Positively Detroit

Jackson was a committed community advocate and a fighter for equality education for all Children. She volunteered daily at Paul Robeson Malcolm X, working in the lunchroom, gym, classrooms, hallways and as a front door greeter.

Students, parents and school official purchased a Kwanzan cherry tree that was planted on Oct. 12. Joining students at the ceremony was Detroit City Councilman Roy McCalister, State Representative Latonya Garrett, members of the Martin Park Block Club, two area pastors, family and friends.

In June 2018, Jackson passed out while commenting during a school board meeting. She never regained consciousness and died on Sept. 19 at age 74.

The tree serves as a symbol of the seeds she planted and nourished for quality education. A plague commemorating her efforts was also purchased by the PTA.

Remembering sacrifices made by veterans, Nov. 12

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson reminds residents that, in honor of Veterans Day, all Secretary of State offices and the Office of the Great Seal will be closed Monday, Nov. 12. She also encouraged people to thank veterans for their service and sacrifice.

“I had a rare opportunity to visit our troops in the Middle East in 2012 to study how to make overseas voting easier for those in the military,” Johnson said. “I will never forget the sense of honor, duty and patriotism that those young men and women displayed in spite of the terrible conditions. We owe everyone who has ever served this country a great debt for their service and sacrifice.”

Given the great number of veterans who live here, Johnson has unveiled a number of initiatives in support of them:

Creating a veteran designation on driver’s licenses and state ID cards that helps identify Michigan veterans so they can be connected with the benefits they have earned and deserved.

Pushing new ways to ensure that military personnel have their votes counted on Election Day, such as successfully advocating to extend a federal write-in ballot to state and local races.

Waiving road tests for veterans applying for a Commercial Driver License to help their transition to civilian life if they have sufficient heavy truck experience in the military.

Offering more than two dozen military license plates that are available for veterans allowing them to display their service with pride.

“Patriotism and service run deep in Michigan,” Johnson added. “This Veterans Day, take a moment to thank a vet for his or her service.”

Because of the Veterans Day closure, Johnson recommends residents find alternate ways or days to get their Secretary of State business done.

Plates can be renewed at www.ExpressSOS.com with Print ‘N Go technology that allows users to buy their tabs online and print a receipt to carry with them until their tabs arrive in the mail. Easy to follow instructions can be found with the renewal notice. In addition to renewing driver’s licenses and plates online, www.ExpressSOS.com customers also can submit changes of address, renew or replace vehicle and watercraft registrations, request duplicate titles and enroll to be organ donors.

Licenses and plates that expire on a day when state offices are closed, such as a holiday or weekend, may be renewed the following day without penalty.

License plate tabs also can be renewed at Self-Service Stations, many of which are available around the clock. Visit the Branch Office Locator at www.michigan.gov/sos to find a Self-Service Station near you.

Originally known as Armistice Day, this special Nov. 12 holiday was first celebrated in 1919 to recognize the men and women who died during World War 1. In 1938, it became an official federal holiday. The name was changed to Veterans Day in the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War to commemorate veterans of all wars.

Turn your community inside out in 2019 with DIA reproductions

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is recruiting city representatives, downtown development authorities and arts organizations in communities interested in displaying high-quality reproductions of masterpieces from the DIA’s collection in their cities as part of the museum’s popular Inside|Out program.

Now in its 10th year, Inside|Out shares the richness and diversity of the museum’s extensive collection outside the museum walls in places where people live, work and play. Communities can choose April to July 2019 or August to October 2019 to host seven to 12 reproductions to be clustered within walking or bike-riding distance of each other.

Cities and businesses that take part in Inside|Out will be featured on a map on the DIA’s website and promoted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The museum will also assist community leaders in developing educational programs in conjunction with Inside|Out to engage people with the reproductions and inspire them to visit the museum to see the originals. Past events have included a wine-tasting bus tour, bike and walking tours, talks at local libraries and art galleries and art festivals.

Interested communities are asked to submit an application by Nov. 16. An application does not guarantee a slot but will help the museum determine locations for 2019. Preference will be given to communities in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and to those that have not participated before. Municipalities are chosen based on a variety of criteria including community interest, desired outcomes, and location.

To request an application or for more information about Inside|Out, contact Jillian Reese at jreese@dia.org.

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA’s collection is known for its quality, range and depth. The DIA’s mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art.

Programs are made possible with support from residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.