Groundcover Speaks | Ann Arbor District Library

This Earth Day we're talking about the need for emergency warning systems and an updated bottle deposit law. Amidst the war in Iran and increasing deportations, Groundcover vendors connect global struggles to our local community.

April is National Poetry Month, so this special episode of Groundcover Speaks is dedicated to all things poetry.

What does health mean to you? In this episode we dive into the health theme from multiple perspectives including prevention, treatment, opportunity, and services — both mental and physical.

Recap of the Winter Olympics. Spotlight of community events — Chinese New Year, St. Patrick's Day, Earth Day. Remembering the legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Discussing the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and associated policies.

This episode shares reports on the 2026 Point in Time Count, Sheriff Dyer's Board of Commissioner suit, ICE Out protests, and U-M athletics.

With a historical deep dive on Bob Marley, an exclusive interview with SK Rodriguez, and DJ Rob's story, this might as well be a music edition! We also continue to follow and share updates on the Cross St. siege.

This edition is titled "Washtenaw Rises Up!" because it is filled with coverage of local resistance efforts; community organizing against police militarization, ICE abductions, and data centers.

Is the Fare Deal program fair? Why should someone volunteer at the Daytime Warming Center? What happened on Cross street in Ypsi? We're answering these questions and more in this episode.

In this episode we're reflecting on the holiday season and sharing resources that will be helpful all year round. Our cover story is about Washtenaw County citizens' view on university police.

Reflect on the holiday season by listening to this year's final episode of Groundcover Speaks. We're also talking about the state of homelessness in Washtenaw and calling on listeners to take action.

The new year isn't here just yet, but this episode gives us a preview of what to expect in 2026: public power ballot initiative in Ann Arbor and cash payments to families in Ypsi. We're also reflecting on the holiday.

This episode is themed for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week! We recap the impacts of the long government shutdown and how the community responded to frozen SNAP benefits — in addition to some amazing essays and interviews on local homeless experiences.

This episode examines happenings at the state level that impact low-income people in Michigan. A statewide ballot initiative to fund public schools, a bill that will cover SNAP shut offs in November, and a campaign to end solitary confinement in jails and prisons.

October means Halloween, domestic violence awareness, and the beginning of the holiday season. Listen also for an inspiring story about a tenant who fought her landlord for discrimination —- and won!

This episode is chock-full of local news -- listen to reports on an assault at the Beer Cooler, a sale of the Ann Arbor Observer, a groundbreaking of affordable housing, and a student-run homeless resource fair.

Fall is nearly here — this episode offers fun outdoor activities in metro Detroit, along with an audio journey to Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. We're also reflecting on leadership changes at the Shelter Association, and reporting on the causes and consequences of homelessness.

In this episode we look at the who and what of harm reduction and crisis response in Washtenaw County, and how that's supporting people experiencing homelessness in our community.

This issue highlights workers at Ozone House organizing for a stronger voice, the Shelter Association welcoming a new director, and community responses to federal crackdowns on homelessness. We also cover local food security efforts, emergency preparedness in a season of extreme weather, and stories from our vendors.

This episode looks at solutions to homelessness from a variety of perspectives: rental assistance, affordable housing development, and daytime shelters. In Washtenaw County some of these options are growing, some are shrinking, but many are stagnating.

Groundcover News is celebrating 15 years, so in this issue we're looking back at our origin story and centering the vendor voices that have helped us get here! .

This fifth annual Community Arts Edition spotlights low-income visual and written artists in Washtenaw County.

Groundcover News receives the 2025 New Human Service Partnership Mini-Grant. Robbie writes from prison with humble reflections. Mental health crises are increasing with teen social media use. Family shelter is coming to the east side of the County. All that and more in this episode of Groundcover Speaks!

Summer fun continues in this episode with vendor pieces on Juneteenth, local business Ypsi Art Supply, and a spotlight on U-M student group Wolverine Street Medicine. Ken Parks asks us to "read between the lines" and Lindsay Calka practices it with a critical look at the Ypsi Township Data Center.

It's summer in Ann Arbor! Listen to get the 4-11 on all the free and fun activities — including an overview of local thrift shops. This episode also includes two solutions from the ground up: rent-free living vouchers and job skills training for homeless people.

