Rebekah Warren
Host of Issues of the Environment and 1st Friday Focus on the EnvironmentRebekah Warren is the host of Issues of the Environment and First Friday Focus on the Environment on WEMU. She is a longtime Michigan environmental and public policy leader and the President and CEO of Adaptive Strategics, LLC, where she focuses on practical solutions to complex challenges at the intersection of communities, government, and the environment.
Rebekah previously served in the Michigan Legislature for 14 years, representing Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and broader Washtenaw County in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House, she chaired the Great Lakes and Environment Committee and helped lead bipartisan efforts to pass landmark water protection legislation implementing the Great Lakes Compact—widely recognized as one of the most significant freshwater protection laws. In the Senate, she served as Vice Chair and Ranking Member of the Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes Committee and worked extensively on issues including water quality, invasive species, renewable energy, land use, and recycling policy.
Throughout her legislative career, Rebekah focused on protecting Michigan’s natural resources and strengthening the state’s role as a national leader in Great Lakes stewardship. Her work included advancing protections against PFAS contamination, supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, expanding recycling and clean-up initiatives, and advocating for smart growth strategies to preserve farmland and open space. She has also served in leadership and advisory roles with the Great Lakes Commission, the Council on Future Mobility, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National Conference of Environmental Legislators.
Rebekah’s work has been recognized by environmental, conservation, public health, and civic organizations across Michigan and the country. She is honored to bring conversations about science, policy, innovation, and community leadership to WEMU listeners, highlighting the people and ideas shaping a healthier and more sustainable future for the Great Lakes region.
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July is National Park and Recreation Month, and as Washtenaw County honors its 200th anniversary, its park system—which celebrated its own 50th anniversary in 2023—is showcasing how public spaces serve as vital community infrastructure rather than just places for leisure. Rhonda Bouma is Deputy Director of Operations for the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. She joined Rebekah Warren to talk about what the county's park service has achieved and what it has planned for the future. -
Every day, the choices we make in our homes and communities connect to much bigger environmental stories. One of those connections is through Plastic Free July, a global movement encouraging people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. But what does that look like right here in Washtenaw County? Lydia McMullen-Laird is the co-founder and deputy director of the Ann Arbor-based Zerowaste.org. She and Rebekah Warren discussed ways residents can reduce their use of everyday plastic and how to participate in the 2026 Plastic Free July Challenge. -
It's the first "1st Friday" with former state lawmaker Rebekah Warren and Michigan League of Conservation Voters President/CEO Lisa Wozniak as your hosts. For this month's edition of "1st Friday Focus on the Environment," Rebekah and Lisa talked about the current state of the Great Lakes with Cameron Davis, who served as a senior advisor to the administrator of the EPA and as "Great Lakes Czar" during the Obama administration. -
Issues of the Environment: Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin continues to work on better PFAS protectionsPFAS. Few environmental issues have affected Michigan communities more directly than these so-called "forever chemicals," which have been found in our waterways, groundwater, and drinking water systems across the state. In her first segment as host of "Issues of the Environment," Rebekah Warren was joined by U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. They discussed what local and national actions have been taken and what is needed to prevent further PFAS contamination. -
Meet the new host of "Issues of the Environment." You know her as a former state Representative and former state Senator from Ann Arbor. Rebekah Warren served as chair of the House Great Lakes and Environment committee and in a number of other environmental leadership roles. Since leaving office, Rebekah has founded, and is President and CEO of Adaptive Strategics, which puts environmental issues front and center. Now, she will steward the conversations about our environment, right here in Washtenaw County. For his last go-round as host, WEMU's David Fair sat down with Rebekah Warren and talked about the future of "Issues of the Environment."
