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Jane Montero discovered her passion: teaching kids art and design. She didn’t just become a good teacher – she became a great art teacher. Just ask her students at Dexter’s Creekside Elementary and the National Art Education Association, who awarded Jane the National Outstanding Art Teacher of the Year – TWICE! Jane joins Deb Polich, your host, on this edition of "creative impact."

WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale talk to Rev. Donald Phillips, who, along with his wife Dr. Teleah Phillips, lead the Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. It's a church that has 180 years of history, but they have a mission for the 21st century.

The repercussions of PFAS contamination continue to grow. Not only has it impacted fishing and recreation on the Huron River, it's affecting farmers and agriculture. Jason Grostic is owner of Grostic Cattle Company in Livingston County. His operations have been shut down because his cows tested positive for PFAS. As such, he’s gone nearly two years without a source of income and is now suing the source of the contamination, Wixom-based Tribar Manufacturing. He's also pushing state lawmakers to pass polluter-pay legislation that may prevent such occurrences in the future. Grostic shared his emotional story with WEMU's David Fair.

The theme of Black History Month this year is African Americans and the Arts. The Ann Arbor-based Willis C. Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale is celebrating 50 years of sharing the legacy of African American spirituals in 2024. It has spent five decades combatting the lack of inclusion for Black composers in chorale and classical music spaces. WEMU's David Fair talks all about it with the president of the chorale, Sharon Vaughters, in advance of some special performances in Ann Arbor on another Black History Month edition of "Washtenaw United."

Losing a loved one is never easy. It can be even more difficult if you are a child or teenager. Add in the holiday season, and it can hit hard and cause a sense of loneliness. For the affected, you don’t have to go through it alone. Ele’s Place is a Lansing-based organization with a branch office in Ann Arbor. It is a healing center for grieving children and teens. WEMU’s David Fair talks with executive director Kate Powers about loss, grief and healing for affected youngsters in Washtenaw County.

Since 1972, the Willis Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale has performed throughout the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area. But it is not just a singing group. It is an educational institution aimed at serving the youth in the region and their families, and at the fore is the commitment to ensuring the African American concert spiritual remains a viable part of the community's artistic landscape. Donna Smith and LaVonte’ Heard from the Chorale joined WEMU's David Fair for this week’s "Washtenaw United."

There is a long tradition of teenagers and young adults getting summer jobs to save up some money while school is out of session. It has seemingly become more difficult to land one of these jobs. That’s where SummerWorks comes in. Through partnership and collaboration, the SummerWorks summer youth employment program works with area employers to find paid internships and mentorship to area young people. It can go beyond a few summer dollars and be a pathway to self-discovery, an educational path and/or a career. WEMU's David Fair and Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber Executive Vice President Andy LaBarre talked with program manager Kathleen Clancey about the program and how your kids and grandkids can get involved.

Ukraine has launched an investigation into war crimes officials believe have been committed by Russian forces during the course of the invasion.

A roundup of good advice from Life Kit's 10 most read stories of 2025. Find out which foods support better sleep, how to be happier and how to graciously accept compliments.

In his first documentary, filmmaker Todd Haynes uses the language of experimental cinema to spotlight the Velvet Underground, a legendary band that flowered within New York's avant-garde art world.