Washtenaw United: Recent Episodes
Patrik Holubik
WEMU has partnered with the United Way of Washtenaw County to explore the people, organizations and institutions that are creating opportunity and equity in our area. And, as part of this ongoing series, you’ll also hear from the people benefiting and growing from the investments being made in the areas of our community where there are gaps in available services. It is a community voice. It is, Washtenaw United.
February is Black History Month. Every Monday in February, WEMU's "Washtenaw United" will explore the history being made today in context of, where we've been, and where we're going. The African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County is a beacon, exploring and preserving the rich local history of the African American community. Museum president and CEO Joyce Hunter joined WEMU's David Fair about the need for greater education and the personal importance of building and creating a new and better future.
A lot has happened in the three months that David Fair has been away on medical leave. On this week's "Washtenaw United," David checks in with Pam Smith, president and CEO of the United Way of Washtenaw County, to find out what we've missed and what's coming up in the first half of the year.
We are approaching the end of the year, and soon, we'll be meeting with friends and family for special meals at Thanksgiving and other upcoming holidays. Of course, we can't forget the many elderly folks who don't have access to healthy and good food. That is a situation made more difficult by the ongoing pandemic. Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels continues to meet the challenges, but it isn't easy. WEMU's David Fair talked it over with its president and CEO, Alison Foreman.
The Washtenaw County-based Community Action Network (CAN) is taking a neighborhood approach to help those most in need and to build better and more equitable futures. CAN executive director Derrick Miller joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the successes to date and the work that remains to be done.
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.
Childhood trauma, if not addressed properly, can have terrible, long-term effects. In many situations, law enforcement is involved, and that can intensify trauma. Derrick Jackson from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the "Handle with Care" program that identifies those at risk of trauma and then provides needed resources to overcome its affects.
The fourth and latest 21-Day Equity Challenge in Washtenaw County is complete. The challenge seeks to create awareness about inequity, injustice, and both overt and systemic racism. Rich Chang is CEO of the Ann Arbor-based software firm NewFoundry and serves as Board Chair of the United Way of Washtenaw County. He joined WEMU's David Fair to recap the latest challenge and the future it seeks to build.
For over a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters has mentored at-risk children around the country. It has fostered lifelong connections and friendships resulting in postive outcomes for marginalzed and at-risk youngsters. As expected, the pandemic and the many racially-charged events over the past year-and-a-half present more challenges. WEMU's David Fair checked in with Jennifer Spitler, the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washtenaw County, to see how the "Bigs" and "Littles" are faring.
When you have to worry about food, housing, and transportation, education can fall away on the list of priorities. Add in a healthy mistrust of a system known for systemic and institutionalized racism, and the barriers to success only grow. Knocking down those walls and building a better future is the goal of a group of "Trusted Parent Advisors." The group of seven women have been knocking on doors for four years and are having a great deal of success. WEMU's David Fair found out more about the program in his conversation with Washtenaw Intermediate School District community engagement specialist and parent liaison Colleen Klus.
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.
America still struggles with reconciling its slave-owning past. An exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, entitled "Unsettling Histories: Legacies of Slavery and Colonialism," is designed to open further discussion on the topic. WEMU's David Fair spoke with UMMA assistant curator of global contemporary arts Ozi Uduma about the impact art can have on how we deal with race and racism in our present and future.
For over 60 years, the St. Louis Center in Chelsea has housed those with developmental disabilities and helped them find employment and work toward independence. Yet, like many nonprofit organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the center financially and emotionally. The center's chief operations officer, Deana Fisher, joins WEMU's David Fair to discuss how her establishment and its residents have adapted to the pandemic.
The Black Stone Bookstore and Cultural Center in Ypsilanti has a mission: To unite all people, regardless of race, religion, or politics, and to highlight the works of authors of color. Bookstore co-owner Carlos Franklin joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss his love of literature and his journey as a Black, small business owner during social unrest and a pandemic.
Many families face some sort of crisis, especially when it involves the criminal justice system. Finding support can be difficult, which is why Florence Roberson formed "Sisters United Resilient and Empowered," or SURE Moms. She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the work her group is doing to build the community and alter the life trajectories for local women and their children.
Discussing racism, whether individual or systemic, is important, but sometimes awkward or uncomfortable. Not in the Kekere Freedom School program. It is at the core of what founder and director Nuola Akinde imparts to the students the school serves. Nuola joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss confronting racism and teaching children to embrace their cultural heritage.
Learning remotely and through a difficult pandemic academic year has left some children in the area a bit behind. Black Men Read (BMR) was formed to promote literacy and cultural engagement. WEMU's David Fair spoke with one of BMR's founders, Tamara Tucker-Ibarisha, about the innovative program and its plans to help kids be ready for academics in the fall.
Many communities, including Washtenaw County, have declared racism a public health crisis. There are no simple cures for such a crisis, but holistic nursing consultant Dr. Roxane Raffin Chan has been providing services to help people cope with the racially-charged incidents in their lives. Dr. Chan explains how she and her company, Chan Body Energy, have responded to the United Way's 2021 21-Day Equity Challenge in a chat with WEMU's David Fair.
There can't be equality until equity is achieved. Self-awareness and understanding of where systemic and institutionalized bias exists is the launch point. The United Way of Washtenaw County is about to kick off another 21-Day Equity Challenge, and its aim is to create recognition and awareness and provide a foundation for change. Naomi Norman is interim superintendent of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the benefits to public education and the people it serves.
The United Way's National Day of Action is right around the corner. Local volunteers in communities around the country work on a number of projects aimed at helping the underserved and enhancing engagement. Last year, the pandemic forced everything to be a virtual experience. This year, vaccinations and relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions will allow for the return of some in-person work, too. WEMU's David Fair got the rundown of how the 2021 Day of Action will be conducted from United Way of Washtenaw County senior development associate Madeline Garcia.
Michigan Ability Partners (MAP) has an ongoing mission to find work, housing, and other esssentials for military veterans and those with disabilities. The COVID-19 public health crisis created new and different challenges. MAP's chief executive officer, Jan Little, joined WEMU's David Fair to look at the immediate past, the present, and the future.