׉?ׁB!בCטFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://8gScRkJ8bwG6oKSUYIz-RqUQeY49WqN0SpCrT2GheUgI`׉ 7cassandra://76OahAgQTQBYXHRo9bLxn528JFuDbJKxVeHT9gx9FI4͌`h׉ 7cassandra://NyxcxW28Ygy-IwZQ-EO34DE0EL6YS_GBRmMyh6NVwwc/`h5~b טFu׈];׈Eh5~b ׉E2 $ AUGUST 22, 2025 | VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 18 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. Ozone House United is claiming a seat at the table. page 4 MEET YOUR VENDOR: SCHILLINGTON MORGAN PAGE 3 15 YEARS OF NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. Franklin Lee outside his Homeless residents react to Donald Trump's threats to clear encampments in D.C. page 6 tent before Trump's press conference announcing the federal takeover of local police. Photo by Madi Koesler THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM • Proposal: Housing-development accelerator • Charbonneau: Open your eyes to housing inequity. PAGE 4 @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor # ׉ 7cassandra://NyxcxW28Ygy-IwZQ-EO34DE0EL6YS_GBRmMyh6NVwwc/`h5~b h5~b  בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://1fZLKXQ79mvvWToCERr3q8sGfpL0BrREBG9fkgqEibU@`׉ 7cassandra://GN1RnFdoUB-3S1-J29Gb7SNly323eVvyliajzUn0WI0͊]`h׉ 7cassandra://qz0pAW4K40EEGfGDgEEjsKIAQt8L5eKvB-4lXiSO4O4)B`h5~b טFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://dgeFjEXk4v1gKqaqDJpaVrvrtbEMhjpHzHUNkvMyf1se+`׉ 7cassandra://K7JmxlEQ0VstXTi9i0i4TPEnTxn8nAFYIbTIJuaef5w͉`h׉ 7cassandra://6mfzXi_4VzDMmCST0XP3LPtxJn6H8ljqD0qpAqhXgKY%`h5b נh5b  ,9ׁHhttp://groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E 2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER15 AUGUST 22, 2025 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 towards production costs. Vendors work selling the paper on the street for $2, keeping all income and tips from each sale. Vendors are the main contributors to the paper, and are compensated to write and report. 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 ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Elizabeth Bauman Emeri Jade Bey Jonathan Glass Keagan Irrer Ken Parks Paolo Poquiz David L. Putman Will Shakespeare Denise Shearer Andy Steckel Scoop Stevens PROOFREADERS Susan Beckett Elliot Cubit Steve Ross Anabel Sicko VOLUNTEERS Jessi Averill Sim Bose Jud Branam Libby Chambers Jacob Fallman Ben Foster Glenn Gates Robert Klingler Bella Martinez Anthony McCormick Margaret Patston Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof Emilie Ziebarth BOARD of DIRECTORS Anna Gersh Greg Hoffman Jessi Averill Jacob Fallman Jack Edelstein Glenn Gates Mike Jones Hailu Shitaye 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 Shelley DeNeve Steve Borgsdorf 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 WAYS TO SUPPORT 1. Buy the paper, read the paper. 2. Get the word out — We rely on grassroots marketing. Talk to people about Groundcover and share us with your network. 3. Volunteer — You'll learn a lot about our vendors, the newspaper and your community. Interested in volunteering regularly? Fill out the form on our website. 4. Advertise your company, organization, event or resource — see rates below. 5. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram — promote our posts and share your favorite articles and vendor interactions. 6. Donate items — A seasonally appropiate list of items most needed at our office and on the street is available on our website. Drop off anytime we're open. 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 ׉ 7cassandra://qz0pAW4K40EEGfGDgEEjsKIAQt8L5eKvB-4lXiSO4O4)B`h5~b ׉EAUGUST 22, 2025 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR Schillington Morgan, vendor No. 148 In one sentence, who are you? Me. Where do you usually sell Groundcover? Anywhere I can sell. When and why did you start selling Groundcover? To help. What is one place in A2 that feels like your personal sanctuary? Nowhere. What's your life motto? To make it to Heaven. What advice would you give to your younger self? Change what what you can change for the better. What is your comfort food? All veggies and most fruits. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three things, what would they be? Water, shade and coolness. If there was a theme song for your life, what would it be? "Love Makes The World Go Round" by Deon Jackson. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I don't have any special place. What is the weirdest food combo you swear by? Putting sugar and/or salt in foods that is not necessary. What change would you like to see in Washtenaw County? Not too many messed up people. What's one question you wish you were asked more? A question I wish I asked myself more: "Why didn't you do better?" 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 distributed for a voluntary donation. 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 an issue more than 4 weeks old. • 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 Cuisine on a budget My first recipe to share is spaghetti salad. It has cooked spaghetti noodles, of course, chopped tomatoes, chopped bell peppers, celery chopped and chopped cucumbers. Chop those vegetables as little as you can. Add your own favorite dressing to it and mix it up. I recommend Thousand Island or Italian dressing. If you want you can add salt and pepper, and whatever meat you like, too. I find that a delicious salad! My second pasta salad recipe to share is tuna macaroni salad. Mix cooked elbow macaroni, mayonnaise for this one. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also make a deliDENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 cious snack mix with cereal, potato chips, corn chips and Doritos. You can mix any brand of rice crispy (plain) with barbeque and plain potato chips with Frito corn chips, plain Cheerios of any brand, with pretzels and Chex Mix. Just mix together canned tuna, chopped up celery as tiny as you can get it, chopped bell pepper as tiny as you can get it, chopped tomato as tiny as you can get it, and your favorite dressing — I recommend any crunchy, salty snacks, with crunchy, sweet snacks! When you thank God and Jesus for any meal you get, it makes it taste better. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 3 The new American public schools SCOOP STEVENS Groundcover vendor No. 638 In the mid-19th century, educators in Massachusetts implemented the Prussian model of public education. Within a few years all of the states were infected with Prussian public schools. In the late 20th century many Americans were dissatisfied with unAmerican public education and began sending their children to private schools or homeschooling them. A new paradigm for public education in America is needed. The new American public schools will teach children how to read using phonics (sounding out letters then words), the proven method of teaching children how to read. The new American public schools will manifest an enlightened freedom. The new American public schools will instill in children the love of truth. The new American public schools will teach children to think critically. The new American public schools will prepare children to be participants in democratic governance. The new American public schools will be bully free zones because there will be no compulsory attendance laws. The new public schools will teach the truth about American history. Thank you Groundcover News readers. The answer to "Truth or Lies: The Invader" published August 8, 2025 was TRUE. Look out for the Mystery Lane Reading Game online. — Felicia Wilbert, Groundcover vendor No. 234 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 or leave positive review of a Vendor experience please email contact@ groundcovernews.com or fill out the contact form on our website. ׉ 7cassandra://6mfzXi_4VzDMmCST0XP3LPtxJn6H8ljqD0qpAqhXgKY%`h5~b h5~b  בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://vnmQ3XZS2rholIHkF3697maq89kraGOEqlZRjQagbJY`׉ 7cassandra://3p_k82s24pBepnGHhXRUs2HRQrS9ZPUtZz25m8WU-78ͅ`h׉ 7cassandra://snXrFijv7Y_F9K-g1DbOpLPKZc6W6E3ouq0tb97Mul0&`h5b טFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://t5_E2zh_gt3WuvIfy5-jibfxxdGlwrYeCz2mr3iTrP4IU`׉ 7cassandra://qLVURM0Ovkgeq5KPcAE8jIeJUGZmCM0TmSTziJUR2Yk}`h׉ 7cassandra://1DpkpofU9NZIC00p9dtjnX7yzg6COFUESinik9iCqXE(`h5b !נh5b $|̪9ׁHhttp://www.jimtoycenter.