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Two Ford School student fellows have been selected to work with the American Heart Association (AHA) of Metro Detroit to identify best practices for reducing tobacco usage among high school student populations. AHA, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, has partnered with the Ford School of Public Policy to assist in the research and development of Michigan’s ‘Tobacco in Schools’ policies.

Brenna Gross (BA ‘22) and Arron McDonald (BA ‘22) have been selected as U-M student Tobacco in School Elimination fellows and are working together to examine best practices and current research to identify ways to reduce tobacco use among student populations. Gross and McDonald work under the direct supervision of DeAndre’ J. Calvert, Community Engagement Manager at the Ford School’s Program in Practical Policy Engagement’s (P3E) and AHA’s Community Impact Director Michael Randall.

Randall says, “The partnership with the Ford School is invaluable to our efforts to ensure public schools in Michigan are supporting students suffering from tobacco and vaping addiction. Brenna and Arron bring a fresh perspective to our work and have been essential to our strategy as it relates to engaging schools and providing policy recommendations. I look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.”

LaSonia Forte, Associate Director of State Outreach, launched this collaboration between the American Heart Association and the Ford School of Public Policy.

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Like many regions across the country, southwestern Michigan is preparing for the closure of a nuclear power facility, the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant.

The impact of this transition on a community can lead to reduced tax base, lost employment, reduction in services and an unused site. The Economic Growth Institute at the University of Michigan and local partners are responding to craft a new vision, strategy and plan that will lower the risk for and severity of such outcomes while driving renewal and growth after the facility’s planned closing next year.

EGI is working alongside Kinexus Group in partnership with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission to tackle this transition. The SWMPC views the effort as an opportunity for its counties along Lake Michigan to take stock of the region’s many assets and collaborate on a plan of action.

EGI’s resources and expertise will support the community as they chart their economic future. This will include research and community engagement to drive the development of an economic recovery strategy ahead of the closure of the nuclear facility. Facilitating inclusive planning, EGI will create a blueprint for recovery.

Steven B. Wilson; Senior Research Program Officer, Director of Innovation Services and Associate Director of the Economic Growth Institute at the University of Michigan

“We are excited to be part of this partnership and really commend the local leaders in southwestern Michigan for being proactive in their planning to reduce the impacts of this plant closure on the communities and businesses,” said EGI Director Steve Wilson. “If not addressed, the region could face significant losses. We are looking forward to engaging with community stakeholders to ensure a successful strategy is defined and implemented to keep the region vibrant.”

Read Full Story on the Traverse City Record Eagle

A University of Michigan graduate is bringing her master’s degree project to life while simultaneously uplifting an Indigenous community.

For the past year and a half, Eva Roos has collaborated with the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in Cheboygan County to design and implement a healing garden for its headquarters in Brutus.

While Roos used the project to complete her degrees in science and landscape architecture, the experience required her to become knowledgeable in the Band’s language, faith and cultural history.

The garden will be named Izhi-Minoging Mashkikiwan — which translates to “place where medicines grow well.”

Eva Roos; Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Science in Conservation Ecology, School for Environment & Sustainability

“When you study at a westernized institution, it is very rare they make connections between Indigenous people and designing a landscape,” Roos said. “To me, especially if you’re interested in ecological design, you’re talking about ecosystems that have been cared for by Indigenous people for millennia.”

Roos brought the design proposal to the Burt Lake Band Tribal Council in December 2019. To her surprise, the council jumped at her plans almost immediately.