youth programs

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.

The City of Ypsilanti has awarded $10,000 in grants to three local organizations serving young people in the area. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Suspensions in our public school system continue to be an issue. The students who are disciplined because of their behavioral issues often find it difficult to get out of the cycle and back on track. That’s where the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan makes a difference. WEMU's David Fair talked with the center's executive director, Peri Stone-Palmquist, about the work to secure an education for students in need and to light the path to a brighter future.

The political climate has brought back to the surface open prejudice, bias and discrimination. These are challenges that, in the best of times, have been a part of the lives of the LGBTQ+ members of our community. But all young people are experiencing greater anxiety about social barriers. That’s where the Ann Arbor-based Neutral Zone focuses its work. Executive director Lori Roddy joined WEMU's David Fair to talk about the work to get around, over and through those hurdles.

Dzanc House in Ypsilanti has given a home for writers and creatives for years. Starting this fall, Dzanc House will present a new project called "Beyond the Binary: Stories That Shift Culture." It aims to amplify the stories of LGBTQ+ youth through writing, poetry and podcasting. Learn more in Lee Van Roth's conversation with Dzanc House's director of development, programs and communications, Charlene Choi.

The Ypsilanti District Library (YDL) is making summer more accessible, educational, and fun for everyone in the community. The library's eighth annual Summer Challenge, where readers of all ages earn badges for prizes, to free meals, mutual aid programs, and teen-led music showcases, offers a full slate of free programming. Lee Van Roth (formerly Rylee Barnsdale) will share more about the program and others being offered in a conversation with YDL Community Relations Coordinator, Sam Killian.