Our speaker, Suzanne Van Dam, lives in Ypsilanti, where she works for Friends in Deed https://www.friendsindeedmi.org/. For over 35 years, the agency has worked to help neighbors in need by filling in the cracks of assistance offered by other organizations and nonprofits in the community. Suzanne has applied her grant writing and organizing skills to help launch a local chapter of a national program called “Circles.” Circles is a relationship-based program designed to help families move out of poverty permanently. It matches low-income individuals (or families) with two middle-income partners. These new friends (Allies) help broaden their social network, giving access to people and knowledge that they might never have if they only relate to their neighbors in poverty.
About Suzanne
Suzanne Van Dam, a former member of KUUF, lived in the Keweenaw for more than 20 years. While there she wore a many hats which included working or volunteering with UPEC, BHK Child Development Board, Finlandia University, the Keweenaw Land Trust, and Little Brothers Friend of the Elderly. She was also instrumental in starting the Copper Country Recycling Initiative.
At the end of the Forum, the Zoom meeting will remain open for everyone to enjoy each other’s company and find out what we’re all up to!
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Topics: Forums