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Common Ground Media

@commongroundmedia.bsky.social

Vital journalism moving communities forward. Because progress starts when we find common ground. FromCommonGround.com Part of the Issue Media Group network of publications

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Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · yesterday

Amid rising fear of detention, deportation, and family separations—and unfair labor practices—farmworkers can find support from orgs like @ufwfoundation.bsky.social and @michiganimmigrant.bsky.social. Read about the challenges on the ground, the people working to help, and the hope that persists:

Michigan Farmworkers Find Legal Aid and Immigration Support

Michigan nonprofits offer farmworkers legal aid, rights education and family preparedness support amid increased immigration enforcement.

metromodemedia.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 7d ago

A survey in Michigan's Upper Peninsula revealed that 95% of respondents worry about accessing fresh food, and nearly 39% find it completely unaffordable. Here's how a coalition is using produce prescriptions to help address the problem:

Food as Medicine: Prescription for a healthier community – Common Ground

Backed by Superior Health Foundation, a powerful coalition in Michigan's Upper Peninsulahas launched a "Food as Medicine" program to fight regional food insecurity and directly improve community healt...

fromcommonground.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · last wk.

For decades, Sugar Loaf drew generations of families to its slopes. When commercial operations ceased in 2000, the property fell into disrepair, leaving its long-term future uncertain. Many wondered if its sweeping vistas and forested hillsides would ever be open to the public again. Today, it is.

From abandoned slope to natural sanctuary: Sugar Loaf opens a vibrant new chapter in Northern Michigan – Common Ground

The former ski resort begins a new life with the unveiling of its brand-new Summit Trail and breathtaking 360-degree autumn views.

fromcommonground.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 2w ago

We were thrilled to be a part of this inaugural cohort of experiments with @joshuadarr.bsky.social and @newhousesu.bsky.social. What we learned: audiences with a higher levels of local identity appreciate solutions journalism more.

A new report argues newsrooms need to do more experiments — like, the kind with randomization and results

Mississippi Today had a question. Did the stories around its Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporting affect the way those investigations were received? It's the kind of question local newsroom...

niemanlab.org

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 2w ago

🌳 What started in 2018 as a small project between Hope College and the city of Holland has grown into a public database tracking nearly 15,000 trees, earning both entities international recognition for their work in urban forestry and sustainability.

Hope College, city of Holland collaborate on award-winning public tree database – The Lakeshore

Students and interns played a key role in mapping 15,000 trees across Holland and the Hope campus, expanding biodiversity, sustainability education, and canopy access.

thelakeshorewm.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 4w ago

People leaving incarceration face some of the highest health risks of any population. Up to 80% return to their communities with chronic conditions, and the risk of a fatal opioid overdose in the weeks immediately following release is 10x+ higher than that of the general public.

"Beyond Incarceration": New program offers supportive services for people leaving Washtenaw County Jail – Concentrate

Packard Health's Beyond Incarceration initiative provides connections to primary care, behavioral health services, and recovery resources for individuals preparing for release from the Washtenaw Count...

concentratemedia.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 4w ago

A trend we're seeing: traffic calming measures that reduce car speeds and save lives. From Kalamazoo:

Feeling slowed down? That’s the point. Kalamazoo crashes drop 25%. – Second Wave

Kalamazoo’s traffic calming makes roads safer for everyday mistakes, while enforcement targets truly dangerous driving.

secondwavemedia.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · last mo.

Over 25 years, the market has grown from a few Thai vendors to dozens of vendors offering dishes from Thai, Lao, Cambodian, Hmong, and Vietnamese cuisines—many of which you won't find in local restaurants.

Thai Market Keeps Immigrants Connected to Home

A weekly Thai market helps Southeast Asian immigrants maintain cultural connections and introduces visitors to new foods and traditions.

metromodemedia.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · last mo.

The Small Business Social Hours demonstrate that in this age of tech, face-to-face networking opportunities are even more important for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Small Business Social Hours foster success through face-to-face connection – Common Ground

Why face-to-face networking opportunities are even more important for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

fromcommonground.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · last mo.

