Metro Times 07/23/2025 by Big Lou Holdings

Photo by Adam Prince

Feedback NEWS & VIEWS

We got comments in response to Steve Neavling’s cover story feature about the cannabis industry “Dab Day.”

710!!!!!!

—@stayfarawaythx, Instagram

weed crack!

—@american_ruse, Instagram

We will come up with any MF reason to ‘elevate’ ourselves, won’t we? lol �� —@mzdeeof313, Instagram

Our time to shine �� —@oozelife, Instagram

The “crack” variant of cannabis really brings out the dregs of the community.

Like, it takes an otherwise chill and mild euphoriant and turns it into chasing the next full tilt high.

Besides, opposition is always trying to taint the waters by claiming how potent “new” weed is. This helps them.

There is a place for concentrates... but celebrating dabs in particular is kinda gross in the overall scheme of things.

—@detroitgoose.com, Bluesky

Doing a dab on my toilet rn to celly —@detroitbathrooms, Instagram

Sound off: letters@metrotimes.com

NEWS & VIEWS

The salvation of Claressa Shields

Flint’s self-proclaimed GWOT of boxing on the ups and downs of celebrity and her upcoming fight against Lani Daniels

“When I fight in Detroit they got different fight fans, man, they chanting ‘Whoop That Trick,’” says boxer Claressa “T-Rex” Shields about her upcoming fight July 26 fight at Little Caesars Arena. “I can come out there and just be walking through the crowd to go to say ‘hi’ to somebody and the crowd starts going crazy and screaming. They’re excited through and through.”

Before Shields was the brightest star in women’s boxing, she was a 10-anda-half year-old kid who sauntered into Flint’s Berston Field House with a backpack full of anger management issues and undefined goals in 2004. She had decided she wanted to be a boxer and was two weeks into her training before the coach Jason Crutchfield told her that her parents would have to offi-

By Kahn Santori Davison

cially sign her up. Her mother was OK with it but her father initially told her she was too pretty to box and that boxing was for boys. Shields wasn’t going to take no for an answer and eventually her father changed his mind.

“He always tells everybody he only signed me up because he thought I would get beat up and quit,” she tells Metro Times on a Zoom call from Atlanta. “He didn’t want me to blame him for not signing me up and letting me at least try it.”

With the help of her father Bo and coach Crutchfield, Shields trained daily with passion and purpose as she grinded out an equal amount of reps and rounds. She admits that her father and Crutchfield weren’t always on the same page when it came to her training, but they both wanted her

to succeed. In 2011 she won her first Junior Olympic Championship and the National Police Athletic League Championship. When asked when she knew boxing was something that was going to change her life, she says, “Immediately.”

“I wasn’t judged,” she says. “I could run hard, sweat hard, punch the bag hard, spar hard with the boys, get out the ring, and everybody would say, ‘Good job,’ you know? And I didn’t really have much of that in my life, so that really kept me in boxing.”

She won her first Olympic gold medal in London in 2012 — making her the first American woman to win one — a feeling she calls “the best thing ever.” She followed it up with a second in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. She also dominated the amateur circuit with a 77-1 amateur

record to go along with the two gold medals. In 2016 she made the decision to turn pro.

“I could have went back to the Olympics for a third and a fourth time, but God was like, ‘I got bigger plans for you,’” she says. “And even though it was no opportunities and no other woman had done what I was seeking out to do, it was always like God gave me this burning feeling in me to just know that you’re the one who’s going to change it.”

Shields has since obtained world championships in five weight classes, including the undisputed female light middleweight title in March 2021, the undisputed female middleweight title (twice) between 2019 and 2024, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF)

Claressa “T-Rex” Shields is the brightest star in women’s boxing.

ADAM PRINCE

female super middleweight titles from 2017 to 2018. She also won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) female light heavyweight title becoming the first undisputed female heavyweight champion since February 2025. Shields is known for her punching power, accuracy, and technical skill in the ring, but cites her spiritually as her biggest advantage.

“My biggest attribute is believing in God and just believing that He knows my heart’s desires,” she says. “My heart’s desire was never to be the most sexiest boxer or to be the prettiest boxer. It was always to make a million dollars and be the best woman boxer in the world. That was always my dream.”

Her sentiments toward God are more than the usual admissions of faith we hear from athletes. For Shields, boxing was a life-saving conduit to her spiritually. During her formative years she says boxing kept her distracted from discord and helped her channel her tunnel vision and passion towards something positive.

“I got into the church because of boxing, I got baptized because of boxing, I found God that way, in a different way,” she says. “I think without boxing I would be in jail or dead.”

At only 30 years old, Shields has been ranked the world’s best active female middleweight by BoxRec and the best active female boxer, pound for pound, by ESPN and The Ring. But more impressively, she’s the face of women’s boxing and its biggest celebrity. She’s been nominated for a 2025 ESPN ESPY Award for best boxer (she previously won the award in 2023). She coined the term “GWOAT” (Greatest Woman Of All Time) for herself, and her popularity has soared among other women athletes and hip-hop’s elite. Detroit rapper Kash Doll walked and rapped Shields out to her fight against Maricela Cornejo at Little Caesars Arena on June 3, 2023. Recently Atlanta’s hip-hop community requested her presence at rapper Boosie’s pool party on June 22.

“Yeah, everybody from Flint was there, Detroit, and they were like, ‘Where you at?’” she says. “And I’m like, ‘At the gym.’”

But Shields would like to see the entire sport of women’s boxing elevate. She believes if the boxers all grow their own individual brands, it will be good for them economically and good for women’s boxing as a whole.

“I’ve always told all the girls — Alycia Baumgardner, Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor, Shurretta Metcalf — I told so many of these girls, ‘Listen, boxing is boxing and either the fans gravitate toward you or they don’t, but please build your brand,” she says.

Shields’s rise in wins, fame, and money has not come without hiccups. Shields has had her sexuality questioned, battled misconceptions that she’s mean, and has walked away from longtime friends who saw her as nothing more than an ATM machine. She says she regrets not dissolving those relationships earlier.

“A lot of friendships have ended because of me saying no to doing things,” she says. “And I wish I would have said no sooner because the friendship wasn’t real anyway.”

Shields also has experienced a sharp rise in the amount of critics in her social media comments. She says she blocks 20 to 30 people a day without hesitation.

“It’s like an unlimited amount of haters that come out of nowhere, and it’s like they don’t know shit — I mean, like zero about me,” she says. “They just kind of come in off of knowing another celebrity or, you know, jumping into a situation that they don’t even know anything about, and start judging me.”

On Christmas Day in 2024 a biopic of Shields’s life titled The Fire Inside debuted at theaters. The movie was directed by Academy Award-winning director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) and followed a young Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny) through the early stages of her career leading up to her first Olympic gold medal. The film was nominated for three NAACP Image Awards and won the Award for Film Excellence from the Michigan Movie Critics Guild. Shields says the movie was 95% factual but she never tried to pawn her gold medal and the roles of her mother and father played in her life were reversed.

“The role that my mom had in the movie, should have been my dad,” she says. “If you watch the movie, like how much my mom was involved, and how she was motivating me and stuff, that was honestly my dad.”

The next thing on Shields’s career bucket list outside the ring is to land a major endorsement deal (Nike Air Shields, maybe?) to go with the championships and gold medals. But inside the ring, she’s focused on getting a “W” against Lani Daniels on July 26.

“LCA does a great job of promoting the fights,” she says. “We did 12,000 [attendance] last fight, I think we can do 19,000 this time. And I’m just excited to punch Lani in the face in front of everybody in Detroit.”

Claressa Shields takes on Lani Daniels starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 at Little Caesars Arena; 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313presents.com. Tickets start at $45.

By Nina Misuraca Ignaczak, Planet Detroit

Meet Michigan’s BRIDGING the

This reporting series from Planet Detroit examines the growing role of community health workers (CHWs) in Michigan — trusted professionals who assist residents in navigating housing, food access, chronic illnesses, and the health care system. Proposed Medicaid cuts could undermine funding for these workers, who often come from the same communities they serve. By building trust and drawing on lived experience, CHWs are addressing critical gaps in care that traditional health systems often overlook. This project was made possible with support from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.

Michigan’s community health workers the GAP

MICHIGAN’S COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF PUBLIC HEALTH — AND STILL FIGHTING FOR SUPPORT

Community health workers play a growing role in Michigan’s health care system, connecting patients with vital resources. Federal Medicaid cuts could undermine their future.

Shanon Seymore had given up. Diagnosed with a rare bleeding disorder called von Willebrand disease, she was in constant pain, unable to work, and on the verge of eviction from her Pontiac home. “Nobody was listening,” she said. “I didn’t care anymore.”

Then she got a call from Regina Gully, a community health worker (CHW) at Trinity Health, where she was being treated for her condition. What followed were months of tireless advocacy: helping navigate the health care system, securing emergency rent assistance, and eventually finding a safer place to live.

“She became my lifeline,” Seymore said about Gully. “I really don’t know where I’d be without her.”

Community health workers aren’t doctors or nurses. They’re peers, often from the same neighborhoods or communities as the people they serve. They’ve gone through many of the same challenges as their clients.

They work by helping to connect patients to the care, services, and support they need to stay healthy — playing a crucial role in making Medicaidfunded health systems work more efficiently, especially for those with complex needs.

Whether it’s managing diabetes, avoiding eviction, getting to the clinic, or simply understanding what a doctor said in a rushed appointment, CHWs act as a bridge between the health care system and people struggling to manage chronic disease on top of poverty.

In January 2024, Michigan took a significant step toward institutionalizing this work: a new Medicaid policy now allows for reimbursement of certified CHW services. Reimbursement rates were low, and health systems struggled to navigate the administra-

tive requirements. Still, the potential for Medicaid to provide a consistent source of funding for programs that had often relied on short-term grants was a promising development.

