The students currently taking U-M School of Public Health course, Chatgpt/AI and Public Health.

Public health and AI: Great potential and a need for ethical policies

When applying AI to public health, great potentials exist for swifter, nimbler care and pin-pointed personalization. Its use also could exacerbate biases and the misuse of private information.  

Volunteer matchmaking made easy

As the holiday season increases demand, United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties’ online volunteer platform simplifies connecting local nonprofits with community members eager to help. Since launching in 2022, over 2,600 volunteers have filled more than 3,000 positions, with the platform enabling nonprofits to post needs and community members to sign up with ease.

Class in session: Attracting, supporting, and retaining educators

Being a teacher is a tough job, but statewide grants, funding, student loan repayment programs and other incentives and resources aim to make it more appealing. Local school districts, universities and colleges are also partnering together to make transitioning from one classroom to the next a bit more doable.

Care Model Training recipients Dinora Quintanilla (far left) and Kim Poplaski (far right) with Care Model Training facilitator Vanessa Jimenez (center).
New training helps Kent County providers better connect residents in need to resources

Health Net of West Michigan's new Care Model Training provides frontline navigators with tools and tactics to better help residents access health care and social services.

Disc golf’s rising star: Isabella County’s Luke Taylor eyes the top

Luke Taylor, an 18-year-old from Isabella County and Sacred Heart Academy graduate, is turning heads in the professional disc golf world. Skipping collegiate competition, Taylor is one of few athletes to go straight from high school to the pros, where he currently ranks 27th in the Disc Golf Pro Tour’s world rankings. This season, Taylor tied for fourth at the Professional Disc Golf World Championships—a career-defining achievement that’s pushing him to set even higher goals.

Island Park’s Vietnam Memorial: A community effort to remember Michigan’s heroes

As Veterans Day approaches, Mt. Pleasant’s Michigan Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Island Park stands as a solemn tribute to the state’s fallen, missing, and captured service members. Dedicated on July 15, 1990, this memorial includes 16 plaques listing the names of 2,705 Michigan casualties, MIAs, and POWs, alongside a flag gallery, footbridge, and an information booth.

In Detroit, a truck drives on Jefferson Ave. while smoke billows from Zug Island.
Wayne County air quality monitors alert residents and inspire clean air action

Wayne County is tackling its air quality crisis with a new network of 100 hyperlocal monitors, launched in partnership with environmental service company JustAir to track pollution in real time.

Don’t miss out on Mt. Pleasant’s November events—workshops, festivals, and holiday fun

November in Mt. Pleasant brings a variety of community activities to enjoy, no matter the weather. This month’s events range from gardening workshops and live poetry readings to seasonal festivals and Small Business Saturday shopping downtown. Highlights include the Dahlia Digging and Storing workshop at FlowerBird Farm & Garden, Michigan Poet Laureate Nandi Comer’s reading, the kid-friendly Pumpkin Palooza Fall Festival, and the annual Parade of Trees.

Investing in community health: MyMichigan Medical Center’s $3M renovation and MRI upgrade

MyMichigan Health is investing over $3 million in upgrades to the MyMichigan Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant to improve healthcare access and patient experience. Plans include a $2.3 million state-of-the-art MRI for superior imaging and diagnostics, plus $860,000 in renovations to expand outpatient services and enhance facility layout.

K-Connect's data dashboard for Kent County.
Local health statistics are a click away as community health dashboards proliferate in Michigan

Community health dashboards are readily available online resources that compile various health data for different regions.

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