Page 63 – Common Ground

Growing Michigan Together Council addresses housing and other concerns across the state

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February 27, 2024

Established by Governor Whitmer, the Growing Michigan Together Council works to develop a long-term plan of action to address many issues of concern across the state. Different goals include jobs, talent, and people; infrastructure and places; PreK-12 and higher education, and revenue. Block by Block spoke with the Executive Director of the Growing Michigan Together Council and Michigan’s first Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe, and Melvin Henley at Community Economic Development Association of Michigan to hear about the council’s report.

The conference will include four break-out sessions offering a choice among 15 different topics.

Partner Partner Content AAoM’s “Navigating Autism Today” provides wide range of educational and networking opportunities

By Joseph Goral

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Community Development

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February 27, 2024

The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) will host its first “Navigating Autism Today Conference” of the year on Friday, March 8 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

Boosting childhood immunization rates vital to community health

By Rylee Barnsdale

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Education

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February 27, 2024

Recent data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows that 91% of kindergarteners in 2022 were up to date on their vaccinations, while rates of younger ages are seeing a decline.

Holly Campbell, deputy director of the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, and Dr. Pennie Foster-Fishman, project leader for the Northwest Michigan Community Health Innovation Region Behavioral Health Initiative.

Northern Michigan health department spearheads effort to expand behavioral health workforce

By Estelle Slootmaker

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Health

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February 26, 2024

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan's cross-sector collaboration involves a wide range of stakeholders who are pitching ideas and taking action on recruiting and retaining behavioral health care professionals across the region — and beyond.

Young people have played an integral role in the development of the More for Memphis plan. These photos are from a MFM Youth Council meeting held in June 2023.

A path to economic mobility: The More for Memphis plan for schools to become true community hubs

By MJ Galbraith

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Education

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February 23, 2024

“At the end of this, the bigger goal for More for Memphis is putting people on a pathway to economic mobility. And so for us, education is that pathway,” says Teshanda Middleton, project lead for the E&Y Anchor Collaborative and CEO of the Communities In Schools of Memphis nonprofit organization. “How you do that is being intentional about the support that you spread across generations of people.”

Dr. Kelsey Sala-Hamrick is the Michigan Public Health Institute's MI ACE project director.

200-partner collaborative raises awareness about impact of adverse childhood experiences in Michigan

By Estelle Slootmaker

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Education

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February 22, 2024

Partners in the Michigan ACE Initiative are working to raise awareness of the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), prevent ACEs, and foster resilience among children who have experienced them.

Tag, you’re it: ODNR tracks fish to learn about movement patterns, manage populations

By Kristina Smith

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Education

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February 21, 2024

Data from the tags helps biologists obtain a better view of the different populations of fish in Lake Erie, such as walleye and perch in different basins of the lake and provide information that can help them manage fish populations.