Rural communities have faced shortages of primary care doctors for decades. The problem is getting worse as rural doctors retire and fewer medical students choose to practice in rural areas.

Medical school programs aim to alleviate shortage of rural physicians – Common Ground

By encouraging students like Elizabeth Phelps, the MSU College of Human Medicine tackles the need for doctors in small communities.

fromcommonground.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Jack Pepper remembers growing up in Athens County and knowing kids who depended on school for their only hot meal of the day. “Dental care was kind of a luxury,” says Pepper. This summer, he helped 491 patients get more than 3,000 dental, vision, and medical services, valued at $235,000.

GuardCare partnership brings free healthcare to Ohio Appalachian residents – Common Ground

GuardCare provided free health services to nearly 500 Ohio residents, highlighting both collaborative solutions and persistent gaps in dental care.

fromcommonground.com

Canary Media Inc.@canarymedia.com · 2mo ago

Heat-pump water heaters are getting cheaper, smaller, and even more efficient.

Heat-pump water heaters just keep getting better

Manufacturers are rolling out models that heat up at times when power is cheap, fit into tighter spaces, and aggressively cut energy bills.

canarymedia.com

Good Good Good News @goodgoodgood.news · 2mo ago

For years, Washington State’s Snoqualmie Pass saw thousands of roadkill — a single overpass just celebrated 10,000 crossings and “zero roadkill.”

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Your new obsession: 🌳 🌱 🌲 Microforests! 🌲 🌱 🌳 Just look at everything they can do: Capture carbon Filter pollutants Absorb rainwater/reduce flooding Lower temps by up to 10° Provide habitats for wildlife including pollinators Grow rapidly Bring people together Reconnect us to native plants

Micro forests attract not only birds and bees but Metro Detroiters, too – Metromode

Whether you call them micro, mini, or pocket forests, they are taking root around the world — and in metro Detroit. They help the environment, provide refuge to native species, and respite to people s...

metromodemedia.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Conservation leaders around the country are watching closely as Michigan pioneers a public-private partnership that keeps the U.P.'s expansive forests protected and accessible to all — and on the local tax rolls.

Michigan’s first-of-its-kind endowment rewrites the rules of forest conservation – Rural Innovation Exchange

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources partnered with the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation to establish a first-of-its-kind $670,000 stewardship endowment.

ruralinnovationexchange.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Beyond ramps, parking spaces, and building regulations: Northern MI provides accessible beaches & kayak launches, adaptive recreation, track chairs at major sites, mobility equipment, transportation, & more. AND: Traverse City is the Midwest's first Certified Autism Destination! Read more:

Recognizing how accessibility can build tourism – Common Ground

Northern Michigan organizations partner to improve accessibility, helping more travelers enjoy Traverse City while building a more welcoming tourism destination.

fromcommonground.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Spotlight on rural innovation: ⛺ A tent that sets up in 60 seconds and doubles as a hiking pole, invented by a college student and modeled after an umbrella. 🏥 A startup that helps providers navigate insurance appeals by IDing the exact clinical evidence needed to challenge denied claims.

From Campus Project to Market Success: How one NMU student reimagined camping – Rural Innovation Exchange

How does a college project turn into a thriving outdoor brand? Discover how NMU student Evan BeVier and healthcare founder Gretchen Heinen scaled their big ideas with the help of Innovate Marquette Sm...

ruralinnovationexchange.com

The Philadelphia Citizen @thephilacitizen.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Twenty percent of Philadelphians regularly experience hunger — in part because they live in food deserts. National urban thinkers lay out an idea we should steal for reinventing the grocery store, from Mamdani’s New York to Atlanta, Georgia. https://bit.ly/4xyqBYe

Idea We Should Steal: Reinvent Grocery Stores; Fix Food Deserts

Want to solve Philly's food deserts? There's a way cities from NYC to Atlanta are reinventing the grocery store

thephiladelphiacitizen.org

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

People have a lot of ideas about who lives in affordable housing. Most of those ideas are, at best, incomplete.

