The cost of living continues to rise, and affordable, quality childcare is at a premium. Now, imagine trying to create a better life by going to college, working a job and having to find the kind of care your child deserves on a limited budget. Alleviating some of that stress is the mission behind The Collaborative: Ypsilanti YMCA Child Development Center. WEMU's David Fair talked with center liaison Kaitlyn Savage about the difference it’s making and what more needs to be done.

It is safe to say future successes require most, if not, all of us to have a competency in writing. Creative writing, self-expression and the ability to connect through the written word are life skills that make a difference. Fostering these skills in students in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Detroit is the mission of 826michigan. Executive director Megan Shuchman joined WEMU's David Fair to share the process of "writing a better future, one story at a time."

These are rather exciting times in the Ypsilanti Community Schools. The state is forgiving the combined debt created when the district merged with the Willow Run Schools. It has received a significant grant to invest in and expand STEAM and STEM programs. And the district will reopen a shuttered school building. WEMU's David Fair discussed these issues and more with district superintendent, Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross.

When we talk about creating more equity and opportunity in our community, we may not always be as inclusive as we think we are. For many in the intellectual and developmental disability community, they have no voice at all. Who helps give them a voice and life choices? It's the Washtenaw Association for Community Advocacy. WEMU's David Fair is joined by the association's president and CEO, Kathy Homan, to explore what a tremendous difference it can make to have allies help gain measures of self-determination.

Do you have a moment to talk about kidney disease? "Meet the Moment" is a Washtenaw County-based program that addresses excess chronic kidney disease in the African American community, particularly among Black men. It looks into what can be done to make improvements and enhance the quality of life for the affected. Dr. Silas Norman is Co-Medical Director, Kidney and Pancreas Transplant at the University of Michigan, and he'll discuss what has been and what still needs to be done with WEMU's David Fair.

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.

What do you do in the cold of winter if you can't pay your heating bill? Sadly, thousands in the area face that crisis question. There are some resources available, and, on "Washtenaw United," you'll learn how to tap into them. Sean Scane is director of utility assistance with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. He joined WEMU's David Fair with the latest information on the growing need for assistance and the efforts to expand the Michigan Energy Assistance Program.

In 2003, an organization was founded with a mission of tackling the unmet needs of socially and economically vulnerable young women in Washtenaw County. Now, Girls Group is celebrating 20 years of empowering young women to achieve emotional and economic self-sufficiency by ensuring they graduate from high school and begin their college or career journeys. Sue Schooner is the founder and executive director of Girls Group and shared the organization's story with WEMU's David Fair.

When former President Barack Obama signed a declaration establishing the My Brother's Keeper Task Force, it promised a coordinated federal effort to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color. Washtenaw My Brothers Keeper will hold a celebratory gala on Sunday, November 5th. In the meantime, WEMU's David Fair discussed the organization's growing scope of work with Washtenaw My Brothers Keeper project specialist, Jamall Bufford.

Getting old isn’t easy. For some, it is more difficult than others, and help is needed. Milan Seniors for Healthy Living is among the organizations dedicated to helping the elderly navigate these times. WEMU's David Fair talked with executive director MaryAnn Opal about prioritizing the health and well-being of area senior citizens.

We often say that everyone should have equal opportunity. America has yet to achieve that goal. Education is vitally important, and the manner in which the curriculum is approached at Ypsilanti’s ACCE High School is aimed at preparing students for the societal inequities they’ll face and building a population of citizens that can move needed change forward. Find out more about the innovative approach to education in the conversation WEMU's David Fair had with ACCE High School Culture and Climate Coach, Lauren Fardig-Diop.

One in four adults in the United States experience transportation insecurity, according to a University of Michigan study. Finding affordable and accessible public transportation can be difficult particularly impacting communities of color. The Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan is working to address these issues, and among the programs is the D2A2 bus service. The pilot program connects Ann Arbor and Detroit with hourly service weekdays and limited service on weekends. Is it working? Will the program become permanent? WEMU's David Fair finds out in a conversation with the Authority’s program manager, Ben Stupka.