youth programs

Thousands across Michigan proudly decide to become Girl Scouts. The program is robustly present in Washtenaw County, too. The mission of the organization is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Still, scouting has had its fair share of controversies through the years. Brenna West is Chief Communications Officer with the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan. She talked to WEMU's David Fair about the drive for equity, equality and inclusion and about some of the hurdles in helping girls get to that place.

Organizations in the Washtenaw County Continuum of Care have launched a new effort to address youth homelessness after receiving $4.2 million in federal funding. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

There is a long tradition of teenagers and young adults getting summer jobs to save up some money while school is out of session. It has seemingly become more difficult to land one of these jobs. That’s where SummerWorks comes in. Through partnership and collaboration, the SummerWorks summer youth employment program works with area employers to find paid internships and mentorship to area young people. It can go beyond a few summer dollars and be a pathway to self-discovery, an educational path and/or a career. WEMU's David Fair and Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber Executive Vice President Andy LaBarre talked with program manager Kathleen Clancey about the program and how your kids and grandkids can get involved.

Ozone House in Ann Arbor is seeking alternative solutions to secure funding for its youth sheltering programs after this year’s federal cuts have impacted them greatly. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

For half a century, the Ypsilanti-based Student Advocacy Center of Michigan (SAC) has made it its mission to help students facing disciplinary issues get back on track with their education. Lee Van Roth was joined by the center's co-executive director, Peri Stone-Palmquist, to talk about the SAC's legacy and what new programs will be introduced in the near future.

When a young person gets in trouble with the law, it can have devastating consequences on their future. Pre-arrest deflection programs, like RAPID initiated by the Corner Health Center in partnership with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department, redirects youth to support resources, offering a meaningful alternative to becoming entrenched in the legal system. WEMU's Caroline MacGregor talked to Corner Health Center Justice Division program manager Degaryia Witten and Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer about the program, which offers deputies a direct pathway to help care for young people in the community.

Eastern Michigan University is launching "Way Forward@EMU." It's a program aimed at helping students from local high schools become community health educators. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and Corner Health Center have joined forces to launch a pre-arrest program to prevent young people from entering the criminal legal system. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor reports.

A vision born from tragedy is giving hope to the future. In 2017, Julie and Scott Halpert’s 23-year old son Garrett died by suicide. In their grief, and in hopes of preventing others from taking their lives, the Halperts envisioned a campus that would provide support to young adults in a non-medical setting. The residential part of that campus will soon be a reality. It is called Garrett’s Space. WEMU's David Fair talked with executive director David Garcia about the vision, the mission and where construction of Garrett’s Space stands.

Social and educational stressors have increased for youngsters since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That's where Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Michigan comes in. But there are challenges in finding mentors and volunteers. WEMU's David Fair checked in with interim president Dr. Joselyn Mitchell-Parker about Big Brothers Big Sisters' role in our community and how it is evolving.