Sarah Rigg

Thanks to millions of dollars in grants and scholarships, Washtenaw Community College is now able to offer free training for high-demand careers for some 300 adults and high school students. Learn more about WCC's "Advance Ypsi" program when WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale spoke to WCC vice president of workforce development Brandon Tucker.

A new center for auto-immune affected youngsters is coming to Ypsilanti Township. The Children’s Healing Center will offer immune-compromised kids and their families a chance for emotional and social healing in a germ-free environment. WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale discussed the facility and its missions with the Children's Healing Center's director of development and growth, Melissa Block.

The Growing Hope Urban Farm in Ypsilanti turns 20 next month. And as part of its 20th year, it's making some changes. It's growing hands-on workshops, like mushroom foraging and beekeeping and expanding its reach, so people in the community can invest in portions of the produce fields. And it's fine-tuning its farmer's market with additional focus on the online market. Growing Hope's new executive director, Julius Buzzard, talks all about Growing Hope's 20th year celebration activities with WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale.

Civic responsibilities don't end when you cast your ballot. There are plenty of other ways to engage to make sure your concerns are heard. The series is headed up by the community-based group "Survivors Speak" and is funded with a grant from the national non-profit, "Black Voters Matter." Survivors Speak founder Trische' Duckworth joined WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale to discuss the goals and aspirations of the civic education series.

Eastern Michigan University is in the middle of a $200 million project they call "Welcome Home 2025." It's a plan to upgrade and expand all student housing on campus to make campus living more welcoming for students. WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Rylee Barnsdale from Concentrate Media bring you an in-depth look at the ongoing project with EMU Student Government President, Auryon Azar.

The Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti has been around for some four decades, providing health care and support programs for 12-25 year-olds who may not be able to afford the services otherwise. Now, the center is adding to its services to help young dads and parents of transgender or non-binary children. WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale bring the story of the how the Corner Health Center is expanding its offerings with the center's community outreach and health education manager, Ashley Anderson.

Among the eclectic growth of retail opportunities in Ypsilanti, new video and gaming stores are springing up. Three stores are now open in the Ypsilanti area focused on all things gaming, from retro video games to tabletop roleplaying books and supplies. What has drawn them to Ypsilanti? WEMU's Cathy Shafran sought out the answer to that question, and more, with Concentrate Media reporter Rylee Barnsdale and Shawn Gates, the owner of the new downtown Ypsilanti store, Wyrd Byrd.

New gun violence intervention programs founded in Ypsilanti are beginning to show successes. And the success is being measured by the number of young people who are being convinced that there's an alternative to gun-related revenge. WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media reporter Sarah Rigg introduce us to one of those success stories whose life-changing experiences have him helping others on the local Violence Intervention Team.

While society appears to be slowly coming out of COVID pandemic mode, the reality for many retailers is that the impact of the pandemic may be with them for a while. WEMU's Cathy Shafran and Concentrate Media reporter Rylee Barnsdale hear how Ypsilanti area businesses are working to overcome pandemic challenges. One of those business owners is Jen Eastridge, who runs Unicorn Feed & Supply, as well as Stone & Spoon, and she joins Cathy and Rylee to talk about how the pandemic affected how she ran her establishments.

There are some who describe Ypsilanti Township as a "food desert", where access to healthy and affordable food is difficult to those without transportation. But businesses and government officials are working to address the lack of food access in Ypsilanti Township. In today's edition of "On The Ground Ypsi," WEMU's Cathy Shafran talks with Concentrate Media Reporter Rylee Barnsdale about her site's reporting on efforts to bring fresh food opportunities closer to the community, along with one of the community members working to make this possible, 2Marines co-founder Josh McAllister.