׉?ׁB!בCטFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://YC_OQINbZSIxHcgB00IHPtgZO0Ah7EcsSEfeC0HNru0`׉ 7cassandra://Znx2-i-FT4A19T7Mr9FLoLqJi2VoJIg6HsjUAaNtwwUr`h׉ 7cassandra://59V1my9miR0G5Y3EyIuv_1LKpNdgzduJmrm583vJjc0'j`g"'O<טFu׈O'׈Egؼ"'I׉E52 $ APRIL 4, 2025 | VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 8 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. Reflection on the Daytime Warming Center. page 4 MEET YOUR VENDOR: TONY SCHOHL PAGE 3 GROUNDCOVER NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. PoetTreeTown participant Mouna Ammar reads a poem from her 2024 book "Zmagria." Featuring 22 poems from 16 unique Washtenaw County poets — POETRY EDITION THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor # @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor # 2025 ׉ 7cassandra://59V1my9miR0G5Y3EyIuv_1LKpNdgzduJmrm583vJjc0'j`gؼ"'Igؼ"'I בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://Vw9gKtJb7CXZdIDeBXw36eOoS3SVcomAzR4c_D7iW6YA`I׉ 7cassandra://x2SqOFy6ZLOkf6UP-Q79LtmV4Tz9ulI4qgtAHaIUXxs`׉ 7cassandra://D3QojvWhyP2nixPIjPiQkQhzjHG5bJ6bGYPHVTxD8p0J`g"'O?נg"'O>Ё9׉Hhttp://www.groundcovernews.orgGׁ ׁ rנg"'OIԁ9ׁHhttp://www.groundcovernews.orgׁ ׁ Јנg"'OH 9ׁH"mailto:contact@groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ Јנg"'OGo!9ׁH&mailto:submissions@groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ Јנg"'OE:9ׁH"mailto:contact@groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E"2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER G R O U N D C O V R acrostic poem CONTEST Start each line of the poem with the letters of GROUNDCOVER. Extra points if the poem is related to street newspapers! Best poem will be chosen by Groundcover vendors and the winner will receive a free Groundcover News hoodie. submitted by: contact info: letter to the EDITOR Dear Editor, I have read in this publication, and other Deadline: April 30 To submit, cut out and mail to: 423 S. 4th Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Or email a photo to: contact@groundcovernews.com media, that "Housing is a right." Lindsey Culka [sic], sweetheart that she is, even wrote in an article some time ago, about a property owner in Ypsi Township (on Michigan Ave.) having evicted people from a camp there. "Housing is a right" is putting the cart before the horse. I think it would be a good idea to preach, motivate, and cajole the unhoused to put obligations to landlords first, then talk about rights. That might improve their "luck." OK, some people are mentally ill, handicapped physically or mentally, and don't have the resources to pay rent. Someone then has to do it on their behalf. Obligations still come before rights. By the way, this doesn't just apply to Ann Arbor's unhoused. This applies to literally every homeowner in Ann Arbor. Stop paying property taxes, your home goes to a tax sale; default on your mortgage, and the bank will foreclose on the property. Sincerely, Anonymous. APRIL 4, 2025 PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DETERMINED INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY POVERTY, PRODUCING A STREET NEWSPAPER THAT GIVES A PLATFORM TO UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN WASHTENAW COUNTY, PROMOTING AN ACTION TO BUILD A JUST, CARING AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. Groundcover News, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in April 2010 as a means to empower lowincome persons to make the transitions from homeless to housed, and from jobless to employed. Vendors purchase each copy of our regular editions of Groundcover News at our office for 50 cents. This money goes towards production costs. Vendors work selling the paper on the street for $2, keeping all income and tips from each sale. Street papers like Groundcover News exist in cities all over the United States, as well as in more than 40 other countries, in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people and combat the increase in poverty. Our paper is a proud member of the International Network of Street Papers. STAFF Lindsay Calka — publisher Cynthia Price — editor Michelle Lardie-Guzek — intern ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Elizabeth Bauman Teresa Basham Pony Bush Pedro Campos Dezz Clark La Shawn Courtwright Roberto Isla Caballero Diana Fead Mike Jones Steve Leggett Marie Donna McGaughy Paolo Gabriel Poquiz Veronica Sanitate Sydney Schimmel Will Shakespeare 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 Tommy Spaghetti Scoop Stevens EJ Wilson PROOFREADERS Susan Beckett Elliot Cubit Steve Ross Anabel Sicko VOLUNTEERS Jane Atkins Jessi Averill Sim Bose Luiza Duarte Caetano Jacob Fallman Glenn Gates Bella Martinez Robert Klingler Ari Ruczynski