2 $ JANUARY 12, 2024 | VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 2 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King's visit to Ann Arbor and Detroit. Page 8 ASK YOUR VENDOR: EAMONN OFOIGHIL #531 WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2024? GROUNDCOVER NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. We are football champions: Let's dance to the drum beat of victory. page 4 THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM • Proposal: Housing-development accelerator Photo by Mike Jones • Charbonneau: Open your eyes to housing inequity. PAGE 4 @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor #
2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER JANUARY 12, 2024 save the date! two hyperlocal scenes together for one night only Groundcover Geezer Happy Hour Fundraiser @ Live Ann Arbor! FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND 102 S. First Ave 6:30-9:00PM NO COVER music by Jive Colossus Groundcover merchandise for purchase T’onna Clemmons Art for auction All proceeds go to Groundcover News RSVP, share, + invite your community PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DETERMINED INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY POVERTY, PRODUCING A STREET NEWSPAPER THAT GIVES A PLATFORM TO UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN WASHTENAW COUNTY, PROMOTING AN ACTION TO BUILD A JUST, CARING AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. Groundcover News, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in April 2010 as a means to empower lowincome persons to make the transitions from homeless to housed, and from jobless to employed. Vendors purchase each copy of our regular editions of Groundcover News at our office for 50 cents. This money goes towards production costs. Vendors work selling the paper on the street for $2, keeping all income and tips from each sale. Street papers like Groundcover News exist in cities all over the United States, as well as in more than 40 other countries, in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people and combat the increase in poverty. Our paper is a proud member of the International Network of Street Papers. STAFF Lindsay Calka — publisher Cynthia Price — editor Simone Masing — intern ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Jane Atkins Elizabeth Bauman Suhita Chintalacharuvu Cindy Gere Mike Jones Elizabeth "Lit" Kurtz Joshua Lee Eamonn Ofoighil Ken Parks Ashley Powell Will Shakespeare Denise Shearer Scoop Stevens GROUNDCOVER NEWS ADVERTISING RATES Size 1/8 1/6 1/4 1/2 full page Black/White $110.00 $145.00 $200.00 $375.00 $650.00 Color $150.00 $200.00 $265.00 $500.00 $900.00 Dimensions (W x H in inches) 5 X 3 or 2.5 X 6.5 5 X 4 5 X 6.25 5 X 13 or 10.25 X 6.5 10.25 X 13 PROOFREADERS Susan Beckett Elliot Cubit Anabel Sicko VOLUNTEERS Jessi Averill Jane Atkins Luiza Duarte Caetano Zachary Dortzbach Glenn Gates Alexandra Granberg Robert Klingler Ruben Mauricio Emily Paras Holden Pizzolato Melanie Wenzel Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof Emily Yao CONTACT US Story and photo submissions: submissions@groundcovernews.com Advertising and partnerships: contact@groundcovernews.com Office: 423 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor Mon-Sat, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Phone: 734-263-2098 @groundcover @groundcovernews DONATE, LISTEN TO OLD ISSUES + LEARN MORE www.groundcovernews.org linktr.ee/groundcovernews PACKAGE PRICING Three Months/Six Issues: 15% off Six Months/Twelve Issues: 25% off Full Year/Twenty-four Issues: 35% off Only run for two weeks/one issue: 40% off Additional 20% discount for money saving coupons
JANUARY 12, 2024 ON MY CORNER ASK YOUR VENDOR What do you look forward to in 2024? I'm looking forward to my music career. — Eamonn Ofoighil, #531 Keeping my hopes high and expectations low. — Wayne Sparks, #615 To be at home in my body. —Ken Parks, #490 To get a tricyle. — Roberto Isla Caballero, #347 To buying a mini van; I want to travel and sell street papers! — Mike Jones, #113 Move into my apartment, stop drinking, read more and go fishing more! I got some ambitions. — Mansel Williams, #96 Getting married before its too late and getting a nice car. — Juliano Sanchez, #174 The world not ending would be nice. — James Manning, #16 Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money. — Derek Allen #177 2024 Presidential Candidate Ashley Powell lives in and loves Michigan. She just turned legal age to run for office August 30 this past summer, but she has been registered to run with the Federal Election Commission since 2019. Ashley has several things she's hoping to rally support for in her campaign. A few include: • The United States Agriculture Corps: a national program created to bring jobs to rural areas and finally create food security. • The Homeless Tier ACT which classifies the six major reasons people are homeless. • Providing a designated area with shelter, police, fire and medical services. GROUNDCOVER NEWS Vote Powell for President in 2024 ASHLEY POWELL Groundcover vendor No. 595 • She started the Motor City Brick to Farmer Challenge: 50 Million Bricks, One Challenge. The goal of the Challenge is to sell 50 million Bricks and use the funds to build greenhouses in Metro Detroit. www.50millionbricks.com When Ashley is not working to 3 save the world she can be found reading, at the gym or listening to music! Take care of your dogs! Dealing with anxiety is important Dogs are considered family members. We go to extraordinary lengths to make sure they are comfortable and well adjusted to living in their homes, but for some dogs it takes time to feel safe. For some dogs, like pound puppies, it can take even longer because of kennel cough and the trauma of being in doggy jail for months. Here are some ways to help your dog deal with your time away from home. They will feel better as time goes by. 1. Call your dog on a Ring Doorbell or even on TV and do two-waytalk — he will love seeing you on the time for your dog. Even recording your voice can help them. 3. Take a night t-shirt and wear it CINDY GERE Groundcover vendor No. 279 the screen. Doing this one hour before you get home will help them know you are on your way. 2. Leave a radio on to help pass to bed and place that shirt on their day bed in the morning. It will help them feel your presence and can help calm them down as they nap. 4. Getting an anxiety jacket can help them calm down when you are away. This is a new thing that operates on the principle that if you apply pressure to the dog’s torso, it has a calming effect. They’re available online. I do hope this can help with your pet this wonderful year 2024 and beyond. Peace! Eamonn Ofoighil View more of Eamonn's artwork on Instagram @dj_chirish734
