Community organization 517 Living (517Living.com) has been promoting goodness in the Greater Lansing (517) Michigan Area since 2014. Founded by Sarah Pierce, the website and social platform uses its ONE Calendar to build awareness of the Best Events happening throughout the year.
In 2022 Pierce introduced the prestigious merit 517 Living Community Member of the Month, bestowing the honor to Lansing City Council 3rd Ward Representative Adam Hussain in December of that year.
In this interview Hussain shares details about who he is, what he does, and what he loves about living in the Greater Lansing Michigan Area.
Who are you?
My name is Adam Hussain. I am a lifelong resident of SW Lansing. I am a proud graduate of the Lansing School District and majored in Education at Michigan State University. I have taught Social Studies at Waverly Middle School for the past 12 years. I have also served on my neighborhood association’s board of directors for the past 15 years, served on the Lansing Parks Board for 5 years, and have spent the last 7 years as the 3rd Ward Representative on the Lansing City Council. I have an amazing wife who I have been married to for 14 years and three amazing daughters. I love this community and am so proud to be a small part of it.
Tell us about a recent uplifting experience you had in the Greater Lansing Area.
At the end of October, the Southwest Action Group (SWAG), as an effort to thank residents and business owners in Southwest Lansing that have worked tirelessly to advocate for and advance the area, held a Backyard BBQ event. I was blown away by the turnout, the fellowship, the ideas shared, and the relationships that were formed. The love for our community was evident and the energy was infectious. It’s events like these that reinforce my belief in this community and our people.
What’s the most recent “new” (to you) local business or organization you’ve enjoyed discovering?
Siraj Bakery at 3700 S. Waverly, Ste. E. Siraj is an incredible restaurant I first tried as an effort to support them through road construction and interruptions in their normal flow of traffic. Siraj serves a variety of Middle Eastern foods including tabouli, grape leaves and moussaka, hummus, meat and spinach pies and more. The owner, Khaled Eshkuntana, greets each customer with a warm falafel and a smile. The food is amazing and the staff is incredible. I highly recommend giving it a try,
What is one thing, big or small, that you love about living in the Greater Lansing Area?
I absolutely love the people. We are a diverse, dynamic, and proud bunch that believes in and supports our community. I have always said that the strength of the Lansing area is in its people. | By Sarah Pierce
Sarah Pierce is the founder of the website and social platform 517Living. Promoting goodness and the best events in the Greater Lansing (517) Michigan Area, the process of building the platform helped Pierce overcome social anxiety, gave her a more purposeful life, and introduced her to the fascinating behind-the-scenes movers and shakers of her community who are much more “walk” than talk! 517 Living has enriched Pierce’s life, and she hopes it does the same for you.
