Two years ago, Alexis Schings found herself in the fight of her life. Today, the 5-foot-tall 17-year-old is proving one terrifying moment doesn't get to define the rest of her life.

Watch Faraz Javed's report below Alexis Schings, 17, reclaims her confidence through martial arts after attempted kidnapping

At Mada Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu, Schings trains a unique combination of martial arts and the transformation goes far beyond the mat.

"When I first stepped through the door, I was so intimidated. Like I thought I would not be able to do any of it because I used to just be a really self-doubting person," Schings said.

"Now when I walk in, I feel that I can take people down like twice my size," she said.

On August 13, 2024, police say 23-year-old Shelby Township resident Endi Bala tried forcing the then-15-year-old into a vehicle while she was walking home from a park in Clinton Township. Investigators say a nearby neighbor helped save her.

Watch our previous coverage Teen reunites with hero who thwarted kidnapping; awards plaque

Two days after the attempted kidnapping, Schings described the moment she was rescued.

"That felt like I was being saved by God honestly," she said.

A year ago, coach Adam Munzing watched Schings walk through the doors of his gym carrying that trauma.

"I was like, wow, that's her. I've heard about it. I take my daughter to this park right here, the same park, you know, all the time. And so I really wanted to help," Munzing said.

Munzing said it didn't take long to see Schings begin to change.

"It wasn't long before you could see it in her eyes. She starts making more eye contact, her head's up more, walking around more confidently," he said.

Schings said she is close to fully reclaiming the sense of freedom that was threatened that day, though the road has not been without difficulty.

"I'm very close to getting there. I am extremely close. I still get moments where I'm outside. I'm... I get all in my head that, like, if I see someone looking at me for too long, I get weird," she said.

Munzing said the gym has given Schings more than just self-defense skills.

"A smaller person can overcome a larger threat. It's leverage. It's like a science," he said.

For Schings, the experience has shaped a message she wants other young girls to hear.

"I just want them to know that they can be strong," she said.

And for anyone who has survived trauma, she offered this:

"You can bounce back from the trauma. It will stay with you, but you can manage it. You can grow with it. You don't always have to be in the dark. You can gain your autonomy back," she said.

When asked what she would say to her assailant if given the chance, Schings did not express anger.

"I would tell him that I feel sorry for him," she said.

The man accused of trying to take her freedom remains behind bars. Bala has not entered a plea in the case. He is scheduled to be back in court on August 24th.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

More than 120 jury-selected artists lined Main Street in Brighton this weekend for the Brighton Street Art Fair, drawing crowds eager to explore not just the artwork on display, but the stories behind each piece.

Watch Faraz Javed's report below Brighton Street Art Fair brings artists, stories, and hands-on creativity to Main Street

For Kaila and Patrick Duffy, the fair offered the perfect chance to explore their new community. The family, including their kids Wesley and Alyla, moved to Brighton in December and said this was their first time attending.

"We've just been walking around, we're looking for what we like," Kaila Duffy said.

"I think we're looking for paintings, you know, for paintings," Patrick Duffy said.

"We do kind of go towards like nature and landscape," Kaila Duffy said.

"There's some really talented artists here," Patrick Duffy said.

Among those artists is 32-year-old Alexzandra Hayes, a jeweler and member of the Michigan Silversmiths Guild, one of seven guild artists represented at this year's fair.

"I try to make everything that I produce look like it was taken from nature. So most of my stuff is casted and hand sculpted," Hayes said.

Tina Sayer, vice president of the Michigan Silversmiths Guild, said the opportunity to connect directly with artists is what sets events like this apart.

"The reason why you come to an art fair like this is that you get to meet the artist and the artist can tell you something about the piece that you're buying and they can give you the story," Sayer said.

Patrick Duffy agreed.

"That's a nice aspect of it for sure," he said.

Sayer said the guild's presence at the fair goes beyond selling finished work. Guild members offered live demonstrations, giving fairgoers a firsthand look at the craft of metalsmithing.

"We all have our own techniques. We're all having a demonstration where we're actually physically making some of the things that we work on. But really the guild is about trying to get people excited about metalsmithing," Sayer said.

Hayes demonstrated the process firsthand, crafting a small wearable piece designed to hold flowers collected on walks in nature completed in about 2 minutes.

"This what we're going to work on today is something that you can wear and pick flowers when you're on your walks or in nature and carry them with you," Hayes said.

For Hayes, the work is about more than the finished product.

"Art is creativity, love and expression. It's being able to let somebody else see a world that they can't see from your eyes and they can finally see it too. I think it's really special," Hayes said.

The Brighton Street Art Fair runs through Sunday. For more details, visit www.theguild.org/fair/brightonstreetartfair

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

For most teenagers, turning 16 is a milestone worth counting down to. For Addison, it means something more.