4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS LOCAL NEWS JANUARY 12, 2024 Did the City of Ann Arbor renege on its affordable housing promise? In the 2020 general election, Ann Arbor passed Proposal C with nearly 73% of voters in favor of what was considered to be “the most significant expansion of affordable housing in the region in over 40 years,” according to the City of Ann Arbor website. Affordable housing has always been a touchy issue in Ann Arbor and many cities around the country. It certainly raises eyebrows when a former city attorney questions whether monies appropriated to supply more affordable housing to citizens who live below the median income are being used appropriately. Proposal C assured taxpayers that that monies generated from the 2020 millage would be used for building, maintaining and acquiring new affordable housing units which would be permanently affordable to low-income households making up to 60% of area median income, and providing social services, not to exceed 20% of the millage revenues over the entire term of the millage, for the residents of such housing. Yet, according to an MLive article which ran this past November, former city attorney Bruce Laidlaw filed a lawsuit against the City of Ann Arbor claiming that the city misappropriated the millage funds which were intended for affordable housing. In his lawsuit he accuses the city of playing “a political shell game” with taxpayer dollars. At a time when housing shortages LIT KURTZ Groundcover vendor No. 159 are at an all time high, especially for unhoused individuals who need to find permanent housing, one might question why any of the funds allocated for providing more space to those who are experiencing this crisis would not be used to their fullest. Yet, it appears as though the city has fallen short on its promise. This past September MLive ran an article announcing the city’s plans to renovate a new elections center and TV studio on Miller Rd. in order to ensure the integrity of elections. The decision was unanimous. $5.2 million of the overall project cost involving the former YMCA parking lot is coming from the affordable housing millage funds. Another $800,000 is coming from the sale of city property at 350 S. Fifth Avenue to the city’s Housing Commission. According to MLive, Laidlaw is questioning the legality of the city’s move to essentially sell the 350 Fifth Avenue property, formerly home to the YMCA, to the city housing commission, noting that the housing commission is part of the city government. (The empty parking lot has long been problematic, with the city failing to garner enough support for any of the proposed uses for it.) Housing Commission Executive Director Jennifer Hall made a convincing argument to the City for the commission to oversee the property, citing that over the past 20 years “ … the site has been at the center of legal battles with developers and political disagreements on council.” The city agreed and the eventual cost was set at $6.2 million with one million coming from stimulus funding. While this is underway, Hall revealed plans to progressively include other affordable housing units on the various other planned sites within the city over the next few years. There are nine properties owned by the City available for development including: 353 S. Main, 121 Catherine, 404 S. Ashley, 721 N. Main, 309 S. Ashley, 350 S. Fifth Ave., 415 W. Washington, 1510 E. Stadium, and 2000 South Industrial. While this sounds promising, it seems doubtful that in coming years the city government will use all of its available funding resources to implement this or other plans for affordable housing. If this past year is any indication, it seems that the future funding of affordable housing under the auspices of city government is destined to shrink as the city becomes infatuated with other projects and is further distracted from the housing crisis and the need for affordable housing. GROUNDCOVER NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION Interested in volunteering with Groundcover News? Join us for a public volunteer meeting on January 19, 5:00 p.m. to learn more! As a volunteer, you can help contribute to the paper via writing or editing; attending and making food for article reviews; distributing papers to vendors; and more! We value our volunteers so much; come join our community! Friday, January 19, 2024, 5 p.m. Groundcover News office 423 S. 4th Avenue (basement of Bethlehem United Church of Christ) We are football champions: Let's dance to the drum beat of victory! In the summer of 2023, I predicted the Michigan Wolverines, my favorite football team, would win the National College Football Championship. I was not the only person who made this prediction. Many other Michigan football fans hopeful like myself wished to see our Wolverines take it to another level. The Michigan Wolverines took it to the next level by defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the semi-final playoff game 27-20, and then played the Washington Huskies for the College Football Championship on January 8. WE DID IT!!!!! The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies 34-13, and are now NCAA College Football Champions. Go Blue!!! 10-7 Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Wild Card Game this Sunday at Ford Field. The Detroit Lions have made a comMIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 On a related topic, the Detroit Lions are back in the NFL Playoffs for the first time since 2016, and clinched the NFC North for the first time in team history. The Lions will host former quarterback Matthew Stafford and the plete turn around under the leadership of Dan Campbell since he assumed the role of head coach 2021. The 1991 season was the last time the Lions won a NFL Playoff game and that was the only time since 1957 in which the Lions won a playoff game. The Lions finish this year's season 12-5 after defeating the Minnesota Vikings 30-20. I am going to put it on the line, the Detroit Lions are going to take it to the next level and win the conference championship and make their first appearance in the Super Bowl. U-M football fans no longer have to party like its 1997 — they can party like its 2024!