Jack Weinberg Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof Melanie Wenzel 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 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://D3QojvWhyP2nixPIjPiQkQhzjHG5bJ6bGYPHVTxD8p0J`gؼ"'I׉EAPRIL 4, 2025 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR GROUNDCOVER NEWS I like the drug plague because it doesn't respect borders ROBERTO ISLA CABALLERO Groundcover vendor No. 347 Tony Schohl, vendor No. 9 In one sentence, who are you? Salesman and a good guy. Where do you sell Groundcover? Old Town at Liberty and Ashley. When and why did you start selling Groundcover? In 2011. I like meeting people. What is one place in Ann Arbor that feels like your personal sanctuary? Home. What's your life motto? Don't worry. You can do it! What advice would you give your younger self? It gets better. What is your comfort food? Cheeseburger and a coke. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three things, what would they be? Food, good women and suntan lotion. If there was a theme song for your life, what would it be? "We Are The World" by USA for Africa. If you could travel anywhere, where would it be? Sweden. What is the weirdest food combo you swear by? Peanut butter and jelly. What change would you like to see in Washtenaw County? Free ice cream. What's one question you wish you were asked more? I wish people would ask me what I think about sports more. En español País ejemplar del mundo que tiene el control de la tierra y la humanidad Con iglesias clandestinas e ilusiones perdidas, con sueños sin esperanzas y movimientos sin fotos, como buenos habitantes — sólo controlan la droga y deportaciones con risas. Y paradas como enredadas humanas cuando ponen esposas, no saben las luces como transmitentes con buenas letras de ICE y police. Ni como hombre Ni como mujeres Se guardan respeto Uno al otro solo Buscan la peste entre Ellos mismo Me gusta la peste Porque no respeta la ley El arcoiris de la Libertad De expresiones la Previsión de U.S.A. en El sueno americano. An exemplary country that has control of the earth and humanity With clandestine churches and lost illusions, with hopeless dreams and movements without photos, like good people of this world — they only control drugs and deportations with laughter. And they stop the migrants when they put handcuffs on, Who don’t know the lights that flash behind them with good letters of ICE and police. Not even as a man Not even as women They respect each other One to the other alone They look for the plague among Themselves I like the plague Because it does not respect the law The rainbow of the Freedom Of expressions the U.S.A. service in The American Dream. 3 WHATS THE HAPP DEZZ CLARK Groundcover vendor No. 643 WHAT’S THE happ the happ is every day of life what has changed ? WELL let me tell you money house gas bills food clothes cars bus stores everything has changed in the blink of an eye now everybody wants to know what’s the happs nothing much but a lot has happened we got a new president a new government new faces new everything but what's the happs is what's going on in this world our daily life live to live get in it to win it that's the happs It's Hash Bash time! John Sinclair was a founding member of the White Panther Party, manager of MC5, and publicist of the Ann Arbor Sun. Sinclair was arrested and sent to jail in 1969. He was sentenced for up to 10 years after he offered two undercover officers two joints. “10 for 2,” meaning 10 years for two joints, was the rallying cry to pull people together to fight for Sinclair’s release. He was freed from jail in 1972 by the Michigan Supreme Court when the possession of marijuana law was declared unconstitutional. This imprisonment and the movement to “Free John Sinclair” is what started Ann Arbor’s Hash Bash in the 1970’s. John Sinclair went on to speak at PONY BUSH Groundcover vendor No. 305 many bashes about legalization. Cheech and Chong did too. What I know about Hash Bash: • People speak about trying to legalize cannabis federally. • It is a celebration to smoke and relax and not have to worry about police harassment. • People make a lot of money selling edibles, cannabis, T-shirts, hoodies and other items. Times have changed; recreational marijuana has been legalized in Michigan. Different generations of people have participated in the Hash Bash — all kinds of people from all over. I see “old heads” still enjoying themselves at this event. It is a good time for everybody to come together and enjoy the outside with no harassment. Why should you go to Hash Bash? So you can see the people get high and enjoy themselves at this annual event, held on the first Saturday in April. Everybody knows what time it is