Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center

Mission: "To prevent child abuse and neglect and improve the quality of life for children and families."

Vision: "Safe and Sound's vision is a community where children are safe and nurtured. To achieve our vision we are empowering children to tell, we are educating our community to recognize warning signs and we are listening when our children need us most." 

She is in those beautiful years, those years of joy and innocence. Not another care in the world besides the toys on her floor and whether or not her cereal will meet the expectations of her taste buds this morning. Her bare feet carry her out to the swing in the backyard. With a giggle she joyfully sits there swinging with her teddy bear, soaking in the warm rays of the sun and feeling the cool green grass on her feet. She is waiting for her mama to come play... and then a crashing sound wakes her up.

The life she dreams of in survival mode disintegrates like a vapor.

The sound is familiar yet always startling. The sound of violence in her home. Her home is a home of neglect and abuse. A home where in a brief 6 years she's learned to care for her own needs as well as her siblings'. She cannot wait to get to school each day where, for a little while, the pressure is off and safety is hers to clutch to her chest. Eventually, as time goes along, a teacher discovers the atrocities that she has endured at home, and now in order to begin her journey to a better life, this sweet girl must jump through the horrible memories time and time again as she lends them into the hands of law enforcement, prosecutors, counselors and protective services.

As if the trauma of abuse is already not enough, now she repeats it to these complete strangers, ashamedly, although the shame should not be hers to hold. She wonders what information she should or should not reveal. She feels the guilt of possibly getting her mother in trouble. She wonders if the interviewers think she herself was the cause of all the problems, maybe if she behaved differently her parents would not get so mad. Her parents never liked the police, and now she needs to hand all her secrets over to an officer. Where is this all going now, what did she do wrong, what will happen to her next? She wonders if it is worth it. The fear was crippling at home, but it is what she knew. She had hiding places there, now she feels exposed. And her siblings, what has all this done to them? How does she speak up for them too, has she forgotten anything, for all the times she has told their story?

What if it all could have been prevented in the first place? What if someone showed her that law enforcement were her friends? What if someone told her it was OK to tell and just how to do it? What if she was given permission to have boundaries on her body and knew exactly who was safe to share her life with? What if the intervention did not have to be so frightening, daunting and traumatic? Wouldn't it be much less traumatic, even though it is still hard and scary, for her to revisit her story once or twice in a very effective way that could be accessible for the authorities involved?

This situation is hypothetical, and yet more common than our minds want to admit and one group in Midland County has it on their heart and in their mission to prevent and reduce this trauma as much as possible. Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center indeed has such a process that helps greatly reduce the extended trauma that reporting and discussing abuse can add to a young person's already heavy shoulders. Managed by Executice Director, Michelle Waskevich, Safe and Sound's team is doing the difficult, yet necessary work of giving our county's kids the protection they deserve through prevention and intervention. Brittany Pochert, Forensic Interviewer, holds the responsibility of interviewing children and youth referred by law enforcement or Child Protective Services. Desirea Woodworth, Preventative Education Specialist, goes into our community informing children of their rights to their bodies and to empower them to tell when abuse occurs. Safe and Sound interviewed over 150 children in 2019 alone and these are just the cases reported, keeping in mind, when children are not empowered to tell, most abuse goes unreported.

Desirea Woodworth, Brittany Porchert and Michelle Waskevich
Staff of Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center

After an abuse or neglect situation is reported, the young person and family that has endured so much, is brought into a warm, friendly, bright, clean, home-like center where they can be interviewed through nonthreatening techniques that often involve play and art. The interview, conducted by a well trained, child friendly forensic interviewer, can be recorded live and witnessed from a separate room for those involved in the investigation. This greatly reduces the intimidation and the amount of time the child or youth needs to go through the process of telling their story and in turn helps reduce the trauma of retelling.

Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center was known for years as the Midland County Child Protection Council, and they have been a vital part of our community for 40 years. Their mission is critical to helping the children of Midland County live their very best lives. They treat each child with tremendous compassion and work professionally with each family they come in contact with, knowing the process usually effects the family as a whole. Abusers are most often someone the family is familiar with, the process of revealing and healing often involves more than one specific victim. Safe and Sound also specializes in preventative services. They provide car seat education, safe sleep training, dental programs and school based body safety programs that reach out to the community, as well as the Darkness to Light Stewards of Children Program for educators.