JANUARY 12, 2024 HOUSING HOUSED: On being your own advocate and the fight to find a place LINDSAY CALKA Publisher For this edition of HOUSED, Groundcover News talked with Glen Page, Groundcover vendor No. 407, and discussed the challenging process of finding an apartment after being pulled for a Housing Choice Voucher, often know as Section 8. LC: Tell us about your journey to housing. GP: I had to make myself marketable so I was “user-friendly” when I filled out an application. I found a couple of jobs and stayed into that. I had to stay busy and maintain my situation. I worked at FedUp Ministries and Groundcover News and did odd jobs running errands for people. There were Beal Properties, McKinley Properties and smaller landlords. They always told me “if you start doing ‘this,’ than we can do ‘that.’” They want you to make three times the rent, or have a cosigner. RPI [an agent for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority who manages Housing Choice Vouchers] is dysfunctional; they moved offices three times on my watch and I had to chase them down each time in order to get my voucher. Being pushy helped me out. There is a great lack of communication in the system. Delonis is dysfunctional, too. When my caseworker left Delonis, everything slowed down. He was the only one really honest with me. I didn’t really have any help after that. Besides a handful of people, there’s no one really qualified to advocate for us to find housing. You have to know your shit, and not many people do. [Delonis is] already short-staffed. People are leaving to work at Avalon Housing, or just straight up leaving. It’s spookier than it used to be. Really, it took three tries. My first opportunity was at Courtyard Square. The front desk manager at the time made my life hell. There was no way I was going to come off the streets and live under her. I wasn’t scared to keep looking though. I knew I was looking for my house. The second opportunity was Aspen Chase. The third was where I’m at now, Huron Heights. What was the biggest barrier that you faced in obtaining housing? Knowing that there wasn’t help. I had to be my own advocate and find my own place. It took me nine months. I had to fight for that. Housing is a human right. A lot of kids, and even grownups, don’t realize that. We don’t need cats coming in here [Delonis] just looking for a paycheck. What is an unexpected positive thing that most people don’t think about when becoming housed? Just relaxing again. I’m so used to getting up, running out the door, to get where I’m at now. To get a job, find a place. Also, personalizing everything in the place just like how I do my clothes. My room is set up like a dojo and I make little movie nights by the window with my backyard and projector. But I’m still making it really feel like home. What is an unexpected struggle GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5 that most people don’t think about when becoming housed? Wrapping my mind around the fact that I’m actually in my place. I’m still waking up swinging. Additionally, I want to help my friends get on their feet but I don’t want to jeopardize losing my apartment. It’s really hard to just sit down and let this happen to other people. I have a lot of family down here, but growing up, I couldn’t ask for help from any of them, so I had to make my own way. Thankfully I ran into a lot of people like me. People who did want to help. What pieces of advice would you give to people who are experiencing homelessness? Don’t trust anybody, anything. Ask questions and when people seem like they are avoiding answers, ask for their boss. And try not to screw it up for other people. What’s next for you? I want to go to school, and keep up with selling Groundcover. I’ve been asked to be President of Circling Back Peer Support Network. That’s an affirmation of my work ethic. I landed in the right place, with the right people around me. Any place called home is enchanted Everybody who has a home has an enchanted cottage. It is a blessing to have a home. When you have a home it is good for your health. A home is a place you can totally be yourself in. When you have your own home, you can rest and work. When you have your own home you can play when you want and have fun when you want, too. You can decorate your home and have it look the way you want. A home is very beautiful, no matter what it is, no matter where it is. A home gives you shelter from bad DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 weather. A home gives you shelter from wild animals that could attack you. No matter if you live in a hotel room or a rooming house or an apartment or house of your own, it is always good to have somewhere to live. You can also have get-togethers with family and friends when you have a place to be. You can cook lunches and dinners for company when you have a place to be. You can watch things on TV and dream when you have a place to be. You can have a comfortable place to talk to Jesus when you have a place to be. You can make your enchanted cottage however you want it when you’re the only one who lives there. People who share a place, that’s an enchanted cottage too — it just takes more compromise and consideration when you share a place. Any place to be is an enchanted cottage. Any place someone calls a home is an enchanted cottage as long as comfortable. someone is
6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS WINTER SAFETY JOSHUA LEE Groundcover contributor As winter's icy grip tightens, the looming threat of frostbite becomes an undeniable concern for those exposed to extreme cold. This cold-weather menace, where skin and underlying tissues freeze due to prolonged exposure to frigid temperatures, demands a keen awareness of its dangers and a proactive approach to prevention. Dangers of Frostbite: The repercussions of frostbite can be severe, ranging from tissue damage and infection risk to nerve damage and, in extreme cases, amputation. Extended exposure to cold triggers blood vessels to constrict, diminishing blood flow to extremities and causing harm to the skin, muscles, and even bones. Signs of Frostbite: Recognizing the early stages of frostbite mean that it can be caught in time for treatment to be effective. These early stages present with patches of reddish skin and burning pain, progressing to cold, numb, white or grayish skin that feels stiff or looks waxy. Expert Insights and Prevention Measures: Dr. Sarah Coleman, Chief Medical Officer at the Cold Weather Research Institute, highlights the gravity of frostbite's dangers and offers proactive prevention measures. From our exclusive interview, "Frostbite is dangerous due to its potential for irreversible damage to the skin and underlying tissues. Constricted blood vessels reduce blood flow and oxygen, leading to severe complications and, in extreme cases, amputation," warns Dr. Coleman. To preempt the risks, Dr. Coleman advises individuals to prioritize dressing in layers, ensuring thorough coverage of extremities. Opting for mittens over gloves and investing in insulated footwear are key to superior heat retention. Staying dry is crucial, as wet clothing elevates the risk of frostbite. Dr. Coleman also emphasizes taking breaks indoors to counteract exposure to extreme cold and wind, if possible. Addressing common misconceptions, Dr. Coleman dispels the notion that frostbite only occurs in extremely low temperatures. Wind chill, she emphasizes, plays a significant role, stripping away the body's protective heat layer and making it feel colder than the actual temperature. Early detection, Dr. Coleman stresses, is pivotal. Numbness, tingling and changes in skin color are early warning signs. Immediate action, such see FROSTBITE page 11 Stages of frostbite. Coyne Survival Schools. JANUARY 12, 2024 Battling the chill: navigating the perils of frostbite
