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Later this month, there is going to be a celebration of artistic endeavor in Ypsilanti! It will include a one-of-a-kind processional from the Riverside Arts Center to the Freighthouse in Depot Town. On this week's “On the Ground Ypsi,” Rylee Barnsdale spoke with UMS community and audience programs manager Justine Sedky about the partnerships that will bring to life the creativity of the community on April 19th.

It can be difficult to ask for help. For some, there is needless and harmful stigma or shame. And that should never be the case. Michigan Ability Partners continues to work to create pathways of self-sufficiency for veterans and those with disabilities. The transformations for those the organization work with are self-directed and, therefore, personal and more rewarding. Learn more in a conversation with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan Disability Partners Chief Executive Officer, Jan Little.

The school year is winding down, and a lot of the kids in the area are going to be headed to one camp or another. But for some, camp is too expensive, making access difficult or impossible. That’s where Washtenaw Camp Placement comes in. It connects those kids with the opportunity to participate in sleep-away summer camp and build a relationship with nature, increase self-esteem and expand personal horizons. WEMU's David Fair talked with executive director Matt Tarver-Wahlquist about this year’s opportunities and whether changes in federal policy and funding programs will have an impact.

Two nonprofits serving youth are the recipients of the 2025 City of Ypsilanti Youth Mini-Grants. One of which is the All About Speed Track Club, which gets kids involved in track and field events. The club's president and head coach, Sean Brandon, Jr., joined Rylee Barnsdale to talk about what's in the club's future thanks to their financial gift.

In June of 2020, the City of Ann Arbor adopted its A2Zero Plan. Its goal was to move the city to full carbon neutrality by the year 2030. Under the best of circumstances, it presented a difficult task. With the new administration enacting funding cuts and some new local challenges, it may be nearly impossible to hit the target date. WEMU's David Fair talked with Ann Arbor Energy Commission member John Mirsky about what comes next.

When tragedy befalls a family, the grief never goes away. We all deal with it in different ways. Sometimes, loss gives birth to an action plan to spare others similar pain. That is where the Miles Jeffrey Roberts Foundation in Ann Arbor comes from. Kristen and Jeff Roberts are parents who continue to mourn the loss of their son Miles. He took his life in 2017 at the age of 15. Through the tears, and with purpose and dedication, the Roberts began a foundation aimed at empowering youth athletic communities to promote mental well-being and suicide prevention. They talked about their work with WEMU's David Fair.

We the People Opportunity Farm has been giving formerly incarcerated and returning residents in our community a new path forward for years. The work continues, and now the nonprofit is in the process of expanding its outreach with a new café. WEMU's David Fair talked with founder and director Melvin Parson and about expansion and impact.

Scientists, almost unanimously, cite climate change as an existential threat. There are differing opinions as to when we will reach a tipping point of no return. With the new federal administration attempting to roll back climate policies and funding for programs and research, what will happen next? WEMU's David Fair and Michigan Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak find out in their conversation with Julia Cole, Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.

This past weekend, YpsiWrites hosted "A Great Day in Ypsi." The event, which celebrates Ypsilanti writers and storytellers, was inspired by Art Kane's "A Great Day in Harlem" photograph and by the book "Sweet Music of Harlem" by local author Debbie Taylor. Taylor joined Rylee Barnsdale to discuss the event and how it can inspire more Ypsilanti stories and storytellers.

During the Biden administration, local food distributors were encouraged to apply for grants funding to help build infrastructure for local farms and food. Now, the USDA is making cuts that could undermine the local food system and its suppliers...like Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor. WEMU's David Fair talked with co-owner Bill Brinkerhoff about immediate and longer-term impacts.