We’re excited to announce that we are moved into our new place, back to business, and better than ever! We're officially operating out of our new Headquarters (HQ) in Ypsi at 16 S Washington St. We're running showers and serving breakfast and lunch Monday–Thursday from 9am-3pm along with our regular LiftUp worship and brunch services on Sundays. Because of our new programming we're in need of volunteers throughout the week, so please visit our sign up page and email us with any questions you may have. We hope to see all of your smiling faces there soon! 

Hey y’all! This week is a super hot one! Growing Hope’s Marketplace Hall will serve as a cooling center today (Monday June 17) and Wednesday, June 19th from 9am-3pm. Bring your friends, bring your dogs, and come stay cool and hydrated! Both breakfast and lunch will be served inside the building this week due to the heat.

Come celebrate Juneteenth with us! The Growing Hope lot and the lot behind Puffer Red's will be filled with food, activities, dancing, and more! We'll be serving food Saturday from 12pm-3pm and 5pm-8pm, and Sunday from 11am-3pm and 5pm-7pm. We hope to see you there!

June 19, officially called Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the US. This day commemorates the ending of slavery on June 19, 1865. On this day, Union soldiers went to Galveston, Texas to free the last remaining enslaved people in the US, some 250,000 people who were not told that slavery had ended two years earlier. On Juneteenth we remember and honor the ongoing fight for equal rights and equality, remembering that we are not truly free until all of us are free. You can join the festivities by attending local Juneteenth events, supporting local Black-owned businesses, visiting Black history museums, and even watching shows and movies that celebrate Black culture!

This month (and every other month!) we get to celebrate pride, y’all! June commemorates the LGBTQIA+ community and the continuing fight for equal rights. Pride Month can be traced back to the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City, when police raided a gay club. In response to this raid the LGBTQIA+ community decided to fight back and rioted for five days, forever changing the face of the queer community.

Fly those pride flags and wear your rainbows this month! You can be an ally and help commemorate Pride Month by supporting local queer businesses, advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights, and voting for legislation that supports the LGBTQIA+ community.

As always, queer people are holy and beloved. The Church and our community are better when we are all visible and celebrated!

Mark your calendars! FedUp is hosting our annual Backyard BBQ Fundraiser on July 12th from 5pm–8pm at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse. Get tickets for the whole family and join us for a fun-filled evening!

Cortney (she/her) came to FedUp with 20 years of restaurant industry work. She says, “I chose restaurants over education because the direct reach to people is so much more engaging.” Cortney works closely with many groups that support the unhoused communities across our county. We are very excited she has joined our team in 2024!

Sheri Wander is a learner, wanna-be radical, struggling-to-be pacifist, abolitionist, renegade harm reductionist, mama and auntie to chosen family, occasional writer, dog caregiver, Catholic worker, nonviolence trainer, and organizer. She lives at Peace House, Ypsi — a house of hospitality in the tradition of the Catholic Worker Movement, which aims to help people to gain the tools, skills, and confidence to bandage their own and other’s wounds — and to confront and dismantle the systems that cause the bleeding. 

Sheri founded and coordinates the daytime warming shelter for Washtenaw County, a democratically-governed space run by the homeless community for the homeless community. She is part of the Care-Based Safety Care Circle as the Community Building Lead and a trainer with Meta Peace Team. For fun and self-care Sheri spends time with her partner Pat and their spoiled, spicy dog Xena.

Hi! I’m Mary (she/her). I am currently in the MSW program at the University of Michigan in the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Pathway. I have worked in non-profits for the last ten years, and strongly believe in the community change that non-profits and community connection brings. I am excited to be starting my internship with Fed Up and working towards a more equitable and just society. 

When I am not studying or working, you can find me tending to my garden, getting lost in a good book, or hunting for hidden gems at local thrift stores. My favorite thing to do is spend quality time with my husband and daughter.

Hi, my name is Kimberlyn (She/They). I am pursuing my MSW degree at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, with a concentration in Community Change. I grew up in the Grand Rapids area and developed a passion for social justice while working at a women's shelter. I have a background in community-centered work and diversity, equity, and inclusion at an academic and institutional level. I am excited to explore FedUp ministries' work, develop my macro-level social work skills, and build relationships with the community. To unwind, you can find me reading or crocheting.

Tuesdays 5:00pm-6:30pm

Thrive is a weekly support circle for people who are in a state of transition from living on the street to permanent housing, or from unemployment/precarious employment to more secure employment.

Thrive provides free individual therapy sessions for qualifying participants (low-income folks who cannot afford therapy or are on a waiting list and need transitional support). Individual therapy through Thrive is short-term, lasting from 6 sessions to 18 sessions, depending on the therapist's availability. Click below for more info! Please note that there may be a waitlist as the summer goes on. 

We're hosting a community meeting to check in with folks, especially business owners and neighbors who live and work nearby. We met with multiple groups of folks when we first announced our move to the HQ, and now we want to create another opportunity to continue this conversation with you all. Come with questions and comments for us and let's talk things out as a community! The time will be announced next week.