JANUARY 12, 2024 MAKING CHANGE Turning Houses2Homes SUHITA CHINTALACHARUVU U-M student contributor Six years ago, a small group of service-driven individuals and friends worked together to furnish a home for a single mother and her children. In 2017, they took that experience and turned it into a community-wide nonprofit organization. HouseN2Home is their name and furnishing homes for the homeless is their game. Their motto absolutely embodies what their mission is: “creating a space for people to thrive.” HouseN2Home operates mainly in the southeast Michigan region, with their office in Ypsilanti. Their workers are primarily volunteers, and they have grown in the past six years to over 100 volunteers. They have many community partners, such as United Way of Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and Trinity Health. The organization targets people in the area who are moving out of homeless shelters and into rental housing. However, each homeless individual’s situation varies greatly, and the organization does their best to match everyone’s unique needs. Their process for furnishing homes is very in-depth and thorough. It begins when a caseworker from a local shelter finds a family that has housing and needs help with the move. HouseN2Home workers then meet with the family and assess their new home and their needs. They obtain all the necessary furniture and household goods, and remarkably, most of the items are donated. On the big move-in day, volunteers load up the furniture, move it to the new home, and arrange it to make the house feel like a home. Amazingly, with this process, they have completely furnished over 925 homes since 2017 for individuals and their families in Washtenaw County. Clearly, they have had a huge positive impact on the community! On their website, you can see the evidence of this impact in the last two years. In 2022, they performed 290 moves, which was a 30% increase from 2021, and they furnished over 500 moves in the past two years alone. Out of those clients, they served 199 children, crafting safe and stable home environments for these kids. In 2022, they contributed 16,000 volunteer hours, showing the importance and value of volunteers for this organization. They also added many new community partners, including the University of Michigan’s Office of Sustainability. A non-profit like HouseN2Home requires lots of support, and there are so many ways members of the community can get involved. The main way to participate is through volunteering. There are several different opportunities for volunteers such as refurbishing donations, cooking meals for clients or assisting on move-in days. HouseN2Home is an equal opportunity nonprofit organization, so any volunteer will feel welcomed and valued! Another great way to participate is by donating gently used furniture for the organization to use in the furnishing of new homes. Finally, contributors can also sponsor a move, which typically costs around $600, or also just donate to the organization to reduce the costs of each move. HouseN2Home provides such a great service to the community. They truly go above and beyond in their work, even providing families with items like toys, books and decorations to really make their clients’ new houses feel like homes. I would highly recommend checking out this amazing organization and helping them serve the community because it’s clear how much they value each of their clients and how big of a difference they have made in Michigan! Check out their website to coordinate donations and get involved: www.housen2home.org/ GROUNDCOVER NEWS Lansing’s “Fretail” Store is a good idea for Ann Arbor JANE ATKINS U-M student contributor Cardboard Prophets’ Fretail Store in the Lansing Mall looks just like a normal retail store: display racks, mannequin, and tags on each item. The twist? Everything is free. The “dignity tags” contain Cardboard Prophets’ phone number on the barcode and an inspirational message rather than a price. Cardboard Prophets is an outreach organization founded by Mike Karl, aiming to involve the community in real change for people who are homeless or at risk for homelessness in the Lansing area. The store is an innovative, direct response to the needs of homeless and low-income people in Lansing, and Ann Arbor should consider how its unique approach could benefit our community. The Fretail Store started as a diaper bank with no storefront. They were offered a space in the Lansing Mall to operate in, and Karl knew it could be used for more. It has grown exponentially since it opened in 2020. It has been a hub for thousands of Michigan families and individuals to shop with dignity and receive the items they need to maintain a good quality of life. The store has clothes, food, furniture and much more. In the past, the Fretail Store gave out 200,000 cans of formula to families all over Michigan during the formula shortage. Families from all over Michigan traveled to the Fretail store to get formula for their children. During Christmas time, the entire storefront transformed into a toy store, which helped 2,200 families get Christmas gifts. Karl said they are looking to double that this year as the holidays are approaching. The Fretail Store has had such a positive impact on the Lansing community that it comes as no surprise that people from across the state and the country are contacting Cardboard Prophets looking to replicate see FRETAIL page 11 7 CONTENT correction In the Dec. 15, 2023 edition of the Groundcover News, the words of a Jewish prayer were incorrect. The corrected version: "If the desire to honor the memory of your loved one impels you to do a mitzvah you otherwise would not have done, learn something you otherwise would not have learned or go higher and farther than ever before then the soul of the deceased lives on in you." Cultural appropriation was never intended. In the Oct. 20 GCN edition, Morgan Battle, one of the previous directors of The Breakfast at St. Andrew's, was omitted.