It's important to know, not every child that is referred to Safe and Sound is in fact a victim of abuse, and Safe and Sound believes even those not enduring abuse need to go through an interview process that is safe and kind, with their best interest and protection in mind.

How can we as the community of Midland County help them to reach their potential as a non-profit?
Since Safe and Sound is a non-profit dealing with intense and confidential situations, there is limited availability to volunteer "in-house", but the community can help get the word out about what they do and help fund them. One of the most effective way to fund them perhaps is to participate in their wonderfully creative annual fundraiser the 7th Annual Art and Advocacy Auction.

In the spirit of art being used as a tool of help and healing, for its seventh year now, the Art and Advocacy event will bring a beautiful display of art from local artists. Artists such as Annie Stout of Paper Heart Design, Jazzmyn Benitez of Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design, Amy Mudd of Picture Peddler Photography and many talented others. The night will feature heavy hor d'oeuvres, silent and live art auctioning, a live painting competition, DJ and photobooth opportunities along with a well known speaker from our community.

Safe and Sound Child Advocacy Center can be found on Facebook, Instagram at www.safeandsoundcac.org. They may also be reached at 989-835-9922.

In the days to come Let's Go Midland will be focusing on the promotion of this wonderful organization and their upcoming event! For more information please reach out to Safe and Sound today! Get your tickets soon! Enjoy a night of fun while empowering our community to protect our children. Come on.... Let's Go Midland!

Article By Hope Krotzer

Photos by Amy Mudd of Picture Peddler Photography,

 and Joslyn Chulski, VP of Safe and Sound Board of Directors

REPORT CHILD ABUSE

Call 855-444-3911

Botanica Modern Market

Kayla Moberly and Annmarie Thornton
Co-owners of Botanica Modern Market 

"Take the risk. You have no idea what you have to lose or gain until you do it. Remain positive and faithful through it all, even when you don't know the whys. There needs to be a common knowledge of what small businesses truly do for the community. " 

-Kayla Moberly

Botanica. The word often is defined in part as a small shop that deals in herbs, plants, candles and charms. But no definition can do justice to this sweet shop nestled securely in the Ashman Plaza. While it certainly entails many of these things, it is so very much more. 

Botanica Modern Market will dazzle you with its wide variety of products. While you may lean toward thinking the shop favors plant sales, you will be delighted to find that these two owners thrive in the fashion industry right along side of being one of Midland's most loved places to grab a beautiful, trendy plant for your home or a wholesale piece from a handful of local artists. As you step inside this boutique you will see a variety of clothing and jewelry somehow walking hand in hand with household decor and plants in a way that looks effortless.

Co-Owners Annmarie Thornton and Daughter Kayla Moberly opened shop in February 2019 and have been rolling along ever since as an active part of our community. These two ladies have a love of hostessing their own special events and bringing people together with their tasteful hospitality.  From pop up shops to semi-annual fashion shows, this little shop does anything but sit idle. 

Working in the market industry had always brought Annmarie much joy and she longed for a place to express her own taste and run a shop in a way she herself had a mind to. Daughter Kayla had similar passions and yet the pair have a distinct difference between them as well, one dabbling more in fashion, the other more in home decor and plants, inspired by husband, and science teacher, Trevor Moberly. Opening shop truly started as a family affair right from the beginning as husband and father, Mark Thornton, headed up the remodel and construction of key elements of the shop such as the quaint trendy lighting, fitting rooms and the pallet counter.  Annmarie and Kayla also mentioned how daughter and sister, Jaclyn Sharpe, although living out of town, often adds another angle and eye for fashion and home design that always encourages the family. 

We often love to ask, what's to love about small business ownership, since we love to see businesses encourage and inspire one another, especially in a box store day and age. These two ladies say they love it because it's their own place. A place they get to set the tone. They get to lead and design and dream as they see fit not being limited by anything. Kayla remarked that being a business owner gave so much freedom to do something different every day. She and her mother love getting to know regulars and meeting new people, stating that it's a joy when customers tell stories of how an item makes them feel or how excited they are when something fits just right in their homes. 

