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As efforts continue to bring an end to systemic racism and create greater equity and equality in our communities, individual growth is an essential part of the foundation. At Mentor2Youth, helping young Black people find personal identity through service to others is key to that path. Executive director Darryl Johnson joined WEMU’s David Fair to discuss the methodology of getting young people to view life through the “chess versus checkers” life paradigm.

The Gelman Sciences 1,4 dioxane plume continues to spread and threaten the health of groundwater in Scio Township and Ann Arbor. Recent reports indicate there is now a potential threat of exposure through wet basements. With spring and the usual basement flooding that occurs in portions of the area, it is a cause for concern. University of Michigan toxicologist and environmental professor, Dr. Rita Loch-Caruso, is a co-author of a study identifying the problems. She joined WEMU's David Fair with the latest information.

The Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center is diving deep into research in an effort to better understand how toxic chemicals interact and spread through the environment, our wildlife and, ultimately, humans. The center’s senior scientist, Dr. Gillian Zaharias Miller, joined WEMU’s David Fair to share the details of current and future research in the ongoing quest for solutions.

The state Legislature has already called it a year, and when it reconvenes in January, Democrats will be in full control for the first time in 40 years. Donna Lasinski spent the last two years serving as minority leader in the state House, but term limits means she will not return to Lansing. The Washtenaw County Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair with a look back at progress made over the just-completed session and what she believes may transpire when Lansing is in Democratic control.

There is a growing commitment to put equity at the fore in our governance. Democrats are in control in Lansing for the first time in 40 years and plan to further those efforts, including in the areas of environmental justice and sustainability. In the April edition of "1st Friday Focus on the Environment," WEMU’s David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, wanted to find out what that will look like. They asked Democratic State Senator, Erika Geiss for her insights.

Earth Day 2023 will be observed on April 22nd, around the world and right here in our community. WEMU's David Fair took some time to gather reflections on where we've come and where we're headed in his conversation with Washtenaw County water resources commissioner, Evan Pratt.

The number of domestic violence and sexual assault cases are not going down. In fact, in many areas, it’s going up. In Washtenaw County, there have been four fatal incidents of intimate partner violence in the last year. Christine Watson is executive director of SafeHouse Center in Washtenaw County, and it is struggling to meet the needs of all those in need. Christine speaks to WEMU's David Fair to provide some insights into what is needed to better address these issues as a community.

The number of working poor in Washtenaw County is on the rise. Those are employed people that don’t make enough money to cover basics like housing, food and transportation. A new report shows more than 27% of all households in Washtenaw County live in these circumstances. That’s a significant jump from pre-pandemic levels. Bridget Herrmann is Vice President of Impact and Advocacy for the United Way of Washtenaw County. She joined WEMU's David Fair with details on the report and the efforts underway to address many of the underlying issues in finding a path forward to a better future.

For years, a 38-acre parcel of land in Ypsilanti along the Huron River has sat unused because of contamination. The Water Street property needs a developer that will take on the task of cleaning up the contamination and putting the land to beneficial use for the community. Ypsilanti City Council member Steve Wilcoxen joined WEMU's David Fair with an update on where that process stands and what comes next.

Some areas of Washtenaw County received nearly five inches of rain in a short, three-hour period on Wednesday, August 23rd. The aftermath is still being assessed and addressed. In some areas, it could take months. Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner Evan Pratt joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss storm response and what was learned.