Those gains face new threats. President Donald Trump recently signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law, which will slash approximately $1 trillion from federal Medicaid over the next decade, resulting in an estimated $863 billion in Medicaid cuts nationwide through 2034.

Those historic Medicaid cuts will likely significantly reduce funding and destabilize community health worker programs, such as Michigan’s.

“Community Health Workers are on the frontlines, serving as the bridge between Michigan families and the care they need. Weakening Medicaid not only severs that bridge but also erodes decades of progress toward health equity, access, and economic stability,” Kareem J. Baig, executive director of the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance, said in a statement opposing the cut.

“These proposed cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They represent lives interrupted, health care denied, and communities left behind.”

Baig noted that since Michigan’s Medicaid expansion in 2014, uncompensated hospital care has fallen by 50%, and the uninsured rate has dropped to 5.4%.

The Citizens’ Research Council of Michigan warns the cuts could result in at least 200,000 Michiganders losing Medicaid coverage. It also warns that federal policy changes, including frequent eligibility checks and new work requirements, could result in coverage loss for nearly 40% of eligible adults, largely due to bureaucratic barriers.

The cuts would not only increase the number of uninsured residents but also put rural hospitals and clinics at risk of closure — institutions that increasingly rely on CHWs to manage patient care.

What is a community health worker?

Community health workers wear many hats: case managers, advocates, educators, and peers. But ask one what they do, and the answer often sounds simpler: “I help people.”

CHWs are frontline public health workers who serve as a bridge between individuals and various systems, including health care, housing, food assistance, insurance, and other essential services. Unlike clinicians, they are not licensed to provide medical care.Yet they often estab -

“FOR CHWS, WHOSE WORK OFTEN DEPENDS ON CONSISTENT REIMBURSEMENTS AND STABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH UNCERTAINTY THREATENS TO UNDO HARD-WON PROGRESS.”

lish the kind of long-term, trusted relationships that can significantly impact health outcomes.

“People will talk to us when they won’t talk to anyone else,” said Trinity Health’s Gully, who works with the hospital system’s Community Health and Well-Being team. Many CHWs, like Gully, come to the role through lived experience. They’ve navigated poverty, chronic illness, or the social safety net themselves, and bring that understanding to others in crisis.

In Michigan, CHWs are trained through programs aligned with national standards, emphasizing communication, service coordination, health education, and social support. Once trained, CHWs may work in hospitals, clinics, schools, nonprofit agencies, or local governments. Some specialize in specific populations, like pregnant moms, older adults, or individuals with chronic diseases.

The Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA) trains, credentials, and advocates on behalf of CHWs. Formed in 2011 by a coalition of stakeholders across the state, MiCHWA has evolved into a professional association supporting over 1,100 CHWs and their employers. It also maintains the official state registry for CHWs participating in Medicaid reimbursement programs.

“Our mission is to promote and sustain the integration of community health workers into the health and human services organizations throughout Michigan,” said Kareem Baig, MiCHWA’s executive director. “We do that through coordinated changes in policy as well as workforce development.”

Medicaid reimbursement arrives, but looming cuts present a threat

Michigan began reimbursing certified CHWs through its Medicaid fee-for-

service program on Jan.1, 2024, a major milestone. That change followed a 2022 legislative win that included $26 million in state funding to support CHW services.

Medicaid now covers nearly a quarter of Michigan residents, including 39% of children and 65% of nursing home residents, according to CRC data. Anthony Provenzano, who completed his doctoral research at the University of Michigan Medical School and Department of Learning Health Sciences, played a key role in the early policy development behind Michigan’s Medicaid reimbursement for community health workers. He conducted research and engaged with stakeholders to inform the state’s approach.

“The language in the state budget gave the policy a backbone,” Provenzano said. “It created a mandate and provided funding, which allowed the department to move forward with confidence and stakeholder input.”

The change also allowed CHWs to be recognized as credentialed providers with National Provider Identifier numbers and to submit claims directly.

“We worked with Michigan Medicaid to refine what the policy was going to look like,” Baig said, “so that organizations would be able to work with it and drive forward toward implementation.”

Still, the rollout was in early stages.

“Many health systems, federally qualified health centers, and local health departments are still working through it,” Baig said. Billing systems need updating, workflows must be retooled, and reimbursement rates often don’t cover the full cost of employing and supervising a CHW, especially for community-based organizations.

“We want to ensure that as organizations are investing time, admin staff … they’re able to recoup the cost of their investment and support CHW services moving forward,” Baig said.

In March, more than 130 community health workers from across the state traveled to the Michigan capital to meet one-on-one and in small groups with state legislators on ways to improve infrastructure for CHWs.

One top ask: increase Medicaid reimbursement rates and expand the eligible services. Currently, Medicaid only reimburses face-to-face or patient-initiated telephonic visits. “A lot of the work that CHWs do is coordination of care,” Baig said. “Those services aren’t covered.”

But advocates now warn that federal budget cuts could make such

coverage less likely.

“We’ve seen a growing number of CHWs employed in settings such as health systems, federally qualified health centers, health departments, health plans, behavioral health organizations, and community-based organizations,” Baig said.

“For CHWs, whose work often depends on consistent reimbursements and stable infrastructure, such uncertainty threatens to undo hardwon progress.”

A workforce taking on a bigger role

Michigan is not alone in recognizing the value of community health workers. Across the U.S., CHWs are increasingly seen as essential partners in addressing persistent health disparities and improving outcomes for people with complex social and medical needs.

Their impact is backed by growing evidence. CHW programs have been shown to improve chronic disease outcomes, increase access to preventive care, and reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

In Philadelphia, a pooled analysis of three randomized controlled trials found that CHW support resulted in a 34% reduction in total hospital days. Other studies showed improvements in blood sugar control, medication adherence, and mental health outcomes, especially for patients managing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV, and asthma.

The financial argument is equally compelling. Research shows that CHW programs can generate substantial cost savings for Medicaid and other payers. One study found a return on investment of $2.47 for every dollar spent on CHW support for low-income adults with multiple chronic conditions. Another found a 23.8% reduction in Medicaid spending among participants compared to a matched control.

CRC analysts warn that cuts would not only increase the number of uninsured residents, but also put rural hospitals and clinics at risk of closure — institutions that increasingly rely on CHWs to manage patient care.

Because CHWs often share lived experiences with their communities, CHWs help bridge cultural and linguistic divides, build trust in health systems, and provide support in ways that traditional providers often cannot.

“We tend to treat everyone with kindness and respect,” Gully said, “because we know that there is sometimes a stigma that comes with people needing assistance.”

HOW ONE PHONE CALL A WEEK HELPS DETROITERS MANAGE DIABETES — AND AVOID THE ER

At Henry Ford Health, community health workers use trust, coaching, and weekly phone calls to help patients bring their diabetes under control, sometimes for the first time in decades

When Terry Pita’s doctor told her she needed to start insulin, she burst into tears. “I just didn’t want to take shots,” she said. “I still cringe.”

diabetes for more than a decade, had struggled for years to bring her A1C, a measure of long-term blood sugar control, down to a healthy range. Her numbers hovered in the double digits. Then her doctor referred her to Linda Johnson, a community health worker at Henry Ford Health. Johnson didn’t prescribe medication or perform procedures. Instead, she called Pita once a week, walking her through grocery choices, reading nutrition labels together over the phone, and encouraging small changes. “She said, ‘You don’t have to stop what you like eating. Just don’t eat so much of it,’” Pita recalled.

said. That early success helped secure ongoing institutional support, and the program is now fully funded by Henry Ford Health.

Pita, who has managed Type 2 diabetes for more than a decade, had struggled for years to bring her A1C, a measure of long-term blood sugar control, down to a healthy range. Her numbers hovered in the double digits. Then her doctor referred her to Linda Johnson, a community health worker at Henry Ford Health.

Johnson didn’t prescribe medication or perform procedures. Instead, she called Pita once a week, walking her through grocery choices, reading nutrition labels together over the phone, and encouraging small changes. “She said, ‘You don’t have to stop what you like eating. Just don’t eat so much of it,’” Pita recalled.

Over time, Pita’s numbers began to drop. She started walking again — 10 miles a day at her peak — and gradually cut her insulin dose from 28 units to 10. Today, her A1C is 5.7, just below the threshold for pre-diabetes. For Pita, that number represents not just better blood sugar control, but a major step toward reducing her longterm risk of complications like heart disease, nerve damage, and kidney problems. “I feel very comfortable with what I’m doing now,” she said.

How CHWs support diabetes care at Henry Ford

At Henry Ford Health’s internal medicine clinic, community health workers are more than just helpful extras. They’re an essential link in the care team. For patients like Pita, that support comes in the form of weekly check-ins, guidance through everyday challenges, and consistent encouragement. For the clinic’s physicians, it means bridging a critical gap in the system.

“Our residents are in clinic for a few weeks at a time, and then they’re back on the hospital floors,” said Dr. Anupama Nair, a Henry Ford internal medicine physician who helps over-

see the program. “There’s a possibility for loss of continuity — something gets started, but it doesn’t always get closed. Community health workers help us follow through.”

Nair said the model emerged from a growing recognition that physicians alone can’t meet every patient’s need, especially for those managing complex chronic conditions like diabetes.

Scaling a model: Building a systemwide CHW infrastructure

“Physicians have certain expertise,” she said. “But we’re not always the best — or have the time — to provide certain types of education. Community health workers are able to engage patients in ways we can’t.”

see the program. “There’s a possibility for loss of continuity — something gets started, but it doesn’t always get closed. Community health workers help us follow through.”

