Groundcover Speaks | Ann Arbor District Library

Listen to this year's Community Arts Edition for perspectives on how corporate art accelerates gentrification and an interview with street artist James Manning. As always we're covering struggles in the homeless community -- from federal to local stage.

Arts contest painting submissions, full calendar of FREE Washtenaw County music events, poetry, essays on July 4th — if it's fun, if it's free, it's in this episode!

Happy Pride Month from Groundcover News! In this episode we discuss how to take care of each other and meet community needs in a more inclusive, human-centered way.

Listen to this episode of Groundcover Speaks to hear Groundcover vendors' perspectives and reports on the U-M Palestine encampment. We also report on the General Defense Committee Mother's Day rally at Huron Valley Women's prison, "Glaze" Ypsilanti's paint your own pottery shop, and college sports!

In this episode, learn about the Community Mental Health and Public Safety Millage, the Washtenaw County ID project, and how renters are fighting back against junk fees!

This episode reports on U-M student-led social justice movements against both the war machine and homelessness. We also cover Johnson v Grants Pass and the impact of this pending SCOTUS decision on Washtenaw County campers.

For this episode, Groundcover vendors tracked down the stories that shape our street news — talking to Washtenaw County Commissioners, faith leaders, artists, shelter staff and more.

April is National Poetry Month and Groundcover News is celebrating in a big way! Listen to this 2024 Poetry Edition of Groundcover Speaks to experience some local literary arts.

In this episode, we're talking SHELTER: past mistakes, present improvements, and future demands.

Women’s basketball in Detroit, Black culture in Harlem, powwow in Ann Arbor, and agriculture in rural Michigan. Take a journey with the latest issue of Groundcover Speaks!

We're closing out Black History Month with an essay from La Shawn Courtwright, chronicling "parts of her history" as a writer and advocate. This issue also features a poetry section, Undercover Art Intel, and housing policy solutions from Finland!

It's Black History Month! This issue is filled with vendor perspectives on racial justice: from the carceral system to community programs to homelessness.

Vendor Appreciation Week is February 2-9, 2024! Read first hand accounts from vendors on the state of winter sheltering, what it's like to sell Groundcover, and experience homelessness in Washtenaw County.

In this episode we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day by remembering his visit to Ann Arbor and Detroit, and we celebrate Michigan football with reporting on U-M's National Championship and a prospective Lions win!

Happy 2024 from Groundcover News! In this episode you'll hear lots of poetry, reflections from the holidays, and reporting on happenings at the Washtenaw County and Ann Arbor governments.

Happy Holidays from Groundcover News! What makes you think of the holiday season? Sports, gift-giving, parties, family, cooking? We cover it all in our last issue of 2023!

In our second to last issue of 2023, Groundcover writers discuss how to respond to seasonal shifts physically and mentally when Michigan freezes over. This episode also cover local arts — Groundcover's third open mic, UMMA's Hear Me Now exhibit, and poetry. 

Homelessness, addiction, incarceration, love, art, war and peace — nothing is off the table in this episode of Groundcover Speaks. Our feature story is an update on the case of Shibab Jackson and how the community has rallied around this "test case" of Eli Savit's campaign promises.

November 13-21, 2023 is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. This episode uplifts community perspectives on the problems and solutions for homelessness and poverty in Washtenaw County. Listen to the public comments of homeless community members advocating for expanded shelter services and calls for more low-cost social infrastructure.

This episode explores what nonviolent crisis response and disability justice really looks like in practice. Hear from poets, journalists, and Groundcover vendors in the community on the things that matter most.

How can our Washtenaw County community move towards justice? This episode discusses reparations, public energy ownership and shelter systems — all reporting from the ground up.

This issue contains 100% vendor writing: solutions-based reporting on guaranteed basic income, houses of hospitality, financial empowerment, and more.

This episode covers the street news of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti — shining light on the hidden evictions, discriminatory fines and fees, and other attacks on people experiencing homelessness in our community.

To one person, myths are make-believe for children or propaganda for governments; for another, they are timeless symbols that get at real truths and teach moral lessons... in this episode of Groundcover Speaks we explore the idea of street mythology. Which vendors will you find persuasive?

This issue covers social justice movements past and present, from the streets to the Michigan legislature! The cover story is a reflection on Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement and its impact on labor organizing in Southeast Michigan.