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉E4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS LABOR POWER LINDSAY CALKA Publisher On July 11, Ozone Workers United went public with the Newspaper Guild of Detroit as TNG-CWA Local 34022, requesting voluntary recognition from Ozone House management. On July 18 they filed a petition for a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election, despite not having received a response from Ozone House at the time. Ozone House is the youth homeless shelter in Washtenaw County; the agency provides emergency shelter, housing and support for living independently to runaway, homeless and high-risk youth ages 10-20 and their families. They also operate a 24/7 youth crisis line that services the entire state. In their mission statement, Ozone Workers United declared, "Establishing a union allows us to maintain our dignity and worth as workers, better serve our clients, and ensure that Ozone House operates in a way that reflects our values and the values of our community… we envision a better version of our agency, one that is run democratically from the bottom up rather than from the top down.” The statement goes on to express that although Ozone House “is already an excellent workplace,” the union desires these conditions to be protected by a contract, especially as the Trump administration destabilizes nonprofit funding and the state increases violence against trans people and people of color. Xander Jackson is a Youth Specialist at Miller House (the Ozone House residential program), and works directly with the young people living there. He is also a facilitator for PrideZone, an LGBTQ+ support group. Jackson joined Ozone House United because he feels underrepresented by the Ozone board and administrative staff. “I want to have an opinion on the things that affect my job and I want a better work environment.” The day before our interview, Jackson had worked a 16 hour shift. “I believe that will make a better environment for the community I work for. All jobs and professions — whether steel workers or social workers — need better work environments.” He continued, “I like my job; the kids need people at Ozone who like their jobs and want to be there for them.” He understands the union drive to be a response to management Ozone House United at the Detroit Newspaper Guild office after filing their intent to unionize on July 11. “not listening to the employees as a collective and making company-wide decisions that mostly just affect us.” Jackson shared a recent example of this: Ozone announced it would be changing all of the wording for their mission and vision statements to make it more broad and less diverse sounding so they could continue to get federal funding. “If you take out the language that we serve a specific sub-population, how will that sub-population know that we still serve them? That simple change cuts off resources to the community.” Jackson felt he has not had the opportunity to share these thoughts with the board. “Recently, at our monthly all-staff meeting, the board planned a fishbowl discussion where staff could ask questions. But the board selected the questions the board was going to answer … it ended up just being a superficial meet and greet. The important things to us were disregarded. We just want to be listened to, and be heard.” The union found out less than one week in advance that all members had to re-sign union membership cards in order to move forward with the NLRB filing and election. One of the initial union organizers was a Housing Supervisor, a position that Ozone House management legally challenged to be excluded from the union using the National Labor Relations Act. Stevie Blanchard, the Administrative Officer from the Newspaper Guild, advised OHU to withdraw their proposal on August 1; they fully refiled with new cards by August 11. This was to ensure there were no potential challenges or contestations down the line. Ozone services are carried out by volunteers, interns, staff, supervisors and administrators. Moving forward, Ozone House United will only include full-time and part-time employees with no hiring, firing or discipline duties: youth specialists (staff who work in the residential programs), case workers, and the crisis line team. PrideZone staff and other outreach workers are being contested by Ozone House as well. Jackson thinks this is intentional to worsen their numbers. “As any company doesn't — I don’t think they want us to organize,” he said. However, there is opportunity during bargaining to re-include certain positions in their union. “We are a queer, youth shelter and always have been,” Jackson concluded. “Unionizing offers us a tool to build a workplace that is transparent, accountable, and antiracist so that we can better serve our community.” Ozone House has seven days to respond with a position statement, which either will lead to a hearing or election. The Newspaper Guild hopes for an election in mid-September. Follow @local34022 on X to read updates on the union’s progress. AUGUST 22, 2025 Ozone House United is claiming a seat at the table The Ballad of Benjamin L. Yates DAVID PUTMAN Groundcover vendor No. 679 Grew up in Ann Arbor My very best friend A whiz @ Math and into Video games man He took his life one day Or night I don’t know which Thought he was Bi Maybe he needed confidence Lived in a group home and he Loved piano I thought together we could make Rock and Roll I pitched the band He said “But they won’t let us” The day the music died Was in 2012, huh So don’t give up hope If you think it’s not enough R.I.P. 1979-2012 ׉ 7cassandra://snXrFijv7Y_F9K-g1DbOpLPKZc6W6E3ouq0tb97Mul0&`h5~b ׉E }AUGUST 22, 2025 YOUTH + SENIORS youth RESOURCE CORNER OZONE WELCOME CENTER 1600 N. Huron River Dr, Ypsilanti Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Crisis line and service line: 734-6622222 Open 24/7; ages 10-17 If you are safe and in no immediate danger, the Welcome Center is a great place to receive emergency services or just hang out in a safe place. — Phone counseling and individual on-site intervention will be provided as needed — Text and chat services available Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fri 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Individual (10-14 years need guardian approval) and family counseling — 2-3 weeks of housing — Opportunity to go to school — Attempt at repairing the relationship between family and the youth — Paid internship program for homeless or at-risk youth — Families of these youth — Youth who wish to be there (voluntary entry) OZONE DROP-IN CENTER 102 N. Hamilton St.,Ypsilanti (one block from the Ypsilanti Transit Center) Monday - Thursday, 3-6 p.m. If you are 13-21 years old, you are welcome here if you want or need to: hang out at a safe place, eat a hot meal, meet people, talk to someone, get food from the pantry, do laundry, take a shower, use computers & phones, play games, get toiletries, get more info or help, talk to a job coach, just drop in when we’re open. PrideZone is a social and support group for LGBTQ youth. PrideZone meets every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at the drop-in center. NEUTRAL ZONE 310 E Washington St., Ann Arbor 734-214-9995 Monday - Friday 2:30 - 6:00 p.m. All teens are welcome to come in every day after school to hang out, grab a snack and connect with friends. Neutral Zone offers more than 20 programs for high school teens in the areas of visual and media arts, education, music technology, literary arts and community leadership. Drop-In opens on August 25 this year. Check out social media and event calendar for concerts, events, workshops, art shows and special projects. Stop by any program that looks interesting to check it out. CORNER HEALTH CENTER 47 N. Huron Street, Ypsilanti (two blocks from the bus station) There is a free two-hour parking lot next door to The Corner and meter parking on the street. Monday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wednesday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday - Sunday: Closed The Corner only accepts patients 12-25 years old (and their children). If you're aged 12-25 years: • Call us at 734.484.3600. • Come speak with the Patient Service Representatives at the front desk. • Same day appointments may be available. Please call. • Walk-in urgent visits are based on availability. Please call. JIM TOY COMMUNITY CENTER 734-995-9867 560 S. Main St. Ann Arbor Information, education, social events, and advocacy by and for the Queer and Ally community in the Washtenaw County area. Check website for groups, meetings, and events www.jimtoycenter.org GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5 12/31/2025 ׉ 7cassandra://1DpkpofU9NZIC00p9dtjnX7yzg6COFUESinik9iCqXE(`h5~b h5~b  בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://UKGErrbv23X1L6hnb3gKyLcfitLOFEXn1Dl_8a1w_dA g`׉ 7cassandra://SDe4yh8VJO7z6hltOSlYW7yO6sOI_Xwh17J-4BHIogI͕`h׉ 7cassandra://ytGFCNTxm1gtmvsFULWxI7e6fhJk-P0AZYEwvaEc6BY&)`h5b %טFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://jNlrmEpSE9wupWlymAMrpZFz3qYbz6Ldm9HVe400L7g j`׉ 7cassandra://iIoqmV4kdlUMFgcBfawuZNjvJnwMO6oXADqH2tT_vao͆w`h׉ 7cassandra://98QSglcsjAQ7vXC9D3xKAreGjsfqK0LUlBMtLdMZAUg$`h5b &נh5b , ,G9ׁHhttp://INSP.ngׁ ׁ Јנh5b +y9ׁHhttp://prophesied.Thׁ ׁ Јנh5b )M 9ׁHhttp://mind.Thׁ ׁ Ј׉E#6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS CRIMINALIZATION AUGUST 22, 2025 Homeless residents react to Donald Trump’s threats to clear encampments in D.C. MADI KOESLER, FRANZI WILD Street Sense Media With D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) now under federal control and the National Guard coming to D.C., the fate of people living in encampments remains up in the air. During his press conference on Monday August 11, President Donald Trump said law enforcement has already begun to clear encampments, but Street Sense has been unable to confirm this, and has not seen any encampments removed as of Monday afternoon. Homelessness outreach providers and the Department of Human Services (DHS) visited encampments along