2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER NOVEMBER 1, 2024 Groundcover is a critical asset in Washtenaw County: we are seeking 1-2 new members for our board In 2010 Susan Beckett, a public school teacher, decided to create an opportunity for individuals in Washtenaw County, most of whom were living on the street, to earn income for themselves. She wasn’t trying to “solve” poverty — most teachers understand practical limitations — but as a teacher she understood that meaningful occupation is a critical first step toward responsible social participation. And from this simple idea Groundcover News was born. Groundcover News is a street paper. Street papers exist all over the world — they even have their own international organization, the International Network of Street Papers (www.insp.ngo/) which supports information sharing and best practices with a yearly conference. There is enormous variety across these papers but most of them share local news and events that typically provide topics most relevant to the individuals who sell the paper. Groundcover is unique among these street papers in so far as we: • Provide fair compensation for writers (who are typically vendors) • Offer employment skills training workshops • Provide an informal infrastructure ANNA GERSH, PhD Groundcover Board President of care that supports participating vendors • Provide referrals to other nonprofits and agencies • Hold and promote community-serving events • Invite guest writers from our community partners • Offer an opportunity for community feedback “For the poor will be with you always…” - Matthew 26:11 Since its inception, Groundcover News has provided low-barrier employment to over 650 individual vendors. Many of them are burdened with not only the effects of extreme poverty, including but not at all limited to homelessness, but also the frequently inescapable co-morbidities like mental illness and addiction. As an organization we have struggled with our image. The dance between facilitating personal autonomy with an income-generating opportunity and close personal management that anticipates the predictable challenges of hiring individuals who represent these demographics is a delicate one. In the last couple of years Groundcover News has grown. Last year we faced many challenges but in the face of these challenges, we have developed our leadership and our community partnerships to more effectively address problems when they occur. We have also expanded our reach throughout Washtenaw County; we have hired a publisher who is also a social worker; and we have deepened our partnerships with other community-serving entities including the Ann Arbor District Library, Washtenaw Literacy, MISSION and the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County. And there is SO MUCH potential in an established print journal that is already dedicated to local concerns. We want to develop Groundcover News to better serve Washtenaw Application to join the Groundcover Board of Directors County and we need new board members to support this visioning. If you have any interest in joining our board we invite you to fill out the short application (QR Code below this article). We are looking for new board members with an appreciation of the fact that whether you like it or not, the social fabric is complex and there are many creative ways to support Community. Thank you so much for your consideration. PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELFDETERMINED 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 toward 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 Michelle Lardie-Guzek — intern ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS D.A. Jessi Averill Elizabeth Bauman Jim Clark Amanda Gale Anna Gersh Mike Jones Ken Parks Eli Sri Rangarajan Sarah Tholen Allison Wei PROOFREADERS CONTACT US Kendall Artz Susan Beckett Elliot Cubit Christopher May Anabel Sicko VOLUNTEERS Jane Atkins Jessi Averill Sim Bose Zachary Dortzbach Luiza Duarte Caetano Glenn Gates Alexandra Granberg Jacob Fallman Robert Klingler Stella Lansill Melanie Wenzel Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof Office: 423 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor Mon-Sat, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Phone: 734-263-2098 @groundcover @groundcovernews DONATE, LISTEN TO A STORY + LEARN MORE www.groundcovernews.org Story and photo submissions: submissions@groundcovernews.com Advertising and partnerships: contact@groundcovernews.com
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