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There is growing support for an alternative to police response to a mental health crisis in the community. The question is: Can it be a safer and more effective tool in dealing with such incidents for the person involved and the community at large? Care-Based Safety is an organization pushing for such operations in Washtenaw County, Southeast Michigan and beyond. The organization's co-director of culture and operations, Liz Kennedy, talks to WEMU's David Fair about why she believes it could and would work in our community.
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As housing and rent costs continue to soar across the country, developers in Ypsilanti are working to address a shortage of affordable new units – and, in one case, open the door to home ownership for residents. City officials are working to ensure that developers not only have sufficient funding, but that their homes and communities meet Ypsi residents’ needs. Rylee Barnsdale talks to Michael Appel from Avalon Housing in Ann Arbor about the development projects that are expected to start this summer.
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Washtenaw County will be holding its 2nd annual Community Violence Intervention Summit on Monday. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.
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Andre Anderson was sworn in as Ann Arbor's new permanent police chief in February. WEMU’s Taylor Bowie has more on Chief Anderson's goals for the new role.
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MLK Day is a day of reflection and service. And it's an opportunity to set forth an agenda to continue building on Dr. King's "Dream." WEMU's David Fair engaged Washtenaw County's racial equity officer, Alize Asberry Payne, for a conversation on where the community is and where it's going.
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When we think of issues of equity, a number of things come to mind. One that might not come to mind is the matter of transportation. Feonix - Mobility Rising is a national organization with three offices in Michigan, including one in Ypsilanti. Its mission is to connect as many people as possible with transportation services and tailor it to individual needs. WEMU's David Fair talked with Feonix's Community Development Manager, Rebecca Yaciuk, about overcoming the challenges, particularly on the eastern side of Washtenaw County.
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The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant for a violence intervention initiative. WEMU’s Taylor Bowie has more on how the department plans to use the new funding.
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For most, the holiday season is celebratory and something to look forward to, but certainly not for everyone. Imagine that you are a survivor of domestic violence or sexual abuse and you and potentially your children are living in a shelter just to stay safe. To talk about what that’s like and what we as a community can do to help, WEMU's David Fair checked in with SafeHouse Center executive director Christine Watson for a different perspective on the holiday season.
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In 2024, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels will celebrate 50 years of service to the community. There are plenty of reasons to celebrate, but it comes with the understanding that there is much more work that lies ahead. Did you know the number of seniors living in poverty in Washtenaw County will double by the year 2040? In the meantime, government funding and access to caregivers continues to decline. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels marketing and development manager Danni Murphy about the plans for the upcoming holidays and for 2024 and beyond.
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Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community, and Ypsilanti is no exception. WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale talk about what makes Ypsilanti's small business community unique with their guest, former city council member and current small business owner Brian Jones-Chance.