December 24, 2021


What's Happening at NSO?
Mission Moment
Clients got into the holiday spirit expressing themselves by drawing gingerbread houses and holiday cars.   

NSO Art Therapy is open to clients receiving services from NSO.
 For more information, contact Janis Kaufman at Jkaufman@nso-mi.org or to donate click here.
2021 NSO Holiday Elf Program
We are collecting donations until we meet our goal!
This year, we're continuing to make some adjustments to our annual NSO Holiday Elf Program due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
To minimize social contact for our clients, donors, and staff, we are asking our Holiday Elves to donate $25 gift cards from one of the locations listed below or funds to purchase these gift cards. Gift cards will be given to our formerly homeless clients living and receiving services at the NSO Bell Building, Clay Apartments and in scattered site housing. Thank you to those who have already donated. We still need to meet our 250 gift card goal.

You can make a monetary donation and NSO will purchase gift cards on your behalf.
THANK YOU
Many thanks to all the individuals who have donated for this year’s program. A special thanks to Sheilah Clay, Deborah Linley and team Off the Wall, and Gilbane for supporting the Holiday Elf program. Their combined efforts brought in a total of 113 gift cards.
Bringing Awareness to Colon Cancer
Legendary Rapper Kangol Kid Passes Away at 55 After Battle with Colon Cancer 
Kangol Kid, a member of the legendary hip-hop group UTFO known for creating the battle rap craze with their hit “Roxanne, Roxanne”, has passed away after a battle with colon cancer. He was 55.
(Photo credit: Instagram)
The family of Kangol Kid (real name Shaun Shiller Fequiere) said in a statement that he died peacefully around 3 a.m. Saturday at a hospital in Manhasset, New York. He was diagnosed with cancer in February.

Kid was known for often sporting the popular Kangol headwear and being a member of UTFO, which stands for Untouchable Force Organization. The four-member group was known for 1980s hits including “Roxanne, Roxanne” and “Ya Cold Wanna Be With Me.” One of his beloved newsboy-style Kangol hats is included in the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
NSO Raising Awareness in the Community
Colorectal Pop-Up at Detroit Branch NAACP Shop Detroit

NSO’s Chief Community Impact Officer Katrina McCree was on hand at the NAACP Detroit’s Shop Detroit event to provide education on the risks of colorectal cancer.
Photo Credit: Andre Smith
Colorectal Cancer Test Kits
As a Good Down There Ambassador, NSO distribute screening kits and educational materials. Kit distribution will focus on African American/Black people, 45 years of age or older.

Each kit includes a complimentary Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) which tests human hemoglobin (blood) in the stool. A positive result can indicate a colorectal cancer or polyp that needs to be removed. Addressing a positive result early is essential to minimize the chances of a bad health outcome in the future.
Request a testing kit today by emailing corporateaffairs@nso-mi.org
THE FIT TEST
Neither Cottonelle nor BLKHLTH are formally affiliated with Pinnacle BioLabs. The Fecal Immunochemical Test, or FIT tests human hemoglobin (blood) in the stool. A positive result can indicate a colorectal cancer or polyp that needs to be removed. Addressing a positive result early is essential to minimize the chances of a bad health outcome in the future. Please be sure to contact your medical professional or the Colorectal Cancer Alliance Helpline to discuss the required follow-up care, which should include a colonoscopy. For more information on this screening, visit pblabs.com.
Do Your Part: Prepare. Protect. Prevent.
It’s official. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone who’s 16 and older.
As a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan or Blue Care Network member, the COVID-19 vaccine booster is available at no cost to you.
Here’s some helpful information to know:
If you received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you’re eligible for the booster six months after your second dose of the vaccine.
Those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get the booster two months after their initial dose.
Health officials with the CDC and FDA advise individuals to attempt to receive a booster of the same brand as their original shot. However, officials also say that mixing and matching vaccine brands is appropriate, so we can choose which vaccine we receive as a booster dose.
Stay on top of COVID-19 news
Visit BCBS blog at mibluesperspective.com. BCBS update the site regularly. You can also check out bcbsm.com/coronavirus to find out more about your care options during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NSO Mission
We facilitate dreams by promoting equity for all, using innovative
 solutions to bridge gaps in housing, health, and well-being.
Neighborhood Service Organization
313-961-4890