Nair said the model emerged from a growing recognition that physicians alone can’t meet every patient’s need, especially for those managing complex chronic conditions like diabetes.

Henry Ford’s CHW diabetes program began as a pilot in 2014 and was funded through a hospital foundation grant. Johnson initially focused on supporting insulin titration: gathering blood sugar readings and relaying them to nurses authorized to adjust dosages. Over time, her work expanded to include health coaching, nutrition education, support for patients using continuous glucose monitors, and follow-up with highrisk patients who’ve missed appointments.

Nair credits the program with measurable results. “We wrote a paper on it. t showed that patients who participated with the community health worker were able to lower their A1C better than those who didn’t,”she

Linda Johnson is just one of nearly two dozen community health workers employed across Henry Ford Health. Behind her work is a larger infrastructure designed to embed CHWs throughout the health system, supporting patients in oncology, primary care, women’s health, chronic pain, and more.

ment undergoes an internal vetting process to ensure CHWs are assigned where they can make the most impact. “We’ve told some groups, ‘This doesn’t need a CHW — you probably need a research assistant or a clerk,’” she said. “But if it’s about addressing barriers to care, that’s when we know we’re in the right place.”

said. That early success helped secure ongoing institutional support, and the program is now fully funded by Henry Ford Health.

All CHWs go through core competency training, with additional support for role-specific knowledge. Many are from the communities they serve, and the hub prioritizes hiring people with lived experience.

Scaling a model: Building a systemwide CHW infrastructure

“We created the CHW hub about eight years ago because we were seeing tremendous success,” said Jaye Clement, vice president of community health programs and strategies. “We were getting more requests to apply that same kind of communitybased model to dynamic issues that weren’t clinical in origin, but had clinical impact.”

The CHW hub operates as a centralized support and training structure. A certified CHW trainer manages the program and deploys workers based on clinical needs, funding sources, and outcome goals. The program has supported as many as 25 CHWs at once across 10 departments or programs.

CHWs may work by phone or in person, and are encouraged to build relationships not just with patients, but also with local service providers. “We know we can’t meet every need internally,” Clement said. “That frontline-to-frontline connection is where the real value happens.”

The funding puzzle: Reimbursement, recognition, and retention

Clement said each potential place -

While Michigan’s new Medicaid policy allows for reimbursement of CHW services, the infrastructure to support that billing is still being built. But with sweeping federal Medicaid cuts now signed into law, future support for CHW reimbursement could be at risk, raising new concerns about sustainability, especially for community-based programs.

The Farm at Trinity Health Pontiac.

NICK HAGEN

The Farm at Trinity Health Pontiac.

NICK HAGEN

CHW pay in Michigan ranges from $14 to $38 per hour, with an average of $21.37.

Henry Ford faced retention challenges due to pay disparities, Clement said. She notes one CHW, Clarence, who left Henry Ford for a job in construction because it paid more. He later returned. “And in that time while he was gone, we got the position regraded—and he came right back.”

“Now that we have some level of reimbursement, we’re working on putting the billing systems in place,” Clement said. “But we know the reimbursement isn’t sufficient to cover all their time — because you’re not reimbursed for everything CHWs do.”

That’s part of why many CHW positions are still funded through grants, internal budgets, or shared resources across departments. “You don’t have a cost center for ‘building trust,’” Clemente said. “When you don’t build the budget from the ground up with a CHW in it, they’re invisible.”

Most CHWs at Henry Ford are full-time employees with benefits, but wages vary. According to the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance’s 2024 Employer Report, CHW pay in Michigan ranges from $14 to $38 per hour, with an average of $21.37.

For now, the diabetes program at Henry Ford’s internal medicine clinic is funded entirely through the institution. Physician Nair said the clinic has continued to support the role because of its demonstrated impact. “We can show that these programs work,” she said. “But we still don’t have direct financial support for them.”

Advocates like the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance have warned that the new federal cuts — estimated to slash billions from Medicaid — may hinder state-level efforts to expand CHW reimbursement and infrastructure.

A relationship that changes lives For Pita, the weekly phone calls with Johnson were never just about blood sugar readings or meal plans. They were an emotional anchor that helped her take charge of her health.

“She makes you feel comfortable about talking about everything,” Pita said. “We’d get to talking about my garden, and it just rolled into everything I was doing with my health.”

A relationship that changes lives

For Pita, the weekly phone calls with Johnson were never just about blood sugar readings or meal plans. They were an emotional anchor that helped her take charge of her health.

“She makes you feel comfortable about talking about everything,” Pita said. “We’d get to talking about my garden, and it just rolled into everything I was doing with my health.”

Pita’s A1C is under control, her insulin dose is down, and she’s back to walking miles every day. She was officially “dismissed” from the program after hitting her health goals — again. But she plans to keep in touch.

“She got me back on track,” Pita said. “I’ll still drop off some vegetables from my garden in the summer.”

CAN CHWS BE PAID THROUGH INSURANCE?

HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN MICHIGAN

Community health workers help Michiganders find care, manage chronic illness, and meet basic needs. Here’s what they do, how they’re trained, and how you can connect with one.

communities as the people they help, and they build trusting relationships through shared experience. CHWs are not doctors or nurses. Instead, they help people manage health conditions and navigate systems that are often hard to access. Their work is especially important for people dealing with poverty, disability, housing insecurity, or chronic illness.

WHAT DO CHWS DO IN MICHIGAN?

• According to a 2024 statewide survey by the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA):

Community health workers are a vital but often overlooked part of Michigan’s health system, especially as recent federal Medicaid cuts threaten coverage and funding for essential services. They help people manage chronic illnesses, apply for health insurance, find food or housing, and understand what their doctor told them. If you’ve never heard of a CHW or aren’t sure if one could help you, this guide breaks it down.

• 72% of CHWs help people meet basic needs like food, housing, and utilities.

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER?

• 66% follow up on referrals to make sure services are received.

• 63% help with transportation to medical appointments.

• Over half help with Medicaid or other insurance enrollment.

A CHW is a trained public health professional who connects people with health care, social services, and everyday support. CHWs usually live or work in the same communities as the people they help, and they build trusting relationships through shared experience. CHWs are not doctors or nurses. Instead, they help people manage health conditions and navigate systems that are often hard to access. Their work is especially important for people dealing with poverty, disability, housing insecurity, or chronic illness.

WHAT DO CHWS DO IN MICHIGAN?

• CHWs also help people manage conditions like diabetes, connect with mental health care, and apply for disability or social services. They may work in hospitals, clinics, health departments, or nonprofits.

• According to a 2024 statewide survey by the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA):

• 72% of CHWs help people meet basic needs like food, housing, and utilities.

ARE CHWS CERTIFIED OR TRAINED?

• 66% follow up on referrals to make sure services are received.

• 63% help with transportation to medical appointments.

• Over half help with Medicaid or other insurance enrollment.

ARE CHWS CERTIFIED OR TRAINED?

Yes. Most CHWs in Michigan complete a core competency training program approved by MiCHWA. This 126-hour course includes communication skills, cultural responsiveness, health education, and care coordination. Certified CHWs are listed in a statewide registry, which is also used to verify eligibility for Medicaid reimbursement. While certification is not legally required to do CHW work, it is recommended for most jobs in Michigan.

WHAT ARE THE POLICY GOALS TO ADVANCE CHWS IN MICHIGAN?

Statewide advocacy groups like MiCHWA are pushing for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates, expanded billable services, and more stable funding for CHW positions beyond temporary grants. These efforts have become more urgent in light of the recent federal Medicaid cuts, which are projected to reduce Michigan’s federal

Sometimes. Private insurance and Medicare coverage for CHWs is less common, although some health systems and pilot programs have begun including CHWs in care teams.

health care funding by billions over the next decade.

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS?

As of January 2024, Michigan Medicaid began reimbursing certified CHWs for services like health coaching and social support. But this system is still new, and not all providers are set up to bill for CHW services yet. Medicaid only covers certain tasks, so much of a CHW’s work may still go unpaid.

This new system faces fresh uncertainty following federal Medicaid cuts. These changes may affect state Medicaid funding and could limit future expansion of reimbursable CHW services.

Research shows that CHWs can improve health outcomes and reduce costs. A 2023 review in the Annual Review of Public Health found that CHW programs led to fewer emergency room visits, better chronic disease management, and lower hospital readmission rates. Some studies show a return of more than $2 for every dollar invested in CHW services. CHWs are especially effective when they share lived experiences with the people they serve and are integrated into care teams.

HOW CAN I WORK WITH OR BECOME A CHW?

CAN CHWS BE PAID THROUGH INSURANCE?

Sometimes. Private insurance and Medicare coverage for CHWs is less common, although some health systems and pilot programs have begun including CHWs in care teams.

• If you’re a patient: Ask your primary care provider or local clinic if they work with a CHW. Some hospitals, like Trinity Health and Henry Ford Health, employ CHWs who help with food, housing, transportation, and insurance.

This new system faces fresh uncertainty following federal Medicaid cuts. These changes may affect state Medicaid funding and could limit future expansion of reimbursable CHW services.

HOW CAN I WORK WITH OR BECOME A CHW?

• If you’re interested in becoming a CHW: MiCHWA offers listings for CHW training programs and certification pathways. Most CHW jobs require a high school diploma or equivalent, lived experience with health or social systems, and strong communication skills.

You can also check local health departments, community clinics, and nonprofit organizations for CHW job openings.

RESOURCES

• Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA): michwa.org

You can also check local health departments, community clinics, and nonprofit organizations for CHW job openings.