As many entrepreneurs we talk to, the pair note a potential down side of small business ownership being the competition of online shopping. Annmarie and Kayla recognize this and would encourage shoppers to return to the experience of live, here and now shopping in small shops and boutiques. There is so much to be said about tangible markets, observing and trying things on before you buy. Shopping is not all about market and money making, but also about mingling with your community. Not to mention how shop owners work hard to be constantly trending and searching for items that are good quality and a good fit for the community and culture. At Botanica, time is spent getting to know customers and catering to their preferences. 

The owners of Botanica have always been fans of their hometown Midland. They enjoy the friendly, family oriented atmosphere, as well as outdoor dining and a large variety of events offered. When encouraging other aspiring entrepreneurs Kayla Moberly would say, "Take the risk. You have no idea what you have to lose or gain until you do it. Remain positive and faithful through it all, even when you don't know the whys." Both shop owners expressed deep gratitude for the Ashman Plaza's business support, and remarked they are thankful for the guidance, support and prayers of their landlords, Aaron and Renee' Deckrow.

Another wonderful positive business shining in our community. Bringing unique gifts, decor and fashion to our growing midtown! Stop by Botanica Modern Market. With their variety, you will be sure to find something perfect for you or someone you love and you will be greeted by kind souls ready to give you their best in return for your business.

You can follow Botanica Modern Market on their Facebook Page. Be sure to like and follow their page to watch for upcoming events and get a peek into the ever changing beautiful items for sale.

Article and Photos by Hope Krotzer

Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design

"I really love to encourage people to love life right where it is. There can be more peaceful moments that way." 

-Jazzmyn Benitez

Please visit: 
www.enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com/

"Trust the process" the saying goes. Yet one Midland, Michigan community member and artist pushes us all a bit farther, encouraging others instead to "trust the journey" and "enjoy the process".  With her mantra, "enjoy life", she inspires the Midland community to stop, be present and take joy in the small moments of life.

Jazzmyn Benitez, of Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design, is not only a unique, talented and multifaceted artist, but also a gift to the community around her with her humble, intentional nature. Having a heart to take art deeper than the surface suits her well as part of her life's mission. Benitez is a born encourager, and with what life has thrown at her, her empathy and desire to encourage others in life, as well as art, has naturally grown. She's a well known barista and day manager at Live Oak Coffeehouse as well as an instructor at Parker Lane Design Studio. Benitez is part of a collaboration of artists, at times the lead visionary, of murals that are beginning to pop up around the City of Midland. One of such being the "People Helping People" mural on the side of the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry.

Midland County Emergency Food Pantry

Perhaps one of her most well known works of art in the community is the mural designed for the Midland County Youth Action Council. Benitez was chosen out of several different submissions entered to design a mural which encourages our younger generation to be world changers, givers and community contributors. The colorful and captivating mural can be found on the side of the Circle Auto Parts store on Washington Street near Patrick Road. The mural ended up creating a beautiful occasion in which community members came together to support the artists that worked on the project, and true to form, Benitez and other artists often allowed community members, young and old, to contribute a few strokes as well.

Completed MCYAC Mural 

A wonderful example of paralleling art with life, Benitez often takes off her eyeglasses as she begins to paint her artwork as to not get caught up in the details of her painting. She prefers to participate with the paint and really get lost in literally feeling the process as opposed to over analyzing the details at first. This mirrors a lesson she has learned in life and a lesson she hopes to portray to others. Not getting caught in the details, the worries and the boundaries, but rather taking off all that over speculates and drives us to focus too intensely on only a small portion of what is in front of us. The inspiration to function in such a way came after reading the book "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book inspired Benitez to let her creativity truly guide her. Although paint is her primary choice of medium, she often succeeds at any type of art with no boundaries. Visiting her website will show you how truly diverse her art can be as you read the stories behind many of her pieces and see the photos of the work as well.

Although she has many other forms of art such as globes, chandeliers, shoes and wood burning, Benitez claims that she chose painting because it happened to be what fell in her lap. As part of her journey, she ran with it and it soon became a talent, emotional outlet and spiritual tool. In her early adulthood she endured the loss of very dear family members and during this time she rediscovered this healing reason for art. This was the beginning of a spiritual revelation that artwork connected her to God. She claims God is the main reason she continues to paint as He speaks, teaches and guides her in the process.

