Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development

To overcome inequity and injustice, there are systemic issues that must be remedied. Part of what it takes is adequately addressing racism, poverty, and trauma, particularly in communities of color. Those individual and collective issues will be the subject of a virtual forum this week. WEMU's David Fair spoke with a member of the team sponsoring the event. United Way of Washtenaw County's director of corporate giving, Ebony Robinson, discusses how these issues are impacting the entirety of the county, what is being done about it, and where we go from here. 

Many consider Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor in particular, an affluent community. Yet, the truth is that a large number of Washtenaw residents are at, or below the poverty line. Morghan Boydston is the human services manager for the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development. She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the harsh realities as to why that is and the current efforts to address racism and its impact on local poverty. 

"Barrier Busters" is a coalition of more than 90-plus service agencies and organizations in Washtenaw County.  It helps low and moderate income families in times of need and helps bridge gaps that might otherwise send a person, or family, spiraling downward.  Moonson Eninsche supervises the program from the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development.  He joined WEMU's David Fair to offer an inside look at how pandemic hardships have increased the need for services. 

The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development says they will continue their local efforts in trying to get residents to fill out the 2020 Census after a federal judge extended the deadline for the count.  

Despite social distancing obstacles faced because of COVID-19, the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development says local residents have been filling out their 2020 Census forms.  

Financial assistance requests made to the community group Barrier Busters, a group of over 90 Washtenaw County social services agencies, have tripled during COVID-19.  

There are more than 90 service agencies and organizations in Washtenaw County helping area residents through the "Barrier Busters" program.  For many, COVID-19 has only increased the need for assistance.  In this week's "Washtenaw United," WEMU's David Fair discussed the issues with Moonson Eninsche from the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development.  

Managing finances can be difficult.  It becomes infinitely more difficult if there is very little money to work with.  COVID-19 has destroyed financial stability for a great many.  Add in issues of racial and economic oppression, and the difficulties are further compounded.  A grant secured via a partnership between the United Way of Washtenaw County (UWWC) and the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development will allow for further investment in teaching residents in need how to build a better financial future.  WEMU's David Fair talks to UWWC financial coach Ugbaad Keynan about the "Financial Navigation" initiative for this week's "Washtenaw United."

As businesses remain closed and unemployment continues to rise, a growing number of local organizations are turning to Washtenaw’s county government for help.

Today is the national reference point for the 2020 Census.  The national population count takes place every ten years, and this is the first in which most of the count is to be done online.  But, COVID-19 arrived and has muddied the process a bit.  Teresa Gillotti is director of the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development.  She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss local Census efforts and potential impacts in this latest edition of  "Census 2020."

Washtenaw County officials say the 2020 census is still moving along pretty much as planned, despite the coronavirus pandemic.