I-66 before the Monday press conference to offer shelter and resources. DHS officials on-site told residents, “from our perspective, we just want to make sure people are staying safe.” This follows a Truth social post by Trump yesterday with photos of tents along the interstate and of one person on the steps of the American Institute of Pharmacy on his way to golf. Street Sense reporters spoke to residents who live in the encampments along I-66 about their reactions to Trump’s announcement and threat to remove encampments. “I ain’t ever bought no prostitutes. I ain’t never raped nobody. I ain’t never paid anybody off. None of that stuff,” said G, a resident from one of the photographed tents. “He’s much more of a criminal than I am.” G says the worst thing he does is drugs, and he would willingly go to jail if Trump went with him. He moved to the green along the interstate because it felt safer than his apartment building. He’s found a community in his encampment over the last two months, but plans to move on Monday because of the attention from Trump and media outlets. “They’ve been doing this to Black men since the dawn,” Franklin Lee said. “He don’t give a damn. He’s saying f*** the Constitution.” Franklin Lee has lived outside for 10 years all across D.C. He currently lives in a tent along I-66 outside the Kennedy Center. Over the decade, he’s developed a distrust for law enforcement and Trump — feeling let down by how the government treats people who aren’t “billionaires and trillionaires.” Lee doesn’t identify with either political party but says Trump is the first president he’s ever wanted to give the finger to. If he is forced to move his tent, he said he plans to give the government a piece of his mind. “I pray for America and the presidency on a daily basis. I pray for peace,” George Morgan said. “I believe there’s a lot that could be done.” Morgan also lives in one of the tents posted by Trump in the Truth social post along his commute to Trump’s National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. Morgan’s from D.C. and lived along the interstate for about two months with his dog Blue. He is interested in moving into shelter, but doesn’t want to leave Blue behind. As he stays at his encampment, Morgan is optimistic that Mayor Muriel Bowser might be able to come to an agreement with Trump. Bowser addressed the press just after 3 p.m. Monday, telling District residents the MPD will comply with the law but noted that D.C. has not experienced a crime spike since 2023. She confirmed she contacted Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was tapped by Trump to “take command” of MPD. The mayor also noted that all law enforcement must be identifiable by a “uniform, a badge, a jacket, so that people know that they are law enforcement.” This comes after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been seen across the nation wearing masks and unidentifiable clothing. When asked specifically about encampment clearings and if Chief Pamela Smith will comply if Bondi directs local law enforcement to arrest or move people experiencing homelessness out of D.C., Bowser replied, “Well, let me just say what MPD needs to be focused on, and it’s violent crime. We simply — like — our force, when the chief deploys, every day and every night, is focused on people who are committing crimes in the District.” Encampment updates Wednesday, Aug. 13, 12:35 p.m: Out of the nine clearly visible tents located at the encampment photographed by President Trump on his way to golf last week, seven have been tagged for clearing by the city at 10 a.m. Thursday. The stickers attached to the tents note they have been marked for: Scheduled Full Cleanup, Immediate Disposition and Encampment Site Closure. Wednesday, Aug. 13, 11:30 a.m: This morning, encampment clearings began. Two days after Trump’s initial press conference, the city’s scheduled encampment cleanup in Mt. Pleasant was rescheduled less than an hour before it was supposed to begin. Instead, the city began clearing an area along the highway in Foggy Bottom. Officials from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) and the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) were seen at 20th Street NW and E Street NW near the entrance to the E Street Expressway, telling residents to move their tents. The encampment being cleared was along the route from the White House to the Kennedy Center, which Trump is visiting today. Street Sense is working to confirm if the removal was an immediate disposition and how many tents will be removed today. Rachel Pierre, the interim head of D.C.’s Department of Human Services (DHS), said the move was a response to the executive order and that other sites, including nearby ones that the city officials are currently at, could be closed as early as tomorrow morning. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a live community chat streamed on X the night before clearings began that visible tents are an issue for Trump. “This is his issue, seeing homeless encampments — it just triggers something in him,” she said. Trump signed two executive orders as part of his move to take over the city. The first places MPD under federal control for 30 days, and the second will deploy 800 National Guard troops to the District. Trump claims these actions will bring down crime in the city, but the violent crime rate has actually been decreasing over the last two years. “We’ll deploy officers across the District with an overwhelming presence,” Trump said at the press conference. Though homelessness is not mentioned in either executive order, Trump said part of his goal was to respond to the “drugged-out maniacs and homeless people” he says have taken over the city. The day before the announcement, Trump made a Truth Social Post with photos of tents along the interstate and of one person on the steps of the American Institute of Pharmacy on his way to golf. In the post, Trump called for the removal of people experiencing homelessness from the District, writing: “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY.” In a press conference on Aug. 12, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said MPD will begin reinforcing laws against camping and people experiencing homelessness, “will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services,” and if they refuse, could be fined or arrested. As of Aug. 7, the most recent day for which shelter occupancy data is available, there was only one vacant bed in the city’s low-barrier shelters. According to outreach workers, the city opened 70 additional shelter beds last week. Trump also said during the Monday, Aug. 11 press conference that law enforcement began removing encampments from the city’s parks and underpasses over the weekend, though Street Sense has not been able to confirm this. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum added that the Park Police have removed over 70 encampments since March, when Trump issued an executive order to “make the District of Columbia safe and beautiful,” and Leavitt said there are plans to remove two final encampments on federal land. “We’re moving the encampments away, trying to take care of people,” Trump said, adding there are “places they can go.” “We’re going to help them as much as you can help.” Bowser addressed the press later on Monday, telling District residents the MPD will comply with the law and confirmed she contacted Bondi, who was tapped by Trump to “take command” of MPD. On Monday morning, homelessness outreach providers and staff from the DHS visited encampments along I-66 to offer shelter and resources. A D.C. official familiar with the issue said as of Aug. 12, the city’s approach to encampments has not changed, and the government will keep supporting federal partners. Street Sense has reached out to the Deputy Mayor for DMHHS, the D.C. agency that normally handles encampment clearings and MPD, with specific questions about how the order will impact encampment closures in the coming days, and has not yet received a response. In an Aug. 7 email ahead of the federalization, the D.C. Attorney General’s office warned of a possible increase in involuntary commitments, or FD-12s, of people experiencing see THREATS next page  ׉ 7cassandra://ytGFCNTxm1gtmvsFULWxI7e6fhJk-P0AZYEwvaEc6BY&)`h5~b ׉EAUGUST 22, 2025 LABOR POWER Labor power creates unity in the community Argus Farm Stop on Liberty and Second St. is one of my regular spots. The cross-fertilization happens on many levels and if you read the current Groundcover magazine article “Food as Medicine,” you will understand good mental food as the place to start. Tim Wellman brought me the lamb’s quarters mentioned in that article. When we get greenhouse hostels set up, lamb’s quarters will be grown. There is evidence that it has anti-cancer properties. Belief in these properties is probably anecdotal, as funding for basic research is not done unless investors see profit coming. Our Grandmothers’ wisdom came from observation of intuitive pointers and the trial and error of many generations. What is edible is an ongoing experiment. How you feel throughout the digestive process is more important than the taste that ends when