• Michigan 2-1-1 (for housing, food, and health resources): Call 2-1-1 or visit mi211.org

RESOURCES

• MDHHS Medicaid CHW reimbursement policy: Search “MMP 23-74” at michigan.gov/ mdhhs

• Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA): michwa.org

• Michigan 2-1-1 (for housing, food, and health resources): Call 2-1-1 or visit mi211.org

• CHW training and certification programs: michwa.org/training

• MDHHS Medicaid CHW reimbursement policy: Search “MMP 23-74” at michigan.gov/ mdhhs

• CHW training and certification programs: michwa.org/training

This guide was produced by Planet Detroit as part of our series on community health workers and health equity in Michigan.

MORE THAN MEDICINE: HOW A COMMUNITY

HEALTH WORKER KEEPS ONE PATIENT HOUSED –AND ALIVE

Facing complex health conditions and eviction, patients at Trinity Health are finding lifesaving support from community health workers who tackle everything from housing crises to Medicaid paperwork

Regina Gully knows what it’s like to need help and not know where to turn. Now, as a community health worker with Trinity Health, she spends her days making sure others don’t have to feel that way.

“We treat everyone with kindness and respect,” she said. “Because there’s a stigma that comes with needing assistance. We’ve been there.”

In her role, Gully assists people in applying for food and cash assistance, navigating Medicaid, avoiding utility shutdowns, and maintaining their housing. One client she’s worked with for years, Shanon Seymore, was facing eviction, health crises, and deep depression when they first met. “

“She was ready to give up,” Gully recalled. “But I wasn’t going to let that happen.”

Federal Medicaid cuts threaten to unravel much of this safety-net work. With an estimated 700,000 Michiganders at risk of losing coverage and billions in state funding cuts now signed into law, programs that rely on Medicaid-linked referrals and services face new uncertainty

Gully is one of 48 community health workers employed across Trinity Health Michigan. Between January and early May of this year alone, CHWs across the system received referrals for nearly 2,900 individuals. The needs vary — food insecurity, transportation, Medicaid enrollment, utility shutoffs — but one issue stands out.

“Housing,” Gully said. “It’s the biggest thing. There’s such a lack of affordable housing. That’s where people get stuck.”

Each CHW at Trinity manages a caseload of up to 50 clients at a time. Some referrals come from recent hospital stays or primary care providers. Others arrive through word of mouth, from neighbors, friends, or family members who’ve been helped by a CHW and pass along their number. The service is free and available to anyone in the community, not just Trinity patients.

The work is hybrid. Some days are

spent in the office, meeting with clients or coordinating referrals. Others are handled by phone or email, a practical necessity in a region where transportation is often a barrier. “Sometimes just talking is enough,” Gully said. “People need a little guidance — and someone who doesn’t treat them like a case number.”

For Gully, it’s personal. “I know what it feels like to struggle,” she said. “That’s why I take a full interest in every person I work with. I want them to be whole — not just housed or fed, but really whole.”

‘She

became my angel’

When Seymore was referred to Gully in 2021, she was facing eviction, unemployment, and a debilitating medical condition she barely understood.

Diagnosed with von Willebrand disease, a rare blood disorder that prevents clotting, the Pontiac resident was in constant pain, unable to work consistently, and overwhelmed by mounting back rent. She lost job after job because of unpredictable health episodes, and the stress was compounding her condition.

“I didn’t care about my health anymore,” she said. “I didn’t care about working. I felt like life was a joke.”

Gully stepped in. She helped Seymore apply for emergency relief through MDHHS, knowing the denial letter itself would unlock support from other nonprofits. Together, they contacted agencies across Oakland County, gathering documentation, making follow-up calls, and navigating a system on which Seymore had nearly given up.

At one point, when an agency refused to respond, Gully got on the phone herself. “She saw I wasn’t making it up,” Seymore said.

Eventually, Lighthouse of Oakland County stepped in and covered over $13,000 in back rent. But that was only the beginning.

When Seymore’s landlord raised the rent by $300 and refused to make urgent repairs, Gully walked her through the process of placing rent in escrow, something Seymore didn’t know was possible. That gave her the leverage and time to move.

“If she hadn’t told me about escrow, I would’ve just kept paying,” Shannon said.

Later, Seymore was approved for a new apartment and began working again. And when she lost that job following a serious health scare — her heart stopped while driving — Gully was still by her side, helping her navigate disability paperwork, Medicaid coverage, and utility assistance.

“She became my angel,” Seymore said. “She’s not just a caseworker. She’s the reason I’m still here.”

Food is medicine: Growing health from the ground up

Just outside Trinity Health’s Pontiac hospital, in a spot once occupied by the facility’s north tower, rows of collard greens, lettuce, and starter plants now fill a 1-acre urban farm. It’s the heart of the hospital’s Farm and Food Hub, a growing effort to address chronic disease and food insecurity through access to fresh, local produce.

“This is where we have our farm share assistance program,” said Kelsey Monks Carry, who helps run the initiative.

“Patients referred by a provider or a community health worker can participate at no cost, based on need.”

The hub operates on a simple philosophy: food is foundational to health. Produce grown on-site is sourced from 24 local farms across Oakland and Washtenaw counties. It serves not only the farm stand and food pantry, but also Trinity clinics and its produce-topatients program, which delivers fresh food directly to waiting rooms and care teams.

For clients like Seymore, the pantry and garden have become not just a source of nourishment, but a place of peace.

“I didn’t even know what this was,” she said. “I would come sit right out here after appointments and never realized there was a farm.” Now, she’s planting lettuce in pots outside her apartment, inspired to grow her own food for the first time.

Trinity accepts SNAP and participates in the Double Up Food Bucks program, making fresh food more accessible for low-income patients and families. “The idea is that people come to us less sick,” said one staff member. “We’re investing in prevention, not just treatment.”

For community health workers, the farm is a resource to which they can

refer clients when other systems fall short. “Sometimes people just need to know someone cares enough to point them in the right direction,” Gully said.

A model for whole-person care

Trinity Health’s community health worker model is based on the understanding that a range of factors beyond clinical care influence health. For the nearly 3,000 people referred to its CHW program in the first five months of 2025, the program has included assistance with insurance renewals, eviction notices, transportation, utility shutoffs, and access to food, according to spokesperson Bobby Maldonado.

With new federal restrictions on Medicaid eligibility and funding now enacted, CHWs may soon face increased demand from those newly uninsured or struggling to re-enroll.

CHWs like Regina Gully act as navigators and advocates. They speak with patients when doctors aren’t available. They follow up long after discharge. And they often stay connected even when a case is technically “closed.”

Gully once tried to formally exit Seymore from the program after her rent was paid and her housing stabilized. Seymore refused. “I said, no, we’re not,” she recalled, laughing. “I need her.”

For Gully, the job is about more than ticking off a checklist. t’s about building trust and restoring dignity. “We want people to feel like somebody’s listening,” she said. “And we are.”

As for Seymore, she’s still managing her health, getting weekly iron infusions, and adjusting to life in her new apartment. She’s also planning her first vegetable garden, with a few pots of lettuce to start. More than anything, she’s found something she didn’t have when this journey began: hope.

“I was ready to give up,” she said. “But Miss Regina brought me back.”

Terry Pita walking at the Detroit River.

NICK HAGEN

EMPLOYMENT

SAP Business Analyst, Brose North America, Auburn Hills, MI. Gather business & technical reqmts, dvlp, customize, pilot, & test business syss solutions for SAP modules. Plan, dvlp, configure, integrate, test, launch, & support use of IT & delivery of large scale SAP Logistics modules on plantwide basis (Material Planning, Logistics Planning, & Shop Floor) for all plants in NA & SA Regions, & perform Logistics & Production project mgmt of SAP ERP modules incl. Quality Management (QM), Material Management (MM), Production Planning (PP), Sales & Distribution (SD), Warehouse Management (WM), Extended WM, & Transportation Mgmt modules for mechatronics cmpts mfg plants in NA & SA Regions. Collaborate w/ Central IT, plant functions, & Logistics. Perform SAP User Acceptance Testing for plants in NA & SA Regions. 12 mos exp as Logistics Anlst, Logistics Coord, Logistics Supv, Business Anlst, or related, planning & coordinating or supervising Logistics Dept use of IT on shop floor, incl. SAP QM, PP, MM, SD, WM modules, or related. E-mail resume to Jobs@brose.com (Ref#992).

WHAT’S GOING ON

Threads of Time: A Detroit Vintage Market

This isn’t your typical antique shopping. Curated by the Peacock Room, this event brings vintage vendors together in the lobby of Detroit’s magnificent Fisher Building. Items for sale include clothing, accessories, and home decor from sellers like Dolly Rockers Vintage, Leah’s Closet,

Mama Coo’s Boutique, Old Soul Vintage, The Velvet Tower, and more. Word is there will also be retro-style pin-up models and food from Common Pub and the High Chai Time Tea Cart.

From 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 at the Fisher Building lobby, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; eventbrite. com. No cover.

Taco Showdown

Here’s one for the taco lovers out there. At the 6th Annual Taco Showdown, attendees can sample tacos and margaritas from more than 15 local restaurants and vote for their favorites. The top five winners will go on to a panel of judges at 3:30 p.m. Tickets include three tacos and five margarita samples and a voting card. (Additional taco and drink tickets

are also available for purchase.) The event will also feature Mexican-themed entertainment including lucha libre wrestling, music, DJs, dancers, and more.

From 1-5 p.m. (starts at 11 a.m. for VIP) on Sunday, July 27; Eastern Market Shed 5, Detroit; tacoshowdown.com. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $30 for VIP.

