Khalil Amari Allen’s mother, DeLisa Glaspie, right, releases her emotions among close friends and family as balloons fly during a vigil honoring her 18 year-old son, in Southfield on Friday, July 14, 2023. Allen was shot and killed while driving to get food the evening of July 10th. Before Amari left, Glaspie told him, “Khalil, right back,” to which he responded, “OK.” “I just saw so much more for him,” Glaspie said.

Frankie Demeter, 6, of Berkley, explores the light through leaves alongside her mother Dana Demeter, 38, of Berkley, in their backyard on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. “As my daughter was getting older, I could see some of my issues coming out,” Dana said. After struggling with disordered eating her entire adulthood, Frankie’s presence encouraged her to seek therapy to heal her relationship with food. “Seeing a child be so in tune with her emotions and shortcomings,” inspires her, Dana said. “She inspires me because she’s fearless. I want to be better with her.”

A fawn follows Keirstie Carducci, 61, of Ottawa Lake as she makes her way to release a bunny that she brought back to health in Ottawa Lake on Thursday, June 29, 2023. The bunny came to Carducci’s home with head trauma, and wouldn’t stop spinning in circles. After treatment and care for five days, Carducci was able to release the bunny, and watched as it ran straight into the wild. “I just love this so stinkin’ much,” Carducci said while returning to her barn after releasing it. Carducci runs a wildlife rehabilitation center from her backyard, titled Out-Back Wildlife Rehab Center, where she treats fawns, woodchucks, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, rats, moles, voles, shrews and bunnies.

An official in a hazmat suit washes blood off of the sidewalk along Grand River Avenue at Michigan State University outside of the MSU Union on Feb. 14, 2023. The clean-up took place the morning after the MSU community faced a mass shooting, which resulted in the loss of three Spartan lives, Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Jackson Kowar (37) pitches during the eighth inning of a game between Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. The Tigers defeated the Royals on the sizzling 84 degree summer’s day with a score of 9-4.

Tattoo Artist Alex Martinez tattoos the Spartan helmet onto customer and mental healthcare worker, Chelsea Ghastin during the Spartan Strong event at Ink Therapy on Feb. 19, 2023. Hundreds lined up outside of the store, after Ink Therapy Owner Corey Warren offered a deal on pre-selected tattoo options centered around MSU. Each tattoo was $40 and half of the proceeds went to the victims’ families to help cover their expenses. “An event like this by nature is going to bring people together,” Warren said. “What we're doing right now is, we are almost branding ourselves ‘proud to be a Spartan.’”

NaJaRee Nixon, 31, of Southfield, in the forested area outside of her apartment complex in Southfield on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. Nixon said being outside is her “safe space” and that she spent a lot of time in nature during her healing journey from her eating disorder. When Nixon’s “around trees and everything that’s outside of what we constantly have to deal with all day, it’s like a mini vacation and a cleansing,” she said. Being outside, “feels like breathing,” Nixon said. “It feels natural to me.”