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Andre Anderson was sworn in as Ann Arbor's new permanent police chief in February. WEMU’s Taylor Bowie has more on Chief Anderson's goals for the new role.
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MLK Day is a day of reflection and service. And it's an opportunity to set forth an agenda to continue building on Dr. King's "Dream." WEMU's David Fair engaged Washtenaw County's racial equity officer, Alize Asberry Payne, for a conversation on where the community is and where it's going.
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When we think of issues of equity, a number of things come to mind. One that might not come to mind is the matter of transportation. Feonix - Mobility Rising is a national organization with three offices in Michigan, including one in Ypsilanti. Its mission is to connect as many people as possible with transportation services and tailor it to individual needs. WEMU's David Fair talked with Feonix's Community Development Manager, Rebecca Yaciuk, about overcoming the challenges, particularly on the eastern side of Washtenaw County.
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The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant for a violence intervention initiative. WEMU’s Taylor Bowie has more on how the department plans to use the new funding.
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For most, the holiday season is celebratory and something to look forward to, but certainly not for everyone. Imagine that you are a survivor of domestic violence or sexual abuse and you and potentially your children are living in a shelter just to stay safe. To talk about what that’s like and what we as a community can do to help, WEMU's David Fair checked in with SafeHouse Center executive director Christine Watson for a different perspective on the holiday season.
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In 2024, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels will celebrate 50 years of service to the community. There are plenty of reasons to celebrate, but it comes with the understanding that there is much more work that lies ahead. Did you know the number of seniors living in poverty in Washtenaw County will double by the year 2040? In the meantime, government funding and access to caregivers continues to decline. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels marketing and development manager Danni Murphy about the plans for the upcoming holidays and for 2024 and beyond.
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Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community, and Ypsilanti is no exception. WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale talk about what makes Ypsilanti's small business community unique with their guest, former city council member and current small business owner Brian Jones-Chance.
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As of Sunday, October 1st, the United Way of Washtenaw County is no more. A previously announced merger rolls the community services support agency's efforts into the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, which is based out of Detroit. However, the United Way will keep an office in Ann Arbor, and the expectation is that staff and funding in Washtenaw County will be expanded. WEMU's David Fair discussed the merger and its anticipated impacts on the community with senior director of collective impact, Bridget Herrmann.
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Violence is far too pervasive around the country and right here in Washtenaw County. There are efforts to address these matters educationally, legislatively and through the criminal justice system. There is a program in Washtenaw County that is taking its anti-violence message straight to the streets called WeLIVE, which has a particular focus on preventing retaliatory violence. And the program is proving to be one successful. WEMU's David Fair was joined by community outreach specialist Roger Roper and Derrick Jackson from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office to find out more on efforts to prevent retaliatory violence.
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Combatting poverty is difficult, particularly when you work against systemic issues that have been in place as long as the country. Ypsilanti-based "Friends In Deed" offers immediate and direct assistance to those in need but also invests in programming and mentorship that helps people build the tools and support community needed to get out of poverty permanently. Tracey Hoesch and Amtheyst Floyd from "Friends In Deed" joined WEMU's David Fair to share the progress being made to better address local poverty.