you swallow. If you get addicted to taste, maybe your gut biome has been colonized by a dangerous bacteria or other children of LUCA, Last Universal Common Ancestor/the first life form. LUCA cells are cells with no nucleus. The gut biome and the vagus nerve are sometimes referred to as “first mind.” Consider that matter is an expression of the mind.The mind from which thought emerges is a deeper awareness. Mindfulness of this mind is the challenge that Western Civilization is facing. The dialectics of thought that result in a higher synthesis are similar to unity in the community with threads that can be woven together to create something more useful. KEN PARKS Groundcover vendor No. 490 Organized power can be more effective in the expression of “Revolutionary Love” and it is time to bring the many into one fold. The first opportunity to pull the threads together is the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice and their alternatives to violence program which began on August 15. International Day of Peace is in September. Veterans for Peace annual event at the Ark is now on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025. Ann Arbor Coalition Against War is every Friday at 6 p.m., now at Fifth and Liberty. Many good events occur in relative isolation from each other. For example the July 31, 2025, press conference at the University of Michigan to support the Chinese professors imprisoned arbitrarily was good but lacked the broader support of the peace and freedom movement. We are all busy and have not yet mastered simple and complete. We can begin by using the Groundcover News community calendar as a way to share and communicate. Labor Power Labor power is what unites the community and was best explained by Karl Marx in “Das Kapital.” Volume 3 became popular in the 1990s as neoliberal imperialism emerged with the Reagan campaign to privatize everything. Financialization with hedge funds that leveraged debt into new forms of debt slavery became the model of neoliberal imperialism. “Monthly Review” is an excellent forum for intellectual labor. They are developing the “environmental rift” that Marx mentioned as an essential feature as capitalism extracted the resources from nature and left an environmental rift — damage to both the environment and all the living beings in it which corporations leave as a public burden. The Ann Arbor District Library once had “Monthly Review” on the shelf in the magazine section on the third floor but someone vandalized them and they do not carry it now. I call it successful bookburning to eliminate scientific intellectual work. Fortunately, there is Monthly Review Online. Unity of body, speech and mind is the beginning of labor power, the ability to get the job done, no matter what, be it washing the dishes or visualizing a pure land. Take a step in the direction of freedom. A clean sink is a pure land! Once we understand labor power and our responsibility to use it creatively to end genocide and every form of supremacism, we will be revolutionary love and celebrate life. There will be “Dancing in the Street” as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas prophesied.The unity of theory and practice is the dance of life. Study is where the work begins. It ends in freedom! GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7  THREATS from last page homelessness. As of Tuesday morning, no spike in FD-12s has been reported, according to the DC Hospital Association, which tracks this data. The White House has recently touted involuntary commitment as a solution to homelessness with an executive order that encouraged cities and states to use the practice more frequently. D.C. already regularly conducts encampment clearings throughout the city, clearing over 50 encampments so far in 2025. On federal land in the District, camping is also illegal, and U.S. Park Police have previously arrested people for camping. Before Trump’s press conference, these regularly scheduled clearings went as planned on Jul. 23 and Aug. 6. On July 23, one man’s belongings that he no longer wanted were removed by DMHHS. He called DMHHS himself, and said he had waited six months for DMHHS to come to clean the area. The 55-year-old man had been unhoused for at least two years, according to him, and declined shelter services offered by Miriam's Kitchen outreach workers. The belongings he wanted to keep were moved to a new location. On Aug. 6, DMHHS closed encampments under the bridge overpass on Queens Chapel Road NE, as well as an encampment up the road in the woods off Park Ave NE. By 10:30 a.m., the one resident present had packed up their belongings with the help of an outreach worker and moved to a new location. Once DMHHS was prepared to begin clearing the area, someone noticed a dog tied to a tree under the street overpass. Three MPD officers were called to extract the dog for the Animal Humane Society to come pick up afterwards. One of the officers approached the dog cautiously with a catch pole in hand and successfully removed the friendly dog from the encampment. The dog wagged its tail, jumped around hoping to play, and slurped up the water it was given. At the encampment off Park Ave NE, no residents were present, and DMHHS cleared the area of many black trash bags of items after removing the singular tent left behind. Mackenzie Konjoyan, Nina Claves, Jelina Liu, Donte Kirby, and Annemarie Cuccia contributed reporting. Courtesy of Street Sense Media / INSP.ngo ׉ 7cassandra://98QSglcsjAQ7vXC9D3xKAreGjsfqK0LUlBMtLdMZAUg$`h5~b h5~b  בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://-zRzds6IylanpbYJPTb56wftDUB_WHIWl8mjFyvh_cw[`׉ 7cassandra://9_xE5eJA8l2AEqToTIZBJk2ZjcdS-rZ3G46vlL23eV8͒`h׉ 7cassandra://JgvFV3ML9dIvlqiZszj4Rn_t72MAItybcLMyvOfEjlQ--`h5b *טFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://aE5C32RfJjdnSCrL0s3YTdRblE5865xTDpbFzyraoDIZ`׉ 7cassandra://oF_9i-Gs1M_SzMezCbAivoVl69gRQwMxUQfOKBO8144g`h׉ 7cassandra://u-FbO1NBrjC4D8GQBLRT9VPioEd69u1px41vaDSCXqg#`h5b -׉E 8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS SHELTER Shelter Association hires new executive director ALONDRA BURKE Shelter Association of Wastenaw County Shelter Association of Washtenaw County is proud to announce the appointment of its new Executive Director. Nicole Adelman has devoted her career to issues of public health, having served in leadership roles as Executive Director for Alpha House and The Corner Health Center. Most recently, Ms. Adelman was Director of Substance Use Services for the Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeast Michigan. Nicole has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a master’s in public health, also from the University of Michigan. Ms. Adelman has led teams providing public health services, including matters relating to housing and homelessness for families, children and individuals. She describes her new role at the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County as an important opportunity to give back in a critical way to her community. She is honored to lend her AUGUST 22, 2025 talents and leadership in Washtenaw County. Nicole will begin her role on September 8. “I look forward to serving the community and guests of the Shelter Association. The team and Board at SAWC are exceptional, and it will be a great honor to lead this team. I am proud to be a member of the network of housing-related organizations in Washtenaw County. Working collaboratively to address the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and engaging with the community in Washtenaw County is a profound privilege,” said Adelman. “SAWC has been a critical resource for our community’s most vulnerable for more than 43 years. The role of Executive Director is incredibly important to our community and mission. We are thrilled to have Nicole Adelman joining us; her vast executive experience in public health advocacy and programming make her uniquely qualified for this very critical role,” said Barry Bateman, M.D., Board Chair. Editor's note: Groundcover was unable to reach the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County. We hope to publish an interview with Adelman in an upcoming edition of Groundcover. GROUNDCOVER 15 YEARS 15 OF NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 5:30-8 PM               ׉ 7cassandra://JgvFV3ML9dIvlqiZszj4Rn_t72MAItybcLMyvOfEjlQ--`h5~b ׉E2AUGUST 22, 2025 ADVERTISEMENTS GROUNDCOVER NEWS 9 ׉ 7cassandra://u-FbO1NBrjC4D8GQBLRT9VPioEd69u1px41vaDSCXqg#`h5~b h5~b  בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://OmOSdEk3dkCduAq2IWKHKZHynOo3JmVoU2hrkDJnL5YC`׉ 7cassandra://Sa8TFoqfASDeZM1mCxVEZXFe2LpMoDtBvKHLIfn5QDE͆`h׉ 7cassandra://ArLIjyoASqzAsQ9Vbe3G_82tvfxRvj--K_bGqjfwXrg)`h5b /טFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://FlVUvHEuGQl1zIYkzmrDq4NhGMNrr1XV2IURVadUt-w`׉ 7cassandra://-gMD-9JQuOz6ce3OwTYbgBzuhxZ_6kl_s6ohHdNo0Ck͌`h׉ 7cassandra://6reHYtXPkoAIA0TF--gW3Gnk5LsyoEIAIGAQq_OgiRQ'`h5b 0׉E 10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS PUZZLES SPECIAL DELIVERY! by Victor Schmitt AUGUST 22, 2025 ACROSS 1. Device made obsolete by streaming, for short 4. Samsung competitor 11. Greenlights 14. Part of I.P.A. 15. Spitter you wouldn’t want to be within spitting distance of 16. Actress Long 17. Tailor's tool 19. F1 neighbor 20. Like the 'proposal' made by Jonathan Swift 21. Comes (from) 23. "___ Mia!" 24. Dove call 26. ___ Cola 28. Green light 33. Lead-in to stop or stick 34. Like some microtransactions 35. Bowser, to Mario 36. Nightmare roommate, for many 37. Goes (for) 39. Angle stand-in, in trigonometry 42. Choir platform 44. "Revenge ___ dish best served cold" 47. Career killer for some actors 50. Begin to wake, maybe 51. Excellent service? 