8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS MLK DAY JANUARY 12, 2024 Remembering Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s. visit to Ann Arbor and Detroit Dr. King came to Ann Arbor in the fall of 1962. Brian A. Williams of the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library wrote that “King spoke on a cool fall day.” Williams also noted, “No recordings of King’s lectures are known to exist and newspaper coverage is scant at best.” In her January 16, 2023 article titled, “In Pictures: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Visits Ann Arbor,” Meredith Bruckner of the Ann Arbor News confirmed Williams’ assertion and added, “Although no copies of his speeches exist, according to school records, King told U-M students, ‘We must learn to live together as brothers or we will perish as fools.’” It is fair to say that the coverage of Dr. King’s visit to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor was inadequate for a transformative national civil rights leader. Bentley Historical Library Archivist, Ms. Karen Lee Jania, told the Michigan Daily newspaper that “there was little press coverage of King’s visit and details about his lecture were sparse.” Perspectives on Dr. King’s Visit to U-M Campus As the U-M’s Office of the President continues to support the new campus-wide initiative known as “The Inclusive History Project,” there is public interest in learning more about important events which have shaped the Michigan experience. In 2014, Michigan Radio’s Mark Brush reported on, “Martin Luther King Jr.’s forgotten visit to the University of Michigan’s Campus.” He mentioned what former U-M President, James Duderstadt told one Michigan Daily reporter, Haley Goldberg, in 2012. Duderstadt said, “There apparently was a controversy because in his speech, King suggested the importance of civil disobedience, and I guess a couple of the University regents raised concern about that.” He continued, “It was almost 50 years ago, and it was a time when Martin Luther King was a pretty controversial person. The FBI was tracking him and so forth.” A few weeks before Dr. King arrived on the Ann Arbor Campus, University President Harlan Hatcher admonished the students to obey the law and avoid holding large-scale demonstrations and rallies outside the Michigan campus. As the Bentley Historical Library noted, “King was on campus as the leader of the SouthernChristian Leadership Conference and was advocating student civil disobedience — something that the leaders of the University at the time were likely weary of.” and Alan Haber were on the tentative program list. U-M President Harlan Hatcher and his three vice presidents were also on the tentative list to lunch with Dr. King. Student reporters for the Michigan WILL SHAKESPEARE Groundcover vendor No. 258 The University of Michigan Office of Religious Affairs invited King to their annual religious lecture on November 5, 1962. They also invited University of Chicago Theology professor Preston Roberts and Northwestern University Philosophy professor Paul Schllpp. The Office of Religious Affairs asked other groups on campus to co-sponsor King’s visit; the U-M Office of Special Projects became a co-sponsor. The Women’s International League, Challenge and Voice also supported the event. The Bentley Historical Library noted “that all three associated organizations were sympathetic to the causes espoused by King." The Voice campus political party was established in 1960 by Tom Hayden. The Voice also became a key chapter of the new campus organization known as Students for a Democratic Society. The Voice platform called for “eliminating inequality, especially economic, social and racial inequality.” Although the Voice supported the civil rights bill proposed by President Kennedy in 1962, they felt that it did not go far enough. The Voice also supported what John Lewis’ Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was trying to accomplish in the segregated South. The Challenge was a student organization established in 1960 in order to bring prominent national figures on campus to help discuss problems and issues of national importance. It originated at Yale University and spread to other campuses, including Michigan. The U-M student organizers who co-sponsored King’s visit were able to include the names of 23 faculty faculty sponsors. They included Robert C. Angell, Kenneth Boulding, Angus Campbell, William Haber, E. Lowell Kelly, Theodore Newcomb and Alan F. Smith. Planners of King’s visit wanted him to give a lecture in the morning, and another lecture in the evening. Invitations were made to 50 to 60 people, including student organizers, to join King for a luncheon at the Michigan Union. Voice Members Tom Hayden Daily — Majorie Brahms and Martha MacNeal — said that King framed his lecture and discussion by stating that every man is “heir to a legacy of dignity and worthiness,” and that man’s essential rights do not originate from the State, but rather are established by God. King touched upon integration and the immoral nature of racial discrimination. He expanded on that theme, pointing out that the American dream cannot be separated from the world dream of brotherhood. King told his audience at the Hill Auditorium that, “We must learn to live together as brothers or we will die together as fools.” The Bentley Historical Library mentioned that King condemned the concept which stated that one race is superior to another as outdated, and called for its abolition. The Historical Library also said the portion of King’s lecture which he directed specifically to students urged them to take action and join the growing student movement. Apparently, he had been briefed about the recent State of the University address given by President Hatcher in which Hatcher had encouraged students to limit their involvement in student movements and to restrict their activities to the campus. King sharply disagreed, telling students that they "have a responsibility to participate in the movement." He went on to tell them that to him, education meant "being true to studies yet devoting oneself to a significant cause like integration.” Dr. King inspired so many students who heard his lectures and/or talked with him on November 5, 1962. One such student became Dr. Larry Brilliant. In his 2013 commencement speech at the Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Brilliant gave credit to Dr. King for “inspiring him to his life’s work, which included eradicating the world of smallpox and working for global sustainability.” Unfortunately, King did not agree to a second visit despite repeated attempts to bring him back to the Ann Arbor campus. We are grateful that he visited Ann Arbor during the heyday of the civil rights movement. He brought his perspectives on the concepts and techniques of citizen participation, humanity, moral compass, civil rights and of course, David Thoreau’s ideas of civil disobedience for peace and justice. Dr. King’s Visit to Detroit Detroit was a paradox in the early 1960s. It was the fourth largest city in the nation and the population was close to 2 million. There was extreme poverty alongside middle-class prosperity. Dr. King was invited by the Detroit Council for Human Right to participate in a civil rights march on the streets and a rally at Cobo Arena. What Dr. King called the “greatest demonstration for freedom” happened on June 23, 1963. More than 125,000 people walked down Woodward Avenue in Detroit as part of the Detroit Walk to Freedom. They also held a big rally inside and outside the Cobo Arena after the street March. They were marching in Detroit to promote civil rights. Writer Ken Coleman of the Michigan Advance newspaper noted that the idea behind the rally was “to highlight social inequities in the Motor City which included housing discrimination, poor police-community relations and lack of economic opportunities for Blacks and other people of color.” Participants who joined Dr. King in the street march and Cobo Arena rally were thousands of ordinary folks. Other influential people included Reverend C.L. Franklin, the father of famous singer, Aretha Franklin. Rev. Franklin was also the Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church. There were other clergymen, such as Pastor Albert Cleage of Central Congregational Church; and Rev. Nicholas Hood, Pastor of Plymouth United Church of Christ. Former Michigan Governor John Swainson, Detroit Mayor James Cavanaugh, UAW President Walter Reuthers and many more community leaders participated in the march. Michigan Advance noted that during the June 23, 1963 event at Cobo Arena, King delivered a precursor to the “I Have A Dream” speech which he gave in frontof the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. In King’s Detroit speech, he said: “Almost hundred and one years ago, on September the 22, 1862, to be exact, a great and noble American, Abraham Lincoln, signed an executive order, which was to take effect on January the first, 1863. This executive order was called the Emancipation Proclamation and it served to free the Negro from the bondage of physical slavery. But one hundred years later, the Negro in the United States of America still isn’t free.” The Detroit Walk to Freedom and the Cobo Arena speech by Dr. King gave much needed impetus to the “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington D.C. Subsequently, the Detroit and see MLK VISITS next page
JANUARY 12, 2024 PUZZLES GROUNDCOVER NEWS 9 Groundcover Vendor Code While Groundcover is a non-profit, and paper vendors are self-employed contractors, we still have expectations of how vendors should conduct themselves while selling and representing the paper. The following is our Vendor Code of Conduct, which every vendor reads and signs before receiving a badge and papers. We request that if you discover a vendor violating any tenets of the Code, please contact us and provide as many details as possible. Our paper and our vendors should be positively impacting our County. • Groundcover will be a voluntary purchase. I agree not to ask for more than the cover price or solicit donations by any other means. • When selling Groundcover, I will always have the current biweekly issue of Groundcover available for customer purchase. • I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling the paper or to panhandle, including panhandling with only one paper or selling past monthly issues. • I will wear and display my badge when selling papers and refrain from wearing it or other Groundcover gear when engaged in other activities. • I will only purchase the paper from Groundcover Staff and will not sell to or buy papers from other Groundcover vendors, especially vendors who have been suspended or terminated. • I agree to treat all customers, staff, and other vendors respectfully. I will not “hard sell,” threaten, harass or pressure customers, staff, or other vendors verbally or physically. • I will not sell Groundcover under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • I understand that I am not a legal employee of Groundcover but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. • I understand that my badge is property of Groundcover and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers. • I agree to stay off private property when selling Groundcover. • I understand to refrain from selling on public buses, federal property or stores unless there is permission from the owner. • I agree to stay at least one block away from another vendor in downtown areas. I will also abide by the Vendor Corner Policy. • I understand that Groundcover strives to be a paper that covers topics of homelessness and poverty while providing sources of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. If you would like to report a violation of the Vendor Code please email contact@groundcovernews. com or fill out the contact form on our website. MLK VISITS from last page Washington D.C. events contributed to the passage of the civil rights legislation of 1964 and the voting rights legislation of 1965. Many observers think that Dr. King’s visit to Detroit energized and empowered poor