Over the last couple decades, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been a popular way for folks to buy seasonal produce from local farms. But what if that same strategy were applied to local artists and art collectors? Funny you should ask. Anyone up for a peck of creative expression?
After four and a half years, urban farm plot and office have finally been united at Growing Hope, the urban farming and gardening educational non-profit, and manager of the Ypsilanti Farmers Market. Earlier this spring, Growing Hope moved into its new headquarters at 922 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti. Previously, the non-profit's urban farm and storage had been situated on the headquarters property, while its offices were located elsewhere. The new headquarters, a 1,500-square-foot 1931 house, has been fully remodeled using green features such as geothermal heating and cooling and a patio built of six tons of blue and green recycled crushed bottle glass. A 3,000-square-foot hoop house sits on the 1.44-acre site, whose quarter-acre urban garden produces over one ton of food a year. The property also has a commercially certified kitchen, tool lending library, and meeting and classroom space. Growing Hope employs 12 staffers year-round. In the summer, interns swell those ranks to 18-20. "We're kind of a major employer in the area as well," says Growing Hope Executive Director Amanda Edmonds. And with its location just four blocks west of downtown, "We feel like we're a new part of a gateway, kind of the entranceway to downtown Ypsi; Ypsi in general has really revitalized this stretch," Edmonds says. "And we have gotten a lot of feedback from neighbors and other people in the community who have seen our investment in really revitalizing this section of Michigan Avenue." Source: Amanda Edmonds, Growing Hope executive director Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
826michigan is well known for its Robot Repair Store and writing center in downtown Ann Arbor (not to mention its fun, offbeat events). But did you also know they tutor and host workshops in Ypsilanti? From fiction to stage plays to poetry, volunteers at their Drop-In Teen Writing Workshop inspire kids to find expression through words.
In 2010 Ann Arbor was number nine. Last year we notched up three spots to take sixth place in the list of the top ten generous cities. This is, in terms of per capita online giving. Excerpt: "The report ranks the 273 cities with total population of more than 100,000 based on per capita online giving and total amount donated through Convio’s online marketing and fundraising suites. The average gift size remained steady in 2011 compared to 2010 at $65, as more than $435 million was donated by people who reside in the 273 major cities. The donors in the most generous cities increased their total online contributions by more than 11 percent over 2010. The 2011 rankings are based on the almost $1.355 billion in total online donations generated through the Convio online marketing and fundraising suite that powers the online efforts of thousands of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations. The current rankings come from donations processed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011." Read the rest here.
A2Awesome, the Ann Arbor chapter of the Boston-based Awesome Foundation, has awarded its first grant worth $1,000. A2Awesome gave the thousand dollars cash in a brown paper bag to Ann Arbor-resident Nathan Ayers. He will use the money to build two bike-powered vegetable grow racks that will be used in a science class he teaches in Ann Arbor and Detroit. The idea is to create a closed-loop system to demonstrate the principles of permaculture -- a design and engineering philosophy based on ecology, which has as its objective the creation of sustainable food, energy and community infrastructure systems. Ayers' proposal was the winner of 20 applications submitted for the first round of funding. A2Awesome aims to provide streamlined seed funding for creative projects that will bring surprise, delight and joy to the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti community. A2Awesome plans to make one $1,000 grant a month for the foreseeable future. "We anticipate the applications to go way up," says Mark Maynard, dean of awesome for A2Awesome. "With this award we have set the tone for what we want to do." While the Ayers bicycle-grow project is creative and helps push the envelope, A2Awesome isn't limiting itself to those types of projects. It is open to more traditional ideas as long as they result in the same thing, awesomeness. "We're open to everything," Maynard says. "The project just needs to be awesome." For more information, click here. (Full disclosure: Jeff Meyers, Concentrate's managing editor, is on the board of A2Awesome) Source: Mark Maynard, dean of awesome for A2Awesome Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
'Tis the season for giving. But philanthropy means different things to different communities, and its impacts are equally varied. Concentrate's Constance Crump looks at Ann Arbor's culture of giving and how it fares in comparison with billionaire-fueled communities like Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.
The Clean Energy Coalition is hiring, again. The downtown Ann Arbor-based non-profit dedicated to sustainability practices has hired two people in November and has two job openings in communications and marketing, and one for an intern. The non-profit currently employs 20 people full-time, four independent contractors, and two interns. The six-year-old non-profit has moved from smaller offices in Ypsilanti's Depot Town to a bigger office just north of downtown Ann Arbor to accommodate its growth. "It would be nice to see us grow and add another 10 employees," says Sean Reed, executive director of the Clean Energy Coalition. The Clean Energy Coalition has landed several million dollars in grant funding in recent years, including $15 million from the federal stimulus package. That money is part of Michigan's $31 million Green Fleets project, which will integrate more alternative fuels and advanced fuel-efficient technology (i.e. bio-diesel) into municipal vehicle fleets. The non-profit is also working to help make local government buildings more energy efficient. The non-profit has doubled in size in each of its six years. Its 2010 revenue reached $1.5 million and it expects to go above $6 million in 2011. "We have a real diversity of grant-funded projects and services that we are managing," Reed says. "The volume of those have continued to grow." Source: Sean Reed, executive director of the Clean Energy Coalition Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
The Brides Project is coming to downtown Ann Arbor, straight from Canada. The non-profit sells donated used wedding dresses from across the country at a retail shop in downtown Ann Arbor. All proceeds go toward the Cancer Support Group of Ann Arbor. The concept is based on a similar project that is up and running in Toronto. "That's the way non-profits need to be thinking these days," says Monique Sluymers, co-chair of The Brides Project. "They need a business to help fund their ventures." So far The Brides Project has taken in 189 dresses and has sold a little more than half a dozen since opening in September. The social entrepreneurship venture is ahead of its initial sales goal, about one per month, and expects to be in full swing by next spring. "I'd like this to be a comfortable project," Sluymers says. "I just want this to be a steady source of revenue for the cancer support society." Source: Monique Sluymers, co-chair of The Brides Project Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
Few people understand the role of foundations in our community. And yet these organizations can have a profound impact on our quality of life. With a fund that tops $60 million, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation not only backs local programs, organizations, and non-profits, but seeds the ground for tomorrow by investing in efforts others might be hesitant to support.
Death defying stunts! The clang of blades and snap of whips! This week's multiplex blockbuster? No, just another day at stunt camp. Chris Barbeau oversees one of only three such programs in the nation. And its home is here in Ann Arbor. Huzzah!
Our Partners
Common Ground Is Brewing
Support local stories and receive our signature roast straight to your door when you join at the Standard level (or above).
Drink Better, Read Local
