Heart of the City Development: Cherie Long – CEO/Founder

After working in the healthcare field for over 23 years and raising a 24-year-old daughter who was born developmentally delayed. I decided it was time to take on a new venture by providing a place for individuals with intellectual and developmental delays to continue to explore and develop daily living skills while also gaining critical skills to help them become productive members of society. Building on my own personal experience as an advocate, I decided to go back to school and major in social work, which I’m currently in my senior year at Saginaw Valley State University. I also decided to start a non-profit business to assist other community members, I purchased my business license in 2022, and volunteered through various agencies to gain valuable feedback on starting a business. I currently provide monthly social events and a variety of services in Saginaw County for the convenience of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

The Heart of the City Development is dedicated to helping individuals live their life to the fullest, while providing an educational and socially engaging atmosphere that creates a better tomorrow. We strive to offer an environment that promotes self-respect, independence, and improves the quality of life for all enrollees.

Focus Areas

We will achieve our mission through three areas of focus: learning, growth, and engagement.

● Learn – We provide a space for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to continue to learn after completing secondary education.

● Grow – Our enrollees will continue to develop and gain daily living skills that are critical to helping them become productive members of society.

● Engage – Social skills are an essential skill that can help individuals of all ages succeed in all aspects of life. Developing these skills allows our enrollees to make positive contributions to society.

STEM Day

Currently, Heart of the City Development Center, in partnership with Delta College and Grateful Love Foundation, is hosting the Ecstatic about STEM community event on June 3, 2023. This exciting, free, one day event features Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics focused activities for community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as those without. This event includes a range of activities covering different STEM topics and connections to exciting STEM careers. The goal of this event is to demonstrate how the inclusion of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities will benefit the community. Community inclusion is important because all people, regardless of their abilities, should be able to participate and engage in a full range of community activities. Community integration for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is essential because it enriches the lives of our family members, as it fulfills the need for human interaction and is a means to skill development for potential employment and daily living.

For more information about Heart of the City Development Center and the upcoming STEM Day contact Cheri by email heartofthecity9809@gmail.com or by phone (989) 778-7899.