Scholarship Spotlight: Zoie Langston

Zoie Langston is able to balance work and school to achieve her dream of being a therapist, thanks, in part, to a Scholarship from the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation. On the weekends, she is the unit clerk at Chelsea Retirement Community’s Kresge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, where she has worked for the past year. During the week, Zoie is pursuing her Master’s of Social Work (MSW) degree at Michigan State University and is set to graduate in May 2027.

“I am furthering my education because I am passionate about mental health in marginalized communities,” says Zoie. “The mental health field continues to need passionate workers. As a person of color, being able to talk about mental health among the black community is so important to help combat negative stigma and misinformation.”

In Zoie’s role at CRC, she works primarily with adults who are at the Kresge Center for short-term rehabilitation. She especially enjoys the people she gets to know, of all ages and backgrounds. “Everything connects to relationships,” Zoie says. “Meeting so many different people and hearing about their life experiences and learning from them is really special. They are often stressed about coming to rehabilitation. As the unit clerk, I can talk to them, arrange transportation to their doctor appointments, and help take away some of their worry. They are really appreciative.”

Zoie says she is grateful to all those who donate to the Foundation’s Scholarship Fund, part of the Team Member Support Services program. “Because of your support, I can continue pursuing my education with confidence and focus, and this scholarship eases the financial burden, while reminding me that others believe in my potential.”

Your gifts to Team Member Support Services help Brio Living Services team members, like Zoie, make their dreams come true! Learn more about how you can help.