Blog / News & Information

19Aug

Community Events & Engagement/ StoryWalk

Unadilla Township Celebrates New StoryWalk at Community Park

Aug19, 2025 Community Events & Engagement/ StoryWalk

A Night of Reading, Walking, and Community On Thursday, August 14, 2025, families gathered at the Unadilla Township Community Park in Gregory to celebrate the kickoff of a brand-new StoryWalk® installation. Children and caregivers strolled along the paved path, stopping at each panel to...

5Aug

First Aid

Saving Lives First Aid & CPR Upcoming Classes for Families and Providers – Fall 2025

Aug5, 2025 First Aid

Saving Lives First Aid & CPR offers many classes for HeartSaver Pediatric Total, which includes First Aid, CPR and AED in Pinckney. Upcoming Dates (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.): Location: Christian House of Prayer, 9949 McGregor Rd., Pinckney Cost: $75 per person. Cost includes:...

4Aug

Community Partner/ StoryWalk

👕 Partner Spotlight: Stop #2 – Simply Cherry Collection

Aug4, 2025 Community Partner/ StoryWalk

We’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on The Simply Cherry Collection, Stop #2 on the Stories in Storefronts StoryWalk® in Downtown Howell! This local gem is more than just a shop—it’s a community connector that celebrates school pride, family bonds, and meaningful partnerships. 💬...

28Jul

Community Partner/ Events/ School

🎒 Ready, Set, School! Back-to-School Event in Livingston County

Jul28, 2025 Community Partner/ Events/ School

Mark your calendar—Saturday, August 2 is the day to get your little ones ready to start the school year strong! Join Great Start Livingston and our partners at the Livingston County Health Department for Ready, Set, School!—a free, fun, and interactive back-to-school event designed...

25Jul

MSU Extension/ Parent Education

Michigan State University Extension Child and Family Development August 2025 Offerings

Jul25, 2025 MSU Extension/ Parent Education

MSU Extension has a wide range of free online classes for parents and caregivers of children of all ages and early childhood professionals. See below for August offerings! Please reach out to your local Extension office or find a Child and Family Development team...

25Jul

Community Partner/ Disability/ Equity

Disability Pride Month: Why It Matters—and Why You Should Care

Jul25, 2025 Community Partner/ Disability/ Equity

By Kasey Hilton, Development Associate / Advocate, Arc Livingston Every July, Disability Pride Month invites us to celebrate—and reckon with—the presence, power, and potential of the largest minority group in the world: the disability community. As a disability advocate, former educator, and mother to a...

23Jul

Community Partner/ Events/ Literacy

A Magical Morning of Storytelling at The AMP

Jul23, 2025 Community Partner/ Events/ Literacy

☀️ Storytelling Under the Sun: A Heartfelt Thank You! What a beautiful morning of storytelling under the sun at The AMP in Downtown Brighton! On July 23, families gathered on picnic blankets, wide-eyed and ready for adventure, as we welcomed the incredible Laura Pershin...

10Jul

Food/ Guest Post/ Health/ MSU Extension

The Picky Problem: Helping Children Overcome Picky Eating with Evidence-Based Approaches

Jul10, 2025 Food/ Guest Post/ Health/ MSU Extension

Let’s talk about something that turns many mealtimes into stressful standoffs — picky eating in children. Whether children are (quote and quote) “just” picky eaters, have more deep-seated food aversions, or are leery of tasting something they haven’t tried before, it can be a...

9Jul

Community Partner/ Events/ Literacy

🌞 Summer Safari Storytime at The AMP – July 23

Jul9, 2025 Community Partner/ Events/ Literacy

Looking for a fun, free, and family-friendly event this summer? Join us on Wednesday, July 23 at 10:00 AM at The AMP in Downtown Brighton for an unforgettable morning of storytelling, laughter, and imagination! As part of the Children’s Summer Series, the Brighton Arts...

30Jun

MSU Extension/ Parent Education

Michigan State University Extension Child and Family Development July 2025 Offerings

Jun30, 2025 MSU Extension/ Parent Education

MSU Extension has a wide range of free online classes for parents and caregivers of children of all ages and early childhood professionals. See below for July offerings! Please reach out to your local Extension office or find a Child and Family Development team...

24Jun

Community Partner/ StoryWalk

🧵 Partner Spotlight: Stop #12 – Alyssum Patch Contemporary Quilt Shop

Jun24, 2025 Community Partner/ StoryWalk

We’re excited to shine a spotlight on Alyssum Patch Contemporary Quilt Shop, Stop #12 on this summer’s Stories in Storefronts StoryWalk® in Downtown Howell! 🌊📚 Owner Angela Beskow shared,💬 “I love that our shop is part of StoryWalk, because I’m also a mom who...

23Jun

Community Partner/ Literacy/ StoryWalk

🌳 A New StoryWalk is Coming to Unadilla Township!

Jun23, 2025 Community Partner/ Literacy/ StoryWalk

📣 Exciting news for our Livingston County littles and their families! We’re thrilled to announce that a brand-new StoryWalk® is coming soon to Unadilla Township Community Park, located between Hadley and Joslin Lake Roads in the southwestern corner of Livingston County. At Great Start...

21Jun

Collaborative Updates

Celebrating 15 Years of Leadership: Robin Schutz’s Impact on Early Childhood in Livingston County

Jun21, 2025 Collaborative Updates

This summer, Great Start Livingston is proud to celebrate a meaningful milestone: 15 years of service by our Great Start Coordinator, Robin Schutz. Robin joined this work nearly at its beginning, and her steady leadership has helped build Great Start Livingston into the collaborative,...

20Jun

Family Coalition

A Summer Evening of Connection at Our Family Coalition Picnic

Jun20, 2025 Family Coalition

We couldn’t have asked for a better evening to wrap up the season with our Great Start Livingston Family Coalition! On Thursday, June 19, families from all across Livingston County came together at Genoa Township Park for a night of connection, laughter, and play....

18Jun

Community Partner/ Literacy/ StoryWalk

🐠 New StoryWalk Story in Fowlerville!

Jun18, 2025 Community Partner/ Literacy/ StoryWalk

We’re making waves in Fowlerville — with a brand-new Book in the StoryWalk featuring the lively, rhyming book “Commotion in the Ocean” by Giles Andreae and David Wojtowycz! 🌊🐙 Now installed at Centennial Park, this StoryWalk is a wonderful way for families with young...

17Jun

Community events/ Literacy/ Livingston County Early Literacy Collaborative

🎶 Books & Beats: A Day of Music, Literacy, and Community Connection 🎉

Jun17, 2025 Community events/ Literacy/ Livingston County Early Literacy Collaborative

We’re still smiling from the joy that filled the air during our recent Books & Beats concert at 2|42 Community Center in Brighton! With more than 300 families joining us to sing, dance, and celebrate early literacy, it was a true reflection of Livingston...