"Hallowed ground": Performers reflect on 60 years of community and creativity at the Ark Read Article

The War and Treaty performing at The Ark in 2021.
Photo: The War and Treaty performing at The Ark in 2021. Doug Coombe

Features

Longform Ark Executive Director Marianne James. Arts and Culture

"Hallowed ground": Performers reflect on 60 years of community and creativity at the Ark

Natalia HoltzmanWednesday, April 23, 2025
To observe the Ark's 60th anniversary, we spoke with close to a dozen local and not-so-local artists about their memories of the beloved Ann Arbor folk venue.
Innovation News Manzanitas Spanish Immersion Playschool in Ann Arbor. Kids and Education

Nonprofit to implement action plan for child care crisis in Washtenaw County

Jaishree DrepaulTuesday, April 22, 2025
The Ann Arbor-based nonprofit Child Care Network has been chosen to lead Michigan’s Regional Child Care Coalitions for Washtenaw County and several other Michigan counties.
Innovation News A promotional image for the inaugural Creative Mornings Ann Arbor event, featuring speaker Hien Lam. Community Development

Creative Mornings launches free monthly community-building event in Ann Arbor

Rylee BarnsdaleTuesday, April 22, 2025
Creative Mornings Ann Arbor, a new free monthly breakfast lecture series for Ann Arbor's creative community, kicks off this week.
Longform Roz Nowosielski picks up trash at Stony Creek Metropark during an Earth Day cleanup event. She walks at the park every day and wanted to help clean it up. Sustainability

Metroparks highlight new and expanded climate initiatives for Earth Day

Patrick DunnTuesday, April 22, 2025
The Huron-Clinton Metroparks are celebrating this Earth Day by rolling out several new pilot initiatives that are the first steps in an ambitious plan to combat the impacts of climate change.
Partner Content AAoM NAT Conference vendors include autistic artists and entrepreneurs. Second Wave - MichiganEquity

Beyond awareness, autism acceptance affirms neurodiversity and improves lives

Estelle SlootmakerThursday, April 17, 2025
The Autism Alliance of Michigan and other advocates for autistic people are working hard to move from raising autism awareness to fostering autism acceptance. 
Longform Amanda Moore at Dzanc House. Arts and Culture

New Ypsi artists' hub offers workshops, gallery shows, youth programs, and more

Rylee BarnsdaleWednesday, April 16, 2025
Ypsi's recently opened Dzanc House is a multi-faceted arts center and an extension of the Ann Arbor-based nonprofit independent publisher Dzanc Books.
Innovation News Wilson Marine Brighton aprentice Brad Tyler. Community Development

Apprenticeship fair offers paid, on-the-job training opportunities in Washtenaw County

Jaishree DrepaulTuesday, April 15, 2025
A collaborative of 10 Washtenaw County organizations will host its second annual Apprenticeship Fair on May 1 from 4-7 p.m. at Ypsilanti Community High School.
Longform Jason Gold at the Michigan Folk School. Technology and Innovation

Michigan Folk School builds community by passing on knowledge of traditional skills

Jaishree DrepaulTuesday, April 15, 2025
The Michigan Folk School in Superior Township's Staebler Farm County Park allows visitors to experience the importance of old traditions in the rapidly changing modern world. 
Longform Summit Pointe Youth Services staff, from left, Matt Jones, Beth Decker, Sam Stover, Melissa DeDie, a Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Community mental health and child welfare collaborate to care for Michigan’s vulnerable children

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, April 15, 2025
Michigan’s community mental health (CMH) agencies are the lead in providing mental health care for children in the child welfare system.
Feature Story A still from iFFY's "Best of the London International Animation Festival 2024" program, screening April 18. Arts and Culture

Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti returns with documentaries, Michigan films, horror shorts, more

