Jessica Van Tiem never planned to become a public advocate. But like many Black mothers in Michigan, she didn’t get the luxury of planning. When her son was diagnosed with epilepsy, she did what Black women, especially Black mothers have always done—she organized, she educated, and she fought for visibility in a system that too often ignores neurological disorders in children of color.
On Saturday, June 14, Van Tiem and hundreds of others will gather at the Detroit Zoo for the 33rd annual Stroll for Epilepsy™, hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. From 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., families, survivors, caregivers, and advocates will walk side by side—not to be seen, but to bring visibility to a condition that too often remains unseen in public health conversations and funding priorities.
This annual gathering serves as a community-centered call to action. It raises awareness, builds connection, and mobilizes resources that directly support people living with epilepsy and their families across the state. The Stroll has become a meaningful space for collective healing, education, and organizing. And in a state like Michigan—where racial health disparities continue to impact diagnosis, treatment access, and long-term support—events like this carry deeper weight for Black and Brown families navigating the healthcare system with limited resources and systemic barriers.
Located at 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak, the Detroit Zoo offers a familiar yet transformative space for this event. All registered participants will receive free zoo admission as part of their registration, creating a space that is both accessible and welcoming for families. However, the experience is about much more than the location—it is about who gathers, why they gather, and what their presence demands from public institutions and decision-makers.
Andrea E. Schotthoefer, president of the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, emphasized the purpose behind the event by stating, “The Stroll for Epilepsy brings together all who work toward the heart and soul of our mission.” That mission includes statewide advocacy, educational outreach, caregiver support, and building a more informed and inclusive healthcare response to epilepsy and seizure-related disorders.
The data shows that one in 26 people in the United States will develop epilepsy at some point in their lives. That figure translates into thousands of Michigan families. Yet despite the prevalence, many still struggle with stigma, delayed diagnosis, limited access to specialists, and misconceptions that isolate those living with the condition.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan has been active for nearly eight decades, supporting individuals and families through programming designed to educate, connect, and empower. Funds raised from the Stroll directly sustain this work, including school staff training on seizure response, statewide educational conferences, and the “Here for You” Helpline—a support line designed to offer information, clarity, and compassionate assistance to those navigating the complexities of epilepsy.
The Foundation has also remained active in raising awareness about critical health issues such as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), which continues to impact families without clear warning or systemic acknowledgment. In addition to life-threatening risks, people living with epilepsy often face job discrimination, loss of income, housing challenges, and educational setbacks—especially in communities already struggling with structural inequality.
Families like Van Tiem’s are part of a much larger movement that seeks not only to support those affected but also to change how epilepsy is talked about, understood, and responded to. Team JVT’s longtime participation in the Stroll is just one example of how personal advocacy becomes community infrastructure—reaching far beyond one household and into policy, practice, and public visibility.
The event offers more than a walk. Participants will engage with live music, story-sharing, raffle opportunities, and direct community-building. These moments serve not only to uplift, but also to inform. The public education that takes place during the Stroll lays a foundation for broader understanding that extends into schools, workplaces, and places of worship where epilepsy is often misunderstood or ignored.
Schotthoefer explained that “the money raised helps fund education and advocacy programs, allowing us to provide vital epilepsy and seizure support services all across the state.” These services are necessary because the need is ongoing and often urgent. For some families, this event marks their first connection to epilepsy-specific resources. For others, it is an annual reaffirmation of shared struggle and shared progress.
The Foundation’s statewide reach ensures that families in Detroit are not alone in their journey. Whether navigating a new diagnosis or managing ongoing challenges with seizure control, families from across Michigan rely on the programs supported by the Stroll. These programs offer a trusted alternative to navigating the medical system alone and provide language, knowledge, and tools that reduce isolation and misinformation.
Community support is often what bridges the gap between crisis and clarity. Families who attend the Stroll are not walking for attention. They are walking to remind elected officials, healthcare providers, and the public that epilepsy exists in every community and that ignoring it causes harm.
The Detroit Zoo, on this day, becomes a place where stigma is challenged openly. This gathering is not about performative allyship or symbolic awareness campaigns. It is about showing up, being counted, and standing beside those who have had to advocate for care that should have been accessible from the beginning.
For those ready to participate, the process is clear. Registration information and event details are available at www.epilepsymichigan.org/stroll-for-epilepsy/. For direct inquiries, Alyx Newton can be contacted at anewton@epilepsymichigan.org. Media professionals seeking to engage further with the event or highlight the work of the Foundation can connect with Teia Wallington at teia@lovepublicity.com. The Foundation’s social media platforms, @epilepsyFoundation_mi on Facebook and Instagram, will provide real-time updates leading up to and during the event.
Families impacted by epilepsy know that the work doesn’t end after the walk. The Stroll serves as a catalyst—a space where the community affirms its presence, amplifies its voice, and mobilizes its resources. But the deeper work continues in living rooms, classrooms, clinics, and courtrooms long after June 14.
Detroit’s history of collective organizing and community resilience remains visible throughout this event. From labor movements to housing rights, Detroit has long been home to people who understand how to gather, mobilize, and demand change. The Stroll for Epilepsy™ exists within that legacy. It reflects the possibility of progress rooted in care, backed by strategy, and guided by lived experience.
Van Tiem’s steps, alongside those of her family and her community, are shaped by more than personal testimony. They reflect a long-standing commitment to building a world where epilepsy no longer limits opportunity or invites shame. Her walk is part of a collective movement to name, confront, and dismantle the obstacles still standing between families and the care they deserve.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan continues to make its mission clear. Through events like the Stroll, the organization is creating space for truth-telling, resource-sharing, and advocacy that refuses to be passive. This work continues because the need continues, and because families across Michigan are still waiting for systems that meet them with equity and understanding.
This is what community advocacy looks like when it is grounded, persistent, and people-first. On June 14, every step taken at the Detroit Zoo will carry the weight of lived experience and the strength of collective intention—pushing for visibility, resources, and a future where epilepsy care is no longer dependent on who you know or where you live.
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