52. Former Taiwanese president ___ Ing-wen 53. Dutch painter Jan 55. Rise through incompetence, say 58. ___ Lingus 59. Ad addressees... or what you could call the collective starts of 17-, 28-, and 47-Across 63. Thai's neighbor 64. Gives it a go 65. Letters that can look like capital Ns or lowercase Vs 66. "On another note...", to a texter 67. "Ain't I a ___?!" (Bugs Bunny line) 68. College applicant's concern: Abbr. DOWN 1. Vessel in a winery 2. Ingredient in a Caesar 3. One doing take-backs? 4. Domesticated 5. World Cup cheers 6. Reacted to shocking news, perhaps 7. Owns 8. Hosp. area 9.Go on a pub-crawl 10. Far from land 11. 1965 Bob Marley hit 12. Jumbotron segment 13. Cul-de-___ 18. Cheese that's made backwards? 22. Manilla folders on a desktop, maybe 23. AOL competitor 24. Pen topper 25. Is anti 27. Olympian Raisman 29. Rice dish 30. Yoko who wrote "Grapefruit" 31. It's often sold in bolts 32. Prefix with active or fit 36. Mall tenant 38. Good thing to have in one's step 39. "Conan" channel 40. Spot for grilling? 41. Where to find extra legroom, often 43. Output of some refrigerators 44. Providing, as with official documents 45. Gets a lather going, say 46. Singer DiFranco 48. Some unofficial drawings 49. "___ cost ya!" 54. Ambulance crew, for short 55. Last name of Marvel's Kingpin 56. It may precede the big blind 57. Tyler, The Creator album named after a famous assistant 58. Clerical vestment 60. Part of a threequel's title, often 61. Male name hidden in "male name" 62. Airport security org. PUZZLE SOLUTIONS August 8, 2025 edition F A M E A T S E A U S E D S W I R L P O T S S M O G L A V A S H R I N K I N G V I O L E T E Y E T O O T H E N G I N E O N U S C L A R E T H A B I T H U L A T R Y K I L O S I M S A M E A M B A S S A D O R S H I P S R E E L R I O T F I R S D U L Y A U R O R A S E N T A P R E S S K I E V E R Y N O W A N D T H E N R E A M K E N D O O M E N Y A P S A R S E D P O P S T O N E S P O R T L Y ׉ 7cassandra://ArLIjyoASqzAsQ9Vbe3G_82tvfxRvj--K_bGqjfwXrg)`h5~b ׉ExAUGUST 22, 2025 CLIMATE CHANGE GROUNDCOVER NEWS Emergency preparedness for extreme weather, natural disasters On July 4, 2025, there were many headlines and a lot of news over the print, broadcast and social media. In my opinion, the most significant news of the day was the devastating Texas Hill Country floods which took the lives of 108 people in Kerr Country – 71 adults and 37 children. Most of the children who died in the flood were staying for the summer at Camp Mystic. The adults who lost their lives were parents, staff, vacationers and counselors. Some estimates show that overall, 137 residents of Central Texas died from that flood. Local ABC News affiliate, KSAT of San Antonio, shared the following viewpoints from Hill Country residents: “Residents, campers and vacationers along the Guadalupe River have said that they were caught off guard and had no warning when the rainfall began, eventually dropping around 12 inches of rain in the county. Kerr Country does not have a warning system along the river.” KSAT reporters continued, “Since July 4, KSAT has reported extensively on the floodwaters severity, often through data, graphics, maps and visualizations to help answer the question, Why was the Hill Country Flood so deadly?” Major natural disasters and record flooding in the US Google AI noted that “2025 has been marked by significant natural disasters with some events setting new records and highlighting the increasing impact of climate change.” The summer of 2025 has been described by the mass media as the “summer of flash flooding.” The National Weather Service (NWS) “has issued over 3,600 flash flood warnings in 2025, so far surpassing previous records for this period since 1986. This is likely to exceed the yearly average of around 4,000 warnings soon.” • New Mexico: “Extreme flooding in Ruidoso killed three people on July 8, exacerbated by burn scars from 2024 wildfires.” • New Jersey and New York: “Flash flooding on July 14 resulted in two deaths and numerous water rescues, disrupting transportation systems.” • West Virginia: “In June, major flooding on the Tug Fork and Bluestone Rivers caused evacuations, road damage, and at least three deaths. Google AI also suggested the following contributing factors to extreme weather events and flooding disasters: • Excessive water vapor and weaker WILL SHAKESPEARE Groundcover vendor No. 258 Graphic shared by KSAT News visualizing the flood growth over time. jet stream • Saturated soil: “Parts of the central and eastern US have received at least 50% more precipitation than normal from mid-April to mid-July, leading to saturated soils and increased runoff.” • Surface characteristics: “Steep slopes, urban areas and sparse vegetation contribute to rapid runoff and heightened flood risk.” • Many climate scientists have said that there is a climate change connection to the “increased intensity and frequency of flooding …” Many politicians disagree. Emergency preparedness for Washtenaw County and beyond KSAT in Texas noted that people in Hill Country and around the state are seeking answers to the question: “Why was the Hill Country flood so deadly?” This question is beyond the narrow confines of the Lone Star State and Central Texas. Some folks in Michigan and Washtenaw are asking if we are ready to prevent the worst consequences of severe weather events and natural disasters with our Emergency Preparedness Plans. We can do a better job of planning for the acts of God and Nature. We can prevent myopia at the watershed across the United States and globally by having a knowledge of the potential problems in a given area, and also improvements in the warning systems. We are lucky in the state of Michigan and in Washtenaw County. The most severe weather event in the state of Michigan which cost many lives and properties was the June 8, 1953 natural disaster in Flint. It was noted that 116 residents of Flint and suburban Beecher township died. Injuries were estimated to be 844 people, and property damage was in millions. In Washtenaw County, we have experienced a few tornadoes. However, they have not been very catastrophic. There were ice storms in 2021 and a major tornado in Dexter in 2023. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s office is the main planner and coordinator of the county-wide emergency preparedness. It is high time this office started to have public hearings in order to maximize citizen participation and community input on the decisions to keep residents safe and secure during emergencies. They need to consider different scenarios regarding emergency response. Conclusion What happened in Kerr County, Texas on July 4 may not occur in Washtenaw County because of differences in topography, geography and history. Although recently there was major flash flooding in the midwest region, mostly in Wisconsin and Nebraska, and approximately four inches of rain poured down in the city of Milwaukee within one hour, the magnitude of the Texas case is not likely to be replicated in Washtenaw County. The extreme weather event which took place in the Hill Country was devastating not only to the people in Texas but also across the country. Parents who sent their children to camps were terrified by flash floods affecting where Camper's belongings sit on the ground following flooding on the Guadalupe River, at Camp Mystic, Hunt, Texas, July 7. REUTERS/Marco Bello Sheriff Alyshia Dyer. The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office plans and coordinates countywide community preparedness. The flooded Guadalupe River destroyed many homes, roads and town infrastructure. their children were. Some parents in Washtenaw County have been asking, “Is my local government ready for this kind of extreme weather event?” Among the lessons learned from Katrina and from other hurricanes is that, according to people who are experts in this sort of disaster, their deadliness is preventable. This is where citizen input will make a difference — communication with the people and communication which involves early warning signs and systems are desperately needed. We also need to make use of recent technology to make it easy for people to act in advance of extreme weather. 11 ׉ 7cassandra://6reHYtXPkoAIA0TF--gW3Gnk5LsyoEIAIGAQq_OgiRQ'`h5~b h5~b  בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://s_RlviY7mGKpxAc8D2nqh6Lql4QUUoEO1ivbVyUjJ-c fP`׉ 7cassandra://9_V8Th3I54hBPuk-eRmMi9Rw5Wg_Wv4zkDfRIdmsfoE͖`h׉ 7cassandra://K94Zh3W21NKWUIi_NOPQGIiQ9PH2Yx6MzNGZ2t4Vbt0)`h5b 2טFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://uKtTrLOWVVqNjtrfw6N-G5WvqUar2Pg-aTdF1er0BSgX`׉ 7cassandra://VVc-m-tT-oYrcHYLDY2-fXZ9UoTNo_zdO0MEewzS0fsv]`h׉ 7cassandra://0u_99y2nLcEFEO4BDQTJDsdeJ9Sfji4y1M-AFyje6jU!