United Way for Southeastern Michigan

There is a silver wave underway. The percentage of older adults in Washtenaw County is growing, and forecasts expect that will continue. A good number of our elderly are on fixed incomes or on the low end of the earning spectrum. The costs of goods and services, particularly housing, is going up. How are we going to bridge the gap? That’s a question the Washtenaw Housing Alliance works to answer on a daily basis, including its new Shared Housing program. WEMU's David Fair talked with executive director, Amanda Carlisle about helping our seniors to peacefully age in place.

We all need a hand-up sometimes. Some of us need a little more. Since 1949, the Washtenaw Association for Community Advocacy has offered that support to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). A court decision in 2024 offered a boost in those services and changed the way the state approaches IDD. But the new federal administration’s policy changes and budget cuts put that progress at risk. WEMU's David Fair talked with the association’s President and CEO, Kristen Columbus, about all of it on this week’s "Washtenaw United".

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that primarily affects Black and Hispanic people. There are significant gaps in access to high-quality health care for people who live with the disease. Dr. Sarah Reeves is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Epidemiology at the University of Michigan. She focuses her research on ways to improve access to quality health care for those living with sickle cell disease. Reeves discussed her work with WEMU's David Fair.

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.

President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill" is now the law, and it includes significant cuts to many social safety net programs. That includes Medicaid and food programs. Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels delivers a lot of meals provided by impacted food pantries to the community’s aging and homebound population. What will the impact be moving forward and what is the plan to accommodate the changes? WEMU's David Fair discussed it with Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels president and CEO, Barbara Niess-May.

Housing and food insecurity continue to grow in Washtenaw County, and the organizations that assist people through the difficult times are facing some challenges of their own right now. Rhonda Weathers is the executive director of SOS Community Services. She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the role SOS Community Services has played in its 55 years in the area.

United Way of Southeastern Michigan has earmarked $5.2 million to support households in need, over $1 million of which will benefit Washtenaw County nonprofits. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor reports.

New federal policy and direction has changed over the last six months, and you can see the impacts starting to manifest. It’s impacting many service-oriented non-profits and the people they serve. You can count Community Action Network in Washtenaw County among them. WEMU's David Fair spoke to executive director Derrick Miller about the response to funding and DEI program cuts in our community.

Pride Month is about to conclude, and important community conversations have been taking place. It's a month-long celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on their contributions, achievements and the ongoing fight for equality. WEMU's David Fair wraps up Pride month with Joe Halsch, president of the Jim Toy Community Center in Ann Arbor.

Diversity, equity and inclusion programs are under fire from the new federal administration. The impacts reverberate through the community in a variety of ways. Ypsilanti-based Ozone House has been empowering young people in the community for 55 years. There have been challenges before and there will be more in the future. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Outreach and Pride Zone coordinator Brie Nikora about overcoming the challenges in the effort to continue establishing equity and inclusivity for runaway, homeless, and high-risk youth.