when it is Hash Bash time! See you at noon on the Diag! gؼ"'Igؼ"'I בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://PdkN7-3LsRLbyLehYvosrk03_vsSHOoaAXct6k6PGNY `I׉ 7cassandra://IQnALYlYLVvqqA0HS0DZXjPVrGFIvZafbtFrxEl0nPQ9`׉ 7cassandra://gwnJFdFjNIJm7l0w2G5AKLmEDghihK3n6KmBQTFnmNYR`g"'OM׉E"4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS HOMELESSNESS Reflection on the Daytime Warming Center MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 The Daytime Warming Center has been advocating for the homeless and saving lives in Washtenaw County for over a decade. I would like to share my thoughts on the Warming Center as someone who went from being unhoused and utilizing their services to becoming a part-time staff member. The years before the opening of the Warming Center were some tough times for the homeless. A lot of homeless people were losing their lives to the elements. Back then, there were no daytime or overnight warming centers. The homeless were forced to suffer harsh winters; people were dying. In 2012, Peggy Lynch of Mercy House and Sheri Wander of Peace House thought to do something necessary for the unhoused in Washtenaw County; they organized daytime warming centers during winter months at Ann Arbor churches. The City of Ann Arbor also started to try to put measures in place to stop people from dying from the elements. After so many deaths, they started putting the chronically homeless in hotels and offering day and overnight warming centers if weather conditions were less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The unhoused could go into the Delonis Center during night time hours to sit in chairs, but would not allowed to lay down and get proper rest needed. In 2020, Delonis opened a warming center in Ypsi at the Freighthouse, but it was unpopular. The next year, the Warming Center started operating it. I would like to give a shout-out to all the churches that graciously hosted the warming centers this year. A special thanks to First Baptist for being our go-to church, enabling us to operate this winter when no other venue would allow us to hold space. Also thanks to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Friends Meeting House. We as a community say thank you for all you do. I would like to talk about the social posture of incredible staff members, my colleagues at the Warming Center. The people who operate and run things are ordinary, down to earth human beings who stand with, and not above, those who come to receive services. If you visit the Warming Center, you will see the unhoused and staff members engaged in problem-solving conversations big and small. I noticed how we as staff help to provide necessary things like bus tokens, clothing and first aid. Staff often assist in handling disputes and grievances between the unhoused, and those who have been temporarily or permanently barred from the Robert J. Delonis Center. I must say it’s no easy task to maintain order. The pandemic was the worst as far as the uptick of mental health issues in the homeless community. But only one person has been cited for official trespass from the Warming Center in 13 years. WOW! (For comparison, at the time of writing, there are 72 people trespassed from the Delonis Center.) This low number is due to how the staff handle turbulent situations. These disputes happen all the time, at a moment's notice. It can be somewhat nerve-racking to say the least. I remember during the pandemic I could not spend too much time at the Warming Center because it was off the hook (chaotic). When these moments arise, we don’t call the police; we only kick people out as a last resort. Staff members do their best to stay calm, cool and collected. We have to be calm in chaotic situations. We take the oneon-one approach and try to be that voice of reason. The Warming Center community as a whole tries to manage issues and conflict with staff to de-escalate turbulent moments. When that doesn’t work we will ask those causing problems to leave. When doing so, we do it with compassion and awareness, and in many cases we offer them a gift card, so they can enter private establishments like Starbucks to get a cup of coffee or hot chocolate to give them time to calm down and gather their thoughts. And in most cases we will see that same individual later on that very day or the next day and it's all good. We don’t kick people out and bar them indefinitely with nowhere to go. A person like myself doesn't have to look at the numbers to tell you that homelessness has been on the increase. Year after year, I see more and more unhoused people in Washtenaw County. Social and economic segregation has forced those unhoused to utilize the Warning Center service even