Her mother, Tracy Nestman, wasn't sure this day would ever come.

Watch Faraz Javed's video report below: Wyandotte community rallies to give medically complex teen a Sweet 16 to remember

"We weren't sure if we would ever see 16, to be honest. We never thought that she would come home from the NICU," Nestman said.

Addison's journey began with questions doctors still haven't been able to answer. According to Tracy, doctors say Addison has several underdeveloped issues, including lungs and brain, which requires around-the-clock care.

"Well, it was hard at the beginning. I felt like we just needed to kind of know. Every doctor that we've went to, every time they've tried to search, it's just like we don't know what happened," Nestman said.

For 16 years, the demands of Addison's care have shaped every aspect of family life. Her father, Ron, works seven days a week so Nestman can stay home full time.

"He does that so I can stay home and care for her because she's 24/7. Her and I share a room. Sometimes, I'm up 30, 40 times through the night. Sometimes, I sleep maybe two hours," Nestman said.

One of the family's biggest challenges right now is getting a custom van for Addison. Their current handicap-accessible van is aging, and replacement parts are no longer made.

"She'll be fine one minute and the next minute, she will have a 105 fever. She will go into respiratory distress and we will have to load her up and immediately fly to Mott's Hospital because that's the only hospital that can care for Addison," Nestman said.

But before facing the next challenge, Tracy wanted to celebrate this milestone in a big way.

"I was wanting to give her like the biggest birthday party ever because she deserves that, you know? She's been through so much," Nestman said.

With just a week to plan, Nestman turned to social media looking for a wheelchair-accessible venue. Ali Mahfouz, owner of Yogurt Co., answered the call.

"From a parent to a parent, I just put myself in her situation," Mahfouz said.

Friends, family members and supporters filled the shop, turning Addison's Sweet 16 into a celebration of community.

"To see someone that didn't even know us just reach out and show so much love to Addison and our family and it just really meant so much," Nestman said.

As efforts to raise funds for the custom van continue, the party served as a reminder of how far Addison has come.

"She has truly been the biggest blessing for us. We have been through a lot and it's been a roller coaster from day one, but God has always provided. He has always provided," Nestman said.

For Mahfouz, the day captured something bigger than a birthday.

"Seeing them having a good time, seeing them laughing, making it an unforgettable moment and just making memories. After everything, that's what we're here for," Mahfouz said.

To donate directly to Addison's van fund, visit her GoFundMe page.

Anyone who wants to reach Ali Mahfouz can contact him through Yogurt Co.'s Facebook page.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

From American Idol contestant to EGOT winner and daytime talk show host, Jennifer Hudson's journey has inspired millions. Today, she visited Broadcast House to celebrate a new chapter for her show and its new home here on Channel 7.

Watch Faraz Javed's report below Jennifer Hudson show coming to Channel 7 ahead of Season 5 premiere on Sept. 14

Employees gathered at Broadcast House as Channel 7 team including Regional VP and GM, Mike Murri welcomed actress, singer, producer and talk show host Jennifer Hudson.

"I feel like I'm at home right here in Detroit every time I come here. It's an honor to be back in this way as a host and to be a part of this amazing family," Hudson said.

Part celebrity interview, part inspiration, Hudson's daytime talk show shines a spotlight on everyone from Hollywood stars to everyday people with extraordinary stories.

I asked Hudson what people would like to know about her.

"That I'm the same. And know that that's never going to change. If no one else is cheering you on, Jennifer Hudson is cheering you on," she replied.

Hudson says that's the same message she's hoping to bring into a new season.

"Every time the Happy Place doors open and I meet the energy of the people, that lifts my spirits up," Hudson said.

After meeting employees and filming promotional spots with Channel 7 personalities, Hudson helped kick off the countdown to Season 5.

I asked WXYZ Regional Vice President and General Manager Mike Murri how Hudson fits the Channel 7 vision.

"You know, it connects with the community. Her connectivity to the community throughout is second to none," Murri replied.

The Jennifer Hudson Show premieres September 14th at 3 p.m. right here on Channel 7.

A Dearborn fashion designer who left dentistry behind to follow her passion is now turning fabric into one-of-a-kind wedding gowns and, in at least one case, a lasting friendship.

Watch Faraz Javed's report below Dearborn fashion designer and bride forge unexpected friendship one fitting at a time

Bahijah Bazzi runs her own atelier in Dearborn, where she creates custom evening gowns and wedding dresses by hand, handling everything from concept to the final dress herself.

"Because these are the moments people dream about before they get to live them," Bazzi said.

The 30-year-old always knew she wanted to be a designer. But like many Arab American parents, hers hoped she would choose a more traditional path.

"As a little kid, I always told my parents I wanted to be a designer or some sort of artist," Bazzi said.

