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Named an Arts Midwest 2024 Culture Bearer, Gean is a co-founder of the Philippine Arts & Culture Ensemble of Michigan (PACE-MI). They provide community programs and resources in Filipino arts and culture to inform, educate and entertain. Gean joins Deb Polich on this edition of "creative impact," and we hear about his passion for the art and culture of the Philippines.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, food insecurity is on high in Washtenaw County. Eileen Spring is president and CEO of Food Gatherers, and she says, since the pandemic, the demand for food assistance has skyrocketed and continues to go up. What is being done to address this glaring community need? Part of the solution also provides some rather amazing environmental benefits. Eileen joined WEMU's David Fair for a discussion on dealing with food insecurity and how food rescue also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Many of us take transportation for granted. We have cars or can pay for Uber or bus rides. There are many who don’t have, or can’t afford, access. In the more rural parts of Washtenaw County, it can be even more difficult. That’s where the Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE) steps in. WAVE makes sure people can get rides to medical appointments, job interviews and more. WEMU's David Fair talked about enhancing equity and opportunity through transportation services with WAVE’s Community Relations Coordinator, Shasta Angell.

A new program has launched at the Ypsilanti Community Family Life Center to provide local Black male youth and young adults with accessible trauma informed therapy. Based at Grace Fellowship Church, the Interventions for African American Males (I-AMM) program works to increase pro-social behaviors and address gun violence, generational trauma and substance abuse and depression. Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale discussed the program with its founder, clinical therapist Leah Mills, for this week's "On the Ground Ypsi."

A new solar project being built in Washtenaw County is expected to generate enough electricity to power 15,000 to 20,000 homes every year. The White Tail Solar project will be built on farmland in York and Augusta Townships. Not only is the project going to help with Washtenaw County’s carbon neutrality goals, it is expected to generate well over $1 million in local tax revenue. WEMU's David Fair discussed the project and its impacts with Dick Cupka, chair of the York Township Planning Commission.

Steve Ouellette is in the house…the front of the house, that is. Steve has managed theaters in New York City, Lansing and he’s now in the land of Ann Arbor. Following his “yellow brick road” brought him full circle from the opening of "Wicked" on Broadway to the opening of "Wicked" the film at the State Theatre. Meet Steve and hear some wickedly good stories when he joined Deb Polich on this edition of "creative:impact."

On Tuesday, we will finish up voting in the 2024 election cycle. Food and consumer prices and the economy have been right at the top of the issues people are concerned about. Putting politics aside, the folks at the Ypsilanti Food Co-op have been first-person witnesses to the impacts of these issues. General manager Corinne Sikorski joined WEMU's David Fair with her perspective on what it has meant to the bottom line and to the customers the co-op serves in our community.

The 2024 election season has concluded, and there's no better way to unwind than catching a movie! WEMU's David Fair met up with Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins to talk about some new films and special screenings that are on the way for your viewing pleasure!

An interdisciplinary artist, Claire Moore applies her belief as she leads art workshops at the Disability Network of Washtenaw, Monroe and Livingston. Claire joins Deb Polich on this edition of "creative impact" to talk about the impact of her work and an upcoming holiday market featuring the work of her clients.

On Tuesday, November 5th, voting concludes, and decisions will be made about our elected leadership. Locally, there are a number of ballot issues to be decided as well. In Ann Arbor, one of the ballot questions is whether to create a publicly-owned Sustainable Energy Utility. It would be an opt-in, renewable energy source to further move the city towards it's carbon neutrality goals. Ann Arbor director of Sustainability and Innovations, Missy Stults, joined WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, for a review of the proposal and its implications for the future.