Starr Commonwealth leads with courage to create positive experiences so that all children, families, and communities flourish.
Our Vision
Universal Hope, Boundless Love, and Limitless Success for all children.
Our Theory of Change
When trauma-informed and resilience-focused adults work within trauma-informed and resilience-focused systems, the wellbeing and success of children will increase.
Our Equity Statement
We recognize the past and current struggles of identity groups who have been historically marginalized, impacted by toxic hierarchy, and taken by violence. We believe that equitable environments create opportunities for effective problem solving, sustainable growth, and, in general, a more holistic understanding of the world.
13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd., Albion, MI 49224
800.837.5591 | info@starr.org | www.starr.org
Starr Commonwealth is a nonprofit organization serving children and families regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, or sexuality. Starr Commonwealth is accredited by the Council on Accreditation. Founded in 1913, Starr Commonwealth is licensed by the state of Michigan. Starr Commonwealth’s Albion campus is a Michigan Historic Site. Starr Commonwealth receives funds from social agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.
Simon P. Bisson, Vice Chair (2018 – 2027) Vice President, Philanthropy OhioHealth Foundation Columbus, OH
George A. Goodman, Secretary (2010 – 2019) (2021 – 2030) Ypsilanti, MI
Lisa Miller, Past Chair (2018 – 2027)
President MMK Consulting Group Holland, MI
Sean Silver, Treasurer (2019 – 2028) Senior Vice President Bank of America
Merrill Lynch Troy, MI
Erick Stewart (2009 – 2026)
President Lagniappe Global Commodity Group Battle Creek, MI
Kara Van Dam (2024 – 2033) Chief Executive, GVSU Omni Grand Valley State University Grand Rapids, MI
OFFICERS
Elizabeth A. Carey
President and Chief Executive Officer
Derek S. Allen
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Caelan Soma
Chief Clinical Officer
Paula Dolson Chief Financial Officer
Robert W. VanSumeren, Esq. Corporate Counsel
TRUSTEES EMERITUS
Michael J. Gable
Human Resources Executive (Retired) Orlans Associates, PC Troy, MI
George D. Goodman
Executive Director (Retired) Michigan Municipal League Ann Arbor, MI
Honorable Eugene A. Moore
Chief Probate Judge (Retired) Oakland County Pontiac, MI
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Anne Willson Dupré Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Toronto, Canada
Diana Starr Langley Montecito, CA
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Martin L. Mitchell
President Emeritus Coldwater, MI
Arlin E. Ness
President Emeritus Phoenix, AZ
Larry K. Brendtro
President Emeritus Lennox, SD
Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make this newsletter possible.
*All Officers and Trustees can be reached at the following address and phone number: Starr Commonwealth 13725 Starr Commonwealth Road Albion, MI 49224 (517) 629-5591
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Dear Readers,
As the President and CEO of Starr Commonwealth, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this edition of Starr News. This issue is packed with exciting updates and inspiring stories that reflect our continued commitment to healing trauma and building resilience in the lives of children and families throughout Michigan, the country, and the world.
We are thrilled to highlight our partnership with Transition to Success (TTS), a groundbreaking initiative that is transforming the way we address poverty and trauma. This collaboration is already making a significant impact, and we are excited to share some of this success story with you.
Our campus buzzed with energy and enthusiasm in June as we hosted the Starr Basketball Camp from June 11-13. The camp provided an excellent opportunity for young athletes from around the state and the country to develop their skills, build individual and team resilience, explore challenging topics around equity and racism, and enjoy the camaraderie of their peers on Starr’s beautiful campus. The laughter (and some tears) we witnessed during those days were truly heartwarming.
In addition, we are proud to announce the pilot launch of our new F.O.C.U.S. Forward program in Calhoun County, Michigan. This innovative initiative will support “opportunity youth” in their journey towards a resilient and sustainable adulthood. F.O.C.U.S. Forward will inspire many other communities and organizations and be a cornerstone in our efforts to empower young people to overcome adversity and thrive.
