community investment

On November 4, voters get to decide who they want as their new mayor of Chelsea. Julianne Chard is vying with Kate Henson to replace outgoing incumbent mayor Jane Pacheco. Chard has served on the Chelsea Planning Commission and is on the board of the Washtenaw County Conservation District. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor talked to Chard about her experience, which includes overseeing a number of urban redevelopment projects in the private and commercial sectors.

On November 4, voters will decide between two candidates running to replace incumbent Mayor Jane Pacheco, who is not seeking reelection. Kate Henson currently serves on the City Council and points to her background in civic leadership and community engagement as qualities that will serve her well as mayor. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor talked to Henson about her run against opponent Julianne Chard.

On November 4, voters will decide who they want to serve as mayor of the City of Milan. Incumbent Mayor Ed Kolar is seeking his third term. He’s up against Laura Russeau, a longtime advocate and community organizer who ran for Milan City Council two years ago. Kolar joined WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor to talk about his experience and accomplishments on the job thus far and why he should remain in office.

On November 4, voters will decide between two candidates running for mayor of Milan. Laura Russeau is a longtime advocate and community organizer who ran for Milan City Council two years ago is running against incumbent Mayor Ed Kolar, who is seeking his third two-year term. Russeau joined WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor to talk about her candidacy and the issues that are important to her.

In a world in which unity seems harder to come by, one local non-profit has found a way to help people connect in a creative way. The motto of Our Community Reads is, “A community that reads together, grows together.” Its founder and executive director is Kallista Marie. She discusses the work of the organization with WEMU's David Fair.

What constitutes fine dining can be a matter of taste and personal preference. Perhaps a Michelin star restaurant meets your definition. But more and more, food critics are following the lead of the masses and flocking to food trucks. They’ve become quite popular in Washtenaw County, and over the weekend, food truck operators brought their best in the second annual Food Truck Warz in Ypsilanti Township. WEMU’s John Stockwell was there and provides a tasty report.

Patrick Dunn has served as managing editor for Concentrate Media. Now, he has new responsibilities as the digital news magazine’s publisher as well. Patrick joined Lee Van Roth to discuss his new role and what that could mean for the future of “On the Ground Ypsi.”

Public art in Ann Arbor says a lot about the character and identity of the city. The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission chooses to celebrate those who add to that dynamic, and the Golden Paintbrush Awards is one of the ways it does that. The nominating periods for the 2025 awards will close on August 1st. WEMU's David Fair talked about public art—and the awards—with the commission’s special projects committee member, Sophie Grillet.

The 2025 Ann Arbor Art Fair is just about here! Three separate fairs combine into one major event that serves the creative community and the economic interests of all of Washtenaw County. The Ann Arbor Art Fair runs from July 17th through the 19th, and there is a lot to experience in this year's edition. WEMU's David Fair discusses highlights and the fair's community impact with the executive director of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original, Angela Kline.

There is strength in numbers, and in a time of increasing community need, banding together can make a difference. That’s the idea behind the group “Ann Arbor Women for Good.” The group has focused its efforts based on Grapevine’s philosophy of “Giving Circles.” WEMU's David Fair talked with business owner, community volunteer, credentialed leadership and executive coach Lisa Pasjberg about how the group started, its impact so far and what lay ahead.