(SOUTHFIELD, Mich.) – The city of Southfield will commemorate Memorial Day on Friday, May 24 at 9 a.m. on the front steps of Southfield City Hall, 26000 Evergreen Road.

The program will include remarks from Mayor Brenda L. Lawrence and Daniel Brightwell, president of the Southfield Veterans Commission. The ceremony will also include a presentation of colors; 21-Gun Salute; Southfield-Lathrup High School Advanced Choir performance; and the playing of "Taps." Pastor Larry Jordan of Family Victory Fellowship Church will provide the invocation and benediction. Light refreshments will be available in City Hall following the ceremony.

For more information, contact Southfield Community Relations at (248) 796-5130. 

 (SOUTHFIELD, Mich.) – The city of Southfield will host the 11th annual Southfield Flower Day on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m.until 4 p.m. on the front lawn of City Hall, 26000 Evergreen Road at 101Ž2 Mile Road.

“Southfield Flower Day provides the community with a great opportunity to shop for plants and flowers from several local vendors in one convenient location,” commented Mayor Brenda Lawrence. “This is a great time for residents to purchase flowers to spruce up their yards and neighborhoods.”

The event is sponsored by the Mayor and City Council to promote curb appeal and the beautification of Southfield. Many varieties of annual and perennial flowers and plants will be offered for sale from Southfield vendors. Members of theSouthfield Parks and Garden Club will also be on hand offering free gardening advice and tips.

For more information, call Southfield Community Relations at (248) 796-5130.

The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) is recognizing National Women’s Health Week, May 12-May 18, 2013. Please help the NKFM to educate women about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to manage and prevent type 2 diabetes, kidney failure, and other related health complications. I have attached a press release in this email with more information about women’s health and health management.

Women with diabetes have a shorter life expectancy than women without diabetes, and women are at greater risk of blindness from diabetes than men. Additionally, the risk of heart disease is more serious for women with diabetes than men because women with diabetes have lower survival rates and poorer quality of life than men with diabetes. The good news is that diabetes and many diabetes-related complications can be prevented or delayed by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Please consider using this information in your publication or on your publication’s website. Let me know if you have questions.

DETROIT – The Michigan Area Health Education Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and Detroit Public Schools have teamed up to offer high school students a chance to learn about medical careers this summer. The Detroit Pre-Medical Scholars Program, which will run from Monday, July 15 through Friday, August 23, 2013, seeks to broaden students’ understanding of careers in medicine, increase the number of students pursuing careers as physicians, and help students prepare to study on a collegiate level.

The Michigan Area Health Education Center (MI-AHEC), a program of Wayne State University that seeks to improve access to primary care in underserved communities, is collaborating with the School of Medicine to help administer the Detroit Pre-Medical Scholars Program.

“The Detroit Pre-Medical Scholars Program is an initiative aligned with our goal to educate youth about and prepare them for opportunities in the growing health care industry,” said Linda Tarjeft, associate program director of MI-AHEC. “Because our efforts are focused on helping address the shortage of health care workers in Michigan, this program is a great fit for us. We are excited about working with the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Detroit Public Schools to increase the numbers of primary care workers in our state. We appreciate the Grace Guild of Sinai-Grace Hospital, the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, and Sodexo for providing the support that makes this program possible.”

During the six-week program, selected students will work in hospitals or health care centers, including DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital, Henry Ford Hospital, Mercy Primary Care Center, Children’s Hospital, the University Health Center Rosa Parks Clinic at Wayne State University, and Detroit Community Health Connection. Students will attend weekly seminars at the WSU School of Medicine focused on helping them explore various physician specialty areas, examine trends and issues in healthcare, learn and practice professional behavior standards, and interact with successful professionals who will serve as role models.

“The Wayne State University School of Medicine is proud of our partnership with MI-AHEC and the Detroit Public Schools,” said Dr. De’Andrea Wiggins, director of diversity and inclusion for the WSU School of Medicine. “We are excited about providing students with access to the information, tools, and resources they need to succeed and giving them opportunities to shadow, work with, and learn from health care professionals. We hope the students selected will be inspired to work toward a career of service in the medical field as a result of their participation in this program.”

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a stipend, which is being provided by the Grace Guild of Sinai-Grace Hospital and the Detroit Public Schools Foundation through generous support from Sodexo, Inc.

“Exposing students to real world experiences in the STEM fields helps them understand why what they learn in the classroom is important and how to apply it. Being involved in initiatives like the Detroit Pre-Medical Scholars Program better equips them to make informed decisions about their career choices,” said Alycia Meriweather, Executive Director of the Office of Science with Detroit Public Schools. “We are thankful for partners such as Wayne State University and the Michigan Area Health Education Center that make these opportunities possible.”

The program is open to high school juniors enrolled in the Detroit Public Schools system. Applicants should demonstrate interest in becoming a physician and have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better. Interested students must submit an application, two letters of recommendation, and an official transcript. More information about eligibility requirements and program guidelines is available at http://miahec.wayne.edu.

Applications must be received by Friday, May 24, 2013. Students can download an application or complete one online at http://miahec.wayne.edu.

For more information, contact MI-AHEC at (313) 577-5161 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .