June 30, 2023

Mission Moment: Fourth Annual Frankie's Socks and Snacks Drive Hosted at NSO

We recently hosted an event, Frankies Socks and Snack Drive, to honor Frankie – Julia's beloved son, a brother, and a friend to many. Frankie was known for his kind and generous spirit and for regularly helping out people in need, including the homeless. To continue his legacy of giving, we hosted the 4th annual Frankie's Socks and Snack Drive at NSO.

Homelessness is a growing issue, and basic necessities such as socks are often in short supply. Therefore, Julia decided to focus on providing socks to the homeless while creating Frankie's Sock and Snack Drive in her son's honor. She bundled each pair of socks with a snack bar and attached a note that read, "I Care, Love Frankie." This event took place at the NSO Bell Building, where we distributed the socks and snacks to NSO clients.

We would like to express our gratitude to Julia Cornerstone and her family for sponsoring this event and contributing to NSO's mission of bridging gaps in housing, health, and well-being. Their support and encouragement are greatly appreciated. We encourage others to get involved with NSO and contribute to our efforts to help those in need.



As we continue our efforts to end homelessness in the city of Detroit, we urge everyone to remember that homelessness can happen to anyone. It's important to treat those in need with kindness and respect and to do what we can to support them.

From the Michigan Bell to NSO's Bell Building, turning full circle in service to Detroit Communities.

Dr. Barbara Jean Johnson is a long-serving member of the NSO board of directors, having served for over two decades as second vice president and first vice president for two terms. 

Her experience also includes serving on various other boards. She has been president of the prestigious 400 Study Club and board member of The Salvation Army and NSO for over twenty years. Dr. Johnson previously served as a board member for Crime Stoppers, Communities in Schools, Gleaners Community Food Bank, United Way, The American Red Cross, and many more. 

Dr. Johnson grew up in Bessemer, Alabama, and attributes her work ethic and ability to build relationships to her upbringing in the South. Dr. Johnson has earned her bachelor's in political science, master's in business administration, and Ph.D. in humanities. 

She is passionate about education and helping children advance and reach greater heights, raising her son and daughter with these values. Despite experiencing segregation, she has become a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for those who do not have a seat at the table of change. 



Dr. Johnson became a board member of NSO while working for former Mayor of Detroit Dennis Archer, as a director of the neighborhood city hall in a full circle moment, having worked in the Michigan Bell Building, which is now the NSO Bell Building. 

Dr. Johnson also worked with former Governor Jennifer Granholm during her two terms in office as Director of Community Affairs.  

She became a board member because of the work NSO does in the community to provide hope for vulnerable populations needing health, housing, and wellness. At the time, she saw the difference that NSO made in so many lives across the city of Detroit, noting that she remembers how unhoused individuals have turned to

NSO when they were in need. She has been a long-term political advocate for vulnerable populations for many years.

Her advice to youth who are working to build a career and may be presented with an opportunity to serve their community or sit on boards of directors is to always take up space and have the ability to speak up for what’s right, to be active in making a difference in order to truly leave a mark in helping the communities you serve.

Barbara Jean Johnson has been a beacon of leadership and guidance for the NSO team and has allowed us to excel in our mission of bridging gaps in housing, health, and well-being for many years and we thank her for her dedication to service! 

We are excited to announce the first annual Community of Hope fundraiser, which includes the Concert of Hope fundraiser featuring Maxwell and Tamia, which will be held at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre. This event aims to raise funds to address homelessness by supporting housing and services for the unhoused in creative communities.

The collaboration led by the NSO, together with the City of Detroit and The Right Productions, Inc., is designed to energize, inspire, and deliver a community push for solutions to the challenges of unhoused individuals and families in metropolitan Detroit.

The weekend will also feature the Day of Hope at Cass Park, which will provide much-needed wraparound resources directly for unhoused people, including housing solutions, health screenings, job readiness training, transportation resources, meal vouchers, case management counseling, and a panel discussion about the current state of the unhoused in Detroit.



The inaugural Community of Hope is scheduled for July 28-30, 2023, in downtown Detroit.

You can support the Community of Hope by becoming a sponsor, volunteering, purchasing tickets to the Concert of Hope, or donating today.

We also welcome any community-based organization that has resources that are beneficial to the unhoused population to contact us to get involved with the Community of Hope Weekend.

