Living and Learning Enrichment Center

09/06/2026

🌟 Vocational Staff Spotlight: McKenna G! 🌟

This week, we’re excited to shine the spotlight on McKenna, who joined the Living and Learning team in October 2025! 💙

McKenna is a full-time Job Coach on campus and can often be found supporting our members at Magna, ITC, Continental, and Meijer. No matter where she is coaching, McKenna brings reliability, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to helping our members succeed.

One of McKenna’s greatest strengths is her ability to communicate and advocate for our members. She is always in tune with what is happening throughout their day and makes sure important details are communicated to our case managers, helping create consistency and support for each member.

McKenna is also highly structured and sets high expectations for our members while encouraging them every step of the way. She celebrates their growth, supports them through challenges, and helps them recognize just how much they are capable of accomplishing. 👏

With her professional demeanor and dedication, McKenna represents Living and Learning incredibly well within the community. But behind that professionalism is someone who leads with kindness and brings plenty of fun to the workplace! 😊 Our members truly look up to McKenna, and it’s easy to see why.

We are so grateful to have McKenna on our team and appreciate the reliability, kindness, and dedication she brings to our members every day! 💙

09/05/2026

✨ Your 20s Are Better Together! ✨

Looking for a place to meet others in their 20s, share experiences, have meaningful conversations, and just enjoy spending time with people your age? 💬🎮🎬

Adult 20's is a relaxed social group for individuals in their 20s who require limited support. Each week, the group comes together to talk about the things that matter to them, share advice, set goals, discuss movies and games, talk about upcoming events, and support one another along the way.

Whether you’re looking to make new connections, work toward personal goals, or simply have a great time with others, there’s a place for you here! 💙

🌟 What you can expect:
💬 Meaningful conversations
🎯 Goal setting and personal growth
🤝 Building friendships and connections
🎉 Sharing experiences and having fun together

📅 Saturdays
⏰ 4:30–5:30 PM
👥 Current Living and Learning members ages 20+ who require limited support

🚨 Current members must sign up through Mindbody to attend! 🚨

Come meet your people, share your voice, and make your 20s a little more connected. 💫

09/04/2026

🎉 Happy Work Anniversary to Our September Employees! 🎉

This month, we’re celebrating the incredible team members who are marking a work anniversary with Living & Learning!

Thank you for your dedication, hard work, and all the ways you contribute to our mission and our members.

We’re so grateful to have you as part of the Living & Learning team!

09/04/2026

💐🌱 Fresh, Local & Made With Love! 🌱💐

As everyone gets back into the swing of the school year, don’t forget to stop by our Farm Stand! 🛍️

We’re open Monday–Friday from 10:00 AM–2:30 PM at our main location, and there’s always something new to discover! 🌻

Shop fresh and handmade items including:
🥬 Fresh veggies
💐 Fresh flower bouquets
🥚 Farm-fresh eggs
💍 Handmade jewelry
🦙 Alpaca socks
🕯️ Candles
🌿Lavender sachets
🎨 Artwork created right here at our very own Baseline Studio
…and more!

📍 Stopping by the Farm Stand? Head to the main entrance, ring the doorbell, and one of our members will be happy to come out, assist you, and answer any questions!

Can’t make it during Farm Stand hours? Give us a call ahead of time and we can set aside what you need for you! 📞

💬 Now we want to know: What’s your favorite thing to buy at our Farm Stand? 🌻Tell us in the comments below! 👇

09/03/2026

Vocational Jobsite Spotlight: Stellantis! 🚗🍽️

Our team members have the opportunity to work alongside the Continental Kitchen staff at Stellantis in Auburn Hills almost every day, and they are gaining valuable skills with every visit!

From food prep and folding pizza boxes to restocking supplies, counting inventory, labeling items, and keeping the serving line neat and clean, our members take on a variety of tasks that help them build confidence, independence, and valuable workplace skills.

The Continental Kitchen staff is incredibly supportive and works alongside our team members to guide them through the tasks needed each day. Their partnership provides our members with new opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge themselves in a real-world work environment.

We are so grateful to Stellantis and their kitchen services crew for creating meaningful opportunities for our members and supporting their success! 💙

09/02/2026

Do you love fresh veggies straight from the garden? 🥕🌱 We may have just what you’re looking for!

Our members work year-round to plant, maintain, and harvest our gardens, and this time of year, they’re growing LOTS of fresh vegetables! 🥬🍅🥒

Stop by our Farm Stand and pick up some fresh, locally grown veggies while supporting the incredible work our members do! 💚

📍 Open Monday–Friday
⏰ 10:00 AM–2:30 PM

Have questions? Give us a call at 248-308-3592. We’re happy to help!

09/02/2026

💙 Thank You for Joining Us! 💙

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Parent Connection Gathering! We loved spending time together, sharing good conversation, and strengthening the connections within our Living and Learning parent community.

A special thank you to Little Palm in Commerce Township for providing the delicious food! We were so grateful to enjoy their authentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors while connecting with one another. 🥙✨

Interested in learning more about our Parent Gatherings and how you can get involved? Contact Cathie Gallant, Parent Support Liaison, at [email protected] for more information. We’d love to have you join us at an upcoming gathering!

We look forward to seeing you at our next Parent Connection event! 💙

09/01/2026

✨ Employment Services Member Spotlight ✨

Congratulations to Donovan on securing employment at Lowe's Home Improvement in Southfield as a Garden Center Associate! 🌿👏

In his role, Donovan assists customers with loading merchandise such as soil, flowers, and mulch into their vehicles, retrieves carts, and helps maintain an organized and efficient outdoor shopping environment. His strong work ethic, adaptability, and commitment to workplace success shine through each day on the job.

Donovan brings experience in both retail and technical environments, allowing him to quickly adapt to new responsibilities while maintaining excellent attention to detail and customer support. He is recognized as a hardworking and dependable team player who consistently brings kindness, positivity, and motivation to the workplace.

His willingness to support both customers and coworkers helps create a welcoming and productive environment for everyone around him. Donovan approaches each workday with determination and pride, and we are so proud to see him thriving in his new position.

Congratulations, Donovan! We can’t wait to see all you continue to accomplish at! 💙

08/31/2026

📺🌱 We’re on FOX 2 Detroit!

We were so excited to welcome Erica Francis from FOX 2 Detroit to Living and Learning Enrichment Center for a special look at our programs, our incredible members, and the work happening every day at our Farm! 🌻🐓

From building job skills and independence to caring for animals, growing fresh produce, and being part of a community, our Farm is so much more than a place to work. It’s a place where our members can learn, grow, gain confidence, and discover what they’re capable of. 💚

A huge thank you to Erica Francis and the FOX 2 team for spending time with us and helping share the Living and Learning story with the community. We are so proud of our members and all they accomplish each day!

Watch the full FOX 2 segment here: https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/fmc-s6q3yuafxel9ybnq

When Rachelle Vartanian couldn’t find programs to help her teenage son, who has autism, build the skills he would need for adulthood, she made an extraordinary decision: she sold her house and took a buyout from her job to create one herself. That decision became the Living and Learning Enrichment...