Our Story

Together with her husband, Michael Awkward, Ph.D., the Gayl Jones Professor Emeritus of English and of Afroamerican / African Studies at the University of Michigan, LaSonia Forte has spearheaded a significant initiative establishing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing for unhoused youth transitioning or who have aged out of Michigan's foster care system. They have made notable progress by securing the first ZOOM Transition House in Warren, MI, where they offer monthly room leases at a significantly reduced rate compared to the area's average rent of $1,500. This initiative addresses the critical challenges faced by these young individuals, many of whom receive limited financial assistance and struggle to maintain stable housing.

To enhance support for these youth, ZOOM has partnered with service providers, integrating their resources to serve program participants better. In addition, discussions are underway with the NEW Center, Nonprofit Network, MDHHS, University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Washtenaw County Housing Alliance to explore avenues for economic development and growth, including the launch of a social enterprise to end youth homelessness in Michigan.

We envision "ZOOM houses" as nurturing environments that empower youth and actively prevent their involvement in the criminal justice system. Drawing on her experience as the State Outreach Director, she passionately advocates for comprehensive community support and collaboration to combat youth homelessness effectively. LaSonia emphasizes the importance of fostering sustainable solutions for this vulnerable population and encourages the community to participate in making a lasting impact on the lives of these young individuals.

My father often spoke of the challenges he faced at boarding school after he lost his parents by age 11. When he aged out of the system, he enlisted in the military, in part to avoid homelessness. He used those challenges to teach me lessons about responsibility and service, hoping to inspire me to help people in crisis. He’d say to me: If you can [help], you must!

Following his example, I have spent twenty years advocating for young people, beginning with Girls Group, a nonprofit in Washtenaw County. In this organization, which focuses on education and creating a sense of belonging, I saw many young people struggling to pursue their dreams of higher education in part because they lacked necessities. Together with my husband, Michael, I decided to make a difference by donating laptops to graduating seniors heading to college, hoping to ensure they had one of the essential tools they would need to be successful.

My job as a state outreach director for the University of Michigan highlights the harsh impacts of the housing crisis on families throughout the state, including my own. Each story of displacement and of families living in substandard conditions strengthened my resolve to make a change. On a personal level, I took guardianship of my older brother, who has a mental disability, providing him with stable housing and a community where he could thrive. 

Motivated by these experiences, Michael and I started an LLC to buy our first property in Macomb County, close to a nonprofit we were working with and aimed at providing additional services to our residents. We then established a nonprofit to offer community-led affordable housing resources, allowing families to live without the constant stress of financial instability.

Our journey has not been without its challenges, of course, but our commitment has not wavered. In Michigan State University’s Political Leadership Program, which I completed in 2025, I recognized that substantive change requires a proactive political strategy that helps bring about, among other things, significant community commitment. This understanding was the driving force behind ZOOM’s formation and will inform everything it does.