Crystal A. Proxmire
Prom on the beach
It was a beach blastin' good time for the more than 75 teenagers who attended the Youth Prom at Affirmations on May 29. Dancing with friends in their flip flops and swimwear, the youngsters were able to celebrate prom comfortably among friends and [...]
Marches speak volumes at Ferndale Pride
Zack Marsack walked all the way from Affirmations to City Hall in shiny black high-heeled boots at Ferndale Pride last weekend. "It killed my feet. But it was worth it," the 14-year-old Ferndale resident said. Marsack and his friend Desiree Winslow [...]
Transgender children have specific needs
Shir Tikva in Troy welcomed Kim Pearson of Trans Youth Family Allies on May 3 for a presentation on recognizing and helping transgender youth. The Arizona mother of three has been a strong voice for transgender children since her youngest child [...]
Affirmations operations 'calm'
FERNDALE- After six months of managing Affirmations as the interim executive director, Kevin Howley says that the organization is on track with its financial recovery process and that the search for a new executive director is moving along. "Things [...]
Aging anything but a gay old time
FERNDALE- A summit addressing issues faced by older LGBT adults was held at Affirmations on April 6. A panel of seniors shared their experiences and fears about growing old, and Jay Kaplan of the ACLU give a speech about the rights LGBT [...]
Transgender Day of Empowerment features resources, allies
FERNDALE- The transgender community came out in force on April 2 for the third annual Transgender Day of Empowerment, held at Affirmations Community Center and organized by Transgender Detroit and Transgender Michigan. The event featured [...]
Big Bash raises money for Affirmations
View a gallery of snapshots from the evening. When 21-year-old Angel Carrion left the stage at Affirmations' Big Bash last Saturday, the room was a swirl of cheers, hugs and handshakes from many of the 400 supporters who came to the eleventh annual [...]
LGBTs find affordable, supportive counseling at Affirmations
Oakland University master's student Sean O'Tuathal has been working to help people through problems with anxiety, stress, gender identity issues and substance abuse while gaining the credit hours needed to earn her degree, thanks to Affirmation's [...]
Bites benefit nonprofits with Taste of Ferndale
It all started back in 2003, when a resident donated a house to Ferndale with the proceeds to be used for local charities. City leaders at the time hired longtime Ferndale resident and Real Estate broker Judy Palmer to assist them with the sale, [...]
Affirmations progresses on ED search
FERNDALE – As Affirmations continues its fund drive, Campaign for the Future, it's taken a moment to look back into the past. Interim CEO Kevin Howley and members of the board contacted more than 300 former center partners who let their [...]
Perspectives vary on Pride move to Detroit
Within a week of the announcement that Motor City Pride is moving from Downtown Ferndale to Hart Plaza in Detroit, Ferndale citizens are engaging in constructive dialogue about the move. Some hope for alternative events in Ferndale, some are calling [...]
Waggs and Wishes seeks donations
FERNDALE – Angie Potter and other dedicated volunteers stepped up last year to fill in the gap left by the city's loss of an animal control officer due to budget cuts. Her organization, Waggs and Wishes, has saved dozens of animals from [...]