Many inspirations have lead Benitez to her successful business and artwork. She credits her father John Benitez as a main inspiration, claiming that her father kept art fun. He made many happy memories with his children often making faces out of numbers and letters. There seems to be a large appreciation of how her dad could bring life and joy out of things so simple. Older brother Jonathan Benitez also is artistically gifted, showcasing the ability to draw his own original comic type images and characters. Mom, Juanita Benitez, is a gifted crafter and sewer in ways that always captivated and inspired her daughter. Younger brother Joshua Benitez, besides being gifted at the art of caring about and loving people extremely well, can paint things like pottery and other such objects and bring them to life in beautiful ways. There has been a long line of art on both sides of her family.

First Painted Mural Completed with Brother, Joshua Benitez

Wood Burning by Jazzmyn Benitez

Inspired to keep going and growing in her artwork with a fearless attitude, Benitez is not one that is afraid to fail, she knows there are lessons in all things. She gives a large amount of credit to people in her life that push her forward. One such person being Dacia Parker, owner of Parker Lane Design Studio. Dacia has challenged her to be a better artist, to look at things differently and to push herself to create more. Dear friend Renee' Deckrow has helped her redefine "giving grace" and has shown her how to indeed extend grace to others, but to just as importantly extend grace to herself. These two friends have shown Benitez what believing in herself really looks like and how the trials in life reveal her actual strength and worth.

Benitez gives credit to many other friends who have contributed to her success by building into her life and faith. Friend Gessica Garber taught her what it looks like to hear and listen to the Lord. Through time spent together and good conversation, Gessica brought her to a spiritual place she had been longing to be in. Emmy Montgomery was a key person in leading her to the written Word of God. She taught her that God did indeed have a voice in her life and that she was worthy to hear that direction from Him. Star Gust was a constant reminder to her that she was loved by God and that He loved her right where she was in her walk in life. Star was a reminder to her that she was indeed enough for God. Best friend and partner of 7 years, Kate Stuart, encouraged her to be free, spunky and sporadic without caring about the opinions of others. Benitez states that Kate is courageous and hilarious and brings tremendous joy and reassurance to her life.

When asked what she loves about Midland, Benitez stated that she appreciated the easy going nature of Midland compared to the fast paced Orange County that she hails from. She loves that community members are for the most part encouraging and friendly. "Midland has a small town feel, with big town opportunities" she notes.

Jazzmyn Benitez is surely a valued treasure in our community. Full of talent, generosity, sincerity, loyalty and intention. Her art can be fun, it can be custom, it can teach, it can carry a message and it can inspire. She pushes us each to change our own atmosphere and be real. With the true heart of an artist, she is indeed another entrepreneur that makes Midland an amazing place to grow, work and live. 

To get in touch with Jazzmyn Benitez Art + Design for a custom mural at your business, nonprofit or home or any other piece of custom art work, visit her webpage at www.enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com 

or email her at enjoylifejzb@gmail.com

"Enjoy life, and what art adds". 

-Jazzmyn Benitez

Article By Hope Krotzer

Fill Up Your Cup-Great Lakes Bay

Founder, Jaime Krueger

"I'm a strong believer in empowering women, because if no one would have done that for me, I wouldn't be sitting here today. I have a passion to see women show up for each other."  
- Jaime Krueger

Very often women find themselves in lonely places of disconnect and the solitude runs deeper as time goes on. It can be a difficult place to be, especially with no common place to connect that feels safe and nonjudgmental. Women are beautifully emotional and relational. Continuing to be able to connect is so crucial to their overall well being. Jaime Krueger came to understand this when she found herself in this very position of wanting to connect, and she knew she was not alone. In 2018 she created a place of belonging for all women, to connect. A judgment free zone to create and foster friendships. A place where women can see how much they actually do relate to and need each other. And the beautiful thing is, this "place" goes with Jaime like an umbrella that protects from rains of isolation and brings women from our community together in a safe huddle... around a cup of coffee. 

Jaime realized there had to be something common that could draw women together, and it occurred to her a cup of coffee was just the thing. Coffee, or any hot beverage for that matter, can give us a sense of security and it can break down barriers as we meet new people. It's our boost of energy, it warms our core, it's something we huddle around like a warm campfire on a cool fall day. It unites us. But Jaime also loved the symbolism of filling our own cups with self care, hence the name "Fill Up Your Cup". As many a flight attendant has reminded us, it is hard to assist others when we don't take care of ourselves first and in this unique setting women have an hour or so to get away and do just that.



