Search results for

The Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti, or iFFY, kicks off its 4th season tonight. On this week's edition of "On The Ground Ypsi," WEMU's Cathy Shafran, Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale, and iFFY's program director, Micah Vanderhoof, bring you details on the four-day festival that includes plenty of affordable films, interactive workshops, and engaging activities for the community.

The Growing Hope Urban Farm in Ypsilanti turns 20 next month. And as part of its 20th year, it's making some changes. It's growing hands-on workshops, like mushroom foraging and beekeeping and expanding its reach, so people in the community can invest in portions of the produce fields. And it's fine-tuning its farmer's market with additional focus on the online market. Growing Hope's new executive director, Julius Buzzard, talks all about Growing Hope's 20th year celebration activities with WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale.

Want to know what's new at your favorite Ann Arbor theatres and local multiplexes? Well, WEMU's David Fair meets up again with Michigan Theater Foundation executive director Russ Collins to chat about some new flicks and special screenings coming your way this weekend.

Providing inspiration, literacy, and culture to the African American children in our community. That's the mission of the Topaze Project in Washtenaw County. The project was founded by Kallista Marie. Through personal experience, she has become dedicated to making Black children feel seen, heard and loved while also developing reading skills and sense of family and history. She joined WEMU's David Fair to share her work and passion.

We’re going galactic on Cinema Chat this week! "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" opens in theaters this week. Additionally, find out more about "Wild Life." It’s the inspirational love-story of conservationist Kris Tomkins and how her relationship and retail brands have provided love and care to some of the worlds great landscapes. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan Theater Foundation executive director, Russ Collins, have all the movie news you need.

Washtenaw County's Health and Mental Health departments are tackling growing mental health issues utilizing various approaches. One approach that is seeing particular success is mental wellness writing. WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale discuss the success of the YpsiWrites program for those struggling with mental health issues with the program's founder, Ann Blakeslee.

The future is going to be dropped off at your doorstep in 2024. Michigan Medicine is planning to begin using drone service for patients needing medications delivered. The air over Washtenaw County will be busier, but more fossil-fuel delivery vehicles will be taken off the road. What are the environmental implications? We'll find out together when Dana Habers, the Chief Operating Officer of Pharmacy Services and Chief Innovation Officer for University of Michigan Health, joins WEMU's David Fair for this week's "Issues of the Environment".

The Michigan Legislature is putting final touches on its budget proposal, and environmental issues are prominent. This is the first time in 40 years both chambers and the governor’s office are led by Democrats at the same time. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conversation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, went straight to the source. State Senator Sarah Anthony chairs the Appropriations Committee. They discussed planned funding for environmental protections and more equitable distribution of funding for environmental and social justice programs.

Food insecurity is growing in Washtenaw County, and your local postal worker is doing something about it. On Saturday, May 13th, letter carriers in our community will participate in "National Stamp Out Hunger Day." When delivering your mail, postal workers will pick up the non-perishable food items you leave out and turn it all over to Food Gatherers for distribution. John Odegard is president of Local Branch 434 of the National Association of Letter Carriers. He joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the program and why letter carriers are working to make a different kind of difference for the people they serve.

Michigan Theater programming manager Nick Alderink is back filling in for Russ Collins, who is returning from the Cannes Film Festival! Nick joined WEMU's David Fair and showed up with a whole bunch of movie news for the upcoming holiday weekend.