Toxic Inspiration

Desiree

You need to attend the Toxic Tour of Detroit, no matter what your discipline of study is. It occurs in the fall semester, and is meant to build awareness around environmental issues that are happening in Detroit.

Yes, I will admit that I am biased. As a native Detroiter, I feel that any issue that Detroit is facing, I am facing. But I promise that if you are completely and unapologetically disinterested in the City of Detroit, that going on the Toxic Tour of Detroit will get you engaged. The environmental issues affecting Detroit are more than likely happening in the area that you are from, or at least not too far from it.

Detroit Institute of Arts

The tour made me think of many things, such as what can be done with industrial structures that are no longer in use, and how communities can organize themselves and successfully get their demand for a healthier environment where they live realized.

Highlighted on the tour were landmarks that have toxic environmental implications such as the Detroit Incinerator, the site of the Old Uniroyal Plant, the Ambassador Bridge, and the Packard Plant in Hamtramck. U of M faculty as well as local environmental activists led the tour.  As a native Detroiter, I was proud to see such a great deal of efforts being organized around environmental issues, many of which were led by locals. The tour showed me the challenges that environmental activists in my city are facing.

In between going from one environmental hazardous area to the next, were attractions such as the DIA, but also some of the most beautiful, historic neighborhoods on the planet.

Detroit Incinerator

I felt a sense of personal obligation after going on the tour. Now that I am aware of the environmental issues that are facing Detroit, I can no longer ignore what I am no longer ignorant to. Although I do not know what my role in environmental activism in Detroit will be, I am certain that I will have one.

Guest Post: A day in Motown without motors — for the green of it!

2012 Tour de Troit start.

University of Michigan School of Public Health faculty, alumni, and students were among the 5000 riders who participated in the 2012 Tour de Troit. They cycled through Detroit in September to help raise money for Southwest Detroit Greenlink, a nonprofit that develops bike lanes and other cycling facilities in Detroit.

The TdT, as it is known, “is a bike ride that explores some of the city’s historic areas, takes in many of its most breathtaking sights, and provides bicyclists a unique opportunity to legally ‘take over’ the streets of the Motor City,” according to organizers.

KT Tomey and Joe Eisenberg of U-M SPH Department of Epidemiology

“We had a blast cycling through Detroit in this year’s Tour de Troit,” reported KT Tomey, a U-M SPH research assistant professor of epidemiology, who contributed the photos and reflections for this guest post.

“The 30-mile event started at Roosevelt Park, near the old Michigan Central train station, wound through the streets of Detroit, onto Belle Isle and then back to Roosevelt Park. The weather was perfect, the mood was upbeat. Detroiters waved from their porches. After the ride, we enjoyed lunch and live music in Roosevelt Park. We will plan to do this again next year!”

Detroit is where it’s at

The University of Michigan’s School of Public Health program is unique in that Ann Arbor is in such close proximity to the City of Detroit.  Many of the projects that our professors run, whether they involve research or programming, are set in Detroit and tailored to the needs of the local population.  It’s great to not only be able to develop projects for a specific nearby city, but to also then be able to visit and work there.  I have now had three classes that involved working on projects in Detroit.  Each of these courses has a different goal in mind when sending its students there.  For Needs Assessment I ran a focus group surrounding food choices with Hispanic young adults.  For Program Planning I helped create a youth program to beautify their neighborhood.  And now in Community Organizing I am helping to recruit youth advocates for policy change in their schools.  They have all involved youth, but with a different purpose and through different methods.

I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life, but I have seldom gone to Detroit and had never before interacted with the people who call it home.  Even though it’s a challenge to drive out there when we have so much going on on campus and are so busy during the week, it’s really rewarding once I’m there and I always remind myself of that.  There’s a city that’s so close to us that can use our help.   I want to contribute by working directly with the city’s residents and aiding them in creating change.

Today’s young people are highly invested in addressing the needs of the city, getting involved, and transforming Detroit.  I only hope individuals’ interests in supporting initiatives in the city lead to a healthier and safer community.

::Practice Plunge 2011:: New Places, New Faces!

Michelle

I cannot believe it has been a year since I started the HBHE program here at UMSPH! What a whirlwind.. About one year ago, I went on my first Practice Plunge and here I was again, taking “the plunge” with the newbies to SPH, except this time around I was a little less nervous!

Last year, I had such a blast visiting the Washtenaw County Public Health Department during which we heard about the all the different aspects of the local health department and Growing Hope where we got our hands dirty and learned more about their mission in creating a community garden and promoting healthy eating, community engagement, and positive socioeconomic change.