Lastly, I am excited to highlight a new Clinical Foundations of Trauma & Resilience course that aims to meet the growing demand for traumainformed care across diverse professional fields. The course is designed to be accessible and relevant to a broad audience, including not only social workers and counselors but also therapists, psychologists, health care providers, criminal justice professionals, and any direct service provider who works with children to expand their expertise in trauma-informed practices.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Starr Commonwealth. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Warm regards,
Elizabeth Carey, President & CEO
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Emily DeRushia, Editor & Designer
Cover photo of students participating in our Student Resilience & Empowerment Center summer program at Montcalm Lake on Starr’s Albion campus. Captured by Ben Reed at InDepth Media.
A Transformative Community Forum with
Dr. Marcella Wilson
An Innovative Approach to Poverty, a community forum hosted by Starr Commonwealth, took place on May 22, 2024, at our Albion campus. Dr. Marcella Wilson, Founder & CEO of Transition to Success® (TTS), shared her extensive experience in healthcare administration, nonprofit management, behavioral health, criminal justice, and public sector programming at this transformative event.
Dr. Wilson’s visionary approach, which redefines poverty as an environmentally based medical condition rather than a character flaw, has the potential to revolutionize our work. In her book Diagnosis: Poverty, she outlines a scalable, sustainable, and multigenerational response that can be implemented across various sectors, including health, human services, government, education, and faith-based organizations. This approach, shared with us at the event, has left us inspired and ready to take on the challenge of combating poverty in a new and effective way.
The forum underscored the importance of collaboration and coordination across different sectors. Community leaders left feeling inspired and ready to empower individuals and families toward self-sufficiency and economic independence. If you missed this event, don’t worry—Starr
Commonwealth, recognizing the value of your participation, we offered a live-streamed version of this event on June 28 and made sure to capture on video. You can find that recording on our website at starr.org/tts. Addressing poverty is a collective endeavor, and we must work together, engage local communities, and bring about lasting change. Your role in this endeavor is vital, and we invite you to join us on this journey.
This important work aligns well with Starr approach with young people and families and we look forward to implementing her strategies into our efforts. Please contact us at info@starr.org if you are interested in learning more.
Dr. Marcella Wilson with Starr Commonwealth President and CEO Elizabeth Carey, Jennifer Silverman, Director of Operations for Transition to Success, and Joseph Hurlbert.
Inspiring Change Through Basketball at Starr Commonwealth’s Racial Equity Camp
From June 11-13, 2024, Starr Commonwealth, in collaboration with the Kentucky Coaches Advancing Racial Equity (K-CARE), Play Right Sports Academy, and ExcelU, hosted a one-of-a-kind three-day camp. This unique experience brought together diverse basketball teams, fostering a sense of unity and shared learning.
The roots of this camp can be traced back to 2022, when a group of Kentucky coaches united with a common goal—to create a camp that would fearlessly utilize basketball as a tool for addressing racism, fostering community relations, promoting mental health, building resilience, and instilling accountability. This camp was a testament to the power of sport in transcending barriers and fostering understanding among individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Teams came together on Starr Commonwealth’s historic Albion campus from Atherton (Louisville), Kentucky, as well as Wayne Memorial (Detroit), Traverse City, Bellaire, Jackson and Battle Creek, Michigan. Players, coaches and teams alternated between practices, games, meals and counseling with Starr’s team of Resilience Coaches, who engaged participants in team building and personal relationship activities. Retired NBA player and founder of ExcelU, Willie Burton attended the camp and shared his journey with players. Coaches also had time to explore their vision for the camp and how they and others can grow the experience in the future.
As one camp attendee shared, “There was sweat, blood, and tears….it was awesome!”
Empowering Opportunity Youth
Starr Launches F.O.C.U.S. Forward for Career and Educational Success
Starr Commonwealth is proud to announce the launch of F.O.C.U.S. Forward (Forging Opportunities for Career Upskilling and Success), an innovative community-based program for Opportunity Youth aged 16-24. Leveraging its extensive expertise and a collaborative network of partners, Starr aims to connect these young individuals with established educational and skilled trades training, apprenticeships, and pathways to gainful employment and sustainable careers. Recognizing the urgent need for trained and qualified employees in the regional job market, this program equips youth with the personal and professional skills necessary to thrive in today’s workforce.