`h5b 3׉Er12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FROM THE ARCHIVE AUGUST 22, 2025 Schooled about being homeless at Groundcover KEAGEN IRRER Groundcover contributor I’ve never had to worry about where my next meal was coming from, or where I was going to sleep tomorrow night. I’ve always been well taken care of throughout my life, with a healthy, stable home environment and a free college education. But when I started working with Groundcover, I was suddenly surrounded by people who had none of these things. I heard stories about living under bridges, about being trapped outside in the rain, and being unable to sleep because of being swarmed by mosquitoes. People told me such things casually, as though they were completely normal and an expected part of life — and for them, they were. But for me, they were beyond imagining. I began to feel sheltered, guilty about my privileged status. For these people, just taking care of their basic needs required tremendous effort on their part, while for me it was virtually effortless. The physical and psychological toll was clearly immense; I saw firsthand the way homelessness conspired to break people’s minds, bodies and souls. I wanted to help them in any way I could. But I quickly learned that the first rule of helping the homeless is that you can only do so much. You can train them, give them a stack of papers, and tell them to go out and sell as many as they can, but it’s on them to actually do it, and to spend their income wisely. You can only help them to help themselves: a hand up, not a handout. I also learned how little difference there really was between myself and homeless people. After all, that guy on the corner begging for something to eat is a person too, but maybe he doesn’t have access to a shower and hasn’t been able to afford new clothes in a while. I learned that being born into the right family can matter a lot, or how you can be horribly punished for one or two bad decisions. Maybe you were unlucky enough to get a mental illness and now nobody will employ you because of it. Poor choices are a big factor in homelessness, but so is luck. One of the most difficult and disturbing things I learned was how much our society tries to sweep homelessness under the rug. We try to hide it away, make laws against panhandling and spending the night on the streets; we put homeless people in jail, or in the hospital, or in a temporary shelter. As long as we can’t see the problem, it’s not really there – out of sight, out of mind. But it is there, no matter how hard we try to hide it, and it’s an expensive problem. The chronically homeless people of the United States cost some $11 billion a year in public funds. According to one estimate, the cost to society per homeless individual is $41,000 a year. Jails, hospitals and outreach programs all cost a lot of money. Groundcover isn’t a perfect solution to the titanic problem of homelessness. It’s not going to clean up the streets of Ann Arbor, but it can help. It provides guaranteed employment to those who want it and are willing to abide by a basic code of conduct, and a community of sorts that homeless people can rally around. One of the best things about it that I’ve seen is the sense of pride, accomplishment and purpose that it gives to the people it employs, both vendors and volunteers. It’s a great stepping stone for A thank you to Vendor No. 322 PAOLO POQUIZ U-M student contributor When I wrapped up our interview, you mentioned something about how I didn’t say too much about myself, and that all that talking about yourself was making your voice tired. My apologies, I’m not perceptive like you are, but if you’re interested I’d like to say a bit about what I thought of our conversation, why I thought it was so fulfilling to spend the day with you beyond just asking some questions for an assignment, and what it all meant for me. The day I woke up and came to the Groundcover office to try to interview some people was one of those days where I couldn’t get out of bed in the mornings, one of those mornings that whatever hazy cloud that followed my head around decided to get heavy and press me firmly into place. I kind of forgot to tell you, but I recently found I have ADHD, as well. The psychs put me on a new cocktail of meds; you noticed I came into the building all scatterbrained and shaky. I didn’t have a solid plan for what I wanted or needed to do, just a silly question of “What’s your favorite music?” and the hope that I’d stumble into something I could write an article about. It was a great, miraculous accident that I ended up spending my day talking to you. I guess I would’ve felt silly and unprepared on or off the pills anyway, it was an awkward situation. I do think so far I like the meds though. Whatever’s happening in my brain right now, it feels a little calmer, like something in there is trying to help me out. I’m not used to that. I have to say it means a lot to me, that when I talked to you, you picked up on the crud and clutter that I was feeling at the moment when you were selling papers and saw when the blues I work so hard to paint over somehow peek through. Not a lot of people do that. And it means so much more that throughout our talk you tried to help me out and make me smile more. It feels like nobody does that, everyone’s too caught up in their problems, and I wouldn’t blame them. I fear I do that too. Doing a simple good like that comes from special people only, it seems. So few people can produce hope that goes strongly even through the darkest and worst of things, and as far as I’m concerned, you’re one of the greats. “Wear your heart on your sleeve.” I like that phrase, and I think you embody it. You said you’re worried about talking too much and driving someone away, but I think it’s amazing that you do it regardless. I think we would all do a little better if we were just a little more honest and up-front about our concerns, sorrows and complaints. Growing up I was taught to never show any sadness or pain because it made me weak, it made me a victim. Fear was okay though; that made me nice and obedient. I think that was the hesitancy in my voice you picked up on. If I ever tried to speak what’s on my mind, what I wanted or what I feared, things went wrong. I’ve spent my whole life being told things see VENDOR 322 next page  numerous homeless folks who want to improve their lives. My time at Groundcover has been instructive and rewarding. It’s difficult to see the problem of homelessness up close and firsthand, but we can’t hope to solve this problem unless we confront it, head-on, like Groundcover does. Originally published in the May 2013 edition of Groundcover News. ׉ 7cassandra://K94Zh3W21NKWUIi_NOPQGIiQ9PH2Yx6MzNGZ2t4Vbt0)`h5~b ׉EAUGUST 22, 2025 VOLUNTEERS Andrea Lee Emma Kahle Amelia Brown Kelly Sharma Sara Goomar Nikki Aggarwal Alice Grant Paul Marble Kevin Johnson Matt Brown Dustin Grimm Casey Goode Patricia Hoskins Lymuel Cooper Vittorio Riley Lawrence Sobmon Alan Shoemaker Robin Willets William McGaughy Glenn Gates Tim Johnson Clarence Newman Sharon Williams Mario Davis Jeffery Lee Bill Davis Kurt Ziegler Mark Dobos William Lube Ron Gregg Lily Au Jeanne Hansknecht Josh Lee Laurie Lounsbury David Hembold Marquise Williams Donald Roberts Mary Wakefeld Charles Coleman Sarah Heidt Jeff Sabatini Sandy Schmoker Carmencita Princen Megan Walters Gwynne Osaki John Loring James Wilton Ruth Shabazz Kim Clugston Ellie Davidson Ed Davidson Miriam Shaw Lester Wyborny Carol Hafeli Michael Linkevitch Rachel Perazza Brian Nord Maggie Lad Martin Stolzenburg Elmo Morales Kristen Larcom Jan Burnham Alfred Wright Brett Hansen Meg Gower Phil Hannuksela Kate Dcamp Erica Blom Peter Sabbagh Martha Brunell Dan Reim Luanne Bullington Joseph Vetowuich Frank Shotwell Meaghan Hennesy Debbi Mourer Claire Schurr Lynda Howell Chris Gray Leonore Gerstein Al Hepperle Anna Furqua-Smith Angad Singh Francesca Lupia Luis Sfeir-Younis Annette Fisch Harvey Drouillard Nathan Stern Colleen Huysman Kathy Brindle Jesse Morgan Kyle Poplin Kathleen Harper Harleen Kaur Rasna Neelam Harnek Singh Greg Hoffman Jo Fone Gretchen Baldwin Barb Blom Hannah Moeller Elaine Nutt Jazelle Wilson Terry Jones Maria Foscarinis Paul Duke Stacey Duke Madeline Diehl Lexi Erwin Kyla Williams Nora Weber Alex Winnick Diane Sayer Steve Osborn Elliot Sorkin Robbin Lahmann Jess Salisbury Julia Henrikson Holly Watkins Lauren Halpern Sue Budin Jordan Morgan Samuel Hayes Kaitlin Schuler Don Hammond Eleyne Levitt Chuck Denton Miguel Martinez Max Wisgerhof Angelica Pilar Mike Vickers Ayden Riley Andre Vasher Luiza Duarte Caetano Navya Yagalla Logan Brown Margaret Patson Peter Beyer Shreya Chakravarthy Gerry Charbeneau THANK YOU to MANY of OUR VOLUNTEERS over the YEARS! For most of Groundcover's history, every contribution besides selling the paper was a volunteer effort. Hundreds of community members and vendors have volunteered their time to Groundcover over the past 15 years — as office staff, writers, board members, proofreaders and cooks. Each and every person has made an impact on the organization that we are appreciative of. Vicki Elmer Nicole Skylis Stephanie Bajema Veronica