Practice Plunge 2010 at Growing Hope, Ypsilanti

This year, there were five sites that the students were assigned to in Washtenaw, Oakland, Wayne, and Genesee counties. I went along with the Detroit area project and my group visited the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion (DHWP) and Catherine Ferguson Academy for Young Women. DHWP gave us the background of the programs offered within the city of Detroit and we saw a number of alumni (many of who had internships through the Office of Public Health Practice while at SPH)! At Catherine Ferguson Academy, we learned about the urban organic farming component of the students’ education, beyond the life skills and college prep training. The women who go to Catherine Ferguson are pregnant and parenting teenagers and must be accepted into a two or four-year program upon graduation from this public high school. To learn more about Catherine Ferguson Academy – you can see the documentary, “Grown in Detroit” – it’s on my On Demand list!

Similar to my experience last year, I learned a great deal about working in the field of public health and met a bunch of wonderful people! I asked a few of the newbies questions and thought I would introduce you to them! I asked what words they used to describe citizenship (the theme of the 1st year orientation), why they chose UMSPH, and what the most memorable moment of the Practice Plunge day was.

Brian Frey, HMP

Brian:

1-2 words you used to describe citizenship: Community responsibility

Why @ SPH: Throughout my early career I have had the opportunity to work with many UMSPH Alumni whose values, knowledge, work ethic, and encouragement have pushed me to desire educational excellence.  UMSPH is, and has traditionally been, a leader in health care, so the decision was an easy one for me.  Besides, I am a Wolverine for life!

Most memorable moment of Practice Plunge: The best part of the Practice Plunge was getting the opportunity to work side by side with students and professors from other programs that I may see on a daily basis.  It was also great to see a side of Detroit that even I was not familiar with.

Hayley Getzen, HBHE

Hayley:

1-2 words you used to describe citizenship: Community & collaboration

Why @ SPH: I chose UMSPH because of the wide variety of courses offered and all of the different directions I could go within my degree. After I went to the Admitted Students Day, I knew I wanted to go to UofM because the faculty and staff were all so welcoming and knowledgeable. I just knew I would have a lot of great opportunities at UMSPH!

Most memorable moment of Practice Plunge: The Practice Plunge was a great opportunity for new students to witness how local health departments are run and experience the fundamentals of public health. My favorite part of the day was how thankful the employees of the farm were when we were finished in the garden. They were so appreciative and it was cool that all of us could come together and accomplish so much in so little time. It was nice to meet so many new people as well!

Bri Meek, EHS

Bri:

1-2 words you used to describe citizenship: Be the change.

Why @ SPH: Because Danielle (friend & family member who graduated from HBHE last year) said it was awesome, because of its global outreach, and last but not least, the vast amount of study and research opportunity.

Most memorable moment of Practice Plunge: Shoveling chicken feces with my professor!

Josh Havumaki, EPID

Josh:

1-2 words you used to describe citizenship: Community & identity

Why @ SPH: UMSPH has a great deal infectious disease and epidemiological modeling research something I have worked on in the past. Also, Michigan has a strong Southeast Asian studies department – I hope to do my internship in that part of the world.

Most memorable moment of Practice Plunge: Speaking to the local farmer who runs a community garden in inner-city Detroit. This emphasized that impact and change can be made from the community level.

Stacey Lee, HMP

Stacey:
1-2 words you used to describe citizenship: Equality & proactive

Why @ SPH: The faculty met at my interview for the HMP program were warm and committed to both my education and the field of public health.

Most memorable moment of Practice Plunge: Harvesting tomatoes with my fellow SPHers

 

 

Thanks everyone – It was wonderful working and speaking with all of you!

Another World is Possible: United States Social Forum in Detroit

Valentina Stackl

Last week was the US Social Forum, a four day event jam-packed with workshops and panels about progressive social issues. The forum is described as a movement building process. From the website:

We must declare what we want our world to look like and we 
must start planning the path to get there. The USSF provides spaces to learn 
from each other’s experiences and struggles, share our analysis of the problems 
our communities face, build relationships, and align with our international 
brothers and sisters to strategize how to reclaim our world.

This was only the second USSF (the first one was in Atlanta). The origins go back to the World Social Forum, which started in Brazil in 2001 and is now expanded globally. The organizers chose Detroit because it is one of America’s failing cities: it has the highest unemployment rate in the country, the city is nearly abandoned, and public spaces are deteriorating. Lucky for me however, Detroit is only an hour away from Ann Arbor, and I could participate in some of the events.

Today’s politics are shrouded in a veil of progressivism while failing on many fronts to truly uphold fundamental progressive principles- in fact, most politicians and policies are moving towards a useless middle ground instead of actually improving the world we live in. Especially in regards to immigration (I learned in one of the workshops) is this applicable:

Most large “progressive” organization like the National Council of La Raza, the National Immigration Forum, and the Center for Community Change support “comprehensive” immigration reform, also known as the REPAIR Proposal. The workshop I participated in (led by the Dignity Campaign) calls for REAL immigration reform that doesn’t settle for any human rights violations (like the Democratic REPAIR proposal does). Democrats and progressive organization support  inferior bills because they think that those will be more likely to pass. The Dignity Campaign refuses to settle for inferior reform and will work towards nothing short of real immigration reform that upholds progressive standards and human rights. For example: While the REPAIR bill calls for further militarization of the border, the Dignity campaign calls to dismantle the wall and “virtual wall” along the border and remove National Guard troops. 2009 has seen more deportations than any year previously- so this problem is far from being fixed. I am glad that I met people at the workshop who are fighting for human rights nationwide.

The Social Forum was filled with young and old activists, from all walks of life, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and from all nooks and crannies of this country (and world). I saw impromptu capoeira presentations, jam sessions, and debates. I talked to 80 year old union leaders and sixteen year old high schoolers. What struck me the most about the event however was seeing Detroit bustling with hundreds of people, walking down usually much emptier Detroit streets, sitting in Heart Plaza by the fountain and taking public busses. That truly made me believe that another world is possible.

Bronx Paradox: The fattest people might also be the hungriest

 

Valentina Stackl

I just read a super interesting article (find it here) in the New York Times about the obesity (and hunger) problem in the United States. The article describes a scene in the movie Precious. The protagonist in the film is obese, but she is also hungry (or as it’s used in official surveys-food insecure). In one scene she steals a bucket of fried chicken- for breakfast- and wolfs it down in desperation. Precious is obese AND hungry, but why? 

“Hunger and obesity are often flip sides of the same malnutrition coin”  Joel Berg from New York City Coalition against Hunger says.  The explanation for this is of course that hunger is a symptom of poverty, but as we know, so is obesity. When you are hungry and you live in poverty you 1) want to fill your belly 2) are likely to be busy, work multiple jobs, and need to eat quickly and on the go  2) don’t usually live in neighborhoods that have appropriately priced healthy foods. 

This article focuses on the South Bronx, but obviously this problem exists all over the country- like close to home in Detroit. Supermarkets (the VERY few that even exist) in Detroit have more processed foods, and less fresh fruits and vegetables (which are way more expensive) than supermarkets in the wealthier suburbs. On top of that there is definitely no lack of processed foods in liquor stores (which there are more of then supermarkets) and fast food restaurants. If someone is hungry they’re unlikely to choose and apple that they have to pay $1 or more for, and are more likely to buy something of the dollar menu at the golden arches. 

My Farmer's Market in Mount Pleasant in DC

 

SO what to do? Where to start? I think I saw some positive efforts regarding this problem when I was living in DC over the summer. There, people could use their food stamps at a few of the many farmer’s markets (below is an article I wrote for the weekly newsletter at the organization I worked at over the summer about this topic). NY Mayor Bloomberg’s administration is also using this model. For every $5 spend at a farmer’s market with food stamps, residents get an extra $2 to spend there. So, here is money that you can’t spend at McDonalds, but you could spend at a farmer’s market and even get some monetary benefits. This is a good start, but it’s only the beginning. This model opens up the options a little for those who usually lack choices. The important thing is that farmer’s markets open up in poorer neighborhoods, and not just in the trendy ones. Farmer’s markets could really empower the community.

I think the most important thing I took from this article is that hunger is no longer the skinny child with it’s ribs showing, living in squalor in some rural area. Its not a concave belly, or a child that has to go to bed hungry every night. It’s someone like Precious, who eats a bucket of fried chicken out of desperation because really, what other choice does she have?

Michigan Community Conversation for a National AIDS Strategy

Carrie Rheingans

Michigan got its chance to give feedback to the White House Office of National AIDS Policy on Wednesday, 18 November 2009. From across the state, providers, people living with HIV, and people affected by HIV came and gave their recommendations, suggestions, and demands on video tape and in writing.

I was the statewide organizer for this event as part of my social work internship at the HIV/AIDS Resource Center (HARC). This experience was the perfect combination of public health and social work that I hope to gain from my dual degree program (MPH/MSW). When the nationwide community conversations were announced, many people across Michigan wondered why we didn’t have one scheduled near us, especially considering the fact that some zip codes in Detroit have higher HIV prevalence than some countries that receive emergency money form the United States government. The Campaign to End AIDS contacted me after hearing from a few outspoken Michiganders and we did a lot of grassroots organizing in a few short weeks to pull off this successful event. See the Between the Lines article and the Michigan Messenger article for further coverage.

The conversation was only two hours long, and the majority of the time was occupied by community members speaking about what they wanted in a National AIDS Strategy. The night started with welcomes from Craig Covey, Ferndale mayor (Ferndale is the city where the event was held) and longtime staff member of the Michigan AIDS Coalition, Christine Campbell and Larry Bryant of the Campaign to End AIDS, and Charles Pugh, President-elect of the Detroit City Council. Charles also moderated the event.

