social justice

The City of Ann Arbor Police Department and the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission (ICPOC) are hosting a symposium honoring a late committee member. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

With all of the changes in federal policy and spending priorities, we are contending with a lot of uncertainty. That is certainly true among nonprofits and service agencies in our community. Still, there are concerted efforts underway to ensure that the most marginalized and underserved will have access to the support they need. WEMU's David Fair talked with Alex Gossage, the executive director of Disability Network Washtenaw Monroe Livingston, about how these events are playing out in his organization.

Chelsea City Council member Bill Ruddock apologized during this week’s city council meeting for a remark he made during a heated exchange with a local resident in March. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has more.

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell says there are a lot of challenges facing the 6th U.S. House district and asks everyone to keep fighting to protect their rights and needs. Dingell was at the Gerald R. Ford Library on Friday to give her annual State of the District address. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Saturday marks the Disability Day of Mourning, a day of remembrance for disabled people who were murdered by their caregivers or parents in the past year. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has more.

The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in a case filed against the state by an immigrant rights organization. Rick Pluta reports.

There are a great number of organizations working in Washtenaw County and southeast Michigan to combat unequal power dynamics and systemic racism. These social sector organizations have become increasingly important amid rising inflation and a divided political climate. Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW) has always put these issues at the fore. Now it is working to build collective power in the social sector to more effectively create the visions and strategies to better provide needed services and to remove the barriers to change. NEW president and CEO Yodit Mesfin-Johnson and Vice President of Strategy Will Jones III joined WEMU's David Fair for a look at how to build that infrastructure.

A new state program will allow incarcerated mothers of newborns to send breast milk home for their babies. We have more from Rick Pluta.

Do you have a moment to talk about kidney disease? "Meet the Moment" is a Washtenaw County-based program that addresses excess chronic kidney disease in the African American community, particularly among Black men. It looks into what can be done to make improvements and enhance the quality of life for the affected. Dr. Silas Norman is Co-Medical Director, Kidney and Pancreas Transplant at the University of Michigan, and he'll discuss what has been and what still needs to be done with WEMU's David Fair.

Earl Lewis is a problem solver. He is also a scholar, an historian, an administrator and a National Medal for the Humanities recipient. As the founder of the University of Michigan Center for Social Solutions, he wants to find answers to questions of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Dr. Lewis joins host Deb Polich on this edition of creative:impact. Tune in to be inspired!