East Lansing, MI — In celebration of National Rural Health Day, the Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) is proud to amplify and share that Kari Granz, BBA, Program and Communication Specialist at the Thumb Community Health Partnership (TCHP), has been recognized nationally as Michigan’s 2025 Community Star. Community Stars are highlighted each year by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health through their #PowerofRural initiative.
Earlier this year, Kari was recognized statewide as the Rural Health Professional of the Year at the 28th Annual Michigan Rural Health Conference in April. Today’s announcement reflects the continued impact of her leadership and commitment to rural health in Michigan’s Thumb region.
Leading Community-Based Solutions in Rural Michigan
In her role at TCHP, Kari’s work focuses on building partnerships and designing community-based solutions that address behavioral health, chronic disease, workforce development, and social determinants of health. She also leads region-wide outreach and stigma-reduction campaigns to increase awareness around behavioral health and other key public health issues.
Kari provides support to local Health Insurance Navigators, ensuring rural residents can access and enroll in health coverage. Across all her work, she centers the belief that rural voices must be heard, valued, and reflected in the systems and structures that shape their health and well-being.
Investing in the Future Rural Healthcare Workforce
For Kari, one of the most rewarding parts of her work is seeing young people discover their potential. Through TCHP’s youth career awareness programming, she works directly with students over an eight-week series that exposes them to healthcare careers. “Over eight weeks, students grow in confidence and curiosity—and their excitement about the future energizes me,” Kari shared. “Knowing we help shape the next generation of the rural healthcare workforce is incredibly meaningful.”
Implementing Innovative Mental Health Outreach
Kari helped lead the Thumb region’s implementation of Man Therapy, an outreach campaign designed to address men’s mental health in rural areas where stigma can be strong. The campaign uses humor, relatability, and direct messaging to encourage men to view mental health like any other problem they’d tackle in a garage or workshop.
The campaign reached the community through billboards, radio, print materials, and events. While unsure at first how the messaging would be received, Kari saw its impact clearly: “Two years after launch, a gentleman shared that he sought help after seeing our billboard. That moment was powerful—it affirmed that our innovative outreach wasn’t just clever messaging; it was saving lives.”
Collaborations That Expand Opportunity
Kari also plays a key role in TCHP’s Employer-Led Collaborative (ELC), partnering with academic institutions to align educational programs with real workforce needs. One significant success is the FERN Program—Flint Educates Rural Nurses, created by the University of Michigan–Flint. In a region often considered a college desert, FERN gives rural healthcare workers a pathway to earn their BSN without leaving their jobs or communities.
Living the Power of Rural
When asked what the “Power of Rural” means to her, Kari is clear: “It means community - organizations coming together to meet the needs of a region. Our communities may be small, but when we share knowledge, passion, and resources, we create something much bigger than ourselves.”