Community Calendar

In early 2016, the Flint Water Crisis captured national attention - major news outlets reported that the city’s tap water had been contaminated with lead since April of 2014. Given the well-documented detrimental effects of lead exposure in early childhood on cognitive development, many worried that the academic progress of Flint's youngest residents may have been impacted. Over the past few years, important data has become available, allowing researchers to rigorously study and measure the effects of the lead water crisis on children in Flint.

Earlier this year, the University of Michigan’s Education Policy Initiative (EPI) produced a working report that linked household water pipe data to educational outcomes. Join the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and EPI on November 30 to hear key findings on the academic impacts of the Flint Water Crisis 7-8 years later, followed by a conversation to discuss the big picture implications for young people in the community. Facilitated by Ford School Professor Brian Jacob, the conversation features Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha - recognized as one of USA Today’s Women of the Century for her role in uncovering the Flint water crisis and leading recovery effort - alongside Dr. Sam Trejo, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Princeton University.

Conga player and composer Alberto Nacif was born in the isthmus state of Oaxaca on Mexico’s west coast where Cuban derived rhythms were part of everyday music. Nacif and the superlative musicians who make up the sizzling Latin Jazz septet AGUANKO now have a new, all original Latin Jazz recording titled “Pattern Recognition”, produced by Jose “Pepe” Espinosa, and released in July 2018.

Nicole New is Detroit’s leading female vocalist and band leader. Soulful and sensitive, Nicole is known for her creative fusion of genres. Nicole transcends far beyond just singing the standards, she makes them all her own. Nicole’s Interpretation is reminiscent of someone who understands deeply, the meaning of song.

While Nicole is best known for her performances at Detroit jazz venues such as The Dirty Dog Jazz Café, Cliff Bell’s, and the Steinway Jazz Café, she frequently travels across the country to share her music, as well. In New York City, Nicole is often seen at venues like Small’s, Mezzrow, Terra Blues, and Lola.

Her most recent national performances with The New Mexico Philharmonic “Gershwin and Friends” and the Jackson Symphony Orchestra “Evening of Broadway”.

Djangophonique is a virtuosic, instrumentally driven quartet led by guitar player Andrew Brown. With over a decade of national touring experience, Brown is no stranger to the stage and delivers every performance with personality and enigmatic charm. A true disciple of the style, Brown has spent countless hours immersing himself in the language of Django Reinhardt’s jazz manouche, and he’s joined on stage by bandmates that match his skill and passion for the material. The result is a sound that’s unmistakable to fans of the music, and alluring to the uninitiated—a sound that can bring the lively energy of a parisian dance hall to the quietest listening room or captivate a buzzing festival audience with a shimmering ballad. With respect for the tradition and a fearless creativity that bends the conventions of the style, Djangophonique is keeping the Hot Club revival alive and well.

Enjoy smooth music and Mario Kart 8 from your barstool! Four racers can go head to head at a time. Drinks encouraged!

Tracy Reese is an American designer whose signature rich, daring colors and unique prints are crafted into joyful, feminine clothing for modern women. Tracy Reese’s design philosophy is rooted in a commitment to bringing out the beauty in women of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Tracy Reese launched her namesake fashion brand in 1998 in New York City and over the past twenty-plus years, expanded to include sub-brands Plenty, Frock! and Black Label enjoying strong partnerships Barney’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Anthropologie. In 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama wore a custom Tracy Reese dress to address the DNC. Other notable fans of the brand include Sarah Jessica Parker, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Oprah Winfrey.

Tracy Reese continues to evolve and has pivoted her business strategy to a more sustainable, slow-fashion model. In 2019, Tracy launched Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese, a responsibly designed and produced collection. The Hope for Flowers collection employs Reese’s signature silhouettes and love of color and delivers clothing that is easy to wear and gentle on the earth. Each piece is crafted from organic fabrics and ethically sourced materials. The collection is produced in factories that pay fair living wages and support and value quality of life. She moved her design studio to her hometown, Detroit, plugging into the resurgence happening there while actively participating in plans to make Detroit a modern, sustainable garment production hub. Tracy formerly served as president of the board of ISAIC, the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center, a Detroit-based, industry-shifting factory and Institute anchored in human-centric manufacturing.

A member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America since 1990, Tracy Reese serves on its Board of Directors. Tracy also serves on the boards of NEST Artisan Guild and College for Creative Studies Fashion Accessories Design Program. She is also an artist, as part of Turnaround Arts, a national program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Reese is working to build an artisan studio in Detroit creating economic opportunities for women in under-served communities. Tracy launched an arts enrichment program for Detroit Public School students to broaden their cultural horizons. In this talk she will discuss the journey to responsible design and the mission of Hope for Flowers which is to create a positive social impact by empowering women and young people.

With support from Design Core Detroit. Series presenting partners: Detroit Public Television and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Radio.

Blues and boogie-woogie pianist Mark Lincoln Braun has become one of the premiere purveyors of a vanishing art. Having learned his craft first-hand from the early masters, he is a rare living link to the first generation of blues and boogie pianists.

Blues and boogie-woogie pianist Mark Lincoln Braun has become one of the premiere purveyors of a vanishing art. Having learned his craft first-hand from the early masters, he is a rare living link to the first generation of blues and boogie pianists.

The Ford School presents FBI Director Christopher Wray as the 2022 Josh Rosenthal Memorial Speaker. Director Wray will give brief remarks, followed by faculty and student experts posing questions to the director on topics including cybersecurity, civil liberties, domestic violent extremism, and more.

Join us for our free 5:01 First Friday celebration of music featuring bassist Ron Brooks at Blue LLama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor on December 2nd at 5:01 pm sharp. It's a WEMU holiday tradition not to miss!!

89.1 WEMU and Sesi Motors present the 5:01 First Friday Series with doors opening at 4:30 PM.

Stop into the A2AC Gallery during Downtown Ann Arbor’s Midnight Madness event and enjoy a performance by students from the Pioneer High School Orchestra.