Search results for

Ron Brooks is a jazz musician, a band leader and a mentor. He founded the legendary Bird of Paradise Jazz club, that, for more than 20 years, brought the greatest jazz musicians to Ann Arbor. Ron will receive Creative Washtenaw’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement medal at THE pARTy! on September 30. He joins Deb Polich to talk about his career and legacy on this edition of "creative:impact."

The Biden Administration has taken steps to address the environmental problems posed by PFAS contamination. The U.S. Supreme Court recently made a ruling overturning the "Chevron Doctrine," and it has environmentalists alarmed. The implications on PFAS regulation and clean-up are already being felt and could have implications right here in Michigan. That's the topic WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak chose for the September edition of "1st Friday Focus on the Environment." Their guest is among those concerned about the ramifications. John Reeder is Vice President of Federal Affairs with the Environmental Working Group.

Bev Willis, Washtenaw County Historical Society administrator, has a passion for history. She grew up in Washington, D.C. in a family deeply ensconced in the Civil Rights Movement. Her family’s role and record of the movement is our nation’s history. In this summer marking the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act becoming law, Bev tells her story when she joins Deb Polich on this edition of WEMU’s "creative:impact."

Many area residents don't know that the tangle of shrubs, saplings, and wildflowers on the south side of Prospect Park in Ypsilanti once was the location of a showcase, crescent-shaped pond called Luna Lake. Decades later, it was home to a native plant garden. The garden suffered neglect, especially during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but area residents and neighborhood association leaders are hoping a public workday in October will provide needed rehabilitation. Rylee Barnsdale discussed the event and its goals with organizer, Rachel Blistein.

It's time to talk some trash! The 3rd annual Trash Talk Tour in Washtenaw County is right around the corner. Trash Talk Tour co-organizer and zerowaste.org executive director Samuel McMullen joined WEMU's David Fair with a special brand of "trash talk."

Whether you prefer the modern age of cinema or the silent era, there's plenty of films worth checking out this weekend and beyond! WEMU's Russ Collins from Marquee Arts gives the full cinematic rundown in his conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

In the year 2024, right here in Washtenaw County, there are still racially restrictive covenants written into thousands of property deeds. These property deeds are dedicated to preventing people of color for buying or renting homes. Exposing and combatting these provisions is the mission of the group Justice InDeed. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Justice InDeed co-leads Justin Schell and Jessica Letaw about the effort to eradicate these covenants and fight segregation and economic inequality.

There are still a good number of people in Washtenaw County without health insurance. The Affordable Care Act has helped, but there is more work to be done. Additionally, if there is a change in administrations in Washington after the November elections, the ACA could become a thing of the past. What then? WEMU's David Fair talked it over with Jeremy Lepedis, who serves as executive director of the Washtenaw Health Project.

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.

As you might imagine, those who are returning to the community after a period of incarceration face a good deal of prejudice and discrimination. That makes finding a job difficult and can result in higher recidivism rates. Billy Cole and Bryan Foley are working to not only change that but are trying to de-escalate community violence by addressing trauma and other factors that lead to incarceration. Billy and Bryan head an organization called Supreme Felons, and they share their personal stories that led them to professionally try and keep people out of the cycle of incarceration with WEMU's David Fair.