Sept/Oct, 2017 SMART PAGES DBUSINESSETR - POLITICS OI- COMMUNITYT “Building Business to Business and Business to Community Relationships” Mike Morse, Giving Back 80,000 Backpacks With Supplies pg. 3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Hats Off to 124 Years Henry The Hatter pg. 11 Meet Flint’s Newest Entrepreneurs pg. 9 Racism, Regionalism and Reconciliation Professor Peter Hammer pgs. 18-19 Women’s Informal Network Celebrates 25 Years with Black Tie Gala pg. 6 Lifetime Achievement Award Richard Crabb Busy Bee Hardware AS SEEN ON CNBC THE PROFIT ASHTAE LIVE Sunday October 22nd, 1pm - 5pm JOIN US TO: See why cosmetologists from around the world are choosing the ASHTAE Natural Hair Blowout System and applying our semi-permanent colors for Color Swirls. Learn: • How to SAVE $5,000 Every Year • Color Application Techniques • Ombre • Color Swirls • Hidden Colors • Natural Blowouts & Transition Styles BUY TICKETS: • Hot New Betty Boop ashtae.com 336.272.1115 EARLY BIRD TICKETS $40 Call Beverly BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30th 313.268.3523 ($50 after SEPTEMBER 30th) Hampton Inn & Suites Detroit/Airport-Romulus 31700 Smith Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 THIS IS EASY. Amina Daniels opened Live Cycle Delight with help from a $50,000 Motor City Match grant. COMPARED TO STARTING A NEW BUSINESS. WE CAN HELP. APPLICATIONS DUE OCTOBER 1, 2017 Apply Online at www.MotorCityMatch.com 844-DET4MCM (844-338-4626) JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | PAGE 2 COVER STORY MIKE Morse Law Firm Donates Backpacks To Detroit Students For 4th Year With “Teacher Totes” Added This Year By Ross Lerner eptember 5 begins the new own pockets to provide paper, pen- school year for many students cils and other items. We have set out in Michigan. And for the to change that.” Sfourth year in a row, Detroit Public New this year are the “Teacher Schools Community District stu- Totes” filled with basic classroom Attorney Mike Morse with Interim Sr. Executive Director of Communications & Marketing for DPSCD Chrystal Wilson. dents will go back to school with supplies and Pre-K “Starter Kits” backpacks full of supplies donat- with pencils, glue sticks, crayons, ed by Mike Morse Law Firm. But markers and more. that’s not all. In addition to the “This annual donation helps 25,000 backpacks that will go to all to remove financial burdens for our K-5 DPSCD students, the firm will K-5 parents who might have difficul- “School is hard enough,” said Morse. “Kids shouldn’t have to attend without the notebooks, pencils, and everything for Morse, who’s mom was a school supplies, because their families sim- else they need.” teacher. ply can’t afford them. I’m working “So many kids have to go to to make sure kids don’t have to face school without the proper supplies. also provide 3,000 “Teacher Totes” the challenge of not having the prop- ty with basic necessities; and it adds Without a backpack, a notebook, to DPSCD teachers and 6,000 Pre-K er supplies.” said Morse. “School a small token of appreciation for our even a pencil. They don’t have the “Starter Kits” for the school district’s teachers,” said Nikolai Vitti, Super- is hard enough. Kids shouldn’t have preschool classrooms. intendent, Detroit Public Schools “This annual donation to attend without the notebooks, pen- cils, and everything else they need.” “We are proud to expand our ef- Community District. “It is our hope helps to remove finan- forts and do even more to help level that we can continue to identify ways cial burdens for our K-5 the playing field in our schools,” said to provide essential resources to sup- The backpacks and supplies parents who might have attorney Mike Morse, leader of the port teaching and learning,” will be distributed during the first largest personal injury firm in Mich- Morse started Project Backpack difficulty with basic neces- few days of school. Each student gets igan. “Over the last four years it has four years ago and has provided over sities; and it adds a small a backpack, plus folders, notebooks, been rewarding to hear from children 80,000 backpacks filled with sup- token of appreciation for pencils, scissors, and families who tell us these sup- plies to DPSCD students since 2013. our teachers,” said Nikolai glue, crayons. The supplies are grade plies add excitement, give students He wanted to do something to make Vitti, Superintendent, an extra boost of confidence and appropriate. a big impact for the people of this Detroit Public Schools even help improve grades. We know area. Helping students was a natural that many teachers pay out of their Community District. www.detroitsmartpages.