New federal policy and direction has changed over the last six months, and you can see the impacts starting to manifest. It’s impacting many service-oriented non-profits and the people they serve. You can count Community Action Network in Washtenaw County among them. WEMU's David Fair spoke to executive director Derrick Miller about the response to funding and DEI program cuts in our community.

Pride Month is about to conclude, and important community conversations have been taking place. It's a month-long celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on their contributions, achievements and the ongoing fight for equality. WEMU's David Fair wraps up Pride month with Joe Halsch, president of the Jim Toy Community Center in Ann Arbor.

Diversity, equity and inclusion programs are under fire from the new federal administration. The impacts reverberate through the community in a variety of ways. Ypsilanti-based Ozone House has been empowering young people in the community for 55 years. There have been challenges before and there will be more in the future. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Outreach and Pride Zone coordinator Brie Nikora about overcoming the challenges in the effort to continue establishing equity and inclusivity for runaway, homeless, and high-risk youth.

Federal cuts to the USDA are increasing food insecurity throughout the country and right here in Washtenaw County. Local food banks are already feeling the pinch, and those they serve in the community are growing more anxious. WEMU's David Fair talked with Ann Arbor-based Food Gatherers President and CEO Eileen Spring about efforts to offset the cuts and maintain service levels.

You’ve heard of the wage and income gap that exists in Washtenaw County. There is also a divide in reading levels. The Ann Arbor-based Children’s Literacy Network is working to close the reading gap. WEMU's David Fair spoke with program manager Kara Woodard about those efforts and how to help keep kids engaged over the summer.

The school year is winding down for K-12 kids. It can be a time for reflection and evaluation and a look ahead to the academic year to come in the fall. WEMU's David Fair does exactly that with Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent, Alena Zachery-Ross.

We the People Opportunity Farm has been giving formerly incarcerated and returning residents in our community a new path forward for years. The work continues, and now the nonprofit is in the process of expanding its outreach with a new café. WEMU's David Fair talked with founder and director Melvin Parson and about expansion and impact.

When tragedy befalls a family, the grief never goes away. We all deal with it in different ways. Sometimes, loss gives birth to an action plan to spare others similar pain. That is where the Miles Jeffrey Roberts Foundation in Ann Arbor comes from. Kristen and Jeff Roberts are parents who continue to mourn the loss of their son Miles. He took his life in 2017 at the age of 15. Through the tears, and with purpose and dedication, the Roberts began a foundation aimed at empowering youth athletic communities to promote mental well-being and suicide prevention. They talked about their work with WEMU's David Fair.

With all of the changes in federal policy and spending priorities, we are contending with a lot of uncertainty. That is certainly true among nonprofits and service agencies in our community. Still, there are concerted efforts underway to ensure that the most marginalized and underserved will have access to the support they need. WEMU's David Fair talked with Alex Gossage, the executive director of Disability Network Washtenaw Monroe Livingston, about how these events are playing out in his organization.

The school year is winding down, and a lot of the kids in the area are going to be headed to one camp or another. But for some, camp is too expensive, making access difficult or impossible. That’s where Washtenaw Camp Placement comes in. It connects those kids with the opportunity to participate in sleep-away summer camp and build a relationship with nature, increase self-esteem and expand personal horizons. WEMU's David Fair talked with executive director Matt Tarver-Wahlquist about this year’s opportunities and whether changes in federal policy and funding programs will have an impact.

Who exactly is welcome in America and here in Washtenaw County? The answer is becoming more difficult to provide. There are refugees from other countries that feel a great deal of uncertainty. Washtenaw Refugee Welcome is helping those who have located here find their way. Learn more in a conversation between WEMU's David Fair and the organization's co-founder and board president, Emmeline Weinert, on this week’s "Washtenaw United".

It can be difficult to ask for help. For some, there is needless and harmful stigma or shame. And that should never be the case. Michigan Ability Partners continues to work to create pathways of self-sufficiency for veterans and those with disabilities. The transformations for those the organization work with are self-directed and, therefore, personal and more rewarding. Learn more in a conversation with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan Disability Partners Chief Executive Officer, Jan Little.