Author

Newsroom

A working writer since 1992, Estelle Slootmaker currently works as 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 has five adult children and six grandchildren. Estelle and her hubby—artist and guitarist Eddie Killowatts—love dancing to new wave, kayaking, 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

Amy St. Germain, a nutrition educator at the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, works as a Farmers Market Food Navigator at the Muskegon Farmers Market.
Food Navigators deliver healthy food to the people

While many farmers markets draw people to their location to buy local fresh fruits and vegetables, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids takes the farmers market to the people of Muskegon Heights. 

Produce at a Michigan Farm to Family: CSA pickup at Lakeshore Depot in Marquette.
In the Upper Peninsula, finding an affordable CSA is a SNAP

In Marquette and Alger counties, the Michigan Farm to Family: CSA program connects families experiencing food insecurity with heavily discounted weekly CSA produce boxes.

A child in the Child and Family Charities Family Growth Center's community garden.
Child and Family Charities teaches healthy life skills with SNAP-Ed programs

Child and Family Charities teaches families about the foundations for healthy living by using a variety of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education programs designed to educate and inspire.

(Lisa Ferdinando, Wikimedia Commons)
Over half of adults unvaccinated for COVID-19 fear needles. Here’s what’s proven to help.
The Science of Catching Up
HFHS Farmers Market Food Navigators Amanda Krieg and Emma Shepherd at the Mt. Clemens Farmers Market.
Henry Ford Health System Food Navigators build better nutrition in Wayne and Macomb counties

Like their counterparts across the state, Henry Ford Health System Farmers Market Food Navigators help shoppers get the most out of their food dollars when purchasing fresh, healthy foods for their families at their local farmers markets.  

A Minges Brook Elementary student tastes herbs from the school garden planted by students.
Calhoun ISD: Schools grow gardens and healthy habits with students and communities

The Calhoun Intermediate School District's Shaping Positive Lifestyles and Attitudes through School Health (SPLASH) programming has inspired healthy changes in the classroom, students' homes, and schoolyards.

Campers at the YMCA summer day camp at Petoskey's Ottawa Elementary School play a game, hosted by Health Department of Northwest Michigan staff, in which they try to guess what fruit or vegetable is in a bag without looking.
SNAP-Ed plays a part in creating community health hubs in schools

A vibrant collaboration between the Health Department of Northwest Michigan and the rural school districts in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties has helped transform school buildings into community hubs where residents learn to live healthier lives. 

John Peterson and Lauren Potorek in AIHFS' garden.
SNAP-Ed program connects southeast Michigan’s Indigenous peoples with traditional, local food

A new food sovereignty program is engaging youth leaders to build relationships with local Indigenous farmers growing traditional native fruits and vegetables.

Pro Tips for Nonprofits: Choosing the right financial adviser

Our Partners

WKKF logo
Kresge Foundation logo
IFF logo
JP Morgan Chase logo
Ford Foundation logo
Delta Dental Foundation logo

Don't miss out!

Inspiration and ideas in your inbox every week.

Close the CTA

Already a subscriber? Enter your email to hide this popup in the future.