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Getting to School on Two Feet

Patrick Dunn Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Suburban sprawl has led to a new generation of children being driven to school instead of walking or biking. But with Michigan's Safe Routes to Schools program funding sidewalks and other infrastructure, walking and biking are the new educational path. 

Diversity in Hamtramck Schools

Amy Kuras Sunday, January 12, 2014
In Hamtramck, where immigrant families from all over the world have settled for generations, students are as likely to speak Arabic or Bengali as they are English. 

Center for Self-Directed Teens

Katie Jones Sunday, January 05, 2014
At the Open Doors Center for Self-Directed Teens, students are responsible for their own education, with a curriculum built on engagement, innovation, and respect. 

Program Offers a Second Chance for Young People

Zinta Aistars Saturday, December 14, 2013
Can young people poised for adult criminal records turn their lives around? Some dedicated folks in Kalamazoo are trying to help them round that corner.

Taking the "Home" Out of Homework

Patrick Dunn Saturday, December 07, 2013
At Clintondale High School, students review video lectures at home and do homework in the classroom with teacher guidance.

Program Connects Young People to Lake Superior

Deb Pascoe Monday, December 02, 2013
For youngsters who have grown up a stone's throw from its shores, Lake Superior's enormous presence can sometimes be taken for granted. 

Engaged Parents Drive School Policies

Amy Kuras Saturday, November 16, 2013
Let's face it, being a school board member can be a tough and thankless job, especially for parents with kids enrolled in the educational system they help to oversee. 

Flint River Farms Educates City Kids About Farming

Kim North Shine Sunday, November 10, 2013
Flint River Farm grows vegetables, fruits and herbs on a Flint city block that used to house burned-out homes and vacant lots.

Progressive Charters Step Up For Detroit Kids

Amy Kuras Friday, November 01, 2013
Detroit Achievement Academy, James and Grace Lee Boggs School, and the Y Detroit Leadership Academy High School opened this fall in Detroit.

Aging Out Of Foster Care

Deb Pascoe Saturday, October 26, 2013
"Aging out" of the foster care system leaves young adults on their own, with little guidance on how to handle adulthood. A new U.P. program helps these fledgling adults navigate the real world.

Healthy Futures for Kids

Heidi Stukkie Saturday, October 19, 2013
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute addresses disparate health outcomes by acting as a resource for health education, research, and advocacy.

Tween Entrepreneurs

Kim North Shine Sunday, October 13, 2013
If violin lessons and Little League aren't enough, Dearborn Chamber of Commerce has launched the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, a program that teaches precocious kids how to launch their own start-up.

Wrestling with ADHD

Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor Sunday, October 06, 2013
Can brain training help wean kids with ADHD off medication? A Grand Rapids psychologist is seeing hopeful results.

Early Grade Reading Improvement Program

Jane C. Parikh Sunday, September 29, 2013
A reading achievement pilot program at Verona Elementary School in Battle Creek has students improving reading skills and interest -- starting in kindergarten. 

Weeklong #EdMattersHere Chat on Detroit Schools

Amanda Lewan Sunday, September 22, 2013
Join the social conversation in Detroit this week by tweeting your thoughts. Not a gripe session; instead, share solutions, sing the praise of on-the-ground heroes, promote change. 
125 Articles | Page: | Show All
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Bright Ideas

FTmaternalcare

Can systemic racism impact infant mortality?

Zinta Aistars Friday, June 12, 2015
Even when controlling for poverty, education level, and tobacco use of a mother, maternal and infant health outcomes are far worse for minority populations than European-American women. What's causing the continued disparities? And what can West Michigan do to ensure all babies born here have the best chance of reaching their potential? Zinta Aistars reports on Strong Beginnings, one local program working to give all families a fair start.
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Company Supports 4th Grade Field Trips to Lake Michigan

Victoria Mullen Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Parents working more than one job or odd hours, a lack of funds, and no transportation often prevent kids from experiencing one of Michigan’s incredible natural resources. For the majority of west side Grand Rapids elementary school kids, Lake Michigan is sadly out of reach. OST has teamed up with Grand Rapids Public Schools to give fourth-graders at west side schools the opportunity to experience the big lake firsthand.
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Youth Decide Where Grant Dollars are Spent

Anya Zentmeyer Wednesday, August 13, 2014
For Grand Rapids students who serve as trustees-in-training on the GRCF Youth Grant Committee, giving back to the community goes hand in hand with empowering students to succeed. 
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