women

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.

Foundational support systems can go a long way in determining life outcomes. When there are systemic barriers, the task of growing a successful and happy life becomes more difficult. The Women’s Center of Southeast Michigan continues its work in offering systems to support the emotional and economic self-determination of women and their families. WEMU's David Fair spoke with executive director Hannah Reischl about challenges of achieving greater equity and equality.

Running away from problems usually doesn't work. Running through problems can be a game changer. That's where an Ypsilanti-based non-profit comes in. Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan serves Washtenaw and four other counties in empowering young girls by running—literally. The exercise is healthy in and of itself. The connections and relationships created help increase confidence and self-determination. WEMU's David Fair runs through the reasons why this is a program making a difference in our community with Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan's executive director, Danielle Plunkett.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Intimate partner violence will touch the lives in two out of every five women in America. That holds true here in Washtenaw County, as well. For decades now, the issue has been brought out in the open, yet it remains a public health crisis. WEMU's David Fair spoke with SafeHouse Center executive director, Christine Watson, about raising more awareness and activism.

Washtenaw Community College offers a world-class skilled trades program, training 12,000+ trade professionals across the U.S. and beyond. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor speaks to Kyrsten Rue and Marilyn Donham about the college’s “academic” skilled trades programs for students, in addition to their partnerships with national and international professional skilled trades organizations that visit the campus each summer.

An organization known as Women on the Move will celebrate the strength and unity of women at its 2nd Annual Gala this coming Saturday. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor reports.

It was a sad day when Go! Ice Cream closed its doors in Ypsilanti. Now, there is some happier news to report. Four new business will occupy that building, Rylee Barnsdale spoke with one them. Colleen Kennedy is the owner of Investors Realty Group, which will also serve as the new property manager for the building on North Washington Street.

Right now, the waiting list for a space at the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County’s women’s shelter goes about 50-deep. The wait time for those women averages about seven months. That’s why the Shelter Association is undertaking a women’s shelter expansion initiative. WEMU's David Fair spoke with the association’s development director, Sarah Paspal-Jasinski, about the effort to expand capacity by 50%.

A new report from the state shows Michigan’s unemployment rate among women bounced back to pre-pandemic levels last year. But, as Colin Jackson reports, it’s not all good news.

In 2003, an organization was founded with a mission of tackling the unmet needs of socially and economically vulnerable young women in Washtenaw County. Now, Girls Group is celebrating 20 years of empowering young women to achieve emotional and economic self-sufficiency by ensuring they graduate from high school and begin their college or career journeys. Sue Schooner is the founder and executive director of Girls Group and shared the organization's story with WEMU's David Fair.