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The Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority's "Explore Ypsi" Initiative finished its third year this holiday season. It is a program in partnership with EMU intended to help new students and faculty get off campus to explore Ypsilanti and get connected with local business owners. For this week’s “On the Ground Ypsi,” Concentrate Media’s Rylee Barnsdale is joined by Ypsilanti DDA executive director Elize Jekabson to explain how the program works, how it has evolved in its third year and what the future may hold.

Efforts to create a more equitable community continues as we move toward 2025. The Peace Neighborhood Center in Ann Arbor will partner with other non-profits and open a new facility on the eastern side of Washtenaw County. Bonnie Billups is executive director of the Center, and he joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the new Peace HUB Community Resource Center.

The start of 2025 is being “Built for Zero.” A 100-day local challenge to end homelessness among veterans will conclude at the end of January. The goal is to transform systems to reach a functional end to veteran homelessness. We look at how that transformation is being put together and implemented in the effort to get the homeless veterans’ numbers down to zero. WEMU’s David Fair checked in with Washtenaw Housing Alliance executive director Amanda Carlisle to find out how much progress is being made.

Today is Inauguration Day. President-elect Donald Trump will officially be sworn into office, and immigration reform is at the top of his agenda. There are fears that could result in more profiling of foreign visitors and deportations of immigrants. Those fears are certainly a part of the dialogue among documented and undocumented immigrants in Washtenaw County. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Christine Sauve from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center about what comes next in our community.

The father/son-led nonprofit, Odindi Youth Action Village (OYA), has been actively working in and alongside the West Willow neighborhood community since 2022. And as their numerous successful initiatives and programs continue to evolve and grow, the support from the community members and local partners grows as well. Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale speaks with OYA co-founder Akin Oluwadare about his and his father's organization and their unwavering commitment to the community that they serve for this week's "On the Ground Ypsi."

The greenway along the Saline River is going to expand, and about 45 acres of property will preserved in perpetuity. The Washtenaw County Department of Parks and Recreation purchased the land from the Grossman Family, and it aims to improve the environment and add recreational opportunity. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Parks and Recreation Stewardship Planner Allison Krueger about the project.

It's the first day of a new era for "Cinema Chat"! Marquee Arts cinema program director, Nick Alderink, is now the permanent co-host of this long-running Thursday feature. He met up with WEMU's David Fair to talk about the new films and special screenings coming your way to your favorite downtown movie houses.

The Detroit Auto Show has a major focus on electric vehicles this year. Gone are the days where auto companies feature concept vehicles, but there is the opportunity for you to get in a new EV and run a test track. WEMU's David Fair talked with Charles Griffith from the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center about the EV industry and potential impacts of the incoming Trump Administration.

The holidays are less than a week away, so why not spend some of the season taking in some holiday films and new movies? Hear all about the latest cinematic offerings from WEMU's David Fair and Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins!

The income gap continues to widen in Washtenaw County. The number of people with housing, food and transportation insecurity continues to climb, and there are enough gaps in social services that some are falling through the cracks. That’s where Ypsilanti-based Friends In Deed steps in. Joye Clute and Elisa Guyton from Friends In Deed joined WEMU's David Fair to talk about the work being done and measures being taken to address what is a worsening level of poverty in portions of our community.