Search results for

Joe Malcoun is an entrepreneur active in local politics and community development. He is also a music club owner. What drives him? As the owner of Ann Arbor’s storied Blind Pig, is he living out his teenage fantasy of “being in a band,” or is he a sly investor? Maybe he’s both! Find out when Joe joins Deb Polich on this edition of "creative:impact."

Ypsilanti nonprofits that are set up to help those with food insecurities are seeing an increase in the numbers looking for their assistance. On today's "On the Ground Ypsi," WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale discuss how some of those nonprofits are working to address the increased needs with Andrea Kelly, an Eastern Michigan University grad assistant at Swoop's Food Pantry.

The 4th of July is right around the corner, and that means fireworks season. A lot of folks like to set off their own, but there are rules and regulations to follow. Additionally, it’s been unusually dry, and fire hazards are abundant. WEMU's David Fair caught up with Ann Arbor Fire Chief, Mike Kennedy, to talk about how to have a safe fireworks season and protect the environment.

WEMU brings you a special Thursday edition of "Washtenaw United" this week. Typically, you hear this weekly feature on Mondays. This week, a major announcement called for an additional segment. WEMU's David Fair was joined in-studio by United Way of Washtenaw County president and CEO Pam Smith and United Way for Southeastern Michigan president and CEO, Dr. Darienne Hudson. Together, they discussed the local and regional impacts of the merger of the two entities.

There's nothing like a cool movie theater on a hot, summer day! WEMU's Michael Jewett steps in for David Fair to talk about this weekend's new flicks special screenings at your favorite downtown theaters with Michigan Theater Foundation executive director Russ Collins.

Some of the significant issues we’re dealing with in Washtenaw County are also issues in communities around the state: affordable housing, senior citizen care, children in foster care and immigration. Samaritas is an organization serving those segments of our population throughout Michigan, including here in Washtenaw County. WEMU's David Fair spoke with its executive director, Heidi Raubenolt, about the local impacts today and the work that lay ahead in the future.

For more than 50 years, the Spectrum Center at the University of Michigan has been a leader in serving LGBTQIA+ students. The need remains, but the nature of the needs is changing. WEMU’s David Fair was joined by the director of the center, Jesse Beal, to look at the center’s role today and where it's headed.

That’s the sound of a fireworks display bursting open on Independence Day at a park near you. Have you ever thought about the art of fireworks? How do you make those colors and staged explosions that thrill young and old this time of year? Join Deb Polich, your "creative:impact' host, to meet fireworks enthusiast Kevin Paterson to find out—just in time for the Fourth of July.

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.

Education in lower income areas was already suffering, in part, because of underfunding. Then the pandemic hit, and some kids fell further behind. It has hit the Ypsilanti area particularly hard. Using anti-racist and positive teaching methods, Educate Youth is a summer program aimed at bolstering the academic prospects of kids in the 48197 and 48198 zip codes. Its founder and executive director, Gail Wolkoff, joined WEMU's David Fair with a look at the program impacts.