Below are some of the things people told the White House:

“When is the last time we got together as a community of loving, living people when funders weren’t making us?”

“We need quality healthcare for LGBT people living with HIV and AIDS – we need to strengthen doctor-patient relationships because people are not comfortable coming out to their doctors”

“Viagra and Cialis have aided in the resurgence of sexually transmitted infections in senior housing complexes. We need more education and prevention in these locations”

“The church, rid of stigma, denial and fear, becomes a change agent”

“my barrier [to being an AIDS advocate] is childcare”

“I wanted post-exposure prophylaxis and the nurse didn’t even know what it was!”

“We need the same laws coast to coast – enough with a patchwork of different laws about HIV”

“I missed class tonight to be here on my birthday to tell you that we need rec centers for our kids to have something safe to do after school”

“Michigan prisons don’t hand out condoms or test for HIV when people are released – but we know that people are still having sex and they need to get tested because they might need to get right into care”

It was great to hear people from as far away as Kalamazoo, Flint and Lansing gathering to speak out about such an important issue.

Larry Bryant from the Campaign to End AIDS introduces the event as moderator and President-elect of the Detroit City Council Charles Pugh looks on

White House Office of National AIDS Policy Coming to Michigan!

Carrie Rheingans

The White House Office of National AIDS Policy is coming to Michigan to host a Community Conversation, in which they will receive feedback and testimonies of people affected by HIV about what should be included in a national AIDS strategy. The Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA), the Black AIDS Institute, and the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) are also supporting the event. I’ve worked with C2EA for the last two years, particularly with their Youth Caucus and the Youth Action Institute, and I will be the Michigan-based contact person. See my previous SPH blog posts about this year’s YAI here and here.

The event will allow people to provide 1-2 minute testimonies about their experiences with HIV (as someone living with HIV, affected by HIV, or working in the field), and what they think should be included in a national AIDS strategy. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is a program through which the US government supports work to turn the tide against the AIDS epidemics in various hard-hit countries. One requirement to receive PEPFAR money is that each country must have a national AIDS strategy – which the USA itself doesn’t even have! These community conversations, happening all over the country, will help inform the eventual national USA AIDS strategy here at home.

You can give testimony yourself at the event:

FREE ADMISSION

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Affirmations Community Center

290 West Nine Mile Road

Ferndale, MI 48220

(248) 398-7105

For more info, please contact me at crheinga@gmail.com or leave a message at 734-572-9355 x238

You can also give testimony online. Please register for the event here. Naturally, I’m very excited about this opportunity! Very rarely does such an easy opportunity for policy advocacy happen, and even more rarely can I work on it as part of my social work internship! This opportunity gives me a chance to flex both my public health and social work muscles!

Class Project for Community Organizing for Health Education

Carrie Rheingans

Last night, my group performed two skits for our Community Organizing for Health Education class (HBHE 640) with MOSES (Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength) at the Central United Methodist Church in Detroit. We had a blast and wanted to share them with you!

Field Placement/Internship

Most departments at U-M SPH have an internship or field placement requirement (Epidemiology, Health Management and Policy and Health Behavior and Health Education). I’m doing a split field placement with part of my placement being at the HIV/AIDS Resource Center (HARC) in Ypsilanti, Michigan and the other part at Via Libre, an AIDS organization in Lima, Peru. I’ll be going to Via Libre through the Field Experience in Latin America (FELA) program at SPH.

Carrie Rheingans

This post is just about my work at HARC (I’ll write about Via Libre once I get there in July). I’m a member of HARC’s Prevention Team, doing outreach, education, and HIV testing, counseling and referrals. I’ve been affiliated with HARC since September 2004, when I was first a volunteer there through Project Community, a community-based sociology program at U-M. Since that time, I’ve volunteered in the office, on the mobile outreach unit (a UPS-sized van), the HIV testing clinic and at other community locations. For a year and a half, I was a full-time staff member doing fund development and community events. Since August, I’ve officially been the AmeriCorps member and my main job responsibilities are to provide HIV testing, make presentations at community events, help with volunteer coordination, and support the Education & Marketing Committee of the Board of Directors. I also represent HARC on the Spanish Healthcare Outreach Collaborative, a group of providers from local health and community organizations that have services in Spanish.

I’m doing this field placement through a National Direct AmeriCorps Program adminsistered through the National AIDS Fund. There are teams in seven total cities in the U.S.: Detroit, Charlotte (NC), Chicago (IL), Santa Fe/Albuquerque (NM), Washington, D.C., Indianapolis (IN), and Tulsa (OK). It’s a full-time program, so I’m serving at HARC full-time while also attending classes full-time.  Yes, it’s difficult, but it’s worth it! To learn more about all the teams, check out our group blog.

Team Detroit in Santa Fe for pre-service training in August