Kayla Shannon, 15, of Grand Blanc, works on writing a poem while at her home in Grand Blanc on Dec. 8, 2016. The high school freshman at Grand Blanc High School often uses her poetry to address social justice issues that she encounters in her daily life. "You can never run out of things to say," Shannon said.

John Hardy, of Flint, center, waits for voters to arrive at the Berston Field House polling location to cast their votes during the primary election on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 in Flint, Mich. The ballot included races for Genesee County commissioners, and other local offices from clerks to board members, as well as the Democratic nomination for Genesee County Sheriff.

Deshawn Williams, 10, of Flint, poses with the bike he chose during the Krystal Jo's Diner's Second Annual Bicycle Giveaway on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 in Flint, Michigan. Over 150 bicycles were collected to giveaway to children in the community through a raffle.

Melvin Orellana, 15, left, caught a rebound while his sister Margery Villalta, 11, tied up the hair of their cousin Cinita Lopez, 3, all of Huntingburg, on Wednesday afternoon outside their home in Huntingburg. The cousins took advantage of this week’s unseasonably warm weather — Wednesday’s highs reached into the 60s — and played outside.

James Mason Jr., a Flint native and long-time friend of Donte Williams, lights candles with other friends and family of Williams to remember and to celebrate his life during a vigil service on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 at the Flat Lot in downtown Flint, Mich. Earlier that day, Williams was shot multiple times and killed at the lot. "We ain't have to be blood to be brothers," Mason said of his friend of almost 15 years. "Sometime water is thicker than blood when you've been through the mud. That's how we was."

Charlene Butts, of Fenton, looks at a remnant of the World Trade Center incorporated into a 9/11 memorial that her son helped to design during its installation at Fenton Fire Department's memorial ceremony honoring those lost in the 9/11 attacks on the 15 year anniversary Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 in Fenton, Mich.

Flint resident Dolores Garcia was selected by the city to have her pipes replaced to help protect from lead poisoning. "[The water] was terrible," Garcia said. "They lent me some bottle for them to test [the water] and that’s where they got me. They came here two, three times to test. They fixed [the pipe] and I’m happy, but I haven’t gotten better water. I don’t drink it. I’ve just been using the bottled water. I don’t use the water for nothing, only for my bath [and dishes]. They’re still testing [the water] once every month until February and they’re sending me papers. I won’t drink it until I know that…it is good water." 

Walter Johnson, an employee of Republic Waste Services, collects garbage from Maricela Gonzalez, 4, of Flint, during his rounds on Friday, August 5, 2016 in Flint, Mich. Republic Waste Services continues to collect trash on an interim basis while the city of Flint and its Mayor Karen Weaver's administration work out the details of the city's garbage contract.

Taryn Shappell, a San Franciscan mother of three, helps her 21-month-old twins, Ezra and Eve, to get ready to take her three-year-old son, Benton to preschool. San Francisco has one of the lowest child per capita percentages of any major city in the United States. Less than 14 percent of the city’s population is under the age of 18. The real estate prices continue to rise as new tech businesses move into the area, which puts pressure on families to move away from the city because of the high costs for limited space. The “middle class” San Franciscan family has become a scarcity. “It feels like there’s a divide of people who come in for the short term to make money, but they never plan to stay,” said Taryn Shappell, a San Francisco resident. “And then there’s folks like us, who hope to be here for the long haul.” Shappell and her husband, Jarrod Shappell, moved to the Bay area in 2009 for their work. Four years ago, the couple settled into their current two bedroom apartment in San Francisco after finding out they were expecting their first child. About two years later, the couple found out they were having twins. “Figuring out how to raise a family, especially with more than one kid, it’s like a secret club,” Shappell said.  Shappell said that it’s fairly easy to find a family with one child, two is rare, but having three children is practically unheard of in the city.

Doris Cook embraces her husband, Luther Cook. Doris suffers from late stages of of Alzheimer's disease. In her current state, she can initiate very little interaction with people verbally or physically. Luther's poor health makes it challenging for him to care for his wife, and he treasures the tender moment.“She is the bravest woman I know,” Luther said. “She agreed to marry me when I had no degree, no job, nowhere to live and the buttons on all my shirts had popped off.”

Jeremy Betz of Celestine, right, looks for debris to clear outside the home of his aunt and uncle, Kathy and Ed Vollmer, in Ireland on Wednesday, March 2, 2017. Over 30 friends and family members helped the Vollmer's sift through the damage after a tornado destroyed the couple's home early Wednesday morning.

Flint police officers padlock Liquor Plus Mini Mart after a temporary restraining order was granted by Genesee Circuit Judge Judith Fullerton against the business and its owner on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 on the north side of Flint, Michigan. Three shootings have occurred outside the Liquor Plus Mini Mart since July 29, including the death of 27-year-old Corandis Jenkins, a teenager shot at a vigil for Jenkins and a 10-year-old who was shot inside a vehicle. The restraining order is valid for seven days, in which time Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton will try to have the business closed for an extended period of time.

Deanna Davis, 3, of Flint, watches as people head to their cars as the rain starts to fall during the Back to School Fair on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 in Flint, Michigan.

After pitching several consecutive walks, Enny Romero takes a break in the dugout during a game against the Norfolk Tides at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. 

Paul Averette tosses fallen limbs and brush into a fire at his home in Raleigh. 

Gerald Barrett, of Flint, gives Malaika Bradley, 7, of Flint, a kiss at the annual Flint Jazz Festival on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016 in Flint. 

Cowboys and cowgirls trot around the arena to prepare to compete during the 14th Gaines Community Rodeo at in Gaines, M.I. The rodeo featured steer wrestling, cattle roping and bull riding, as well as other events and activities that drew out hundreds of spectators from Genesee County.