Sanitate Joan Hutchinson Brooke Sparling Ted Papes Lotus Yup Carolyn Lusch Rose Moon Marcus Betwany Braaksma Andrew Nixon Corliss Irrer Ashely Steilen Emily Bednar Jerry Mack Keagan Irrer Nick Mitchell Ken Uehara Gina Reed Eric Reed Shoshanna Mandel Patrick Morgan Della Pietro Lucy Miller Chad Bailey Amber Keyes Lyn Badalmenti Felicia Rutledge Nellie Kim Steve Cullen Brad Palchesko Noah Burns Bhajneet Kholi Svea Gray Jim Radke Stacey Balter Tommy Coleman Kelsey Shaw Jacob East Evans Koukios Val Jaskiewicz Lisa Sonnenburg Daniel Grill Sally Allen Teiara Massey Krystal Lewis Jennifer Crorey Evan McDaniel Courtney Alessandri Bob Webber Melissa Golden Geraurd Paschal Ian Mark Gianluca Genevieve Shapiro Marian Cohen Christy Derek Lindsay Calka Pastor Briggs Sheri Wander Ross Bernhaut Jevon Moore Donna Whitney Banen Al-Sheemary Rob Hughes Issac Weiss Deidre Andrea Zaghi Nolan Smith Jon MacDonagh-Dumler Robert Klinger John Althaus Jessi Averill Rainey Lamey Audrey Carey Eli Ganji Stephen Hilton Peter Wilson-Tobin Briana Jackson Laurie Wechter Brittany Bowman Alexis Smith Ben Giordias Amanda Liss Sandra Smith Jaz Brennan Angelica Avellaneda-Leiva Denali Drake Payton Watt GROUNDCOVER NEWS 13 Hussain Ali Tracy Bennett Jan Taylor Ian Dewey Yarden Katz Heidi Witucki Josie Graham Jaime Lee Mira Simonton-Chao Claude VanValkenburg Gray Kryscynski Barbara Tucker Desmond Bratton Elliot Cubit Alexandra Granberg Anabel Sicko Zachary Dortzbach Erin Trame Emily Yao Grace Sielinski Alex Tarbet Melanie Wenzel Holden Pizzolato Layla McMurtrie Ruben Mauricio Margaret Needham Emily Paras Jane Atkins Liem Swanson Simone Masing Jacob Fallman Sim Bose Anthony McCormick Stella Lansill Christopher May Jonathan Glass Emily Mills Steve Ross Alison Wei Bella Martinez Jack Weinberg Ari Ruczynski Matthew Rohlman Dillon Schweers Jud Branam Susan Beckett Cynthia Price Libby Chambers June Miller Emilie Ziebarth Grant King Michelle Lardie-Guzek Gabe Deedler Angeline Tran Lisa Dai  VENDOR 322 from last page are in my head, that whatever I was thinking was just wrong. Maybe some of that’s true, but that doesn’t change how I feel. It doesn’t change the fact that what I’m feeling makes up the world I live in; and my world deserves to be shared because it’s the only one I’ve got, same as anybody else. Hearing you be so open about your life and your thoughts to everyone made me realize how important it is that I accept that; who cares if others see that? Maybe we shouldn’t worry about that so much. You might not agree with whatever I’m saying, or maybe I’m not making any sense, but I think that’s fine by me. You showed me the importance of just putting my thoughts out there, “speaking my own story some more,” and all that. I do hope, though, that one thing I said while we talked or something I’m writing down here makes things a little brighter for you, the way your words made things brighter for me that day. I know you are sick, and you’re hurting, and people who can help you are ignoring you instead. I know a tiny bit about what that feels like, and if I could, I’d wipe that feeling off Earth. So here’s to the good days — the times when it feels like the haze finally clears for a bit. Here’s to those great things you kept on bringing up: when you get to cross one more thing off that ever-long list of everything in the world you want to get done, even if it’s just breathing in crisp air or having a little connection with the chubby squirrels looking into their beady black eyes. Here’s to the times when we get to enjoy what strange fun it is to be human. Here’s to those few times making everything — even all that crud that crowds up our time here — worth it. I believe in that power, that — “some things are just brighter” — and I hope you do too. You’re the one who reminded me about that, after all. ׉ 7cassandra://0u_99y2nLcEFEO4BDQTJDsdeJ9Sfji4y1M-AFyje6jU!`h5~b h5~b  בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://dYhyI1-elKoeQOWA340oSClYdNUsWlI-BLkg059Y5JI 2`׉ 7cassandra://epgf559k-Vfq2dOZbGnECPjkviRqadFnbrX2JywXwgM͓|`h׉ 7cassandra://Ke_LaFrOjT3DcRWPFqvb_JmVAo1k5wFnC3u40D1yZKE'`h5b 6טFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://50GrW44NR2T1OAelO3d8WdQ8AmokCOaljvlAAoXStGw`׉ 7cassandra://kx4WQCFyyQfbgUZMB0Fs2xV_fK0PTvUFCQjJ2JjW9M8͈`h׉ 7cassandra://28PebeDgV1lIG6rb2BlvUVOtpnrI1XptRbPbTGP86CA%`h5b 7נh5b <W9ׁHhttp://www.foodgatherers.orgׁ ׁ Јנh5b ;'9ׁH&mailto:submissions@groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ Јנh5b :\̬9ׁHhttp://givebutter.com/gcn15.ׁ ׁ Ј׉E14 GROUNDCOVER NEWS RECOVERY JOHNATHAN GLASS Home of New Vision Recovery Coach Ryan Sawicki began experimenting with marijuana and alcohol at about 14 years old. He said that for him it was mostly out of boredom with a little peer pressure mixed in. Reflecting on his first time drinking, Ryan recalled, “It was the first time I ever drank, and we were eating pizza, and I vomited all over my shirt. It was funny at the time, but that’s not normal. There was a problem from the first drink.” His substance use escalated when he was prescribed opioids after having his wisdom teeth removed. “Not good. I felt terrible, hopeless, depressed and frustrated,” he said. “The days of fun were short-lived. The suffering, however, lasted over 10 years.” Ryan says he was 16 when he realized opioids were going to be a serious part of his life. Ryan grew up in New Boston, Michigan. His parents divorced when he was young, and while both were involved, his mother carried most of the parenting responsibilities. “I don’t want to say I was raised by a single mom, but she was for a bit. I think she did a good job with being divorced.” Eventually, when opioids became too expensive and hard to get, Ryan began injecting heroin. “If opioids were more available, I’d have continued with using those,” he said. “But heroin was easier to get, and cheaper. It was stronger, yeah, but it was just a strong opioid.” He kept working in heating and cooling during active use. He had clothes and transportation, but soon became unhoused. “My car was my mobile home,” he said. “I needed to keep the car running so that I could buy heroin and have a safe place to use.” Ryan recalled a low point when he was arrested and couldn’t afford bail. “I had nobody in my corner throughout my active use. When I ended up in jail for a paraphernalia charge, I couldn’t afford the $100 for bail. That should have told me something. I didn’t have anything financially, and I had no one to rely on for help. At the time, I knew that my difficult situation was my own doing. I think it was the self-honesty that eventually got me sober. And yet, when I got out of jail, I kept using.” Ryan learned how substance use slowly separates people from their lives and their identities. “Friends, who were once close, go in one of two directions,” he said. “If a friend remains sober, they eventually grow tired of their friend’s disorder and withdraw. On the other hand, if an addict’s friends are using drugs too, they have their own issues. It’s a problem of being separated from everything you once loved, even your own personality.” He described the outcome plainly. have payoffs later. Lifting has trackable goals. Today I went five pounds heavier, that’s a goal I met. I’m generally logic oriented; my brain needs concrete numbers.” Ryan has been working in recovery “Drugs start with a party but lead to one of three places — jails, institutions or death. All three are places of complete aloneness.” When he finally decided to ask for help, Ryan’s parents were there. “When I decided I needed help, my parents took me in. I don’t take that for granted. That means so much to me. I wouldn’t have made it to where I am if they hadn’t helped me.” Ryan’s early recovery experience was unusual in that it came with a powerful realization. “Early recovery tends to be hard for people. I kind of had one of those epiphanies in treatment where I was just like – I’m done. There was no need to focus on one day at a time … One day at a time felt like I was leaving the door open to go back to misery.” That insight helped Ryan stay focused. He started putting his energy into rebuilding a life without drugs. “Successful recoverees have an antidrug. Since drugs tend to take over a person’s mind, a recoveree needs to put a life together that will crowd out the intrusive inner temptations.” For Ryan, that outlet became powerlifting. “I got really into fitness. I began competing in power lifting competitions.” His best lifts include a 285pound bench press, 400-pound squat, and 520-pound deadlift. “I have my own fitness business, where I give a discount to those in recovery.” He notes that the business is doing well and is nearly at full capacity. Ryan also began volunteering at Home of New Vision. Just nine months into recovery, he was hired as a certified peer recovery coach. “That pretty much locked me into my commitment towards sobriety. I couldn’t use if my job was to get others sober.” While the standard requirement to become a certified peer recovery coach is typically two years in recovery, Ryan’s determination and attitude earned him an early opportunity. Alongside his work and recovery routines, Ryan explored support groups like AA. “With my fitness commitment