Kendis Gibson

Did you know that Detroit has a psychedelic mushroom church? In 2021 voters approved Proposal E, which decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi in the city, and Detroit’s Per Ankh Entheogenic Church is a nondenominational house of worship that incorporates psilocybin mushrooms into its service. On Sunday, it will host Kendis Gibson, an Emmy-winning journalist whose memoir Five Trips details his personal journey using psilocybin to treat depression.

From 5-8:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 27; Per Ankh Entheogenic Church, 15605 Woodrow Wilson St., Detroit; perankh1. org. Cover is a $25 donation.

WWE Monday Night RAW

WWE is bringing its flagship wrestling program to the Motor City. Monday’s matches include Roman Reigns, World Heavyweight Champion “The Ring General” Gunther, “Main Event” Jey Uso, World Tag Team Champions the New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods), Rhea Ripley, Women’ Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, and more.

Sidewalk Festival.

COURTESY PHOTO

SELECTIONS

2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313presents.com. Tickets start at $64.

10th Sidewalk Festival

For its 10th edition, Sidewalk Festival is transforming Detroit’s Brightmoor neighborhood into a free, familyfriendly block party. The theme this year (“Wild. Resistance. Rhythm. Story.”) will see music and dance performances, art installations, and workshops nestled among the natural beauty of one of the city’s largest urban parks. Those include a rain-activated sculpture by Maya Davis, improvisational performances by jazz saxophonist Marcus Elliot, a floating abstract art project by Quinn Faylor suspended

ence by Yvette Rock, and a collaboration between the nonprofit A Positive Seed and fashion artist Sarah Jane Mark billed as a skateboard-themed “fashion show on wheels.”

From 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1 and 2-9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2; Eliza Howell Park, 23701 Fenkell Ave., Detroit; sidewalkdetroit.com. No cover.

Earth, Wind & Fire

Known for its genre-blending sound that fuses R&B, soul, funk, jazz, and pop, Earth, Wind & Fire was formed in 1969. The group quickly became a powerhouse, releasing 23 albums, eight of which achieved double-platinum

albums sold worldwide, Earth, Wind & Fire is one of the best-selling bands of all time. The band’s 1978 smash hit “September” was co-written by the late Detroiter Allee Willis, who died in 2020 at 72. The band won nine Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, and became the first Black group to be inducted into the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors for their cultural impact and artistic contributions.

Starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313presents.com. Tickets are $39.50-$150.

Aishling Moore

have a special connection? Corktown, the Motor City’s oldest neighborhood, is so named because it became a destination for many Irish immigrants in the 1800s. Bev’s Bagels is celebrating the Detroit-Cork connection by hosting an al fresco dinner by Irish chef Aishling Moore, who has earned accolades with her “gill-to-fin” cooking style at Cork’s seafood spot Goldie. The six-course meal is set to include a Michigan-spin on Goldie’s menu, including grilled perch and chilled rice pudding with Michigan fruit.

Starts at 6:30 p..m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Core City Park (outside of Bev’s Bagels, 4884 Grand River Ave., Detroit); bevsbagels.com. Tickets

Threads of Time: A Detroit Vintage Market.

COURTESY PHOTO

LET’S GO TIGERS! JOIN US BEFORE & AFTER THE GAME ONE MILE FROM STADIUMS / MINUTES FROM QLINE / FREE STREET PARKING ON SUNDAYS

Thurs 7/24

313 DAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DETROIT!

Fri 7/25

CHOKING SUSAN/SKUM CITY/STREET TRASH/KAUZ OF AFFLICTION (HWI) (PUNK ROCK/HARDCARE) DOORS@9PM/$5COVER

Sat 7/26

KARALAVARA/ROIL TREATMENT/ BANDIT

(PSYCH ROCK/ROCK’N’ROLL/ALT ROCK) DOORS@9P/$5COVER

Mon 7/28 FREE POOL ALL DAY

Wed 7/30

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADAM DONELSON!

Thurs 7/31

WDET 101.9 COMEDY SHOWCASE SERIES

“WHAT’S SO FUNNY ABOUT DETROIT?” SEASON 5

HOSTED BY RYAN PATRICK HOOPER OF IN THE GROOVE

FEAT. 5 DETROIT STAND-UP COMICS! INFO&TICKETS@ WDET.ORG/EVENTS DOORS@6PM/SHOW@7PM

Fri 8/01

“KEEP IT KNOCKING” DOOWOP DANCE NIGHT W/ DAVE LAWSON DOORS@9PM/$5COVER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARIEL ALETHIA!

Sat 8/02

THE PIZAZZ/SLIZZ/SOOFLAY (ROCK’N’ROLL) DOORS@9PM/$5COVER

Sun 8/03

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAY DELOOF!

Mon 8/04

HAPPY 235TH BIRTHDAY TO THE US COAST GUARD! FREE POOL ALL DAY

Coming Up:

8/08 IMANGINATRON FULL MOON PARTY

8/09 Daily Detroit Happy Hour

8/09 Screening of Cass Carridor Doc: DETROIT BOY

8/09 DIVAS vs DIVAS (monthly dance party)

8/15 Vig Arcadia/Flexadecibel /Mike Leslie Band/DJ saffire

8/16 FLOPHOUSE WRESTLING

8/22 Hiding Salem/Forge the Sun/ Northern Whisky Syndicate

8/23 Ladyship Warship/Brother Wolf/Absentees

8/29 Winds of Neptune/Electric Huldra/Dunamis

9/02 & 9/03 DOG DAYS@OLD MIAMI 3-9pm (leash required)

9/06 DALLY IN THE ALLEY

BOOK YOUR PARTIES: theoldmiamibarevents@gmail.com

OLD MIAMI T-SHIRTS & HOODIES FOR SALE!

WHAT’S GOING ON CONTD

Select events happening in metro Detroit this week. Be sure to check venue websites before all events for the latest information. Add your event to our online calendar: metrotimes.com/AddEvent.

MUSIC

Wednesday, July 23

Live/Concert

CLASSIC LOUNGE SOUNDS w/ KESHTKAR & CO. fourth Wednesday of every month, 8-11 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0.

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

Gunshine 7 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; Hiroshima 7:30 pm; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $15-$70.

Lake Orion Live! Concert Series 6:30-8 pm; Children’s Park, 201 S Broadway St, Lake Orion; Free!

Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

DJ/Dance

Planet Funk 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Hump Day Karaoke & Music

Trivia 8 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Thursday, July 24

Live/Concert

An Evening with Vince Gill 7:30 pm; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $59.75-$129.75.

Belinda Davids 8 pm; Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; $35-$79.

BUCKCHERRY 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte;

Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience 8 pm-midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St.,

Detroit;

GHOST: World Tour 2025 8 pm; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $52.50-$182.50.

KIDZ BOP LIVE Certified BOP

Tour 6-8 pm; Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Dr, Village of Clarkston; $30.00.

Shock Narcotic, Fell Ruin, Fogrot 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Vince Gill - Suite Rental Package 7:30 pm; Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Dueling Pianos: An Interactive

Entertainment Experience 8 pm-midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit; DJ/Dance

Curated Cool 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Drag Queen Karaoke 8 pm-2 am; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.

Elixer: DJs John Ryan and GEO 8 pm-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; No cover.

Friday, July 25

Live/Concert

BlackOut BBQ feat. The New Bomb Turks with The Drowns & Saber Tooth Gary 6 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

David Barrett and Bernie Nelson 8 pm; Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Rd., Livonia; $20.

Hubris, Outrun The Sunlight, Annex Void, The Biscuit Merchant 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Jake Owen With Special Guest

Uncle Kracker 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor; $43-$98.

Kem 8 pm; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; MC Magic with Baby Bash and Lil Rob 7 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit;

Saddle Up Country Dance Party! 8 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; Shinedown: Dance, Kid, Dance 7 pm; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $25-$130.50.

Summer Sounds 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

The Babys 7:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $30$200.

The Crane Wives -Summer 2025 Tour 7 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; $25.

Kem 8 pm; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; DJ/Dance

Eco Sessions at Beacon Park 7-11 pm; Beacon Park, 1901 Grand River Ave, Detroit; Free.

Elevated Fridays At Cielo Rooftop Detroit 9 pm-midnight; Cielo Rooftop Bar, 600 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226, Detroit; Open Air Fridays 4-10 pm; Woodbridge Pub, 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit; 0.

R&B Happy Hour[s]

Saturday, July 26

Live/Concert

Kem 8 pm; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; Summer Sounds 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

The 4th Annual Night of Grotesque & Burlesque 4-11 pm; Trixie’s Bar, 2656 Carpenter Avenue, Hamtramck; $15.

Albert Cummings 7:30 pm; The Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Rd., Westland; $20-$210.

Ankith Woods, RJ Lamont , Clooner, $weet-T 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; bRADFORd, General 11, Red Linen Antlers, The Situation, The Non-Professionals 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; Detroit Block Party 8 pm-1 am; Detroit Block Party, 2000 Brooklyn St., Building B, Detroit; $20.00.

DIRK KROLL BAND LIVE! @ Batch Brewing Company wsg

Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men 7-11 pm; Batch Brewing Company, 1400 Porter St, Detroit, Detroit; $12.24.

Emo Night Brooklyn (18+) 8 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit;

Hatebreed: SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR 2025 5:30 pm; Harpos, 14238 Harper Ave., Detroit; Imposters in Effect: Beastie

Boys 8-11 pm; Northville Marquis Theater, 135 E Main St, Northville; $20 Advance/$25 at the Door.

Magic Bag Presents: Satsang (Solo) 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; Music & Markets 6-10 pm; Beacon Park, 1901 Grand River Ave, Detroit; New Bark Town / Theatre Girl / Lyloc / Local Man 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; ROOFTOP RHYTHMS at Cielo Rooftop Detroit 8-11 pm; Cielo Rooftop Bar, 600 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226, Detroit; $10.

