Author

Estelle Slootmaker

A working writer since 1992, Estelle Slootmaker currently is a book editor, solutions journalist, Issue Media Group series editor, and children's book author. She released her new children’s book, Places Where The Sun Don’t Shine in August 2025.

An unashamed tree-hugger, Estelle chairs The Tree Amigos, City of Wyoming Tree Commission. She and her hubby—artist and guitarist Eddie Killowatts—love dancing to new wave, Michigan's outdoors, going to book and record stores, growing and cooking healthy food, and hanging out with their terrible terriers, Bindipaws Bowie McCrykie and Skipper D. Doodog.

Estelle's Latest Articles

Dr. Caelan Soma, Starr Commonwealth's chief clinical officer.
Michigan health care workers grapple with stress and trauma during pandemic

Medical professionals are certainly not immune to a widespread spike in mental health challenges, and several new initiatives have sought to provide them much-needed support.

Jim Lee, vice president of data policy and analytics at the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
Data sharing among health providers boosts Michigan’s pandemic response

Beyond the color-coded counties and line graphs we've all seen, data sharing has helped Michigan's many health providers better understand and respond to the pandemic.

Kevin Fischer.
COVID-19 a “potential positive” for how Michiganders receive and perceive mental health services

Relaxed state and federal regulations have allowed providers to offer more services online, resulting in increased engagement and opening the door to destigmatizing mental health.

Helen Paige, a parent partner in the pilot program.
State of Michigan and Detroit nonprofit team up to reduce child abuse through proactive support

A new pilot program identifies families at risk and pairs them with peer mentors and benefits navigators, getting the state more involved in addressing the root causes of child abuse.

Ronald Taylor.
New report analyzes state data to find that older Detroiters are “dying before their time”

The new report from the Detroit Area Agency on Aging found that the death rate for people ages 50 to 59 in Detroit is 122% higher than those of the same age in the rest of Michigan.

Belle Harvest farmer Tom Heffron checks a worker's temperature using a touchless thermometer.
With numerous barriers to health care, Michigan immigrants are among hardest hit by COVID-19

Fear of accessing public health programs, vulnerable working conditions, and lack of access to federal pandemic relief all contribute to immigrants being more susceptible to the pandemic than most.

Ebony Reddock.
Over 40 Michigan organizations join collaboratory to center equity in evaluation practices

Michigan nonprofits, foundations, and other organizations are confronting the ways their evaluations may contribute to further inequity for those they're supposed to serve.

Karl Rock.
Leading the nation, Michigan’s Opioid Treatment Ecosystems save lives through holistic model

A new initiative of the Wayne State University Center for Behavioral Health and Justice is working to change the cultural landscape around substance use disorder and decrease overdose deaths.

Doris Abbott, a volunteer for Senior Services Southwest Michigan, prepares meals for delivery.
Michigan’s Meals on Wheels programs adapt to surging demand and new safety protocols during pandemic

Urgent pandemic-era changes have affected Meals on Wheels programs in differing ways, and each one has come up with unique strategies to rise to the challenge.

Winona Bynum at Old City Acres farm in Belleville.
Michigan’s local food economy rises to meet COVID-19’s challenges

Small Michigan farms have already adapted rapidly to address some of the challenges the pandemic has presented, and local food advocates see many opportunities ahead to continue strengthening local food systems.

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