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Andre Ebron/LinkedInUnderstanding individually how we process the world around us is the best way to get to the underlying factors contributing to inequity in our lives. On Friday, May 17th, the United Way for Southeastern Michigan will launch the 21-Day Equity Challenge, and it's open to everyone in the community. WEMU's David Fair spoke with the UWSEM's senior director for diversity, equity and inclusion, Andre Ebron, about the program and its impacts. -
Care-Based Safety/carebasedsafety.orgThere is growing support for an alternative to police response to a mental health crisis in the community. The question is: Can it be a safer and more effective tool in dealing with such incidents for the person involved and the community at large? Care-Based Safety is an organization pushing for such operations in Washtenaw County, Southeast Michigan and beyond. The organization's co-director of culture and operations, Liz Kennedy, talks to WEMU's David Fair about why she believes it could and would work in our community.
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It can be a daunting task to become a foster parent or to adopt a child. Children in foster care face so many challenges, and finding adoptive homes becomes more difficult the older they get. Ann Arbor-based Hands Across the Water helps navigate those turbulent times. Its services continue to expand to better help all involved get through the process in healthy and happy ways. Executive director Katie Page Sander joined WEMU's David Fair to share her stories. -
Washtenaw Clean-up Days are here! If you have bulk waste, old appliances, household hazardous waste or electronics that need to be disposed of, this is your time. Washtenaw County director of Public Works, Theo Eggermont joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss how you can participate and keep these materials out of the landfills and better protecting our environment. -
Education in lower income areas was already suffering, in part, because of underfunding. Then the pandemic hit, and some kids fell further behind. It has hit the Ypsilanti area particularly hard. Using anti-racist and positive teaching methods, Educate Youth is a summer program aimed at bolstering the academic prospects of kids in the 48197 and 48198 zip codes. Its founder and executive director, Gail Wolkoff, joined WEMU's David Fair with a look at the program impacts. -
Some of the significant issues we’re dealing with in Washtenaw County are also issues in communities around the state: affordable housing, senior citizen care, children in foster care and immigration. Samaritas is an organization serving those segments of our population throughout Michigan, including here in Washtenaw County. WEMU's David Fair spoke with its executive director, Heidi Raubenolt, about the local impacts today and the work that lay ahead in the future. -
For more than 50 years, the Spectrum Center at the University of Michigan has been a leader in serving LGBTQIA+ students. The need remains, but the nature of the needs is changing. WEMU’s David Fair was joined by the director of the center, Jesse Beal, to look at the center’s role today and where it's headed. -
WEMU brings you a special Thursday edition of "Washtenaw United" this week. Typically, you hear this weekly feature on Mondays. This week, a major announcement called for an additional segment. WEMU's David Fair was joined in-studio by United Way of Washtenaw County president and CEO Pam Smith and United Way for Southeastern Michigan president and CEO, Dr. Darienne Hudson. Together, they discussed the local and regional impacts of the merger of the two entities. -
The fight for equality and inclusion for all continues. Nationally, there is an ongoing debate over "drag culture" and its impacts on community. As we begin to wrap up Pride Month, WEMU's David Fair spoke with the CEO of the Ypsilanti-based "Boylesque Michigan" drag troupe. Jadein Black discusses her personal mission and the nature of the troupe's mission to create greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. -
Juneteenth is here. The occasion serves as a great opportunity to discuss where we’ve come as a community since the end of slavery and the significant work that remains ahead. WEMU's David Fair is joined by Trische’ Duckworth for a Juneteenth conversation. She is founder of Survivors Speak and continues to work in the local Black Lives Matter movement. -
The Peace Neighborhood Center in Ann Arbor is expanding wellness programs to benefit youngsters and their families. That is in addition to building on existing programs aimed at transformational experiences that build self-sufficiency. Bonnie Billups has been involved with the center since the 1970’s and now serves as its executive director. He joined WEMU's David Fair to talk about the latest program updates as the quest for equity and equality continues. -
We often talk about the concept of giving back and paying it forward. That is precisely the idea behind the upcoming National Days of Action. Between June 12th and 16th, United Way branches across the country, including here in Washtenaw County, put hundreds of volunteers to work in their respective communities to improve local quality of life. United Way of Washtenaw County corporate giving manager, Ben Thompson, joined WEMU's David Fair with all you'll need to know. -
As we mark Memorial Day, and all of the men and women lost in service to our country, we also want take note of the veterans who have returned home to our community. Many need medical, physical and emotional help and support. That’s where Fisher House in Ann Arbor comes in. It provided free lodging and support services to veterans and their families. Find out more in this conversation WEMU's David Fair had with Fisher House Michigan executive director, Kate Melcher. -
The number of domestic violence and sexual assault cases are not going down. In fact, in many areas, it’s going up. In Washtenaw County, there have been four fatal incidents of intimate partner violence in the last year. Christine Watson is executive director of SafeHouse Center in Washtenaw County, and it is struggling to meet the needs of all those in need. Christine speaks to WEMU's David Fair to provide some insights into what is needed to better address these issues as a community.