Saddle Up: Cowgirl Confessions! 8 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville; Summer Sounds 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

THE DAVE MATTHEWS TRIBUTE BAND 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte;

ROOFTOP RHYTHMS at Cielo Rooftop Detroit 8-11 pm; Cielo Rooftop Bar, 600 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226, Detroit; $10.

DJ/Dance

First Annual Chinatown Detroit Block Party 12-8 pm; Chinatown Detroit, 3420 Cass Avenue, Detroit; FREE. Plug In Detroit 10-2 am; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; 15.

Saturday Grind 11 am-3 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic Opening

Live On Lahser: Open Mic by The Vision Detroit Last Saturday of every month, 8-11 pm; Artist Village Detroit, 17336 Lahser Rd., Detroit; $10.

Sunday, July 27

Live/Concert

Summer Sounds 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Night Ranger 7:30 pm; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings 5-8 pm; Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; No Cover (tipjar for the band).

Sematary with Ghost Mountain + Hackle + Anvil 7 pm; Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Slow Mass 7 pm; Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; $15.

DJ/Dance

SPKR BRNCH 11 am-3 pm; Spkr Box,

200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Sunday Karaoke in the Lounge 5-9 pm; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0.

Sunday Service Karaoke Hosted by Sister DJ Larry 8 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Monday, July 28

Live/Concert

PIXIES - 2025 North American Tour 7 pm; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $59.50-$99.50.

Trophy Wife, The Telephone Poles 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

DJ/Dance

Adult Skate Night 8:30-11 pm; Lexus Velodrome, 601 Mack Ave., Detroit; $5.

Tuesday, July 29

Live/Concert

PIXIES - 2025 North American Tour 7 pm; The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; $59.50-$99.50.

Sean Blackman’s In Transit 7-10 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

The Acacia Strain 5:30 pm; Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit; The Symposium, John Myrtle 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Tuesday Dinner Sessions : Summer in the Beer Garden ; Motor City Brewing Works, 470 W. Canfield, Detroit; Free.

Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Open Mic : Art in a Fly Space 7-10 pm; Detroit Shipping Company, 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; no cover.

Tuesday Karaoke in the Lounge 8 pm-midnight; Bowlero Lanes & Lounge, 4209 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 0.

VIP Tuesday Night Karaoke 9 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Wednesday, July 30

Live/Concert

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

Lake Orion Live! Concert Series

6:30-8 pm; Children’s Park, 201 S Broadway St, Lake Orion; Free!.

Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover.

Cubist Agenda 8 pm-midnight; First Place Lounge, 16921 Harper Ave, Detroit; No Cover.

Evelyn Champagne King 7:30 pm; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $15-$70.

Jazzy Night Series 7:30 pm; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; $15-$70.

Lake Orion Live! Concert Series

6:30-8 pm; Children’s Park, 201 S Broadway St, Lake Orion; Free!.

Ruben Studdard - My Tribute to Luther Vandross 8 pm; Sound Board, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit;

SummerFest Concert: Devin

Scillian & Arizona Son 6:30-9 pm; The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms; Free-$50.

The Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Detroit Party Marching Band 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck;

Matt Larusso Trio and guests 8-11 pm; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; no cover. DJ/Dance

Planet Funk 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/ Open Mic

Hump Day Karaoke & Music

Trivia 8 pm-1 am; Pronto! Royal Oak, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak; No Cover.

Thursday, July 31

Live/Concert

Bilmuri 7 pm; Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; Celt Division from Finland live at Cadieux Cafe 7-11 pm; Cadieux Café, 4300 Cadieux Rd., Detroit; 10.

Dope Shows Presents Cash Money Millionaires 30th Anniversary 8 pm; Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; Dueling Pianos: An Interactive Entertainment Experience 8 pm-midnight; AXIS Lounge, 1777 3rd St., Detroit;

MC Frontalot, Schaffer the Darklord 7 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; DJ/Dance

Curated Cool 7-10 pm; Spkr Box, 200 Grand River, Detroit; Karaoke/Open Mic

Continuing This Week Karaoke/

Open Mic

Drag Queen Karaoke 8 pm-2 am; Woodward Avenue Brewers, 22646 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; no cover.

Elixer: DJs John Ryan and GEO 8 pm-midnight; Northern Lights Lounge, 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; No cover.

Friday Aug 1

Live/Concert

Summer Sounds 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Carley Lusk and Kalysta 7 pm; The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale;

Lip Service 5-8 pm; The Village of Rochester Hills, NE corner of Walton and Adams, Rochester Hills; FREE.

Magic Bag Presents: LAWLapalooza 25’ 7 pm; Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; RANDALL KING - Into the Neon 7 pm; District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte;

SWV 8 pm; The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit;

The Australian Pink Floyd Show: 8 pm; Caesars Palace Windsor - Augustus Ballroom, 377 E. Riverside Dr., Windsor.

The Eighth Passenger, Girthquake, Queen Jayne, Wired God, Ghost Pipe 6 pm; Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff St., Hamtramck; Turn Turn Turn 8 pm; Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Rd., Livonia; $20.

Westland Blues, Brews and & Barbecue Festival 12-11 pm; Thomas H. Brown Central Park, 36601 Ford Rd, Westland; Free.

Summer Sounds 5-8 pm; The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Rd., Clinton Township; Free.

Westland Blues, Brews and & Barbecue Festival 11 am-11 pm; Thomas H. Brown Central Park, 36601 Ford Rd, Westland; Free.

DJ/Dance

Elevated Fridays At Cielo Rooftop Detroit 9 pm-midnight; Cielo Rooftop Bar, 600 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226, Detroit;

Open Air Fridays 4-10 pm; Woodbridge Pub, 5169 Trumbull St., Detroit.

Saturday Aug 2

Live/Concert

Saddle Up Country Dance Party! 8 pm; Diamondback Music Hall, 49345 S. Interstate 94 Service Dr., Belleville.

Film A promising start to James Gunn’s DC Universe

By Jared Rasic, Last Word Features

Superman

Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 129 minutes

I’m tired of having to point this out about movies, television shows and daily life, so this may be the last time I’m going to broach this topic — and I’ll do so in a way I hope isn’t too terribly offensive: If you think the new Superman movie is “woke” then you’re in a cult and should probably get that looked at. And if the word “woke” is triggering for you, you probably don’t know what it means.

I’ll be even more specific. Superman is undocumented. He has been since Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster invented him in the 1930s. He is, by very definition, an illegal alien. As someone who has been reading Superman comics for most of my life, I can say regardless of where this very fictional character was born, he has spent almost a hundred years doing nothing but fighting for truth, justice, and the American way (although he became much more focused on saving the entire world post-WWII).

James Gunn’s new Superman movie does something I’m not sure I’ve seen in any Superman film do. He focuses way more on the Man than the Super. As Clark Kent, he was raised on a farm by Ma and Pa Kent in Smallville, Kansas. He wasn’t raised to use his invulnerability to be a tough guy or to lord his power over everyone else. All the Kents did was teach him two things: how to be kind and that every single life is worth saving. He doesn’t use his super speed and flight to impress people, he does it to protect people as quickly as possible.

David Corenswet is a wonderful Superman and Clark Kent because he radiates a warm decency that I’m not sure we’ve seen since Christopher Reeve played this dual character. Yes, he’s charming and good looking and all the Hollywood stuff, but he projects a heroism that made me immediately excited to see more movies set in James Gunn’s newly launched DC Universe. If he continues to take these beloved characters and treat them with the respect they deserve and tell stories unlike any we’ve seen before with Batman, Wonder Woman,

Supergirl, Swamp Thing, and so very many more, then Marvel should be nervous.

Superman isn’t perfect. It does a lot of franchise building by stuffing the film with characters and subplots that won’t completely make sense until some other DCU movies pay them off. The film also plays Jimmy Olsen like a mega-desired ladies’ man, which, in theory, could work. But there is nothing in Skyler Gisondo’s performance that sold me on his desirability. What also might bother people the most about this new Superman movie is it’s goofy as hell. The film feels like a Saturday morning cartoon (do those exist anymore?) brought to life for kids to enjoy just as much as their parents. For people weaned on the much darker Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman, this might be too lightweight and cheeseball for them. This is Superman at his most optimistic and idealistic, so if you’re after that Zack Snyder gritty nihilism, Gunn’s Superman won’t work for you at all.

Yet, at one point the city is crumbling and Superman is doing everything he can to save as many people as possible

and, in maybe my favorite comic book movie moment in the last few years, he takes the time to move a squirrel out of harm’s way. It’s played for a laugh, but I found myself suppressing a tear of joy so my friends didn’t laugh at me. I found the moment profound because this film took a single moment to show the audience that this character, who has always strived to be the best of us, treated animal life as equally sacred as a human one. All life is important.

From Rachel Brosnahan’s acerbic Lois Lane, to Nicholas Holt’s sniveling psychopathic Lex Luthor, to Edi Gathegi’s scene-stealing Mr. Terrific, I can’t wait to spend more time with these characters in this lovingly created universe from Gunn. This is fun stuff with a beautiful layer of humanism designed to get people to look at one another with kinder eyes. If an alien facing off against a billionaire megalomaniac is too topical and triggering for you, I’m sorry. You’re missing out, in this case, on a lot more than just a superhero movie.

Grade: B+

David Corenswet is a wonderful Superman and Clark Kent.

COURTESY PHOTO

WEED

The Straight Dope Michigan company reimagines cannabis edibles with freeze-dried candy and ice cream

By Steve Neavling

When most people hear the word “edibles,” they think gummies.

That’s because dispensary shelves in Michigan are lined with THC gummies, all promising the same high in slightly different flavors.

