our signature events

Three graduates pose with diplomas in front of vibrant graffiti art.

City-Wide Open House

Since 2020, we have hosted an annual, city-wide open house celebration for Lansing School District graduates immediately following their commencement ceremony. This event brings the entire community together to honor their hard work, celebrate their achievements, and connect them with the vital resources and networks needed to propel them confidently into their next chapter.

People gathered outdoors, engaging in an activity with backpacks and supplies.

Back to School Backpack Giveaway

In partnership with LAFCU, The Village Lansing offers free backpacks filled with school supplies to prepare students for the upcoming school year. We also partner with organizations to provide other school needs, such as hygiene supplies, clothes, and shoes.

Children and adults gather around an inflatable slide at a park event.

Rebuilding the Village Block Party

Located at The Village in the former Reo School, this event is hosted right in the heart of South Lansing. We invite all neighbors to come out, fellowship, and get connected with one another, as well as with local organizations and vital resources. The mission of this gathering is to re-establish our neighborhoods as true "villages"—places where we know our neighbors by name, look out for one another, and work together to uplift our community.

People gather outdoors for a community event with food distribution and socializing.

Trunk or Treat

Since 2019 The Village Lansing has hosted our Trunk or Treat annually on Halloween. This has become an annual tradition for families in the area, offering a safe, family-friendly Trick or Treating experience. Dozens of trunks line the parking lot while we welcome hundreds of families each year!

The Village Lansing's Annual city-wide open house

The Village's City-Wide Open House tradition was born in 2020 when the pandemic completely disrupted graduation plans for our seniors. When traditional commencement plans changed and personal open houses were canceled, our team quickly coordinated our inaugural City-Wide Open House on the Capitol Lawn. We invited every graduate and their families to come together for food, live music, and fellowship immediately following their ceremony. Thanks to a community donation fund, every single graduate who attended walked away with a share of cash, and over a dozen local partners were on-site to hand out resources the youth could use as they transitioned into adulthood.

Seven years later, this has grown into a powerful annual tradition. It is a massive showcase of the pride and support this city has for our youth as they step into their next chapter. We also recognize that for many of our graduates, a personal open house at home isn't an option due to financial or logistical hurdles, which makes this collective space even more meaningful. It guarantees that every single Lansing graduate feels seen, valued, and celebrated by their entire community, regardless of their circumstances.

We are grateful to the support of our community partners each year to help us make this event possible. Dozens of partners have supported through resource tables, sponsorships, prize donations, and volunteering. Every single year, it is the collective power of our village that makes this day so deeply impactful for our kids.

If you or your organization want to get involved, sponsor a graduate, or lock in a resource table for this upcoming graduation season, please reach out to us at thevillagelansing@gmail.com.

Stay tuned for the Class of 2027!

For more information on this event or how to get involved, please reach out!

thevillagelansing@gmail.com

back to school backpack giveaway

We believe that every student should start their school year on the right foot, stocked with all of the supplies needed to succeed! We host our annual Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway in partnership with LAFCU on the very last weekend before the school year begins, catching all families that weren't able to attend other giveaways throughout the season.

Our key partner, LAFCU hosts school supply drop-off sites in their branches across the entire city. Because of this incredible community support, we are able to provide hundreds of Lansing families with brand-new backpacks stuffed to the brim with essential school supplies. We also work hard to secure hygiene products, clothes, and shoes for our youth. Last year alone, we came together to distribute over 400 fully-stocked backpacks to local students of all ages.

To keep up with the growing needs of our community, we are always looking to expand our reach. We are actively seeking additional donations of school supplies, hygiene products, and children's clothing or shoes. We are also looking for local businesses, churches, and community organizations willing host a donation drop-off box at their location. If you want to donate supplies, host a drop-off site, or get your team involved, please reach out to us today to get connected!