community outreach

The leading cause of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing, and that's especially true here in Washtenaw County. Avalon Housing in Ann Arbor works to solve this problem by building more supportive housing communities. The group's co-executive directors, Scott Ellis and Molly Smith, joined Decky Alexander to talk about Avalon's ongoing mission and what may lie ahead for the organization.

The local community came together Sunday to honor and remember Ann Arbor food visionary Tommy York. WEMU's Ana Longoria reports.

Lori's Hands is a nonprofit organization that builds partnerships between college students and community members with chronic illness. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor spoke with local student volunteers Grace Yuan and Jillian Retzler to hear about the practical assistance they provide in return for budding relationships that benefit the student’s long-term learning.

The Ypsilanti-based SOS Community Services has worked diligently to help those facing homelessness with all available resources. Yet, completely solving the homeless epidemic in Washtenaw County remains a lofty goal. Decky Alexander discussed SOS's latest work with its Executive Director, Rhonda Weathers.

For many years, the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County has provided food, shelter and hope for those who need it. And yet in recent months, the number of resources the association provides our community has lessened. Decky Alexander discussed this new reality with the association's chief development officer, Versell Smith Jr.

"Students have a right to learn—no matter what." That is the motto of the Ypsilanti-based Student Advocacy Center of Michigan. The center stands up for K-12 students who deal with suspensions, face racial barriers, and get denied access to special education. Decky Alexander shared more about the center's ongoing work with its Co-Executive Director, Anell Eccleston.

Those reentering society after incarceration face numerous challenges, including addressing their own health. Yet, access to quality health care, housing, and other necessities can be exceedingly difficult. In response to this, Packard Health has partnered with the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department to create the "Beyond Incarceration" program. Lee Van Roth talked all about this amazing initiative with Packard Health reentry coach Jessica Slone.

School is a month away for many students here in Washtenaw County. Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS) are helping them get the supplies they need. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

A YMCA building that closed its preschool collaborative doors in March reopened in June as something else entirely — a free, neighborhood-embedded wellness and community hub now known as the "Neighborhood Collaborative". Ann Arbor YMCA President James Highsmith spoke with Lee Van Roth about the development of the Neighborhood Collaborative and what the future may hold for it.

When we think about a just society, we often think about laws, courts, and consequences. But what if we look at it through a humanist lens? True justice isn't about punishment. It's about recognizing the inherent dignity and infinite potential of every single human being. And nowhere is that test more critical than in how we treat our youth. Under the leadership of its Executive Director, Jason Smith, the Michigan Center for Youth Justice has championed tectonic shifts that are reshaping youth justice to build a stronger and more compassionate future for generations to come. Smith talked about the center's continuing mission of developing a truly fair justice system with Decky Alexander.