One Lansing-based company, Hey! Captain, is breaking away from that trend with a unique lineup of full-spectrum candies that literally melt in your mouth. Their tag line says it all: “No Gummies, No Brownies, No Bullshit.”

The brand, which launched late last year, is named after longtime cannabis innovator Kirk Reid, a.k.a Captain Kirk. He’s also the brainchild behind the fast-acting treats, which have won 11 High TimesCannabis Cups since he began making edibles in 2008 to help treat symptoms from multiple sclerosis. At one point he was on more than 50 medications before he discovered how effective cannabis was.

In February 2011, Reid was hospitalized, but not even that would stop him.

“I was completely blind and paralyzed,” Reid tells me. “I couldn’t get out of bed. But I knew the High Times

cup was coming up. So I got up, and I pushed through and made it happen.”

He made an infused key lime cheesecake for the contest and won his first High Times Cannabis Cup that year. He hasn’t looked back since, creating some of the most unique and delicious edibles in the market. His goal has been to create edibles that are fun, flavorful, and effective.

“Everybody has gummies everywhere,” Captain Kirk says. “When you walk into a dispensary, you’ll probably find 100 different gummies.”

Hey! Captain’s launch began with an array of freeze-dried candies, including infused takes on familiar favorites like Star Babies (think Starbursts), Cosmic Crunchers and Sour Cosmics (Skittles), Lightning Lemons (Lemonheads), Freezies (Sweet Tart Minis), and Caramel Crunchies (Chocolate Caramel M&M’s).

Another popular product is Dank Dots, which are freeze-dried ice cream bites that taste like blueberry and key lime cheesecake, along with Lunar Dust, a powdery candy reminiscent of

First, I tried the edibles that taste like familiar candies. Each had a light, crispy texture that dissolves on the tongue, leaving behind sweet, bold flavors. The candy was nostalgic and reminded me of going to the corner store as a kid. The only challenge was not eating an entire bag.

Each package contains a total of 200 mg of THC, the legal maximum in Michigan. The potency of each piece varies from 10 mg to 40 mg, depending on the product.

While it usually takes 45 minutes or so to feel the effects of many edibles, these hit me in 15 minutes. The fullbody high left me relaxed and feeling goofy.

One of my favorites was Dank Dots, which are freeze-dried ice cream bites that come in key lime cheesecake and blueberry. Both flavors were spot-on. At only 12 mg of THC per bite, I treated myself to a couple, and the effects were as good as the others.

Dank Dots also include natural ingredients and have no artificial dyes or high-fructose corn syrup. The Key Lime Cheesecake, for example, includes lime, lime zest, sugar, cream cheese, butter, heavy cream, salt, eggs, vanilla, distillate, CBD, and CBG isolate.

Lunar Dust was a blast. It comes with a spoon and can be eaten in a variety of ways. I sprinkled mine on ice cream, and it amped up the flavor.

Pixy Stix.

“Hey! Captain is our swan song and love letter to the industry,” Hilary Dulany, one of the brand’s key partners and a longtime cannabis advocate, says.

Part of what makes Hey! Captain unique is that its edibles are freezedried, a process that preserves flavor, extends shelf life, and creates a light, crunchy texture that dissolves quickly in your mouth.

Because they’re freeze-dried, the candies have a shelf life of more than a year, as long as the bags are sealed. Because the candies dissolve on the tongue, they’re gentler on your teeth.

Using a proprietary infusion process, the freeze-dried candies have a faster absorption rate than edibles sprayed with distillate. That means the effects hit more quickly.

Hey! Captain also uses a proprietary process to remove the taste of cannabis so that it doesn’t affect the flavor of the candy.

Rather than buy into the hype, I decided to try the candies myself. And they exceeded my expectations.

Captain Kirk plans to release a variety of new edibles this year, including a freeze-dried Japanese candy, chocolates, and even tomato soup. Freezedried grilled cheese sandwiches are also on the way.

Asked where he picked up his culinary skills, Captain Kirk responded, “I grew up in the south.”

Hey! Captain is available in about 150 dispensaries across the state.

Launching unique candies in a market dominated by gummies was a risk, especially at a time when prices have plummeted and cannabis has saturated the market.

While the brand is taking off, Dulany says, the challenge is getting consumers who are accustomed to gummies to try something different.

“Our order sizes are doubling in the worst retail time of the year, which tells us we’re on the right track, but we’re also facing inherent issues as a new variety edible producer in a sea of mid-grade gummy ‘settlers,’” Dulany says. “Not everyone is willing to try something new without knowing it’s good first.”

Hey! Captain is also developing an edible line for Willie Nelson’s brand, Willie’s Reserve.

Hey! Captain offers unique, freeze-dried takes on cannabis edibles.

STEVE NEAVLING

CULTURE

Savage Love

Privacy Settings

By Dan Savage

I’m in my early twenties, and I’m looking to start exploring kink further, especially since my hometown is in a metropolitan area with a large kink community. I have no shame or fear about entering kink spaces beyond the typical nerves any beginner might have. I was lucky to be raised by some really awesome sex-positive parents, who explained that kinks are normal and okay. Kink is not the issue. The issue is this: I’m worried I’m going to run into my dad in a kink space. I’ve never had what I would consider an inappropriate conversation with my dad about his sexual interests or activities, but I’m pretty sure my dad has been involved in the local kink scene for a long time. I’ve asked one of my dad’s closest friends about my concern and she said my worry isn’t entirely unfounded, which I took as confirmation that my dad goes to kink spaces and I’m almost certain to run into him at an event. How the hell do I go about having a conversation like this when it’s guaranteed to be awkward? Does one simply stroll in and say, “Hey I’m making a FetLife account, Dad, could you please immediately block me, so I don’t have to worry?” I know this conversation will probably go fine I just have no idea how to start it. And there aren’t many people out there giving advice on how to talk to your dad about not going to kink events on the same nights.

— Need To Know Basis

A: There are other cities with big kink scenes, NTKB, and wanting to go to kink events without having to worry about running into family is a good enough reason to relocate. I grew up in Chicago, a city with a huge gay scene, but I wound up on the West Coast after college. One of the reasons I moved: I have an unreasonable number of uncles — Irish Catholic family — and I didn’t want to run into one of my uncles in a gay bar. (None of my uncles were gay, so far as I knew, but I didn’t want to risk it.) If I thought there was the slightest chance I might run into my father in a gay bar, I would’ve moved to Mars.

Uprooting yourself so you can go to kink parties without having to worry about running into your dad is an extreme measure, I realize, and may be an unnecessary one in your case, NTKB, seeing as your parents are sexpositive and not devout Irish Catholics. But you won’t be able to relax and enjoy kink events if you’re worried the

guy in the leather hood hanging from meat hooks over the dance floor is your dad.

Zooming out for a second: some will find it odd that you talked to one of your dad’s closest friends about whether he’s still going to kink parties but you’re hesitating to talk to your dad. But it makes perfect sense: Your dad is a constant in your life — dinners, birthdays, holidays — but his closest friends are not. If you have an awkward conversation with one of your dad’s friends, you don’t have to see that person again. One awkward conversation with your father, however, could ruin Juneteenth or Folsom SF, or Thanksgiving.

The best way to start a guaranteedto-be-awkward convo is by using the a-word to highlight/foreground/ emphasize the awkwardness: “This is awkward, Dad, but I was planning to go to [club name] on [date] for the [whatever] party, and I wanted to give you a heads up.” If you’re worried your dad is so sex-positive he might not realize you don’t want to attend the event, you’ll have to add something like, “But I don’t wanna go if you’re going.”

Memory lane/cautionary tale: I got a letter a few years back (that I didn’t publish) from a gay dad whose son grew up to be gay. Dad was in his forties and into twinks… son was in his twenties and into daddies… and you can probably guess what happened: they matched on a hookup app. Which would’ve been fine and mildly awkward if they’d realized it right away. But they didn’t realize until after they’d swapped face pics… and they didn’t swap face pics until after they’d swapped a bunch of other pics. After boiling their eyeballs, father and son had an extremely awkward brunch where they pulled out their phones, opened up the apps, and blocked each other on everything.

If you don’t want whatever the kink event equivalent of accidentally swapping dick pics with your dad to happen to you — and I’m not even going to speculate as to what that would look like — you’re gonna want to have that awkward conversation before the party, not after. If your dad is as sex-positive and reasonable as you make him sound, I could see you two agreeing to give each other a heads up — a little advance warning — about the events you’re planning to attend, NTKB, with whoever gives a heads up first having dibs on a particular event. If you don’t want texts about kink events mixed in with your regular father/son chats or you don’t want to send a kink event text meant for your dad to your family’s group chat — you could create a top secret Google calendar that only you and your dad have access to, NTKB, but agree never to discuss.

: Q You often advise readers to move on all fronts: go places and meet people while also getting on the apps. It’s just that I have a terrible fear holding me back from the apps and I think it’s something only gay men have to worry about. To this day, I’m one of those faceless torsos that won’t share my mugshot (or nudes) because I’m petrified of it being screenshotted and posted online. It puts a pit in my stomach to see the way gay guys gossip about each other on forums like MaleGeneral, LPSG, and now Telegram. I’ve seen so many friends wind up on there for simply being horny. I can’t think of anything more dehumanizing, demoralizing, and degrading than having strangers comment on you and your body. Gay men can be so vicious to each other. I do alright in person, but never really meet someone who’s my type. Is my apprehension justified? If not, what precautions can I take to avoid winding up on those awful online forums?

