22 | AUGUST 17 • 2023
OUR COMMUNITY
O
n 75 acres of wood-
ed land in Superior
Township, a safe space
for young adults struggling with
depression, anxiety and suicidal
thoughts is becoming a reality.
After a lengthy battle, Superior
Township trustees voted 5-2 in
mid-July to approve the campus
for Garrett’s Space, a suicide
prevention nonprofit founded in
honor of Garrett Halpert, a Jewish
community member who lost his
life to suicide in 2017 at age 23.
Currently, Garrett’s Space offers
online therapy and some in-per-
son group therapy for young
adults, but the Superior Township
campus will give the nonprofit a
chance to expand its services to
include residential treatment for
people ages 18-28.
Garrett’s Space was also the
recent recipient of a $4 million
federal funding seed.
Plans for the center come at a
critical time when an estimated
more than one in 10 youths in the
U.S. experience severe depression
that impacts their ability to func-
tion. Suicide is also the second
leading cause of death for youth
and young adults ages 10-24 years
in Michigan.
Unlike traditional psychiatric
facilities, Garrett’s Space will
be surrounded by nature — as
Garrett loved to be — and peace-
ful, tranquil surroundings. On
the campus will be a 32-room
private residence center, studio
space and areas for day pro-
gramming, including yoga and
meditation.
Still, not everyone was in favor
of moving forward with the
space.
Garrett’s Space was opposed by
some Superior Township neigh-
bors who had various reasons
for disagreeing with the concept.
Some believed it would lead to
more development in what is tra-
ditionally a large, sprawling area
with farmland.
Others weren’t comfortable
with having young adults entering
and leaving the center who were
struggling with mental health
crises. In general, some neighbors
simply didn’t feel Garrett’s Space
was a fit for Superior Township.
Voices were expressed in favor
of and opposing Garrett’s Space.
Hundreds of emails and letters
circulated back and forth, and
numerous packed meetings
explored the plan. Finally, after
much debate, Garrett’s Space was
approved.
The center is poised to fill
a much-needed gap in mental
health care, especially locally,
as residential treatment often
requires long waits or long drives
out of state.
With a holistic approach to
mental illness, peer support and
research-backed care, construc-
tion for Garrett’s Space is slated
to begin next summer. Day pro-
gramming is expected to start in
2026, with the residential pro-
gram starting in 2027.
Plan for Garrett’s Space campus is moving forward following a long battle.
Suicide Prevention Center Approved
Near Ann Arbor
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The late
Garrett Halpert
In-Person
Fundraiser
Garrett’s Space will host
Go4GarrettsSpace, its first
in-person fundraiser, on Aug.
25 in the Morris Lawrence
Building on the Washtenaw
Community College Campus
from 6-10 p.m.
The 4th annual
Go4GarrettsSpace will raise
funds to support the Garrett’s
Space wellness program and
the establishment of a holisti-
cally focused residential center
for young adults ages 18-28
struggling with depression
and anxiety. It will be filled
with musical performances,
presentations from well-known
performers and inspirational
speakers touched by suicide,
along with healing activities
such as yoga, fitness and med-
itation sessions. At 7:30 p.m.,
the Halperts will speak and
also honor Ellie Serras with the
first Spirit of Garrett award.
The event will feature an
array of a capella groups,
Broadway performers, classical
musicians, jazz ensembles and
popular artists, including Los
Angeles-based R&B/soul sing-
er/songwriter Jacob Sigman.
The event will also feature
video presentations from
accomplished performers and
musicians including:
• Lucy Liu, award-winning
actress
• Wynonna Judd, musician
• Rachel Bloom, star of My
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
• Phillipa Soo, who played
Eliza in Hamilton and is
now starring in Camelot on
Broadway
• J. Smith Cameron, nominat-
ed for an Emmy for her role as
Gerri on Succession
• Santa Ono, University of
Michigan president
The fundraiser is being
produced and hosted by
Mario Sulaksana, a musician
who was one of Garrett’s
closest friends. He’ll be
joined by Chelsea Goen, a
New York-based actor who
recently finished performing
in a national tour of Wicked.
There will be a silent auc-
tion with over 100 amazing
items donated by communi-
ty businesses and individu-
als. Tickets start at $10 and
are available at https://give-
butter.com/lnxOQp.
The event will also be
livestreamed for those
unable to attend in person.