Connecting Over Coffee

One of the most lovely things about Fill Up Your Cup meetings is how women automatically bring each other into the fold. It is by no means exclusive. Jaime has created an atmosphere of women who beautifully encourage each other and look to get to know each other. Each monthly gathering has a new venue to meet at and a new topic. The topics chosen are so fruitful and informative to those who attend. Not only are you building friendships, but you also are learning so much about things that relate to building up your own confidence and well being in the process. Meetings vary in size, anywhere form 5 to 30 women and ages from 18 to 65 have attended with no one feeling they are out of place. Each generation and type of woman supports the other. Jaime is always at peace with that, trusting each month will be just as it needs to be. She remarked it is more about the "quality of the meeting time than the quantity of people that attend". Of course she believes the more the merrier, and yet at times more deep connection can happen with only a few on hand. 



Coffee and Connection Event at Iron Grind Coffee House



Ladies Night Event with Gift of Hope Boutique

Events are usually free or very low cost (in a situation like a paint or craft night, for supplies, a cost may be included) as Jaime believes there should be as few barriers as possible so all women that want to can attend. These events are carried out in varying locations, each so unique and diverse that you almost get your own amazing tour of Midland as you meet women who are making a difference all over our town. Visiting the events page on the Fill Up Your Cup - Great Lakes Bay Facebook Page will show you the many events that have already been held. Events have been held at places such as coffee houses, local boutiques, studios, parks and health facilities.  October's event was held at Keri Kenney's Alignment 8: Yoga and Cycle where participants discussed positivism and nutrition with Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Taylor Schomaker of Enlightened Nutrition. Participants also joined in a workshop to learn to create some healthy snacks.

Fall Into Wellness Event and Alignment 8: Yoga and Cycle

Healthy Snack Food Prep at Fall Into Wellness Event

Keri Kenney, Owner of Alignment 8, Jamie Krueger and Taylor Schomaker, RDM,
collaborate at Fall Into Wellness Event


When Jaime was asked what makes her small business unique, she said it is simply that there is no agenda or unknown element propelling it. It is simply for women to feel known and worthy of each other's time. Nothing motivates these gatherings except knowing women are out there that desire to connect and gather with other women. Jaime wants women to know they are capable of great things. "Connection needs to be beyond social media" she states, "where we can see the realness in each other and share our stories, memories and what makes us up. Social media has added so much fear and shame. We need to be in physical community and not do things alone". Jamie identified Shannon and Patrick McElgunn of Grove Tea Lounge as some of her first mentors. The McElgunn's brought Jaime into healthier living and the health coaching community which helped her through some trying times and brought her back to the confidence she needed. Through community members and friends such as them, and people like Lisa Thompson of Self Love Beauty, Jaime's passion to serve people and show them the value they have, deepened quickly. She felt her call to move forward out of what was her current demanding job in health care and into her own brave journey in small business ownership and she has been quickly growing and giving women a place ever since.

At Let's Go Midland we ask all Midland's small business owners what they like about Midland, since part of our own mission is to lift up the good in our town. In response Jaime said Midland is a place that is usually based on community over competition in the small business arena. In her opinion, that is something our town needs to keep ignited. Most small business owners around our town know and support each other and that is one reason we often succeed.

So how can you support Jaime!? Below is a graphic that explains ways you could aid in making sure these meetings stay funded so that nothing could dissuade a woman from attending . Maybe you have a space you would like to offer up for a meeting. Perhaps you can inspire and inform with speaking at an event. As Jaime moves forward and builds this year's events she would be thankful for your partnering with her to empower local women.

More than any sponsorship, Jaime wants women to know, they can come off social media, out of solitude and quickly into real time friendships and community... huddled around a cup of coffee, while they fill up their cups. I highly encourage you to attend, support or do both. You will not be sorry as you take your place, know your worth and give place to others as well. You will not walk away empty.



Photos provided by Fill Up Your Cup - Great Lakes Bay and Hope Krotzer

Sponsorship Graphic designed Paper Heart Design

Written By: Hope Krotzer