— Posting Intimate Cock Shots

A: It’s not just gay men who have to worry about time-wasting pic collectors and malicious assholes reposting screenshots. Straight women have to worry about that shit too, PICS, and some teenage boys have been tricked into sharing pics and then driven to suicide by blackmailers. But let’s not overstate the risk: millions of gay men swap pics online every day — torsos, faces, dicks — and the overwhelming majority don’t wind up being dissected on the sites you mentioned. And even if your pics wound up on one of those shitty forums, PICS, it doesn’t mean everyone you know is going to see them. And even if someone does recognize you? Most people won’t care. I recently had Colby Jaxxx on the Savage Lovecast. Colby is a professional gooner who just so happens to live in a small town in the Midwest, where he works a pretty normie day job. His boss and coworkers know about his side hustle, and it hasn’t been a problem. Because Jaxxx keeps his gooner life and his professional life in separate online silos. And that, increasingly, is the cultural consensus: so long as you don’t cross the streams — so long as you don’t post thirst-or-worst pics on your regular accounts — no one will see them except the people who go looking for them. And if someone is going out of their way to look for your smut, that’s their problem, not yours. (This offer does not yet apply to people in teaching professions.)

So, take reasonable precautions blur your face pics, use messaging apps that only allow one view of a photo, don’t send out dick pics with your face in them or face pics with your dick in them, weed out guys who seem too good to be true (reverse image search is your friend), and be quick to block guys who make you feel uncomfortable — but don’t let the guys talking

shit on online forums keep you from living your best life and/or getting the best dick.

P.S. You won’t know what’s going on in those forums if you don’t look at them.

: Q I am the mom of an eleven-yearold boy. For the past year, he’s been using our sports massager privately in his room. When he first started doing it, he told me he was just putting it on his legs, and we talked about how it wouldn’t be a good idea to put it directly on his penis. Every few days, sometimes with weeks in between, he’ll announce, “I’m using the massager,” then head to his room for a couple of minutes with it, and that’s that. My only concern with this is that he might desensitize himself. Having this tool at his age makes me worry he’s going to develop unusual masturbation habits that might not be the best for him in the long term. I’ve thought about selling this massager, as he’s really the only one who “uses” it, and that would quickly solve the problem. But is it a problem? Should I just leave him be to explore himself?

— Misuse Of Massager

Most boys begin masturbating around age thirteen, MOM, but some boys start sooner — thirteen is the average — so your son most likely isn’t using that sports massager on his legs. If he were using it on his legs, he would be doing it in front of the television and not in his room with the door closed. You worry he might become dependent on a particularly intense kind of stimulation in order to climax, MOM, and that’s a valid concern. Some adult men have a hard time climaxing during partnered PIV/PIB/PIT intercourse because they jacked off as boys doing or using things that vaginas, butts, and throats can’t replicate. (Google “death-grip syndrome” if you wanna read more about it.)

That said, your son has a right to privacy, and bursting through his bedroom wall like the Kool-Aid mom to slap the sports massager out of his hands could do him more harm. Instead, have an age-appropriate conversation with your son about selfpleasure — emphasizing privacy and online safety, and the distortion field that is porn — and discuss the importance of being gentle with himself. You could also run interference by misplacing (read: hiding) the sports massager and/or arranging for it to break and not rushing to replace it.

Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@ savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/ askdan!

Podcasts, columns, and more at Savage.Love.

CULTURE Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES: March 21 – April 19

In Hindu cosmology, the Sanskrit term “Lila” refers to divine play. It’s the idea that all of creation is a sacred and artful amusement that’s performed by the gods with joy, sorrow, artfulness, and flair. I hereby proclaim Lila to be your theme of power, Aries. You have been so deep lately, so honest, so drenched in feeling. Now, life is giving you a big wink and saying, “It’s playtime!” You can start this fresh phase by making a list of all the experiences that bring you fun, recreation, and entertainment. I hope you emphasize these pursuits in the coming weeks.

TAURUS: April 20 – May 20

In the high desert of Chile, astronomers work at observatories on mountaintops where the air is dry, and the sky is clear. There, away from light pollution, the universe reveals itself with astonishing intimacy. But even the most powerful telescopes can’t function during the day. I suspect you will be like those

observatories in the coming weeks, Taurus: capable of seeing vast truths, but only if you pause, quiet the ambient noise, and look during the dark. This approach should embolden you to use your intelligence in new ways. Stillness and silence will be conducive to your deep explorations. Night will be your ally.

GEMINI: May 21 – June 20

Are you courageous enough to let go of sparkly clean but unfruitful fantasies so as to clear space for reality’s disorderly richness? Are you wild enough to relinquish naïve fears and hopes so you can see the raw truths blooming right in front of you? Are you cagey enough to discard the part of your innocence that’s rooted in delusion even as you bolster the part of your innocence that’s fueled by your love of life? Here’s my response to those questions, Gemini: Maybe you weren’t mature or bold or crafty enough to accomplish these heroic feats before, but you are now.

CANCER: June 21 – July 22

Coral polyps are tiny, soft-bodied creatures. Over centuries, they assemble massive reef systems, turning their fragile exoskeletons into monumental architecture. These creatures can be a symbolic reminder that your sensitivity is not a weakness; it’s your building material. Keep that in mind during the coming weeks, when tender care and your nurturing ability can be primal sources of power. I invite you to start creating an enduring sanctuary. Generate a quiet miracle. Construct an elegant masterpiece. For best results, allow your emotional intelligence to guide you. You have the precise blend of aptitudes necessary to coax beauty to grow from vulnerability.

LEO: July 23 – August 22

“All that you touch, you change. All that you change changes you.” The coming weeks will be prime time for you to honor and celebrate that prayer, Virgo. You won’t be a passive dreamer, gentle traveler, or contemplative wanderer. Rather, I predict you will be a tidal force of metamorphosis. Parts of your world are pliable and ready for reshaping, and you will undertake that reshaping. But it’s important to know that the shift will go both ways. As you sculpt, you will be sculpted. As you bless, you will be blessed. Don’t be shy about riding along on this feedback loop. Do it with reverence and glee. Let the art you make remake you. Let the magic you give become the magic you are.

LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22

In certain Hindu traditions, the deity Ardhanarishvara is depicted as halfmale, half-female—a divine fusion of opposites. They are not torn, but whole in their duality. I invite you to be inspired by their symbolism in the coming weeks, Libra. For you, balance will not be about making compromises or pushing to find middle ground. It will be about embracing the full range of possibilities. Energies that some people may imagine are contradictory may in fact be complementary and mutual. Benevolence will coordinate well with fierceness and vice versa. Your craving for beauty will not just coexist with but synergize an affinity for messy fertility. This is a time for sacred synthesis. Don’t dilute. Integrate.

SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21:

navigating through the richest emotional flow you’ve experienced in many moons. It’s true that in some ways this barrage has been draining. But I’m certain you will ultimately regard it as being highly educational and entertaining. You will look back at this bustling interlude as a gift that will take a while to harvest completely.

CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19

Greek myth tells us that Persephone didn’t just return from the underworld each spring; she ruled there half the year. Yes, she was taken there against her will, but she adapted, transformed, and ultimately wielded great power in the depths. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, you will have the chance to navigate realms that other souls may not be brave enough to enter: taboos, unusual yearnings, ancestral memories. My advice is to go gently but with intense resolve. Don’t act like a tourist. Be a sovereign explorer, even a maestro of mystery. Claim your throne in the underworld. Use it to create healing maps for others. When your work is done and the right moment comes, you will rise again into the light.

AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18

In my astrological opinion, you are ready to graduate from the University of Senseless Suffering. It’s time to get your diploma and treat yourself to a vacation. I’m not saying you will never again experience pain, of course. Rather, I’m telling you the good news that your dilemmas in the coming months will be more fully useful and redemptive. They will feel more like satisfying work than unpleasant ordeals. Congrats on the upgrade, Aquarius! You are forever finished with at least one of your arduous lessons.

PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20

No, we don’t have gambling, or any like devices; However, after gambling ruins your life and you need a gambling free establishment to hang out. You’re more than welcome here my good man

(NOT,

ICE COLD BEER

I predict that your imminent future will be a ticklish and tricky but ultimately uplifting masterpiece. It will feature guest appearances by members of your private hall of fame, including one future luminary you have not yet fully appreciated. This epic series of adventures may begin when you are nudged to transform your bond with a key resource. Soon, you will be encouraged to explore frontier territory that offers unexpected help. Next, you will demonstrate your understanding that freedom is never permanent but must constantly be reinvented.

VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22

Sci-fi author Octavia Butler wrote,

The medieval mystic Meister Eckhart wrote, “God is not found in the soul by adding anything, but by a process of subtraction.” Subtracting what? He wasn’t referring to losing something valuable, but rather to letting go of obstacles that obscure our direct experience of the divine. I invite you to make abundant use of this principle, Scorpio. Slough off layers of illusion, outmoded fantasies, and self-images soaked in others’ longings. As you let go, do so not in bitterness but in a joyous quest for freedom.

SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21

I’m hoping that the Season of a Thousand Feelings hasn’t confused you. I’m praying that you have maintained a measure of composure and aplomb while

Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said you can’t step in the same river twice. Like everything else in nature, the river is in constant flux. It may appear to be the same, but the water is always flowing. What Heraclitus didn’t say is that you are never the same, either. Eternal change is your destiny. I invite you to ruminate eagerly on this truth, Pisces. Hopefully, it will help you let go of any hyper-perfectionist urges you might have. It will inspire you to see that the plan you made a while ago may need revision—not because you were wrong, but because you have grown. So yes: It’s time to reassess and recalculate. The goal isn’t to stick to the blueprint, but to build something that breathes with your becoming. Let the ever-new version of you draw a fresh map. It will be wiser than the last.

Homework: Can you figure out a way to have more fun while you do your work? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

JAMES NOELLERT

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