Rylee BarnsdaleMonday, April 14, 2025
The Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti returns to Riverside Arts Center April 17-19 with two feature films, four short film blocks, and live performances alongside its signature 26.2-hour filmmaking marathon.
Innovation News The Metric Marketing team. Entrepreneurship

Saline's Metric Marketing makes Inc. list of fastest-growing Midwest companies for third year

Sarah RiggMonday, April 14, 2025
Metric Marketing is one of only 12 companies in the state of Michigan, and the only one in Washtenaw County, to make the list.  
Longform Gordon "Big" Dooley with merchandise from his clothing line, Husky Life. Free coaching from the Small Business Success program helped Dooley refine his business plan. Entrepreneurship

New program offers free support for entrepreneurs in Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe counties

Sarah RiggWednesday, April 9, 2025
From increasing search engine traffic to overcoming burnout, small business owners in Washtenaw County and beyond are benefiting from Ann Arbor SPARK's new Small Business Support program.
Longform The new YCHS AI learning space. Kids and Education

New certification for Ypsi high school opens professional development opportunities for students

Rylee BarnsdaleWednesday, April 9, 2025
Ypsilanti Community High School recently joined the nationally recognized NC3Start certification program for career and technical education (CTE), allowing staff to expand the school’s CTE offerings and emphasize the potential of artificial intelligence education.
Innovation News A heat pump. Sustainability

Ann Arbor launches new concierge service for residents considering heat pumps

Jaishree DrepaulWednesday, April 9, 2025
A new free online tool that provides customized options for residents to switch from gas furnaces to more energy-efficient electric heat pumps.
Longform FestiFools in downtown Ann Arbor. Arts and Culture

PHOTO ESSAY: Puppets and political commentary at FestiFools 2025

Natalia HoltzmanTuesday, April 8, 2025
We asked puppet-masters, community members, and other participants about their FestiFools experience.
Feature Story "... at least 17 children at any time are boarding in an emergency department across the state.” Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Michigan's hospitals and improved pediatric behavioral health care

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, April 8, 2025
The Michigan Health and Hospital Association addresses pediatric behavioral health care with data, advocacy, and grant funding of member hospital programs. 
Innovation News A performance at Midwest House at this year's SXSW. Technology and Innovation

Ann Arbor SPARK returns to promote Michigan's startup opportunities at SXSW conference

Jaishree DrepaulTuesday, April 8, 2025
The organization co-sponsored Michigan Day at the conference's Midwest House on March 11.
Innovation News The annual FestiFools parade in Ann Arbor. FestiFools is collaborating with the University Musical Society and Riverside Arts Center to bring a puppet processional to downtown Ypsi on April 19. Arts and Culture

FestiFools-style puppet parade coming to downtown Ypsi

Rylee BarnsdaleTuesday, April 8, 2025
The University of Michigan’s University Musical Society will cap its April residency at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse with a joyful, puppet-filled processional through Ypsilanti on April 19.
Longform Deante Bland and Julius Buzzard at Growing Hope's incubator kitchen. Entrepreneurship

Food business changes in Ypsi: Incubator closes, accelerator opens, and entrepreneurs scale up

Sarah RiggWednesday, April 2, 2025
The food entrepreneurship landscape in Ypsilanti is shifting as an Ypsilanti Township food business incubator closes and an Ypsilanti commercial kitchen adds new resources for business owners.
Innovation News The Ypsilanti Food Co-op. Community Development

Ypsi Food Co-op kicks off series of 50th anniversary events

Sarah RiggWednesday, April 2, 2025
The public is invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ypsi Food Co-op from 2-4 p.m. April 12, and the co-op plans to host a series of events all year long to celebrate the milestone.
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Hasini and Harshini Anand are members of Corner Health Center's Youth Leadership Council and mental health advocates.

 


   Voices of Youth
Concentrate's Voices of Youth series features content created by Washtenaw County youth in partnership with Concentrate mentors, as well as feature stories by adult writers that examine issues of importance to local youth. Click here for a full list of the latest content from this series.

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