Desiree Foster stands at her stove. She’s cooking up some hamburgers and white rice for her two daughters. I’m hovering near her refrigerator when I notice the tattoo on her neck. It has her two daughters' names, Alyssa and Brianna, scrawled across the nape of her neck. Below the names is the serenity prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Desiree Foster, who was born and raised in

Desiree Foster stands at her stove. She’s cooking up some hamburgers and white rice for her two daughters. I’m hovering near her refrigerator when I notice the tattoo on her neck. It has her two daughters' names, Alyssa and Brianna, scrawled across the nape of her neck. Below the names is the serenity prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Desiree Foster, who was born and raised in

Desiree Foster stands at her stove. She’s cooking up some hamburgers and white rice for her two daughters. I’m hovering near her refrigerator when I notice the tattoo on her neck. It has her two daughters' names, Alyssa and Brianna, scrawled across the nape of her neck. Below the names is the serenity prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Desiree Foster, who was born and raised in

This story is part of Michigan Radio's year-long series Bringing Up Detroit , which examines the inner-lives of four Detroit families as they navigate the city’s often unpredictable school systems, economy, transportation networks, and neighborhoods.

This story is part of Michigan Radio's year-long series Bringing Up Detroit , which examines the inner-lives of four Detroit families as they navigate the city’s often unpredictable school systems, economy, transportation networks, and neighborhoods.

This story is part of Michigan Radio's year-long series Bringing Up Detroit , which examines the inner-lives of four Detroit families as they navigate the city’s often unpredictable school systems, economy, transportation networks, and neighborhoods.

The Detroit neighborhood where Richard Chang lives has changed. A lot. Chang moved into the Osborn neighborhood in 1980 “because the economy in Michigan was really good,” he says. That changed dramatically, of course. And now Chang is wondering what the future holds for his children. After living in Detroit for nearly two decades, the Chang family moved to Warren in the ‘90s. A lot of other Hmong families did the same thing. But then Richard Chang lost his job and house during the recession. So

The Detroit neighborhood where Richard Chang lives has changed. A lot. Chang moved into the Osborn neighborhood in 1980 “because the economy in Michigan was really good,” he says. That changed dramatically, of course. And now Chang is wondering what the future holds for his children. After living in Detroit for nearly two decades, the Chang family moved to Warren in the ‘90s. A lot of other Hmong families did the same thing. But then Richard Chang lost his job and house during the recession. So

The Detroit neighborhood where Richard Chang lives has changed. A lot. Chang moved into the Osborn neighborhood in 1980 “because the economy in Michigan was really good,” he says. That changed dramatically, of course. And now Chang is wondering what the future holds for his children. After living in Detroit for nearly two decades, the Chang family moved to Warren in the ‘90s. A lot of other Hmong families did the same thing. But then Richard Chang lost his job and house during the recession. So

On her first day of school, Franca Grassi woke up, ate a bowl of oatmeal with diced nectarines and maple syrup. She brushed her teeth with the help of a Mickey Mouse iPhone app. Then her parents, Nikki Rittenour and Marc Grassi, drove her to school in their station wagon.

On her first day of school, Franca Grassi woke up, ate a bowl of oatmeal with diced nectarines and maple syrup. She brushed her teeth with the help of a Mickey Mouse iPhone app. Then her parents, Nikki Rittenour and Marc Grassi, drove her to school in their station wagon.

On her first day of school, Franca Grassi woke up, ate a bowl of oatmeal with diced nectarines and maple syrup. She brushed her teeth with the help of a Mickey Mouse iPhone app. Then her parents, Nikki Rittenour and Marc Grassi, drove her to school in their station wagon.

Five-year-old Franca Grassi is only looking for two things in a kindergarten: She doesn't want to be forced to nap, and she wants to see her mom every day. Franca's parents, on the other hand, are a lot more discerning. “We actually have a google doc spreadsheet of pros and cons of some of the schools,” says Nikki Rittenour from the family’s long, wooden dining room table.

Five-year-old Franca Grassi is only looking for two things in a kindergarten: She doesn't want to be forced to nap, and she wants to see her mom every day. Franca's parents, on the other hand, are a lot more discerning. “We actually have a google doc spreadsheet of pros and cons of some of the schools,” says Nikki Rittenour from the family’s long, wooden dining room table.

Five-year-old Franca Grassi is only looking for two things in a kindergarten: She doesn't want to be forced to nap, and she wants to see her mom every day. Franca's parents, on the other hand, are a lot more discerning. “We actually have a google doc spreadsheet of pros and cons of some of the schools,” says Nikki Rittenour from the family’s long, wooden dining room table.

This fall, it’s looking like Alyssa Nuñez and and Brianna Foster- Nuñez might switch to a new school. Again. It’s a pretty common experience in Detroit, where students switch schools 2.5 times more frequently than kids in the rest of the state.

This fall, it’s looking like Alyssa Nuñez and and Brianna Foster- Nuñez might switch to a new school. Again. It’s a pretty common experience in Detroit, where students switch schools 2.5 times more frequently than kids in the rest of the state.

This fall, it’s looking like Alyssa Nuñez and and Brianna Foster- Nuñez might switch to a new school. Again. It’s a pretty common experience in Detroit, where students switch schools 2.5 times more frequently than kids in the rest of the state.

Back in March, I introduced you to 57-year-old Christina Lumpkin and her family . At the time, they were navigating a crisis. Lumpkins’s daughter, Maya, had lost her job at McDonalds, and the family didn’t have any money coming in.

Back in March, I introduced you to 57-year-old Christina Lumpkin and her family . At the time, they were navigating a crisis. Lumpkins’s daughter, Maya, had lost her job at McDonalds, and the family didn’t have any money coming in.

Back in March, I introduced you to 57-year-old Christina Lumpkin and her family . At the time, they were navigating a crisis. Lumpkins’s daughter, Maya, had lost her job at McDonalds, and the family didn’t have any money coming in.

When we talk about immigrant communities in Detroit, the Hmong don’t usually come up in that conversation. The ethnic group from Southeast Asia began settling in Northeast Detroit’s Osborn neighborhood in the years after the Vietnam War.

When we talk about immigrant communities in Detroit, the Hmong don’t usually come up in that conversation. The ethnic group from Southeast Asia began settling in Northeast Detroit’s Osborn neighborhood in the years after the Vietnam War.

When we talk about immigrant communities in Detroit, the Hmong don’t usually come up in that conversation. The ethnic group from Southeast Asia began settling in Northeast Detroit’s Osborn neighborhood in the years after the Vietnam War.