Telling the story of what's next in the Upper Peninsula.
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Public Health Series: Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is tackling it with statewide dental screening to give kindergarteners a healthier start.
MCDC • My Community Dental Centers
Detroit Health Department
Sanilac County Health Department
To address childhood tooth decay, the Michigan Department of Human Health Services launched the Kindergartener’s Oral Health Assessment Program.
State of Health Series: Advocates have been working to expand paid leave in Michigan for decades – and this year, their efforts are paying off in two major ways.
Mothering Justice
Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health
Michigan League for Public Policy
For more than a decade, Michigan advocacy groups and some legislators have been working to expand paid leave from work for Michiganders – and this year, their efforts are paying off in two major ways.
Block by Block Series: Finding accessible, affordable, quality child care isn't an easy task, but the Michigan Department of Lifelong Learning, Achievement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is hoping to make it easier for families to obtain.
United Way
IFF
Child Care Network
Quality child care is necessary, but not always available or affordable. The MiLEAP Caring for MI Future: Facilities Improvement Fund has launched a $59 million fund to provide new and expanding home-based and center-based facilities across the state
AAoM Series: “It's a fun, family-friendly event — the kids have fun at the zoo. It's raising money, and it's raising awareness of autism." — Kim Kerwin
Autism Alliance of Michigan
Detroit Zoo
Promoted as "Michigan's largest gathering of the autistic community — 6,000+ families and autistic persons coming together to celebrate everyday superheroes,” The Autism Hero Walk takes place from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak.
Public Health Series: "Public health and hospitals working in tandem really protects and promotes community health." — Lauren LaPine, Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Michigan Association for Local Public Health
Yours, Mine and Ours — Public Health spoke with Lauren LaPine, Michigan Health and Hospital Association senior director of legislative and public policy about how various public health agencies and programs collaborate with hospitals across the state
MI Mental Health Series: The National 988 mental health crisis line, local call lines, and CCBHCs are breaking down barriers by increasing access to care.
Washtenaw County Community Mental Health
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
OnPoint Community Credit Union
LifeWays
For Michiganders who are looking for answers on mental health care or are having a mental health crisis, help is only a phone call away.
The U.P. is home to the country's first-of-its-kind electrified trail network, allowing off-road vehicle enthusiasts the opportunity to explore 125 miles of the countryside without having to worry about charging. What's it like to ride this trail on an electric ORV? Is this the future of ORVs? Learn more below.
The U.P. is home to the country's first-of-its-kind electric trail, allowing off-road vehicle enthusiasts the opportunity to explore a 125-mile trail network without having to worry about charging. What's it like to ride this trail on electric ORV? I
Nearly 20 years after founding Issue Media Group (IMG), founders Brian Boyle and Paul Schutt will be welcoming new ownership. IMG is a Michigan-based network of digital publications serving 20 communities in five states.
Block by Block Series: Solutions to Michigan's housing crisis are complex, but collaborations are fueling progress with conversations on the current landscape and how to move it forward.
Capital Area Housing Partnership
Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
As part of the Region I Regional Housing Partnership, the Capital Area Housing Partnership and the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission are tasked with developing local action plans to address the housing crisis. City and state government, neighbo
Disability Inclusion Series: Many people from refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities experience significant logistical barriers to COVID-19 vaccination. That’s where Disability Rights Michigan has stepped in to increase access.
Burma Center
Global Detroit
Many people from refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities experience significant logistical barriers to COVID-19 vaccination. That’s where Disability Rights Michigan has stepped in to increase access.
City of Marquette - Government honors its indigenous past with the unveiling next week of a sculpture, Seven Grandfather Teachings, by Anishinaabe artist Jason Quigno. Read more below.
State of Health Series: Youth Mentor Garden: FitKids360 promotes lifelong healthy behaviors and habits through play and learning by engaging families and partnering with local organizations in health and wellness education, physical activity, and relationship building.
The Youth Mentor Garden, operating out of gardens in Wyoming and Detroit, is an expansion of the Grand Rapids-based FitKids360’s health and wellness programming that targets youth aged 12 and older and their family members.
Discover more about the Youth Mentor Garden with FitKids360 in partnership with HOPE Gardens ➡️
🔗 bit.ly/YouthMentorGarden
📍 Wyoming & Detroit
🖊 Estelle Slootmaker
📷 Kristina Bird
State of Health Series: Would you use a prescription for fresh fruit and veggies? Produce prescription programs are growing in Michigan, and so is infrastructure to better support them.
Michigan Farmers Market Association
Efforts are underway to better coordinate efforts between produce prescription programs and to create more standardized funding mechanisms for them.
Disability Inclusion Series (For our Spanish-speaking readers): Un nuevo impulso en la recopilación de datos sobre la atención médica de las personas con discapacidad está poniendo de relieve una disparidad en la equidad de la atención de la salud que a menudo pasa desapercibida para la comunidad médica.
Un nuevo impulso en la recopilación de datos sobre la atención médica de las personas con discapacidad está poniendo de relieve una disparidad en la equidad de la atención de la salud que a menudo pasa desapercibida para la comunidad médica.
This summer the Copper Country Trail (CCT) National Byway celebrates 30 years of historical preservation and cultural significance. Read more below.
Mass timber construction promises many economic benefits for the U.P., improving the use of the region’s vast forests while creating jobs for residents, environmental protection, and economic growth for timber, wood products and construction industry. Read more below.