She chose dentistry instead drawn to what she described as its blend of art and science.

"Dentistry is the closest thing to an artistic science background," Bazzi said.

Three years in, she walked away. Her parents, she said, ultimately supported the decision.

"It was a little harder on my dad than it was on my mom. There was something in me that just wasn't alive anymore. And they wanted to see my spark again. And they knew that if I went to fashion school, that it would come back," Bazzi said.

In 2018, Bazzi graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. She has since opened her Dearborn studio, where she works alone.

"The space means everything to me," Bazzi said.

That personal, hands-on approach drew bride Shereen Abdelhak to her door after months of searching for the right dress.

"Every girl that's in her bridal era knows the struggle of being on a dress hunt," Abdelhak said.

A friend suggested Shereen meet Bazzi. During one of their conversations, Abdelhak shared a story about her mother.

"My mom couldn't afford a wedding dress at the time that she got married. So she ended up wearing a wedding dress to her sister's wedding because she finally could buy her own at the time. And I thought to myself, I wish I could wear this dress," Abdelhak said.

Bazzi was listening. The story inspired the design.

"And then that inspired this whole look the corset lacy top using my mom's old wedding dress," Abdelhak said.

For Abdelhak, that moment changed everything.

"I think her inspiring that idea was... The moment I was like, my God, she really does have my best interests in mind," Abdelhak said.

Bazzi said her standard for every client is the same.

"I will never give a client a dress that I personally wouldn't wear it to myself," Bazzi said.

What began as a designer-client relationship grew into something more. Bazzi attended Abdelhak's destination wedding.

"We're like best friends," Bazzi said.

"When I think of Bahijah, I just think of how much we laugh together," Abdelhak said.

"I felt like I couldn't get married without her there," Abdelhak said.

Today, Bazzi said she is living the dream she always imagined and she knows who to thank.

"I wouldn't be here without my parents. Even though at the beginning it was a little hard for them to accept, my parents have been my cheerleaders from day one," Bazzi said.

To learn more visit: bahijahbazzi.com

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A giant dome built from more than 100,000 recycled bottle caps is one of the standout attractions at this year's Belle Isle Art Fair, turning discarded materials into a colorful, large-scale art installation with a message about sustainability.

See the full story in the video below

Belle Isle Art Fair dome made from 100,000 recycled bottle caps promotes sustainability message

The Grand Dome is the work of artist Adrienne Outlaw, who says the structure is designed to be both functional and thought-provoking.

"This is a zip tie dome so you can put it together with zip ties in a day, take it apart, go elsewhere if you need to," Outlaw said.

Outlaw asked people from multiple communities to save their bottle caps instead of throwing them away. The installation is made up of 105 individual removable panels, and about 300 people helped create the two traveling domes.

"Each panel on its own may or may not stand up to sort of the gaze of the art world. It's when you put it all together and then you activate it and then the sun comes over and the shade happens and the shadow play happens. That's when the art really comes alive," Outlaw said.

The inspiration behind the dome, Outlaw said, stems from growing concerns about climate change and the need for adaptable shelter.

"I'm really interested in responsibility and as the climate just gets worse and worse and you hear these horror stories about disasters all over the world and people lose their homes, I started really thinking about what kind of shelters can we move from place to place and what kind of shelters will withstand these types of conditions," Outlaw said.

For Outlaw, sustainability extends well beyond recycling.

"Sustainability is one of those things that impacts absolutely everybody. And if we don't, and when I'm talking about sustainability, I'm not just talking about plastic or recycling. I'm talking about sustainability for everything. How can we sustain relationships? How can we sustain ourselves? How can we really come together and experience life in a fuller way that's not selfish?" Outlaw said.

Her message for visitors is simple.

"That taking care of yourself and taking care of others can be really fun," Outlaw said.

The sustainability theme extends throughout the fair. Joel Newport, representing the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), set up an interactive space to challenge visitors to learn more about recycling and how to properly sort waste.

Newport said Michigan has made significant progress on its recycling goals.

"Michigan has increased its recycling for the 5th consecutive year. So we've gone from roughly 14% in 2019 up to 26% this year. So we are well on our way to our goal of 30% recycling by the year 2030," Newport said.

Newport said access and knowledge remain the biggest hurdles.

"Oh, there's a lot of them. I mean, access is always a challenge for folks. That's why we've increased curbside recycling in more communities across the state. And then knowledge, what can be put in curbside and what shouldn't be put in curbside, which is a big part of our efforts," Newport said.

His advice for anyone unsure whether something belongs in the recycling bin: when in doubt, throw it out.

More than 150 artists from across the country and Canada are taking part in the 11th annual Belle Isle Art Fair. The fair wraps up Sunday at 5 p.m.

To learn more about the fair visit: www.belleisleartfair.com

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.