9/11 Day of Service: Building Homes in Lansing

This week, I had the chance to witness state employees from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) as they teamed up with Habitat for Humanity Capital Region for the 9/11 National Day of Service.

And trust me—it wasn't just photo-ops and speeches. State employees rolled up their sleeves: shoveling dirt and mulch, erecting a fence, making a real difference in a neighborhood that needed it.

What Is LEO Gives Back?

Photo Credit: Scott Clow

The initiative, called LEO Gives Back, lets state employees use their leave time to volunteer. That part hit me—these folks didn’t just show up because they had to; they showed up because they wanted to..

From land clean-ups and building new structures to repairing century-old homes, the work was gritty—as well as deeply meaningful. I watched workers and Habitat volunteers working shoulder-to-shoulder, proving that for some, affordable housing isn't just a mission statement—it's a hands-on job.

Housing Not Just A Mission – Real Impact

Photo Credit: Scott Clow

Amy Hovey, Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) CEO, summed it up perfectly:

Volunteer days like this remind us that the work we do together will continue to strengthen families and neighborhoods long after the hammers are put away.

Why 9/11 Day of Service Matters in Michigan

Photo Credit: Scott Clow

Volunteers seemed to feel this was more than honoring 9/11’s memory—it was ensuring future families have safe places to call home.. Ironically, the same group of volunteers was the first on site a year ago.

Today, they put the finishing touches on a backyard cleared of overgrowth in 2024. Here's a look at the work LEO and Habitat for Humanity Capital Region have done in Lansing, on Ferguson Street off Michigan Avenue.

Photo Credit: Scott Clow

Lansing’s Historic Gilded Age Landmarks Still Standing

Lansing, Michigan's Gilded Age Michigan State Capitol is just one example of that era's architecture. Here's a look at five Gilded Age buildings that still stand in the Capitol City today.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Inside Lansing's Knapp's Department Store: See How it Looks Today

On what has been called a historical site long before the store was built, the land at 300 S Washington Avenue in downtown Lansing, Michigan, has been home to the Knapp's Department Store Building since 1937. After the fall of Knapp's in 1980, it found new life as offices for the State of Michigan. The top floors have been refurbished as offices and apartments, but a new project is underway in the former 1st floor and mezzanine thanks to the Eyde Company and Downtown Lansing Inc. Here's a look at how Knapp's Department store looks today.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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