and serving others in recovery, I tried to get into AA, but it never really fit my vibe.” Instead, he attributes his long-term recovery to having concrete goals. “When I have goals that means I need to do stuff that’s maybe going to suck now but support for between eight and nine years. The work remains fulfilling, but not without challenges. “Seeing people make the same mistakes I probably would have made, or seeing people relapse chronically, both of those are a reminder of how long I’ve been sober. Sometimes my sobriety makes it difficult to relate. But all I have to do is think about what they’re saying for a second and I realize, yeah, I probably would have done that if I were in that situation. But today, the insanity of a use disorder doesn’t compute for me, I think I’ve grown past that.” Ryan says recovery has helped him grow into a more understanding and empathetic person. “I get that sometimes a person has to learn their lesson the hard way. I wish I could have seen my mistakes in someone else and avoided them entirely. But that wasn’t the path I walked.” His advice for others is simple and direct. “It’s not a cookie cutter thing. Do things that are fun, things you enjoy. No one needs to be bored in sobriety. Boredom was a major reason I found drugs in the first place. Find what works and stick to it.” He added, “Most people in recovery need to change their playmates and playgrounds. While a geographic change doesn’t guarantee sobriety, it doesn’t hurt to make a change with a purpose.” If you are interested in taking a lifelong journey to wellness and recovery, call Home of New Vision at 734-975-1602. Recovery coaches are available throughout the week, along Access clean-up request form at bit.ly/4gk21kW AUGUST 22, 2025 Finding what works: Ryan Sawicki's recovery story "Most people in recovery need to change their playmates and playgrounds. While a geographic change doesn’t guarantee sobriety, it doesn’t hurt to make a change with a purpose." — Ryan S. with licensed counselors. If inpatient treatment is something you’re considering, Home of New Vision offers a 28-day program, with the opportunity to transition into recovery housing afterward. Recovery is possible, and support is always available. ׉ 7cassandra://Ke_LaFrOjT3DcRWPFqvb_JmVAo1k5wFnC3u40D1yZKE'`h5~b ׉EAUGUST 22, 2025 COMMUNITY RESOURCES Food Gatherers is a food bank and food rescue program serving Washtenaw County; it exists to alleviate hunger and its causes in our community. Established in 1988 as Michigan’s first food rescue program, Food Gatherers was among the first six food rescue programs in the United States of America. Food Gatherers rescues local food and leverages state and national food resources for hunger relief. This fiscal year of 2025, Food Gatherers has distributed a record breaking 10.3 million pounds of food — enough to provide 8.5 million meals for neighbors experiencing hunger. However there is a difficult truth to realize which is that hunger is rising. Recent data from Feeding America and local partners show food insecurity in Washtenaw County has increased from 12.5% to 14% this year. Food Gatherers relies on charitable gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations to fund more than 87% of their annual budget. Each year 95% of donations they receive directly support Food Gatherers’ hunger relief efforts in places like Washtenaw County. Proudly contributing to the locations that work best for them. Some options include Eat and Play and Grab and Go, which you can learn more about by joining the Food Gatherers newsletter. With the recent rise in hunger, Zion EMERI JADE BEY Groundcover vendor No. 660 providing hunger relief to pantries and organizations such as S.O.S. Community Center, Robert J. Delonis Center and more, Food Gatherers is sustained mostly through the efforts of its volunteers, engaging the public in the fight against hunger. Food Gatherers also creates and sustains innovative new food programs in response to emerging needs. Food Gatherers recognizes that hunger will not be solved through the provision of food alone, so they advocate for policies and system changes to create an equitable food system. This summer, Food Gatherers has two additional program types and families can visit community EVENTS JOE DULIN DAY / PARKRIDGE SUMMERFEST Saturday, August 23, 12-6 p.m. Parkridge Park, 591 Armstrong Drive, Ypsilanti Resources, music, food, fun! PURSLANE COMMONS + AGRICOLE SEASONAL COOKING WORKSHOP: MID-SUMMER GRILL MADDNESS! Sunday, August 24, 1-4 p.m. Agricole Farm Stop, 118 N Main Street, Chelsea Delicious, wholesome, creative menus. Cook in small teams, fun for ages 9 and up. An authentic social experience. Grilled vegetable pasta sauces, corn on the cob, grilled peach. A2 LOCAL FOOD FESTIVAL Thursday, August 28, 2025, 5-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit Street This free public festival showcases farms, food makers and local organizations focused on growing a strong and sustainable local food system. Festival-goers will learn about the benefits of local and sustainably grown food, eat delicious local food, participate in fun and educational activities, and enjoy music. GERMAN PARK PICNIC Saturday, August 30, 4-11 p.m. German Park, 5549 Pontiac Trail German Park Recreation Club hosts three picnics the last Saturday in June, July and August. Admission gate open 4-9 p.m.; Park closes at 11 p.m. Live music, authentic German food and live dance performances. 2025 LABOR DAY MARCH with AFL-CIO Monday, September 1, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Starts at intersection of Michigan Ave and Trumbull Ave, ends at Michigan Center Station in Roosevelt Park GROUNDCOVER NEWS 15th ANNIVERSARY PARTY Thursday, September 4, 6-8 p.m. First Congregational Church of A2 For the first time, Groundcover is celebrating a major milestone. Join us for an evening of reunion, music, food and drink, and a gallery walk of Groundcover’s history. Be a part of celebrating where we started, where we are, and where we are going! Purchase tickets online at givebutter.com/gcn15. Submit an event to be featured in the next edition: submissions@groundcovernews.com Word search created by Emeri Jade Bey Groundcover writer and vendor No. 660 Well yoga studio has put together a fundraiser this summer to help continue to keep Food Gatherers’ programs up and running. This summer you can fight hunger by joining Zion Well yoga studio for yoga in County Farm Park on Fridays at 5:30 p.m.! Each session is donation-based and will directly benefit Food Gatherers to help feed neighbors facing hunger. This specific fundraiser ends on August 29 and is the perfect way to try yoga at a price you can afford before choosing to commit full time. Please register ahead of time and bring your own yoga mat/towel. Also if you would like to see all of Food Gatherers’ distribution locations please visit www.foodgatherers.org. Click the "find help" button at the top of the page, type in your address and the food map will show you all of the nearest pantry locations. If you would like, you may also contact Food Gatherers directly by calling 734-761-2796. Thank you Food Gatherers for all that you do for the community. You remind us that together we can! GROUNDCOVER NEWS FUNdraiser for Food Gatherers: Yoga in the park 15 ׉ 7cassandra://28PebeDgV1lIG6rb2BlvUVOtpnrI1XptRbPbTGP86CA%`h5~b h5~b  בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://UTxTVQklwbWoVrXSYktbOLsC0Ei0K-hmTR6XjSUnskY5`׉ 7cassandra://wRuG1naZ3GpHI2AUfVoIZfAcRMqmWUOKKotDfj6xE2w͉`h׉ 7cassandra://ZOSyEaLFXY7ZKHjanCq4lt0ZNinixE8zzlo37l2BPEY/`h5b =נh5b @#9ׁHhttp://bit.ly/visitׁ ׁ Јנh5b ?vd 9ׁHhttp://PEOPLESFOOD.COOPׁ ׁ Ј׉E116 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FOOD Roasted garlic salsa ELIZABETH BAUMAN Groundcover contributor Ingredients: 2 large heads of garlic 3 T. olive oil 2 large tomatoes, chopped ½ cup chopped onions 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced 3 T. chopped fresh cilantro 1 t. salt Dash of Tabasco Sauce Directions: Remove most of the papery skins from garlic, slice off the tops, place in a shallow baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Roast in the oven at 300 degrees until soft (about 1 hour). Cool and then squeeze garlic cloves from skin and finely chop. Combine with the other ingredients and chill in a covered bowl. Great with nachos! AUGUST 22, 2025 $5 OFF NATURAL FOODS MARKET 216 N. FOURTH AVENUE ANN ARBOR, MI PHONE (734) 994 - 9174 • PEOPLESFOOD.COOP ANY PURCHASE OF $30 OR MORE One coupon per transaction. Must present coupon at the time of purchase. Coupon good for in-store only. No other discounts or coop cards apply. Not valid for gift cards, case purchases, beer or wine. OFFER EXPIRES 8/22/2025 09/18/25 HAVE A DAY FULL OF DISCOVERY AT THE ANN ARBOR HANDS-ON MUSEUM! ACCESS FOR ALL $3 ADMISSION PER PERSON WITH PROOF OF EBT/SNAP. *Up to 6 people per card. Ages 23 months & under are free. Show your EBT card in person —out-of-state cards accepted. (734) 995-5439 220 E Ann St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 LEARN MORE: bit.ly/visit-aahom ׉ 7cassandra://ZOSyEaLFXY7ZKHjanCq4lt0ZNinixE8zzlo37l2BPEY/`h5~b ׈Eh5~b h5~b  ,August 22, 2025h5n];} (