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Ypsilanti has been selected as one of six communities participating in Recast City's Recast Leaders Program, a new Southeastern Michigan cohort focused on strengthening local economies through small-scale manufacturing and product-based businesses. Lee Van Roth was joined by Recast City founder/CEO Ilana Preuss to discuss why Ypsilanti was selected for the program and what this work could mean for local businesses and residents.

We are now into February, and we got plenty of cinematic surprises in store for you! WEMU's David Fair meets up with Marquee Arts cinema programming director Nick Alderink to chat about the new films landing on the big screen this weekend and the latest special screenings coming to Ann Arbor—many of which are free and open to the public!

The federal administration is cutting environmental programs and funding and further reducing regulations on polluting. The political environment in Washington, in and of itself, is toxic. On the February edition of WEMU’s "1st Friday Focus on the Environment," WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak were joined by Democratic Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin to discuss policy and politics.

Research shows that having early childhood education produces better outcomes. Access and affordability are still issues for a great number of families. For parents of infants and toddlers, finding high quality and affordable day care has become increasingly difficult. Foundations Preschool of Washtenaw County has been working in this arena since 1934 and is the oldest, continuously running childcare center in Michigan. Here in 2026, it is still working through these issues with local families. WEMU's David Fair talked about access and affordability and the future of early education with executive director Sandy Williams.

Do you prefer books or reading your favorites on an e-reader? We’ll look at the ecological impacts of both choices and explore why other sustainable initiatives are more likely to positively impact the overall health of our environment. David Fair is joined by the director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan's School of Sustainability and Environment Greg Keoleian on this week's "Issues of the Environment."

Thomas Merton once said, "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." That philosophy is similar to what an Ypsilanti-based program is creating. Miriam Kirscht is founder of Improvisation Heals. The program uses improvisational interaction to help overcome social anxieties and build confidence. WEMU's David Fair and Concentrate Media's Sarah Rigg discovered more about this innovative local program in this week's #OTGYpsi conversation.

The Academy Awards will be held this coming Sunday, March 27th. That's the same day the 60th Ann Arbor Film Festival comes to conclusion. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan Theater Foundation executive director Russ Collins update both and discuss some new film offerings becoming available to you on 'Cinema Chat.'

Women in leadership positions in unions and the labor movement are still the exception rather than the rule. On WEMU's final Women's History Month edition of "Washtenaw United," David Fair will introduce you to a local woman who is among the exceptions. Gloria Llamas worked her way up to become President of the Communication Workers of America union before her retirement. Today, she remains active in egalitarian efforts to achieve equity among women and workers here in Washtenaw County.

The greater Ann Arbor area economy is beginning to recover from the gut-punch thrown by the COVID pandemic. On this edition of "creative:impact," we look at how a 1931 startup, the International Radio Corporation, and Argus Camera helped drive Ann Arbor’s recovery from the Great Depression. Cheryl Chidester, curator of the Argus Museum, tells the tale when she joins Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and host of "creative:impact."

Have you ever met a five-year old who didn’t like to color or sing a song? How about a 65 year old? What happened in between? Join host Deb Polich on 'creative:impact" to find out when she meets Decky Alexander and Tyler Calhoun of Limelight and learns how creative aging programs are helping people rediscover the joy of creativity.