Detroit Metropolitan Apartment Association brings the joy of reading
Photo courtesy of Detroit Metropolitan Apartment Association (DMAA) Communications Committee. LEFT: Cal Wise, Dawn Ford, Joanne Giacomantonio and Stephanie Linton from the DMAA Communications Committee hold copies of “Miles Finds a New Friend.”
Blossoming book worms from Oakland Family Services’ Children’s Learning Center were treated to a live virtual reading of “Miles Finds a New Friend” May 20.
Members of the Detroit Metropolitan Apartment Association (DMAA) Communications Committee volunteered their time and vocal talents to Oakland Family Services’ literacy program. Dawn Ford, committee chair, and Stephanie Linton, committee vice-chair, with committee members, Joanne Giacomantonio, Cal Wise, Megan Orser and Peggy Ellis took turns reading and making the characters come alive.
"We're so grateful for their creativity and generosity in putting this together,” said Nikki Serra, volunteer & engagement coordinator at Oakland Family Services.
After volunteering with Oakland Family Services’ during the holidays in 2020, Linton felt a connection to Oakland Family Services’ vision of creating communities of thriving individuals and families.
“When I market multi-family housing, I don't want to just rent apartments. I want to give people a home and a community experience,” Linton said. “I learned about Oakland Family Services when hosting virtual tours of homes and I love what Oakland Family Services represents and how many people it is able to help in Metro Detroit.”
The DMAA provides property owners and property management companies education opportunities; a network of vendors to help support the properties; and legislative representatives in local, state, and national governments. Their goal is to empower and educate property owners and property management companies so that they can provide the best housing solutions for families.
During the virtual reading, one child spoke up and asked to see the pictures better. Through his honesty, Linton knew she had to get copies of the book for these young readers. Peggy Ellis and her husband, Mike, donated 10 signed copies of “Miles Finds a New Friend.”
The book was written and illustrated by Metro Detroit-native Jamie Ruthenberg Miller and is the latest in the series. In each book, Miles learns about “kindness, empathy, generosity, respect for others, and peaceful conflict resolution,” according to Jamie’s website.
The DMAA Communications Committee and Linton, who is a finalist for the National Apartment Association’s Emerging Leader of the Year Award, plan on continuing to collaborate with Oakland Family Services’ efforts to build brighter futures.
“Volunteer readers have been a highlight of our in-person volunteer program, and groups like DMAA have ensured this experience translated successfully into the virtual world.”