Second Wave

Bronson Mothers’ Milk Bank provides breast milk to local, state, and out-of-state mothers. Photo: Courtesy The thought of giving away the breast milk she was producing for an infant daughter who would never receive it was “unbearable because it was like I was just giving away the last pieces of my daughter,” says Elizabeth Mohney. Mohney, who lives in Gobles with her husband and two-year-old son, gave birth on November 3, 2025, to Eleanor “Ellie” Grace Mohney at Bronson Methodist Hospital.

Elizabeth Mohney, whose daughter Ellie was stillborn in 2025, holds milk from Bronson Mothers’ Milk Bank. Photo: Courtesy The birth of her stillborn daughter in 2025 was not unexpected, and it set Elizabeth Mohney on a mission to ensure that there was support for women like her.

Editor’s Note: Aging Matters is a series that examines programs, issues, and solutions that impact today’s seniors. This series is sponsored by Milestone Senior Services. Two members of AmeriCorps Seniors who volunteer for Milestone Senior Services build new steps for a home. Photo: Mike Wenninger Have you ever thought about volunteering for a good cause, only to put it off?

When kids need help with their mental health, there are next steps to take — but it’s not a quick fix. For Carla Pretto, executive director of the Association for Children’s Mental Health, the effects of the pandemic on young children have not been all doom and gloom. While these children experienced a disruption in their educations and social lives, many also experienced closer bonds with family and a break from hectic schedules.

By Chidalu Nnorukah, Matthew Studier and Tabassum Sayeka Tarannum This story was produced by a collaborative team of students from the Community-Engaged Digital Storytelling (CEDST) Lab at Western Michigan University. It is part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative‘s equitable community development reporting project in partnership with Second Wave’s Momentum series, with support from Southwest Michigan First.

“The Social Hour leads to creative partnerships and builds instant trust.” — Ashu Ahluwalia, Dhaba Indian Kitchen For the past 14 years, Ashu Ahluwalia and her husband Parbhat Ahluwalia have owned and operated Dhaba Indian Kitchen, offering traditional North Indian/Punjabi cuisine, currently at Livonia’s Laurel Park Place Mall Food Court among other venues. “My husband’s a chef.

Editor’s Note: This story is part of Momentum: The people and companies shaping what’s next, a weekly series that explores new ventures, founder support, and the resources powering entrepreneurship and small businesses across seven counties in Southwest Michigan. This project is sponsored by Southwest Michigan First. The décor emphasizes white and gold. Photo: Mike Wenninger Yemeni coffee is having a moment.

Felicia Lasher was watching for Rx Kids to come to Grand Rapids. When it did, she was in labor at the hospital. She filled out the paperwork while giving birth, and before she leaving the hospital, she was approved. When Michigan launched Rx Kids in Flint in 2024, the idea was simple: trust parents.

There was a large turnout of those who wanted to tour the new River’s Edge Apartments. Comments were very favorable about the building and its apartments. All the appliances, including a washer and dryer, were included in each unit. Photo: Fran Dwight A Way Home — Housing Solutions: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave’s series on solutions to homelessness and ways to increase affordable housing.

The most significant change has been the expansion of who can access care. Pictured: Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Ypsilanti location. For nearly seven years, a local property tax millage has helped reshape how Washtenaw County residents access mental health and behavioral health services, expanding care beyond traditional clinical settings and reaching people who previously may not have qualified for publicly funded treatment.