Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti officials are seeking local opinions on the city’s parks, recreation and public art initiatives. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin was in Ypsilanti Wednesday morning to hear from local education and government leaders. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Eastern Michigan University created the "Bright Futures" after-school program to provide students area students with homework help and mentoring. It runs all year long. Like many education programs, it is facing uncertainty due to federal budget cuts. Lee Van Roth spoke with "Bright Futures" director Suzie Staley about the benefits of the program and what the future may hold.

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration announced possible cuts to federal education spending. Research from Ypsilanti was cited to push back against the prospect of eliminating the Head Start early childhood education program for low-income families. The nonprofit, HighScope, has played a major role in making this research more open to the public. Lee Van Roth discusses the findings with HighScope's President and CEO, Dr. Alejandra Barraza.

Washtenaw County Health Department, in partnership with the Ypsilanti Farmers Market, is showcasing its produce prescription program this Saturday for National Farmers Market Week. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

Ypsilanti Community Schools has announced its first principal for the district’s newest multilingual school. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

The Washtenaw County Health Department is encouraging locals to celebrate safe habits with Summer Health Day this Wednesday. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

Just how pervasive are plastics in our lives? Try and live just a week without any. That’s the notion behind the Ypsi Plastic Free July Challenge. It is put forth by Zerowaste.org and runs through August 1st. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Zerowaste.org co-founder and deputy director, Lydia McMullen-Laird, about this year’s challenge and some tips on how best to reduce the use of plastics in our homes.

After two decades of nurturing young writers from a whimsical robot shop in Ann Arbor, the nonprofit organization, 826michigan, has relocated its headquarters to Ypsilanti. It's a move aimed at deepening impact and expanding access to literacy education. Lee Van Roth talks to 826michigan's grants writer, Catherine Calabro-Cavin, about the move to Eastern Michigan University's College of Education and what that means for the future.

The University of Michigan arts program, or the post-incarcerated Linkage Community, is going independent. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.