Latest news with #LoriStone
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trailblazing developer leads affordable housing project in Warren
The Brief A groundbreaking was held in Warren on the city's south side for a 20-unit affordable housing development. The project is being led by Faye Baker, one of Metro Detroit's first African American developers. Warren Mayor Lori Stone says the homes will be affordable and sustainable for working families, seniors and individuals. WARREN, Mich. (FOX 2) - It is a major step forward in Warren's south end — a $5.7 million affordable housing project broke ground, led by the area's first African American developer. It's a big move to help families being priced out of homeownership amid Michigan's growing shortage of affordable homes. The project starts in June with 20 energy-efficient single-family residences. Dig deeper Faye Baker is leading this project as the area's first female Black developer – a dream first sparked as single teenage mom. "One of the best things that I did for myself was I purchased my first house at 21," said Baker, of Baker & Associates Realty Group. "It opened so many doors for me and it was just lack of knowledge, you know. "I don't have any special skills. I can't sing, dance, jump very high, but I know about housing and I know about finance. If people could just get those two, they can move mountains. "You don't need to have an 800 credit score. You don't need to have 20% down." Derrick and Alexia Harvey, have lived in their Warren home on the city's south side for 13 years. "When we first moved in, it was good and then it seemed like it was going down - but now with this, I believe it's coming back," said Derrick Harvey. The couple says they are relieved and inspired after the groundbreaking for the affordable housing project set to take place. "It's going to make the whole neighborhood look better," they said. The project is set to open more doors to homeownership in a community which many believe is long overlooked. "This new project will provide those new homes for working families, seniors and individuals," said Warren Mayor Lori Stone. "Homes that are not only affordable, but sustainable and built with their dignity in mind." The Source Interviews with developer Faye Baker, neighbors and comments from the Warren mayor were used in this report.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local Air Force veteran volunteers, gives back to Youngstown VA
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)- Every Tuesday in March we're introducing you to a remarkable woman from right here in the Valley. For Lori Stone, it all comes back to family, her own children and grandchildren, the family she made through her military service, and her volunteer family. Lori Stone's military journey started in 1965. She enlisted after graduating from Austintown Fitch. That was my dream. and back then you might not have known but women were only 2% of the force enlisted,' Stone said. She completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, and was stationed in the Philipines during the Vietnam War before returning to Texas, and then back to Ohio. She retired in 2006 after 33 years of service. 'Back when I started in '65 they never dreamed a woman would go above E-7. So retiring as a chief as an E-9 I kind of went in at 2% and I left at 2% because they had control on how many could be E-9s at that time in the Air Force.' A year after retiring, she was looking for more to do. 'I happened to run into a friend of mine and she goes, why not check into volunteering at the VA?' It started with a few days a week at the Youngstown VA Clinic, then became even more involved when she became the volunteer liaison in 2013. 'You know what the key thing is about the volunteers, they're not doing it for money, but from the heart,' she said. At the VA, she started a fundraising campaign to get a new van to transport veterans. She helped expand the Youngstown VA's food pantry. 'The food pantry working like it is, it seems like that has helped so many more people than anticipated,' she said. She has received several awards. including the 2018 Veteran of the Year by the United Veterans Council of Youngstown. In 2019, she was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. 'When they put my name in, I said 'ok, sure,' I never dreamed I was going to get it,' Stone said. With all her honors, Stone's greatest accomplishment is her family. 'I wouldn't be anyplace without Denise and Tammy, my two daughters, and my mother. those three ladies believed in me,' Stone said. She volunteers every day with her other family. It's the friendship, the other volunteers, the staff, I miss them, they're part of the family,' Stone said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