In this episode, meet Robinn, Corinne Sikorski, Joe Giant, and Adam Grant — four Washtenaw County citizens making an impact in different facets of our community. Dreamer and Steve are still on their way to New Orleans in Travels with Dreamer part four.

This special issue on the gig economy explores the benefits and struggles of gig workers in Ann Arbor in conjunction with the city's guaranteed income pilot program, GIG A2.

Happy Earth Day, Easter, and baseball season! In this issue vendors are commenting on these springtime occasions — along with updates on the Trump administration's local impact on addiction services and K-12 education.

Happy Poetry Month from Groundcover Speaks! Also in this episode: Reflection on the Warming Center, spotlights on Dzanc House and the Big House 5K, and another installment of People in the Neighborhood!

This episode has two documentary movie reviews and vendor narratives about struggles with addiction and mental illness.

We are springing into March with creative essays and poetry, a deep dive into the Sheriff's budget, and reports on the future of both downtown Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti libraries.

February means cold weather, Valentine's Day, and Bob Marley's birthday! In this episode we're also talking about accessing housing after incarceration, what family shelter shouldn't look like, and historical acts of U.S. empire against Cuba.

How is Washtenaw County responding to deathly temperatures and housing insecurity? This issue, "Where I Slept Last Night," attempts to answer that question — with community resources, storytelling, and reflection.

We are celebrating Vendor Appreciation Week with vendor writing, narratives on the barriers of finding and retaining employment, and personalized messages to vendors. This episode also features a spotlight on the retiring director of Home of New Vision, Glynis Anderson, and a report on Ann Arbor's recent million dollar allocation in response to the Trump administration.

This episode remembers the legacy of historical figures and a dear community member; reports from City Council in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti; and spotlights local businesses and community orgs.

This episode shoots, and scores! Listen for reports on community-facing institutions like the YMCA and TheRide, and how the Office of Community and Economic Development is improving the local Point in Time Count.

Happy Holidays from Groundcover News! In our last episode of the year, listen to hear some essays on peace, religion, Christmas, cooking and all things holiday cheer.

Reflections on the holidays, the election, and the history of Ann Arbor, and the people of Ypsilanti.

Groundcover aims to raise awareness about homelessness and hunger every day — but in honor of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, this in this episode we're talking about shelter, grassroots initiatives, and human service gaps in Washtenaw County.

This episode is chock-full of vendor perspectives on the election and features an interview with the editor of the popular New York Times puzzle game, "Wordle" who for five years has contributed crosswords to Groundcover News.

"The reviews are in" in this episode — Groundcover Community Choice Award results, perspectives on what's on the November 5 ballot, and an overview of coffee shops in A2! And we don't forget content to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Halloween!

365 days of war. 1 year of struggle over Washington in downtown Ypsilanti... and 82 years of Ken Parks!

This episode is all about shelter — agency, grassroots, and private accommodations. Of course we also cover a little bit of U-M football too!

Have you seen public toilets pop up around downtown Ann Arbor? Have you noticed college students have returned? Listen to vendor reports on what's moving, shaking, and changing in our community in this episode of Groundcover Speaks!

From the way we treat one another, to the ways U.S. tax dollars are used to kill and destroy, in this episode Groundcover News writers are crying out for change!

Michigan Housing Choice Voucher waitlist closes. Care-Based Safety celebrates one year of crisis response. Art fair recap. Reflections on Houston's Housing First strategy. That and more in this episode of Groundcover Speaks.

In this episode hear interviews with sheriff’s candidates, preview of 3 Ypsi ballot initiatives, community spotlight on Black Men Vote, + other essential voter info!

Listen to this year's Community Arts Edition for perspectives on how corporate art accelerates gentrification and an interview with street artist James Manning. As always we're covering struggles in the homeless community -- from federal to local stage.

Arts contest painting submissions, full calendar of FREE Washtenaw County music events, poetry, essays on July 4th — if it's fun, if it's free, it's in this episode!

Happy Pride Month from Groundcover News! In this episode we discuss how to take care of each other and meet community needs in a more inclusive, human-centered way.

Listen to this episode of Groundcover Speaks to hear Groundcover vendors' perspectives and reports on the U-M Palestine encampment. We also report on the General Defense Committee Mother's Day rally at Huron Valley Women's prison, "Glaze" Ypsilanti's paint your own pottery shop, and college sports!