more, because places like Starbucks won’t allow people into their place of business if they don’t purchase anything. At the Warming Center all are welcome. I received my Section 8 housing voucher in 2017, but I would still visit the Warming Center all the time just to hang out. People from all walks of life stop by to volunteer, donate or just to say hey and communicate with the community as a whole. Local businesses in Ypsilanti donate food. We say thank you to all persons and businesses that help us to help our community. Shout out to Maiz Mexican Cantina on Cross Street for donating Sheri, Amal, John and David (left to right) playing board game Tapple at the Freighthouse. Photo credit: Shihab Jackson burritos every week and Mama Pizza for donating pizzas daily! As I continue to reflect, I realize that some of the people we serve at the Warming Center are my childhood friends. I’m proud to say my friends and all of the unhoused are treated well at the Warming Center, and we hope they find permanent housing soon. I had a chance to talk to a few of my co-workers and hear their reflections on the season. I first talked to Sheri Wander. She said, “This year was very busy and more people are struggling with their mental health. So, more people are self-medicating, but it's been a good and also a chaotic year compared to other years in the past.” Matt, who has been working at the Warming Center for two years and also works at the Delonis Center, said, “The struggle got me involved ... I was once homeless and utilized services here at the Warming Center.” Caelan, who has been a staff member since 2023, shared this work has been transformative for him; the people and stories he has heard over the years have all been amazing and brought him happiness. He says it is a rewarding feeling, when conversing in order to solve problems with people, many of whom have become his friends. Fio, Julia, Katy and myself are greenhorns — this is our first year working at the Warming Center. Fio said, “It has been eye-opening and super-valuable to be with people in the community in a new way and to get to know people I never had a chance to meet before.” Julia said, “It’s been a big learning experience on how the unhoused community operates and how people communicate and get along with one another or not get along with one another.” All the coworkers I talked to expressed their deep connections and friendships they made within this community. And, all of us greenhorns agreed, we enjoy working at the Warming Center and we all plan to come back next winter to work and serve in our community. On the last day of the Warming Center I visited both locations and asked a few unhoused participants about their plans now that the Warming Centers were closing for the season. Trey Coleman who has been coming to the Warming Center for eight years said he has been thinking about leaving town and finding somewhere else to live. And another guy, who didn’t want to be named, said, “It is what it is at this point.” Paul who has been a part of this community for several years said he has a landscaping job lined up for the spring/ summer season. It was a very cold winter, and I’m happy to know the unhoused had somewhere to go under such cold and harsh conditions. A place where they could come to feel welcome and have a cup of coffee. A place to receive resources and communicate with others who might be of some help. I personally was transformed in a positive way by becoming a staff member. After being unhoused, I feel privileged to be able to serve those — many of whom I’ve known for years — like myself who have to go through this unfortunate situation. I hope my presence as a human being and friend will offer hope because these tough moments are temporary. Well, there you have it folks, see you next winter at the Warming Center! Author's note: We need a cooling center! Do you know that more people die of heat than cold weather, and it is the number one cause of weather related deaths in the United States? We need a center for all four seasons for the unhoused not only because of the weather, but also because we are now living in a society of social and economic segregation. We need a place where all can come and feel welcome, whether a person is housed or unhoused, whether you have money or no money, where one can just be themself and not be judged. We need more places like this in our community and society, overall! APRIL 4, 2025 ׉ 7cassandra://gwnJFdFjNIJm7l0w2G5AKLmEDghihK3n6KmBQTFnmNYR`gؼ"'I ׉EAPRIL 4, 2025 HOMELESSNESS Impact of institutional intersections MARIE Groundcover contributor The experience of writing about the impacts of institutionalization was much more difficult than initially expected. The