well-known Detroit-area pastor has died after police say he was struck by a car driven by an undocumented immigrant. Now his family is wondering why that driver was let go as they grieve. 

Advertisement

The word “Heartbreak” does not even begin to describe what Teri Singleton had been feeling in the days since losing her husband, 72-year-old Stephen Singleton.

“I had to sit and watch my husband of 53 years die in front of me and then to know that the person who did this is walking around is very difficult to deal with,” said Teri Singleton.

He was a well-known area pastor, who would do anything for anyone. Police say he was struck by an undocumented immigrant as he crossed the street in Rochester Hills earlier in November. Singleton died several days later.

Advertisement

“He had almost every bone in his body broken,” said Singleton. “He had his collarbone fractured, internal organ damage, and his skull was cracked. He had two craniotomies in the hospital.”

Family members say Pastor Singleton was a dedicated servant of god and a former medic who traveled to New York City to help injured victims of the 9/11 attacks. He gathered at a church there with other religious leaders to pray and spoke about it with FOX 2’s Amy Lange in September 2023.

Advertisement

“After everybody had prayed, he started saying the Lord’s Prayer, and he said it with a whisper, he said it with a shout, he said it with a sing, and then he said it with so much passion that it brought me to tears,” Stephen Singleton said. “I wanted to save somebody. That’s-bottomline.”

He also helped in the search for survivors. It would be local medics who would desperately try to save Singleton’s life after he was hit by a man driving a 2013 Ford Focus as he crossed Rochester Road at Avon. He had just gone for his usual morning walk.

“He’s been coming back within, I’ll say, 45 minutes at the most. He didn’t return. I was sitting there waiting,” said Teri Singleton. “I was actually less than a block away from where it happened.”

Advertisement

Detectives say that the driver was a citizen of Columbia. US Customs and Border Protection determined he entered the US illegally and was released pending a future date in federal court. That’s the most painful part for the pastor’s family.

“He’s dead and they’re walking around. That’s bothering me,” Teri said. 

Advertisement

For now, they continue their quest for justice…while staying in faith and love.

“I will not be angry because this has happened,” said Stephen’s daughter Ruth. “I refuse to be angry. I will still love like my Dad taught me to.”

They have also put together a Go-Fund-Me page, hoping to give Pastor Singleton the dignified send-off he deserves.

Advertisement

“He was a loving person who cared about everybody,” said Teri Singleton. “I mean, the whole neighborhood, everybody in our community has come to my door. They didn’t even see the name on the report, but they knew him because of his habits.”

FOX 2 has reached out to government sources to see exactly why the suspect was released and when the next court date will be. Police say Singleton was wearing a reflective vest and was walking in a properly marked cross-walk when he was hit. 

Advertisement

Police believe speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.
 



Source link

Continue Reading

Detroit, MI

Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has been named the American League Cy Young award winner

Published

on

Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has been named the American League Cy Young award winner


Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has been named the American League Cy Young award winner.

Advertisement




Source link

Continue Reading

Trending