Author Archives: Helen Johnson

The MML Foundation recognizes that successful local government is central to the social, cultural, and economic recovery from the pandemic. To be successful, every municipality needs engaged and active citizens. A strong civic base is key to ensuring good governance and creating an equitable and vibrant place. A strong local economy is essential in supporting a strong civic base. The … Read More

The Michigan Municipal League Foundation announced today recipients of its Bridge Builders microgrant program. The projects supported include 17 grant recipients that reimagined the future of their communities in a way that value and celebrate individual well-being, diversity, and culture as local community assets. The Bridge Builders Project began as a pilot program in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 … Read More

The MML Foundation is so proud of all that has been achieved with Census 2020. We were fortunate to see strong, resilient leadership in every corner of our State. And we were privileged to work with an array of great partners including our funding partners: DTE Foundation, AT&T, Consumer’s Energy, Delta Dental, Michigan Energy First, and the Michigan Regional Council … Read More

In February of 2019, I started a new creative journey. For years, I’d wanted to make sourdough bread. I grew up in a home where homemade bread was the norm, but we’d never done sourdough. I fell in love with the flavor of sourdough as an adult and wanted to produce THAT at home, but the timing had just never … Read More

Let’s embrace our culture and re-imagine what places that truly support people look like. How do we take cues from the positive ways that we are spending our time during a crisis and build on those things moving forward?… Read More

I am humbled and thrilled to have joined the Michigan Municipal League Foundation as president. For the last 20+ years, including as the founder of CityLove Collaborative, VP at the Quicken Loans Community Fund, Program Officer at the Kresge Foundation, and Co-Founder of CreateHere, I have been privileged to build and implement bold, entrepreneurial and innovative nonprofit and philanthropic work … Read More