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 | PAGE 3 PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE Is Detroit Standing Behind its Longstanding Businesses? hen we heard the news that articles will be written by Newcomers a nerve with me the most was by Tony Tony commented that Henry the Hatter had to leave about Native Detroiters to uncover Detroi- Stovall, co-owner of Hot Sam’s Cloth- its downtown location after ter’s unique stories, their businesses, their ier, another iconic business in downtown he was so sorry to see a W124 years this year, it was a shock felt values and their commitment to the city. Detroit since 1921. Tony commented that longstanding business throughout the entire city and the metro close under the circum- area. I spoke with Paul Wasserman, the I spoke with Paul Wasserman, the cur- stances and stated that, current owner and it was a shock to rent owner and it was a shock to him as “there should be some him as well when well when his lease was not renewed by special plan for long- his lease was not re- the current landlord, the Sterling Group. standing businesses, newed by the current like they do for new pop landlord, the Sterling No, it wasn’t because the rent was Group. No, it wasn’t raised, nor was he behind on any pay- up stores.” because the rent BEVERLY SMITH was raised, nor was ments; the Sterling Group just decided all of the hard times and now are discard- he behind on any payments; the Sterling not to renew his lease and gave him no ed and thrown away like garbage. It made Group just decided not to renew his lease explanation for the decision. me angry all over again when Paul told and gave him no explanation for the deci- me the reason he had to close and move. sion. So Paul didn’t have a choice but to Did anybody come to Paul’s res- vacate the premises. As you read the sto- cue? Where is the city? Millions of dol- ry behind the business on page 11 of this But in this article, the ending had he was so sorry to see a longstanding lars for entrepreneurship, buildings being issue, you will appreciate what it takes to be changed to bring attention to the business close under the circumstances sold to corporations for pennies on the to remain in business for so many years. recent closing of this iconic business in and stated that, “there should be some dollar, but no pennies thrown Paul’s way Fortunately, Paul’s story was al- the heart of downtown. Henry the Hat- special plan for longstanding business- to relocate him in another location. He is ready written for Smart Pages before we ter, the oldest hat store in the country es, like they do for new pop up stores.” left on his own to find a location or close knew of the store’s closing but the ending right here in our city. To add to the arti- I totally agree with Tony’s senti- this jewel permanently. I made a call to was unforeseen. Through collaboration cle, I asked a few business owners and ments. There should be something in place Bedrock to see if they would help. I am with Detroit “Thank You” Awards, Native longtime customers for comments about just for situations like this. These business hoping that they are still working on it. Newcomers and Crain’s Business, many the closing. The comment that really hit owners have remained in the city, through Beverly Smith- [email protected] 313-268-3523 INSPIRATIONAL CORNER Lessons & Blessings Lessons: ife is full of lessons that are around you. Keep in mind that the pag- People often think mercy and grace ponder – we need to ask our Heaven- learned through our experienc- es of our lives are already written; they are the same, but they are not. Mercy ly Father to allow our prayers to be es. Lessons are instructions that are not being written day by day as we is deliverance from judgment. Grace according to His Will, and allow us Lare given to us in hopes that we will go through life. Therefore, do not take is blessings from our Heavenly Father, to learn from whatever lesson He is learn from them and your life for granted. Appreciate your extending His love and kindness to the trying to bring to our attention, and to carry them through. lessons and always acknowledge your unworthy. Our prayer to our Heavenly humble us so we can appreciate what- Lessons can be ad- blessings. Father should be asking Him for His ever blessing we receive. monishments from mercy and to withhold the judgment Simply put…we need the desire our elders, encour- Blessings: we deserve and instead, grant to us the to truly know our Heavenly Father as agement, from Life is also full of blessings, but forgiveness we in no way have earned. He really is and actually exist; not as often we forget about our blessings – our families, and Every day we live is an act of mercy we think He is and want Him to be.