Blacks to fight for their rights. From the perspectives of some journalists and community observers, Dr. King’s visit gave rise to the harnessing of Black excellence in music, entertainment, art, science and scholarship. For example, Motown Founder and CEO Berry Gordy recorded Dr. King’s Cobo Arena speech. It is titled, “The Greatest Demonstration for Freedom.” Gordy also recorded Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. In a January 17, 2011 article titled, “Martin Luther King and the Great March for Freedom in Detroit," Michigan in Pictures magazine included some of King’s speech in Detroit, described as Detroit’s version of “I Have a Dream Speech.” King spoke eloquently when he said, “I have a dream this afternoon that my four little children, that my four little children will not come up in the same young days I came up within, but they will be judged on the basis of the content of their characters, not the color of their skin … I have a dream this afternoon that one day right here in Detroit, Negroes will be able to buy a house or rent a house anywhere that their money will carry them and they will be able to get a job.” Conclusion Dr. King’s visit to the U-M campus in Ann Arbor and his visit to Detroit revealed a clear contrast in media coverage and important historical documents. Although many U-M students were thrilled to see Dr. King, some of university leaders saw him as too controversial to share his viewpoints with the campus community. King’s Detroit visit seemed like a huge celebration of common purpose and the prospects of gaining more freedom, more civil rights, equality and racial justice. Black insitutions and social movements were established in the years to come. However, they were not enough. “The more things change, the more they remain the same” is a popular saying of particular relevance to the poor, the homeless and the disadvantaged folks of both Ann Arbor and Detroit.
10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS MLK DAY Roll me up and smoke me when I die This song from Willie Nelson has been in my mind since Christmas with my Michigan family when we watched the star-studded 90th birthday party for Willie. His love of music and mastery of the country genre has made him beloved for many people of America. It would take some time to listen to all the duets he has recorded with a wide range of talents. His album “Red Headed Stranger” was my best friend during a big heartbreak episode in my life. When I heard Willie and friends at his 90th year, I reflected on what I want to do before I die. “Seeds for Cuba” came to mind. It is the next step as I follow through on things I started in the 1990s. Villa Internacional is a bilingual proposal I made in Cuba for an ecovillage. We did build two houses where I have a room waiting for me whenever I am there. We also have an extended family at La Finca Esperanza, a small farm in our neighborhood. They have a moringa tree, one of the superfoods of our day. The war on Cuba includes stiff sanctions which create serious austerity; the government cannot support the free seeds they once did. I have a list of seeds that I want to share with the Ann Arbor Seed Company and see if they can supply for me. I will send or take KEN PARKS Groundcover vendor No. 490 whatever seeds possible to Cuba. I plan to go back in March this year. We will probably build a small house with a greenhouse on the south side. There is talk of similar demonstration projects in southeast Michigan and Brazil where people and land may work together growing whatever is nutritious and healthy with a focus on making key plants available. I hope many of us learn to grow crops such as chia until they are commonly available for everyone. Delicious recipes will follow. We will learn to promote a healthy intestinal microbiome as the center of good health. If we are timely in this work we will benefit with healthy aging for whoever is ready. I hope we work together in 2024 and make progress as we learn more about who we are as human beings and tap into our potential. An understanding of the commons is helpful. Martin Luther King Day on January 15 at Liberty Plaza will be a good event to share our aspirations and practical work. Go to annarborcommunitycommons.org. I will be working with Alan Haber and join in the open mic at Liberty Plaza. May 2024 be a year of blessings as we work together for the common good. Our ancestors want to help us. May we honor all those who go up in smoke and join the ancestors, may they be reborn in a Pure Land. The struggle continues. JANUARY 12, 2024 PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
JANUARY 12, 2024 THINK ABOUT IT Equal Rights Ammendment Revival SCOOP STEVENS Groundcover contributor In the 1970s, the Equal Rights Amendment was well on its way to being ratified by the states when self-appointed spokesman for women, Phyllis Schlafly, led a movement to derail ERA ratification. Some states already had a bias against the ERA and that reinforced their bias. By the artificial deadline imposed by Congress, 1982, only 34 states had ratified it, four short of the 38 needed. We are in a new era now and the time has come to get the ERA back on track. On December 15, 1791 the Bill of Rights was ratified by the states. Without the Bill of Rights the U.S. Constitution would have never become the “Law of the Land.” James Madison was tasked with making a Bill of Rights. Madison did not believe they were necessary, but as he was composing them, he reasoned that their purpose would be to instruct the American people about their government. As of now, 38 states have ratified the ERA, including four since the deadline passed. (Even imposing that deadline is open to legal challenge.) There is still uncertainty because some states have rescinded their ratifications. But in 2023, representatives started the Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment. They should follow through to make the ERA the 28th Amendment — the Law of the Land. In the American Civil War (1861-65) the Union Army conquered the Confederate States of America but the slaves did not become freemen until the 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865, abolishing slavery in the United States. In the same way, women have come a long way toward achieving equality with men but they will still be subordinate to men until the ERA becomes law. Then we can finally realize the truths of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” FROSTBITE from page 6 as moving to a warmer environment, removing wet clothing, and gradually warming the affected area, is crucial. Seeking medical attention promptly is imperative if symptoms progress. First-Aid Steps: When faced with frostbite, taking immediate first-aid steps can make a significant difference: 1. Check for Hypothermia: a. Look for signs such as intense shivering, drowsiness, confusion, fumbling hands and slurred speech. b. Seek emergency medical help if hypothermia is suspected. 