2023 Day of Hope

Sunday, July 30

Event Time: 1 PM- 5 PM

Volunteer Hours: 10 AM- 7 PM

Three-hour slots available for:

Morning: 10 AM- 1 PM (Setup only) | Afternoon: 1 PM-4 PM| Evening: 4 PM-7 PM (Includes breakdown)

______________________________________________________

​A T-shirt and breakfast/lunch will be provided.



We’re looking for enthusiastic and friendly individuals who desire to help make a difference in our community.

We need volunteers for:

• Set Up (10 AM- 1 PM)
• Break Down (4 PM- 7 PM)
• Front Gate Greeters
• Registration/Information Desk
• Parking
• First Aid
• Stagehands
• Runners/Floaters
• Trash Pick-Up Helpers
• Guest Relations
• Food Truck Support
• Water Table Facilitators

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend with friends and family. As we celebrate, let us also remember to honor the sacrifices made by those who have fought for our freedom. Whether you're grilling in the backyard, watching fireworks light up the sky, or simply relaxing, let's come together to celebrate our diverse communities and all that we have accomplished as a community.

REGISTRATION FEES - INDIVIDUALS

Regular Registration

June 15 - July 15, 2023

Fee: $70 per individual

Late Registration

July 15 - August 18, 2023

Fee: $85 per individual

REGISTRATION FEES - GROUPS



GROUP DISCOUNT PROMO CODES: To receive a Group Discount Promo Code before registering, email corporateaffairs@nso-mi.org or call (313) 961-4890 ext. 1010.

Teams of 5-9 pay $55 per member, and Teams of 10 or more pay $50 per member through August 18.

Register Today Handlebars for the Homeless (H4H) is back in-person again for 2023. All funds raised from this ride will go to support individuals experiencing homelessness. NSO’s H4H guided bicycle tour will highlight some of Detroit’s hidden treasures. The tour begins and ends at the NSO Bell Building located at 882 Oakman Boulevard in Detroit (former historic Michigan Bell Building) with a stop in the middle at Detroit first Healthy Housing Center located across the parking lot from the Clay Apartments.

The 15-mile tour guides cyclists through some of Detroit’s most notable neighborhoods, including Boston Edison, Piety Hill, and Virginia Park. Cyclists will also travel through the historic Poletown and Milwaukee Junction communities. All participants will receive an NSO Handlebars for the Homeless high-performance T-shirt, spoke card, raffle entry, and refreshments. The ride is fully supported with seasoned bicyclists and professional mechanics cycling with the group.

​Cyclists can also support the ride virtually and raise money anytime and anywhere, beginning Friday, August 18, through Sunday, August 20, 2023. Cyclists can take their own route, ride indoors or outdoors, atop a traditional bike or a smart bike trainer, on their favorite bike path or virtual bicycle app.

In 2022, event sponsors included: Absopure, Beaumont, BYP Detroit, CCS Fundraising, Comcast, D. Ericson & Associates, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Ethos Development Partners, Fusco, Shaffer & Pappas, Inc., Horizon Bank, Huntington Bank, Marsh McLennan Agency, MBM Grand Detroit, MHT Housing, Inc., Michigan State Housing Development Authority, mLean Laundry, Molina Healthcare, NAACP Detroit Branch, Plante Moran, Superior Ambulance Service, Stahls’, Wayne Health, and Wilson Building Consultants.

Proceeds from Handlebars for the Homeless will benefit our programs and services for individuals experiencing homelessness. 

ALL BICYCLISTS MUST WEAR A HELMET. Participants must be 14 years of age by date of the ride or older and all youth must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

TENTATIVE EVENT DAY AGENDA:

Participant Check-in and Onsite Registration*: 7:00 am

Pre-Tour Announcements: 8:30 am

Tour Start Time: 9:00 am

Tour End Time: 12 noon



*All pre-registered participants must check in to receive their T-shirt and raffle ticket.

Help us welcome our residents to their new homes in a warm and kind way. Stability is highly important for the population we serve, help us set them up for success by gifting them with a bundle of move-in supplies. You can purchase items through NSO's Amazon Wishlist or schedule a drop-off arrangement by contacting corporateaffairs@nso-mi.org.

We're providing housing, health, and well-being to metro Detroit neighborhoods. We need you!

We also have open positions in the following areas:

• Administrative Assistants
• Case Manager Licensed Social Worker (LMSW, LBSW, and LLSW)
• Certified Medical Assistants
• Customer Service Representatives
• Mental Health Specialists
• Operations & Management
• Street Outreach & Case Management

Click below to learn about the full list of opening positions at NSO and apply today.

Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S., and it can be prevented. If you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide,

please call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.