Who actually lives in Ann Arbor's affordable housing? – Concentrate

Affordable housing residents are a diverse bunch who defy the stereotypes often assigned to them.

concentratemedia.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Wondering where exemplary literacy programming for preschoolers, toddlers, and even infants is taking place? Visit any public library.

How public libraries instill literacy in littles – Common Ground

Libraries' children’s programming builds kindergarten readiness and a lifelong love for reading.

fromcommonground.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

A round-up of our recent public art coverage shows demonstrates that it strengthens community pride, welcomes visitors, and even helps people find their way:

Common Ground Media@commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Across Fort Wayne, neighbors are finding themselves reflected in the art on and around their streets. Here's how local artists and the City are driving it forward:

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Dental therapists work with supervising dentists to provide routine care, including exams, fillings and preventive services. Their role allows dental practices to serve more patients while dentists focus on more complex procedures.

Ferris State taps public health dentist to launch Michigan’s first dental therapy program – Rapid Growth

Dr. Deborah Brown will lead Michigan's first dental therapy program at Ferris State, preparing providers to improve access to routine dental care.

rapidgrowthmedia.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Across Fort Wayne, neighbors are finding themselves reflected in the art on and around their streets. Here's how local artists and the City are driving it forward:

How public art is showing up in Fort Wayne's neighborhoods – Input Fort Wayne

Neighborhood leaders say art installations help evoke and maintain a sense of place, identity, and pride.

inputfortwayne.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

To the casual observer, nonprofits like Feeding Tampa Bay and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay serve different needs. In reality, they’re often helping people at different points along the same path. Here's how coordination is helping provide seamless support, even as need increases:

Striving for seamless social service system in Tampa Bay – 83 Degrees Media

Area nonprofits like Feeding Tampa Bay and Crisis Center of Tampa Bay are weaving a more connected safety net.

83degreesmedia.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Don't be afraid of the D-word! (It's "density.") When we talk about transportation and mobility, we're always also talking about the built environment.

Can proximity solve a transportation problem? – Input Fort Wayne

Some developers, planners, and neighborhood advocates believe bringing destinations closer together could expand transportation choices.

inputfortwayne.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Housing that starts affordable and is guaranteed to stay that way for a century — and beyond. Read more:

New and rehabbed homes are making a difference in Michigan – Common Ground

Many generations could be living in these homes. Thanks to a new program, the homes will be kept affordable for 99 years.

fromcommonground.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

MY Mental Wellness helps immigrants overcome barriers to care like stigma, language and cultural barriers, and lack of insurance. They treat people who may have experienced deep trauma in their country of origin, or might fear sharing personal information in the current political environment.

Islamic Center of Detroit’s My Mental Wellness Clinic provides immigrants a safe space and mental health care – Metromode

For many Arab and Muslim immigrants, seeking therapy can mean pushing past generations of stigma—and finding a provider who understands their culture and faith. A free clinic inside the Islamic Center...

metromodemedia.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

What began as a Kettering Engineering student’s idea to help his partner live more comfortably has grown into a product that will change the lives of so many people living with hypermobility illnesses.

Kettering Student Creates Spoon Wrap, Inspired by Partner's Chronic Illness – Flintside

Kettering student Alex Nichols built SpoonWrap for partner Mahalia Thompson's invisible illness.

flintside.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Most states face a shortage of qualified teacher candidates—but it's not because of a lack of interest. Here's how one alternative teacher certification program is helping more people become educators:

How Talent Together is helping solve the teacher shortage – Common Ground

In response to statewide teacher shortages, Michigan has invested in alternative routes to teacher certification. One program, Talent Together, helps Metro Detroiters realize their dreams of becoming ...

fromcommonground.com

Common Ground Media @commongroundmedia.bsky.social · 4mo ago

A Detroit teen, Herbert Anderson, was Davis Aerospace Technical High School’s first student to complete a solo flight since 2015.

Detroit Student Takes Flight: How DPSCD's Davis Aerospace Is Turning Dreams Into Careers – Model D

This year, Herbert Anderson became Davis Aerospace Technical High School's first student to complete a solo flight since 2015.

modeldmedia.com