2. Protect the Skin: a. Avoid thawing affected areas if there's a chance they might freeze again. b. If already thawed, wrap them to prevent refreezing. 3. Warm Frostbitten Areas: a. For hands, tuck them into armpits; for the face, nose or ears, cover with dry, gloved hands. b. Do not rub affected skin with snow or any other substance. c. Avoid walking on frostbitten feet or toes if possible. 4. Get Out of the Cold: a. Move to a warm space. b. Remove wet clothes and wrap up in a warm blanket. 5. Gently Rewarm Frostbitten Areas: a. Soak affected areas in warm (not hot) water (105 to 110 F or 40 to 43 C) for 20 to 30 minutes. b. Test water with an uninjured hand or elbow. c. Do not use direct heat sources like stoves, heat lamps, fireplaces or heating pads. 6. Stay Hydrated: a. Drink warm liquids like tea, coffee, hot chocolate or soup to help warm from the inside. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11 b. Avoid alcohol. 7. Consider Pain Medicine: a. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be considered if in pain. 8. Expectations as Skin Thaws: a. Tingling and burning may occur as the skin warms and normal blood flow returns. b. Avoid breaking any blisters; seek medical help for more severe cases. As winter lingers, the insights from Dr. Coleman and practical guidance collectively provide a comprehensive approach for individuals to fortify themselves against the threat of frostbite. Incorporating these expert recommendations into winter routines enables people to enjoy the season while prioritizing their health and well-being, successfully navigating the perils of frostbite. In a poignant testament to the harsh realities of winter, Jake Thompson, a homeless resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan, shared his experience in an interview battling frostbite during the bitter cold nights. "Sometimes, the cold bites harder than life itself. I felt the burning pain and saw my fingers turning numb and white. It was like I was losing a part of myself out there on those freezing streets," Thompson recounted. His struggle with frostbite in the unforgiving cold of Ann Arbor mirrors the stark warnings provided by experts like Dr. Coleman. Thompson's story serves as a reminder that the impact of frostbite extends beyond the medical realm, reaching individuals facing homelessness who are particularly vulnerable during the winter months. As we heed the advice of experts to protect ourselves against frostbite's peril, let us also extend our awareness and compassion to those grappling with the bitter cold on the streets, where the battle against the chill is a daily struggle for survival. FRETAIL from page 7 the Fretail model. Mike Karl embraces this. “We want other organizations to try and open something special like this,” Karl said in an interview with Groundcover. Implementing something like the Fretail Store in other places not only benefits those who need it but it also brings communities together by involving more citizens in community action. “People can get discouraged with non-profits because they cannot see where they are going to go, they cannot see how they help people, and they cannot see how they change lives,” says Karl, “When a community gets an opportunity to see a nonprofit put their money where their mouth is, that actually gives away your items, it’s beautiful to watch. It would be a blessing to any community to do this.” Bringing something like the Fretail Store to Ann Arbor could have very positive effects on the community. Being a college town, University of Michigan students make up a notable part of the Ann Arbor community. When the winter semester is over, thousands of students abandon items they do not want to take home in the basement of their dorm or out in the street. This could be a chance for University of Michigan students and make a real contribution to Ann Arbor by donating them instead. Having a Fretail store here could encourage more direct involvement overall, address the needs of our own homeless and low-income residents, and create a more connected Ann Arbor community.
12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FOOD Salted maple caramel sauce ELIZABETH BAUMAN Groundcover contributor You will need a candy thermometer! Ingriedients: 1 cup real maple syrup 2 tbsp butter 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/4 tsp sea salt Directions: Put the maple syrup into a medium saucepan with a heavy bottom. Fit the pan with a "clip on" candy thermometer. You'll need a pan tall enough to allow the maple syrup to foam up as it boils. The heavy bottom helps prevent scorching. Bring the syrup to a boil over high heat and boil until it reaches 225F230F, this is just under the softball stage. Remove from heat and add the butter, stirring until it melts. Add the cream and salt and mix in gently. Note: the mixture will be very hot. Do not stir too much, just enough to blend the butter and cream. Too much stirring can cause the mixture to crystallize. Pour into a heat safe jar and let cool before refrigerating. It will thicken as it cools, and will thicken further in the refrigerator. JANUARY 12, 2024
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