Community

It’s November already, and many of us are starting to think about Thanksgiving. It’s also the time of year when people think about donating to local food banks. One of mid-Michigan’s largest operations is trying new ways of targeting food to those most in need. We talk with Joe Wald of the Greater Lansing Food Bank.

For Neighbors in Action, we talk with John Leask of the Capital Area Literacy Coalition, also known as The Reading People.

For Neighbors in Action, we catch up with Northwest Initiative, the non-profit that works to strengthen and sustain healthy communities in Lansing’s "grand neighborhoods."

About 400 MSU students identify themselves as having experienced foster care or some form of "out of home" living situation, including homelessness. For Neighbors in Action, we learn about MSU's Fostering Academics Mentoring Program (FAME).

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and for Neighbors in Action we hear from MSU Safe Place about the work they do to help victims of domestic violence and abuse.

Today is the traditional celebration of Columbus Day, but in East Lansing, the city council has decided to instead observe Indigenous People’s Day. Current State’s Scott Pohl talks with two people involved in the observance.

For Neighbors in Action this week, we find out about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, a program of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce that teaches students how to start and run their own businesses.

A conference this week in Ann Arbor aims to fight human trafficking in our state. We talk with the director of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, Jane White, and Judge Michelle Rick, a member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission.

A big renovation project at the East Lansing Public Library is wrapping up. Current State’s Scott Pohl talks with library director Kristin Shelley about all the changes.

The star-studded Athena Conference is designed to promote leadership and empowerment for women of all ages. We discuss the program with chairperson Sarah Jennings.

Churches of all denominations are grappling with issues ranging from a loss of membership to LGBTQ inclusion. The United Methodist Church in Michigan has a new leader who’s trying to forge a way ahead for his congregation. We talk with Bishop David Bard about those challenges.

Youth For Understanding is an international educational exchange program for students and adults founded in Michigan. For Neighbors in Action, we speak with the local field manager, as well as a host parent and an exchange student who is here from Germany.

Hannah’s House of Lansing provides homeless expectant mothers with shelter and support so they can gain the emotional, physical, and spiritual strength they need to raise their child or pursue an adoption plan if they choose. For Neighbors in Action, we speak with staff members of Hannah’s House about the organization’s work.

A nonprofit producing radio programs and podcasts for LGBTQ youth is coming to East Lansing. We talk with founder Marc Sophos about OutCasting, along with a student working on the project at MSU.

It’s never too early to foster excitement for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The Information Technology Empowerment Center (ITEC) offers programs that teach technological skills to students from middle school up to adulthood.