F.O.C.U.S. Forward has already made significant strides by working closely with Marshall Opportunity High School (MOHS) and counselors from Marshall High School to identify potential participants. Recently, an enrollment event was held at MOHS in collaboration with KRESA Career Connect, where families and students attended an informational session and dinner and were offered a dual enrollment opportunity for both programs. This event fully enrolled five youths, with two more completing partial paperwork on-site and planning to finalize their enrollment at home. Additionally, Marshall High School has referred more students, allowing F.O.C.U.S. Forward to continue outreach and enrollment efforts as summer break begins, with plans for ongoing open enrollment events throughout the school year.
The F.O.C.U.S. Forward program is a testament to our commitment to address the unique challenges faced by Opportunity Youth, which often hinder their educational and employment prospects. By offering comprehensive support services such as safe and affordable housing, nutritional assistance, mental and physical healthcare, technology access, childcare coordination, and transportation support, Starr Commonwealth is
determined to remove the barriers that hinder youth from achieving their full potential. The program also fosters partnerships with local educational institutions and employers to facilitate seamless transitions into paid apprenticeships and employment opportunities, thereby contributing to the growth and prosperity of our community.
The heart of the F.O.C.U.S. Forward initiative lies in our dedicated staff and career ‘navigators’ who provide life skills training, social/emotional learning, and mentorship. We see our participants as unique individuals with distinct needs, not just numbers. They benefit from personalized needs assessments, goal setting, and the creation of Individual Development Plans, ensuring a tailored approach to their development. With rolling enrollment, diploma/GED completion pathways, professional credential completion, and postplacement assistance, F.O.C.U.S. Forward promises continuous support for 6-12 months, guiding youth toward successful job placement and long-term career stability. This comprehensive approach, designed with each participant in mind, is bolstered by partnerships with organizations such as Battle Creek and Marshall Public Schools, Kellogg Community College, and Michigan Works! Southwest, and more, ensuring a robust support network for all participants.
Find our more about this amazing initiative at www.starr.org/focus-forward.
Expanding the Reach of Trauma-Informed Care
Clinical Foundations of Trauma and Resilience
Starr Commonwealth’s Certified Trauma and Resilience Specialist Certification was recently expanded to meet the growing demand for traumainformed care across diverse professional fields. Recognizing the widespread impact of trauma and the need for specialized training, Starr designed Clinical Foundations of Trauma and Resilience to be accessible and relevant to a broad audience, including not only social workers and counselors but also therapists, psychologists, health care providers, criminal justice professionals, and any direct service provider who works with children to expand their expertise in trauma-informed practices.
In the following Q&A, Dr. Caelan Soma, Starr’s Chief Clinical Officer, explains the program’s focus on practical, evidence-based interventions for children affected by trauma, emphasizing resilience-building strategies.
What are the new clinical packages?
The new clinical certification is called Clinical Foundations for Trauma and Resilience. The packages combine didactic and experiential training, focusing on trauma and resilience in children and adolescents. Every package includes comprehensive training with lecture-style videos and opportunities for participants to practice what they learn.
Who is the certification for?
This certification is for any adult who works with children who have experienced too much stress or trauma. All adults, licensed and non-licensed professionals, can benefit from this certification. You will benefit from this training if you are a social worker, counselor, therapist, psychologist, youth care specialist, child life specialist, nurse, pastor, corrections officer, occupational therapist, or speech pathologist.
What will participants learn?
First, participants learn the importance of resilience. This is a critical component in establishing a strength-based mindset rooted in hope that supports the fact that stress and trauma do not seal a child’s fate. Stress and trauma are only one part of a child, and we can do many things as adults to help children experience interactions and activities that will build and strengthen their resilience while assisting them in managing the symptoms and reactions they experience.
To read the full Q&A with Dr. Soma, please visit starr.org/news.
