Start From Here Launches in Detroit on Feb. 1

Detroit – In an effort to raise significant awareness about the tens of thousands of Detroit youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability, Start from Here has launched "Start(ing) from Detroit," a four month campaign to raise funds to push policy on the issue.
A concert featuring Flint Eastwood, Jena Irene Asciutto and Britney Stoney will be held at Detroit Institute for Music Education (DIME) on launch day; doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at https://startingfromdetroitkick-off.splashthat.com/. Blair Griffith will host; Griffith experienced homelessness while she held the title of Miss Colorado.
The concert follows a lunchtime panel event that will bring together hundreds of Detroit high school students. Beginning at 1 p.m., they will hear from Blair and Meghan Takashima, who serves as the executive manager at the mayor's office. More information on the panel is available at https://startfromherepresents.splashthat.com/.
The day also acts as the launch of a four-month campaign that partners Start from Here with Crowdrise, with a goal to raise $40,000. The campaign will culminate in April with a major concert event at the Fillmore; line-up and ticket sales will be announced in mid-March.
In Detroit, Start from Here LIVE partners with the Ruth Ellis Center; a significant portion of ticket sales will go toward the organization. On a daily basis, the Ruth Ellis Center provides short-term and long-term residential safe spaces and support services for runaway, homeless and at-risk lesbian, gay, bi-attractional, transgender and questioning youth.
"As LGBTQ youth continue to be disproportionately affected by homelessness, it is critical that we as a nation identify mechanisms to support youth and their families. It begins with awareness, and Start from Here is doing just that. We are thrilled to be a partner in this campaign," says Mark Erwin-McCormick, Ruth Ellis Center's Director of Development.
Start from Here is a nonprofit organization that aims to end youth homelessness; the organization has created a national coalition of nonprofit organizations working at the frontlines, and leverages the power of art and media, to benefit them.