Hey BridgeDetroit readers! 👋

Meet Niesha Lee. She’s the creator of Inspiring Hair, a mobile salon providing free services for people experiencing homelessness.

In June, we spent an afternoon with Lee at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries Genesis House II shelter to catch a glimpse of her in action. In the basement of the family shelter on Detroit’s west side, she turned the space into a makeshift salon where she pampered shelter residents, combing and straightening hair, arching eyebrows and applying lashes. 

For Lee, the work is personal.

She’s one of BridgeDetroit’s Resilience in the D honorees. The five-part series commemorates our newsroom’s fifth anniversary and recognizes Detroiters who have made a difference. 

Read Lee’s story and follow along to learn about other unsung heroes in Detroit. 

 On Your Radar

🏘️PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION HELP: The city of Detroit and its partners are hosting events into the fall to help qualifying homeowners apply for the HOPE program, to reduce property taxes, and provide other resources. The deadline for the HOPE program is Nov. 7. For more information, go to www.detroitmi.gov/HOPE or call 313-244-0274. Here are the in-person events: 

• Saturday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Abayomi Community Development Corp. (24331 Eight Mile W., Detroit, 48219) 
• Thursday, Sept. 18, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at S t. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center (19321 W. Chicago, Detroit, 48228) 
• Friday, Oct. 24,10 a.m. to 3 p.m. atthe Northwest Activities Center (18100 Meyers, Detroit, 48235)
• Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Perfecting Church (7616 E. Nevada, Detroit, 48234)

👶CASH AID: Supporters of a fast-growing cash aid program for Michigan moms and babies urged lawmakers last week to expand the program, born out of Flint and now operating in eight other communities, even further across the state. LEARN MORE.