There are still a good number of people in Washtenaw County without health insurance. The Affordable Care Act has helped, but there is more work to be done. Additionally, if there is a change in administrations in Washington after the November elections, the ACA could become a thing of the past. What then? WEMU's David Fair talked it over with Jeremy Lepedis, who serves as executive director of the Washtenaw Health Project.

The food industry can be lucrative, but it is also a difficult industry in which to succeed. Ypsilanti-based Joyful Treats Community Development Corp. is giving young people a sturdy ladder to begin the climb. WEMU's David Fair looks at Joyful Treats “Celebrations” program with the organization's founder and executive director, Khadija Wallace. She explains how it equitably trains teens and young adults how to become food entrepreneurs, particularly young people of color.

One of the lesser discussed facts of prison life for women is the number of children who born into those circumstances. The Huron Valley Women's Correctional Facility is right in our backyard and there is a movement underway to make a difference for incarcerated women and the children they give birth to. It's called the Michigan Prison Doula Initiative. WEMU's David Fair learns more about the program and the difference it's making in his conversation with the initiative's board chair, Kate Stroud, and program director, Cara Genisio.

Mental health among our youngsters has been a growing concern, particularly since the pandemic. Art is one of the outlets that allows for self-expression and communication. The Youth Arts Alliance is an Ypsilanti-based organization working throughout Michigan. It's making a difference in the overall well-being of its participants while building community. WEMU's David Fair takes a look at the program and its impacts with founding director, Heather Martin.

Right now, the waiting list for a space at the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County’s women’s shelter goes about 50-deep. The wait time for those women averages about seven months. That’s why the Shelter Association is undertaking a women’s shelter expansion initiative. WEMU's David Fair spoke with the association’s development director, Sarah Paspal-Jasinski, about the effort to expand capacity by 50%.

June is Pride Month, and it is be celebrated in a number of ways throughout Washtenaw County. It is also an opportunity for education and awareness. There is a good deal of conversation around the country about the use of pronouns and about how members of the LGBTQ+ community identify themselves. Joe Halsch is president of the Jim Toy Community Center in Ann Arbor. He joined WEMU’s David Fair to share the kinds of conversations he and the center are creating around these issues.

Racism exists, and it is called a lot of things. One of the more under-represented ways it is characterized is as a public health crisis. All of the evidence shows that is right on target. WEMU's David Fair is joined by the Washtenaw County Health Department's health equity manager, Charyln VanDeventer. She tells us how and where racism shows up as a public health crisis and what's being done about it in our community.

There are underserved portions of our community, and among them are newcomers to Washtenaw County. Immigrants make up an important part of the area's workforce but often struggle to gain a stable foundation on which to build a new life in our country and in our county. WEMU's David Fair talked about the efforts to welcome and support immigrants with Shrina Eadeh of Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County.

This is a major election year, and there are races to be decided at every level of government. Michigan’s new election laws will work to combat voter suppression and increase turnout. While improvements have been made, more work is left to do. WEMU's David Fair talked about that work with the Washtenaw County co-leader of the grassroots group, Voters Not Politicians, Marie Knoerl.

The earlier in age we begin addressing societal and educational inequity, the better the future results will be. There is a partnership between The University of Michigan School of Kinesiology Childhood Disparities Research Laboratory (UMCDRL) and the Washtenaw Intermediate School District that is working to provide equitable access to structured physical activity to children inside the classroom. WEMU's David Fair spoke to U-M associate professor of Kinesiology, Dr. Rebecca Hasson, and regional school health coordinator for Washtenaw County, Danielle Dros.

Understanding 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.

There 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.