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.