initial resultsfrom scholarly research I found were so depressing I immediately found myself reaching out to the homeless community for their perspectives. Even the process of gathering quotes from the homeless community was difficult, as most institutional interactions and the experience of homelessness at a minimum had a traumatic component. In the literature, the definition of “the institutionalized population” includes the homeless, and the common institutions identified in both the literature and by the homeless community included shelters, healthcare, carceral and psychiatric systems. One of the most emotionally taxing scholarly research publications to read was a 2018 article published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine called “Lives without Roots: Institutionalized Homeless Women with Chronic Mental Illness.” According to the article there is gender bias when women become labeled mentally ill as they are “more likely to experience rejection, stigmatization, denial of care and poor access to appropriate healthcare.” According to the article, homeless women with a history of psychiatric illness have some of the poorest outcomes, which increases with length of homelessness and often includes forced long-term psychiatric hospitalization and recidivism. One buddy (“buddy” is the anonymized term for people I interviewed) shared her experience being institutionalized as a youth, explaining how medications caused permanent changes to thinking and problems with cysts. This buddy also shared they are no longer willing to take psychiatric medication as an adult because the lifelong side effects have been so traumatic and harmful. Another buddy shared she has found some helpful medications; however, the nature of being homeless makes navigating consistent medication management difficult due to barriers such as transportation, frequent moves and physically obtaining scripts. According to the community and the literature, the carceral system includes policing, jails and prisons. Altogether there is considerable literature about how the carceral system has negative consequences including increased likelihood of homelessness, depressed employment outcomes, poorer health outcomes, increased housing insecurity, material hardship and discrimination. A 2021 study published in Justice Q titled, “Does the Time of incarceration impact the timing and duration of homelessness?” concluded that timing of stressful events, such as homelessness and incarceration, does affect life outcomes. While both men and women who have experienced incarceration have poorer mental health and physical outcomes, these outcomes increase with length of incarceration and are reported as worse for women. Interestingly, all buddies to date with a history of incarceration have expressed how early institutionalization impacted social maturity and development, and nearly all report a negative impact on education. Formerly incarcerated buddies often describe their development as stalled at their age of incarceration. Closing shelters results in police exposure As the local cold-weather sheltering season is ending, meaning that the Daytime Warming Centers close and the number of opportunities for nighttime spaces declines, the issue of how policing impacts the homeless is particularly important. Policing impacts local homeless people, especially during the non-shelter season, as opportunities for safe spaces decline, and local policies encourage further criminalization of homelessness by deliberately targeting specific areas. For example, last year Ypsilanti deliberately began increased patrolling in the downtown district and were actively displacing people from targeted areas. The increased patrols prompted a “First Friday” protest organized by the homeless community where supporters gathered together and exercised their right to sit in public. Within the past month, police have increased the frequency of their presence both inside and in the area surrounding Ypsilanti’s Daytime Warming Center, which has increased the homeless community’s concerns about what to expect in the coming months. At the moment, the community is in the process of preparing for the sudden influx of urban camping by organizing supplies, finding sites and setting up camps. While sweeps do continue to occur in some municipalities, and therefore remain a constant threat, recent advocacy efforts to promote humane treatment for those sleeping outside have resulted in at least one example of deliberate relief for displaced individuals in Ypsilanti. While this recent support to urban campers is not the same as decriminalization, it does suggest a shift to recognizing that criminalizing camping will only exacerbate