Second Wave

4 days ago | secondwavemedia.com | Sarah Rigg

More than 200 people showed up at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse when Cheers to Queers (C2Q), a grassroots LGBTQ+ organization, hosted an event called Queer Prom this April. Co-organizers Danya Youssef-Agha and Marisa Quiery say their third queer prom had about 220 in attendance. Tickets sold out a week before the event, which aimed to create a positive, celebratory environment for LGBTQ+ adults who may have had unpleasant experiences at their high school proms.

4 days ago | secondwavemedia.com | Monique Bedford

Over the past few months, the U.S. health care system has witnessed many drastic changes. Due to mental and behavioral health budget cuts and changes in structure to how people access mental health care, Michiganders are facing more barriers to that access — including Michigan’s military veterans.

4 days ago | secondwavemedia.com | Monique Bedford

Over the past few months, the U.S. health care system has witnessed many drastic changes. Due to mental and behavioral health budget cuts and changes in structure to how people access mental health care, Michiganders are facing more barriers to that access — including Michigan’s military veterans.

5 days ago | secondwavemedia.com | Shandra Martinez

Darla Maltby didn’t expect a 30-year career when she first walked into the Allegan Developmental Center in 1995. She was a young mom looking for a stable job after years of waitressing. What she found instead was her calling. “I didn’t know if I could do it the first day,” Maltby says. “But by the second day, I loved it.”Now, Maltby is retiring from the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency, where she has worked as a paraprofessional supporting students with severe multiple impairments.

1 week ago | secondwavemedia.com | Shandra Martinez

This story is part of a series on the challenges and solutions related to oral health in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. It is made possible with funding support from the Delta Dental Foundation. As a child, Ashley Rosales always looked forward to trips to the dentist. The bright tools and calming voices of the dental staff made her feel comfortable and curious. That early fascination has since turned into a career path.