Search results for

In 2024, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels will celebrate 50 years of service to the community. There are plenty of reasons to celebrate, but it comes with the understanding that there is much more work that lies ahead. Did you know the number of seniors living in poverty in Washtenaw County will double by the year 2040? In the meantime, government funding and access to caregivers continues to decline. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels marketing and development manager Danni Murphy about the plans for the upcoming holidays and for 2024 and beyond.

Michigan primary elections are just about a month away. This will be the earliest the state has held its primary and marks the first time early in-person voting will be allowed. There is an educational process that needs to take place for everyone, but there is a concentrated effort on getting the student vote out on college campuses around the state. Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale talks with EMU student Naomi Barbour about her work to help the campus community overcome challenges and barriers to voting.

Food and housing insecurity continue to grow in our community. For the unhoused, it is a constant struggle to stay warm and fed. That's where FedUp Ministries steps in. During the summer, it provides food to those in need with a mobile food truck, while in the winters, it visits area warming centers to provide food. Now, FedUp is providing its WashUp services with a mobile shower vehicle to provide hygiene and dignity to the unhoused. FedUp Ministries board president Tajalli Hodge joins Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale to discuss new services and the plan for more in the near future.

There is an exhibit that will be available from March through the month of May called, “Family Foundations: Four Stories of Black Washtenaw County Community Building.” It is an interactive exhibit put forth by the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County. There is a long, rich African American history in our community, and much of it is never taught or widely shared. Museum president and CEO Joyce Hunter joins WEMU's David Fair with some lessons and knowledge we can all benefit from in this final Black History Month 2024 installment of "Washtenaw United."

We're just past Valentine's Day, but you can still share a movie with that special someone. WEMU's David Fair met up with Michigan Theater executive director, Russ Collins, to chat about new films and special screenings coming to your favorite movie houses.

As always, WEMU's David Fair met up with Marquee Arts executive director, Russ Collins to discuss new and returning movies. In an extended version of "Cinema Chat," they were joined by Leslie Raymond. She is executive director of the Ann Arbor Film Festival, and she provided a sneak peek at the 62nd edition of the festival that kicks off Tuesday, March 26.

Learning about art can be exciting and intimidating, whether it's at the elementary level or in college. For the last two years, students from Ypsilanti International Elementary School (YIES) have been mentored by students from the University of Michigan Stamps Schools of Art and Design to develop their skills for their annual International Baccalaureate Exhibition project. YIES fifth-grade teacher Melanie Eccles has helped lead this partnership, and she talks about how it has expanded the heart and minds of both her students and the Stamps students with Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale.

There is just one week to go before the April 15th tax deadline hits. Qualified Washtenaw County residents can access free tax preparation assistance from trained professionals. The amount of credits and refunds some are receiving are proving to be life changing. Megan Thibus from the United Way for Southeastern Michigan discusses the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in a conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

America sure loves its electronics! The technologies continue to improve and there can be no question; it has made life more convenient. However, these items contain a number of contaminants and are an environmental hazard. WEMU's David Fair talked with Washtenaw County’s Director of Public Works, Theo Eggermont about increased efforts to recycle used electronics.

Most of you have probably seen pictures of the vast amount of garbage and plastics found in the world’s oceans. There are also dangerous pollutants you can’t see, and they are found all through the Great Lakes' ecosystem. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak dive into the problem of microplastics with Haley Dalian, the Great Lakes Regional Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program.