Michigan State University/Michigan Technological University
Mass timber construction promises many economic benefits for the U.P., improving the use of the region’s vast forests while creating jobs for residents, environmental protection, and economic growth for timber, wood products and construction industry
Interest in electric recreational trails continues to grow in the U.P. The Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission and Innovate Marquette SmartZone are pursuing an electrified trails feasibility study for the central U.P. Read more below.
Interest in electric recreational trails continues to grow in the U.P. The Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development and Innovate Marquette SmartZone are pursuing an electrified trails feasibility study for the central U.P.
Looking for a remote place to work? Considers one of these co-working spaces in the U.P. and beyond. These spaces are ideal for solo work and also to collaborate with others. The amenities include more than an endless supply of coffee. Read more below.
Looking for a remote place to work? Considers one of these co-working spaces in the U.P. and beyond. These spaces are ideal for solo work and also to collaborate with others. The amenities include more than an endless supply of coffee.
It's been a successful fish stocking season for the Upper Peninsula and Michigan. Three U.P hatcheries contributed to that success and are luring anglers and visitors curious about the operations. Read more below.
Good Food Series: It’s a different type of learning when a child tastes and appreciates garden-fresh foods. Childcare providers are learning this through this program, where eligible facilities receive money from the state when they provide children with fruits, vegetables, and legumes that are Michigan-grown.
10 Cents A Meal
Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development - MDARD
Groundwork Center
MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
YWCA Kalamazoo
The Michigan program supplements the food service programs’ budgets for fresh produce, encouraging a greater menu variety and healthier eating habits for kids statewide.
Disability Inclusion Series: Sensory-friendly spaces are playing a key role in improving health equity across Michigan. In Calhoun County, two sensory rooms have been added to support patients with autism.
Autism Alliance of Michigan
Disability Rights Michigan
Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
ccpublichealthdepartment
Delta Dental Foundation
University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
The Autism Alliance of Michigan has been a leader in encouraging clinics to create safe spaces by including sensory rooms.
PRESS PLAY ▶️: State of Health Retirement: Since 2017, the Campus for Creative Aging has been offering a variety of innovative opportunities for older adults in Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass counties – and helping younger residents understand and respect their older neighbors.
Discover more about the partnership between Region IV Area Agency on Aging, Berrien Community Foundation, Twin City Players-St. Joseph, MI, Lake Michigan College, The GhostLight Theatre - Benton Harbor, Krasl Art Center, Citadel Dance & Music Center, Citadel Dance & Music Center, and South Haven Center for the Arts ➡️
🔗 bit.ly/SOHCampusForCreativeAging
🖊 Estelle Slootmaker
📷 Taylor Scamehorn
Located in the far-flung western U.P., Ironwood is a city poised for redevelopment, recently earning a Redevelopment Ready Community designation from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Read more below.
Located in the far-flung western U.P., Ironwood is a city poised for redevelopment, recently earning a Redevelopment Ready Community designation from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
State of Health Series: Region IV Area Agency on Aging’s Campus for Creative Aging offers a variety of programming for older adults in Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass counties.
Since 2017, the Campus for Creative Aging has been offering a variety of innovative opportunities for older adults in Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass counties – and helping younger residents understand and respect their older neighbors.
Improving mobility and accessibility to national parks is increasing, and a new round of grant funding will benefit those parks in Michigan. Read more below.
State of Health Series: Michigan organizations have come together to address health disparities that affect Michigan's rapidly growing population of older adults.
AARP Michigan
Detroit Area Agency on Aging
MPHI
A broad coalition of Michigan organizations has come together to address health disparities that affect Michigan's rapidly growing population of older adults.
Barrel + Beam’s Northwoods Test Kitchen has gained a reputation for using sustainable and locally sourced food. Now, thanks to a grant, the popular eatery and brewery is expanding access to locally grown food.
U.P. biker competes in hardcore mountain bike races where riders are decked out in expensive gear with bikes that cost thousands of dollars. He typically finishes last. Why does he do it?
Go For Launch! arrives for a second time in Sault Ste. Marie, offering secondary students an opportunity to explore careers in the growing space industry. Read more below.
Go For Launch! arrives for a second time in Sault Ste. Marie, offering secondary students an opportunity to explore careers in the growing space industry. The three-day camp launched Tuesday at Lake Superior State University.
The latest round of Visit Keweenaw's annual Destination Development Awards benefits 11 non-profit organizations in Houghton and Keweenaw counties. Read more below.
The latest round of Visit Keweenaw's annual Destination Development Awards benefits 11 non-profit organizations in Houghton and Keweenaw counties.
Marquette, MI
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PRESS PLAY ▶️: State of Health Retirement: Since 2017, the Campus for Creative Aging has been offering a variety of innovative opportunities for older adults in Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass counties – and helping younger residents understand and respect their older neighbors. Discover more about the partnership between Region IV Area Agency on Aging, Berrien Community Foundation, Twin City Players-St. Joseph, MI, Lake Michigan College, The GhostLight Theatre - Benton Harbor, Krasl Art Center, Citadel Dance & Music Center, Citadel Dance & Music Center, and South Haven Center for the Arts ➡️ 🔗 bit.ly/SOHCampusForCreativeAging 🖊 Estelle Slootmaker 📷 Taylor Scamehorn
Matt Brooks from Loft 912 in Port Huron is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs build their businesses. Video by Chamira Studios.
