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All too many in the greater Ypsilanti community go without preventative health care because services are either inaccessible or unaffordable. A new partnership between Packard Health, University of Michigan School of Nursing, and a local church plan to change that. Clinical services will soon be provided to residents of Ypsilanti Township's West Willow neighborhood. WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale were joined by Dr. Raymond Rion and Becca Fleming from Packard Health to discuss plans for the new clinic.

There is a proposed 400-acre gravel and sand mining operation in Sharon Township. Local residents appear decisively opposed to the operation. As the permitting process goes through the steps with the township board, the state Legislature is considering bills that move regulatory and permit control to Lansing. Former Sharon Township supervisor and current deputy supervisor Peter Psarouthakis joined WEMU's David Fair with a look at potential environmental and consequences and his desire to keep permitting under local control.

When we talk about creating more equity and opportunity in our community, we may not always be as inclusive as we think we are. For many in the intellectual and developmental disability community, they have no voice at all. Who helps give them a voice and life choices? It's the Washtenaw Association for Community Advocacy. WEMU's David Fair is joined by the association's president and CEO, Kathy Homan, to explore what a tremendous difference it can make to have allies help gain measures of self-determination.

This week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed historic legislation into law aimed at improving the health and sustainability of Michigan's environment, and we wanted to take a deeper dive into what that is going to look like. WEMU’s David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak found Kara Cook to provide insights as WEMU’s 1st Friday guest. Kara provides perspective from her position in the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Earlier this year, Growing Hope announced the "Sprout Grants" program, which awards funds to organizations that promote self-reliance, self-determination, and food sovereignty through neighborhood gardening. This past September, seven Ypsilanti-area organizations received the inaugural grants, and among them was the Cross Street Village senior living facility. Cross Street community organizer Gwendolyn Copeland talks to Rylee Barnsdale about how they received the grant and their plans for the money.

President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill" is now the law, and it includes significant cuts to many social safety net programs. That includes Medicaid and food programs. Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels delivers a lot of meals provided by impacted food pantries to the community’s aging and homebound population. What will the impact be moving forward and what is the plan to accommodate the changes? WEMU's David Fair discussed it with Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels president and CEO, Barbara Niess-May.

A recent fire at Recycle Ann Arbor's Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) has raised concerns about what exactly is going into the bins we send to the MRF. Nationally, there are a growing number of fires at such facilities. WEMU's David Fair gets an update from Recycle Ann Arbor CEO Bryan Ukena.

A new program has launched at the Ypsilanti Community Family Life Center to provide local Black male youth and young adults with accessible trauma informed therapy. Based at Grace Fellowship Church, the Interventions for African American Males (I-AMM) program works to increase pro-social behaviors and address gun violence, generational trauma and substance abuse and depression. Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale discussed the program with its founder, clinical therapist Leah Mills, for this week's "On the Ground Ypsi."

Efforts to create a more equitable community continues as we move toward 2025. The Peace Neighborhood Center in Ann Arbor will partner with other non-profits and open a new facility on the eastern side of Washtenaw County. Bonnie Billups is executive director of the Center, and he joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the new Peace HUB Community Resource Center.

The holidays are less than a week away, so why not spend some of the season taking in some holiday films and new movies? Hear all about the latest cinematic offerings from WEMU's David Fair and Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins!