12th District Activist Summit organized to Harness Progressive Energy for Midterm Elections.

Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to a press release from political director Ashley Hall, a coalition of progressive activists, organizations and elected officials across Michigan’s 12th Congressional District are inviting energized community members to participate in the 12th District Activist Summit for a day of learning, training, and momentum building for the 2018 election.

The Summit will take place at Woodhaven High School, 24787 Van Horn Rd., Brownstown Charter Township. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, May 12th.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate with other activists to learn and act to elect candidates who share our beliefs in a pluralistic, respectful society that serves everyone.” said Charles Newman, Chair of Protectors of Equality in Government.

During the 2016 elections, MI-12 was the only Congressional District in Michigan to increase voter turnout from Obama’s 2012 numbers, proving that this community knows how to work together to engage volunteers, talk to voters, and win. With 2018 well underway, this Summit will be an opportunity to get involved in issues that matter to our community, while also gaining critical training on voter mobilization and volunteer recruitment efforts. Attendees will leave ready to become volunteer leaders in electoral and issue campaigns across the district.

“The energy, commitment, and know-how in Michigan’s 12^th District is second to none, but we can’t take anything for granted this election,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. “It will take all of us coming together to organize, volunteer, and talk to everyone – friends, neighbors and perfect strangers – so can win in 2018 and continue to fight for our values and the issues that matter to our community.”

The 12th District Activist Summit is sponsored by the 12th District Democratic Party, A2D2 Ann Arbor inDivisible for Democracy, Ann Arbor Democratic Club, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Indivisible Downriver 12th District, Indivisible Washtenaw County, Michigan Resistance, Michigan Women's March, Our Revolution: Michigan To Believe In, ​Protectors of Equality in Government, Poised For Action, Reclaiming Our American Democracy, State Representative Darrin Camilleri, State Representative Cara Clemente, State Representative Erika Geiss, State Representative Abdullah Hammoud, State Representative Donna Lasinski, State Representative Yousef Rabhi, State Representative Adam Zemke and the Washtenaw County Democratic Party.

The summit is free and registration is open. Register and find more information at https://www.12thdistrictsummit.com/, or by contacting12thdistrictsummit@gmail.com.

Ann Arbor YMCA to open Child Development Center in Ypsilanti.

Photo Purple Walrus Press.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

The Ann Arbor YMCA will soon be opening a Child Development Center in Ypsilanti which is great news for the community. The Ann Arbor YMCA is opening the new Child Development Center in collaboration with Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti Housing Commission and Ypsilanti Community Schools..

The brand new child care program will be located at the former Chappelle Community School, which was an elementary school in the Ypsilanti Community School District located at 111 South Wallace Boulevard. The YMCA Child Development Center will be licensed by the State of Michigan and will be accredited by the NAEYC ( National Association for the Education of the Young Child). The Child Development Center will will accommodate children ages 18 months to 5 years old.

The grand opening will take place on Monday, June 11 from 4-6 pm. Guests will be able check out and tour the center and meet the staff.

More info can be found on the Ann Arbor YMCA website or at thecollaborative@annarborymca.org.

Parola Perspective: Guiliani

By Brooks Parola: PWP.

I'm not sure that Guiliani's admission that Trump paid Coen back the $130,000 is that big a deal. Yes, it's an admission that Trump lied, (yeah big deal, everyone knows he lies) yes, it's an admission that there was an affair, (big deal, everyone knows that).

But, the base will continue to support Trump, and this allows them to at least make the case, that the payment was more about keeping the affair quiet for personal reasons, not political ones, and therefore, no campaign finance violation.

Now clearly, others will be the final arbiters of whether the payment was a campaign finance violation or not. But, I think the Trump team strategy at this point, is to admit to the payment, (since everyone knows it happened) and focus not on arguing that he made the payment, but why he made it, to counter the campaign finance violation charge...I don't think the admission hurts him politically. Continuing to deny it, could hurt him more legally

MDHHS urges families to become familiar with resources available during Better Hearing and Speech Month.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

As part of May is Better Hearing and Speech Awarness Month, the Michigan Dept of Health

and Human Services (MDHHS) is promoting resources available through its Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (EHDI).

According to MDHHS, all of Michigan’s 84 birthing hospitals perform newborn hearing screens, and annually about 175 babies are identified as deaf or hard of hearing. The EHDI program assists hospitals, clinics, midwives and parents in identifying infants with hearing loss and enrollment in appropriate audiological services.

“

Language and speech development in infants and children helps them acquire skills that are important to literacy success, which is why hearing screens are so vital,” said Dr. Eden Wells, MDHHS chief medical executive. “Research has shown early identification of hearing loss and enrollment in intervention services may lead to significant benefits in childhood development.”

According to a statement from MDHHS, the EHDI program strives to achieve goals set by national and federal partners to improve screening, hearing loss detection and early enrollment in intervention services. These goals include:

• All newborns will be screened for hearing loss no later than 1 month of age, preferably before hospital discharge.
• All infants who screen positive for hearing loss will have a diagnostic audiologic evaluation no later than 3 months of age.
• All infants identified with hearing loss will receive appropriate early intervention services by no later than 6 months of age.

The EHDI program provides information about infant hearing screening and family support resources on its website Michigan.gov/ehdi. Two of those resources are Early On ^® and Michigan Hands and Voices - Guide By Your Side™.  

Early On offers early intervention services for children from birth to 3 years of age, who have developmental delays and/or disabilities, including hearing loss. The program is a collaborative of MDHHS and the Michigan Department of Education.

Guide by Your Side is a non-profit whose membership includes teachers, audiologists, interpreters and parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The free program provides support and information, as well as the chance for parents just learning of their child's hearing loss an opportunity to connect with other parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing to help guide them, according to MDHHS.

Individual shot and killed near International Academy of Flint K-12 school Tuesday in Flint...An area I know well

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to ABC 12 News in Flint Michigan, at approximately 1:00 pm Tuesday,  an individual was shot and killed at The Rock Fitness Center on South Saginaw Street in my hometown of Flint, Mi. As reported by WJRT 12 News Flint, the person was working out with a Flint Police officer while being shot at the popular fitness center. The shooting occurred at 2623 S. Saginaw Street.

As of 4:00 pm Tuesday, Flint Police and the Michigan State Police have a heavy presence at the scene and are currently looking for the suspects.

Flint Police Chief Timothy Johnson stated to WJRT 12 Flint that one of his officers was inside the fitness center at the time of the shooting. Two guys walked into the center stating that they were there to fix the roof, Johnson told WJRT. Moments later the suspects began shooting. The man working out with the Flint Police officer was shot and killed at scene. The officer was not harmed.

According to WJRT 12 News, the the police are searching for two shooters. Ther are no decsriptions available at this time.

The International Academy Flint, which is a k-12 school, is located two blocks away from shooting. The school was on lockdown Tuesday afternoon and students were sheltering in place after the shooting. I know IAF well, as I taught at the school in my hometown of Flint from 1999 until moving to Ypsilanti in 2004.

It is always sad to learn of shootings in my hometown, which are far too common, but when one occurs in parts of town I know so well, its even more sad. The school has since re-opened.

I'm confident that the Flint Police will soon apprehend the suspects. Though understaffed, the Flint Police Dept is doing an excellent job of policing the city during very difficult times in Flint. The Flint PD has compassionate and committed officers who want to curtail crime and have a positive relationship with residents. I know this because I have had the opportunity to get to know several of the officers myself over the years. They will apprehend the perpetrators of this horrible crime that resulted in a loss of life. Lets hope that children at IAF will not have to go through the traumatic experience of having a homicide take place down the street in the middle of the school day.