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Meet the new host of "Washtenaw United"! Decky Alexander will step in to explore issues of equity and opportunity in our community as David Fair steps into retirement. Decky's presence in the community has been felt in a number of sectors. You may know her as the Director of the Office of Engage@EMU. She is also a professor of Applied Drama and Theater. Her commitment to community service and engagement will serve her well in her role as host of Washtenaw United. She sat down for a conversation with David as she prepares to begin, and he brings his hosting duties to an end.

Programming has grown swiftly in the last year-and-a-half at nonprofit Peace Neighborhood Center’s HUB Community Center in Ypsilanti Township. Thanks to a recent renovation of its facility, the organization now holds more community activities, including weekly dinners. Lee Van Roth talked all about Peace Neighborhood Center's latest endeavors with its executive director, Bonnie Billups.

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."

PFAS. 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.

Ypsi Pride, a celebration of the local LGBTQ community, takes place on Saturday, July 18 in Depot Town. For this year's celebration, organizers are expanding with a new date, a longer schedule and additional programming that they say reflects years of community feedback. Lee Van Roth provides more details on the festivities in a conversation with Ypsi Pride's logistics chair, Britt Barron.

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.

This week's "Cinema Chat" is of mythological proportions, so let's take an "odyssey"! WEMU's Mat Hopson and Nick Alderink from Marquee Arts meet up once again to chat about the new films opening across the country and the special screenings arriving in downtown Ann Arbor in the coming days!

When we think about a just society, we often think about laws, courts, and consequences. But what if we look at it through a humanist lens? True justice isn't about punishment. It's about recognizing the inherent dignity and infinite potential of every single human being. And nowhere is that test more critical than in how we treat our youth. Under the leadership of its Executive Director, Jason Smith, the Michigan Center for Youth Justice has championed tectonic shifts that are reshaping youth justice to build a stronger and more compassionate future for generations to come. Smith talked about the center's continuing mission of developing a truly fair justice system with Decky Alexander.

It's a new era for Cinema Chat! David Fair is now enjoying a well-earned retirement, but he still wanted the movie news to continue here at WEMU. Mat Hopson is now the acting host. This week, he's joined by Marquee Arts' own Nick Alderink to chat about the new films and special screenings for your 4th of July weekend and beyond!

The cinema world rolls on for the month of July with a combination of comedy and horror! WEMU's Mat Hopson and Marquee Arts' own Nick Alderink meet up at the WEMU studio to talk about the new arrivals to the silver screen, along with more special screenings than we can count coming to downtown Ann Arbor! Plus, you'll find out about the Michigan Theater getting a brand new marquee!