On October 29th, Jen Bingaman and MaryJo Harris of The Family Center spoke about the organization’s 25 years of empowering families, expanding mental health initiatives, and strengthening community connections across Grosse Pointe and Harper Woods.
On October 29th, we welcomed Jen Bingaman, Executive Director of The Family Center, and MaryJo Harris, Director of Programs and Administration. Both have been with the organization for the past five years and continue to advance The Family Center’s mission of building happier, healthier families.
This year marks 25 years of empowering families and enriching lives. The Family Center offers over 100 programs and events, including preschool playtime, community yoga, and book clubs, serving more than 62,000 families. Within the past year alone, they’ve seen a 42% increase in program attendance.
A major focus of The Family Center is mental health and crisis prevention. They heavily promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, provide resources for individuals with special needs, and host an annual Special Needs Resource Fair through their Special Needs Resource Alliance.
The organization also leads the Healthy Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods Coalition, which works to prevent substance misuse and promote mental health, especially among teens, through education, collaboration, and action. They’ve hosted numerous free Narcan trainings and partnered with local schools in Grosse Pointe, Harper Woods, and Detroit for mental health and prevention programs, featuring activities like yoga, therapy dogs, and blanket-making.
All Family Center events are free to the public and often held at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, including large gatherings such as the recent Join or Die event, which drew over 450 attendees.
Upcoming events include Movember Men’s Night Out on November 12th at 6:30 p.m., featuring guest speakers promoting physical and mental health, and Hollyfest on November 20th at 7 p.m., celebrating 25 years of The Family Center’s impact.