issues, especially when the community lacks adequate safe and affordable alternate options. According to a 2020 New York University Law Review article, "The Case Against Criminalizing Homelessness: Functional Barriers to Shelters and Homeless Individuals’ Lack of Choice," criminalizing homelessness has a significant overlap with the experience of LGBTQ community members. Their “status” impacts access to safe sheltering, medical and mental health treatment and has heightened risks associated with incarceration. An LGBTQ buddy shared a few specific examples related to “status.” As a transgender person they experienced heightened fears around violence in the shelter system, which make even sleeping and sitting less safe. This buddy also explained shelter policy bias is similar to bias seen in the medical system as it continues to perpetuate unequal treatment for those in committed relationships by not providing culturally supportive options. Another buddy who does not identify as LGBTQ said, “Places like Freighthouse (Daytime Warming Center that closed March 27), Ozone House and places for women with domestic violence histories are important because women and LGBTQ individuals do need specialized services and places that are safe.” Purple House is perhaps the only place in the community where all couples [without children] are welcome and able to co-sleep; however the Purple House Weather Amnesty program is only open during the sheltering season. While speaking with community members, one buddy helped summarize the experience of the homeless LGBTQ community with the following statement. “Traditional culture, values and gender norms have contributed to widening the gap in safety. Subgroups present unique issues that require an individualized program or plan, and institutions are dealing with high volumes so they often apply a cookie cutter approach as they lack the resources to offer more culturally sensitive options.” When speaking with the homeless community, a buddy spoke about his experience as a white male; he feels he has personally had fewer negative institutional experiences overall. However, he also shared he believes he can be stubborn about seeking medical services, despite having insurance, as his experience watching his parents and grandmother appear to see INSTITUTIONS page 9  GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5 gؼ"'I!gؼ"'I  בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://hE_-EgJWJEeUYSCVO2UF3qdZUntW_ERpXf85QpbBlEYH`I׉ 7cassandra://cwG-AOCY1YFRMcCJiaU_rFTlSxt3b-8gD-TT7-OZ3Hwͼ`׉ 7cassandra://n_R0AMw3JfD0GcYOCC7PP6bnaftWLlaDWxpxcTrJR1I=`g"'OP׉E 6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS POETRY Red skies at morning MICHELLE LARDIE-GUZEK Groundcover intern Can Love storm Such apparatuses of men That betray no guilt or recall For the brain-dead fashion They used and swore by? Such a lazy trudge through the shadows Fearful of what the light would reveal. Such Fear. Are you sure you would protect this Brother, you claimed you could never live without? Or would that imagined horizon rust? For as you hid behind that milky skin Wallowing in your fanciful aches and play deaths These children scream whispers, With whatever voice they can find In hopes of reaching the last of Compassion or Reason. Their desperate plea “Show us the love you claim to have” Just manages to portray a pain which is like A red sunrise on the raw and moaning sea. A mere warning of what is yet to come. Deep Time STEPHEN LEGGETT Groundcover contributor It is time which separates even more than space. Time is everywhere at once like an ocean and what we call the future is just leeward of that. It’s too early it’s too late we think we know what time it is. Our lives are compass needles spinning wildly on a vast ocean. What time is an ocean? APRIL 4, 2025 When Two Hummingbirds Meet STEPHEN LEGGETT A trumpet left in the rain valves askew the bell dented it probably croaks like a heron. Dreams may be abandoned but the notes are still there they remember they assemble ready to tumble out into the world in joyous release. A kind of humming those first notes those first coos and ahs in the cradle learning how the notes assemble and disperse. A Friend; A Human Instinct MICHELLE LARDIE-GUZEK A friend A person whom my mind can relax into its natural state around A person that I don’t need to constantly filter or translate all of my thoughts into Socially acceptable bite-sized pieces Pieces that can never seem to get across the exact extent of my thoughts or emotions So I am left stumbling over additional swallowable explanations and backstories A digression made necessary by the lack of understanding I perceive others will have of my very socially unacceptable problems Perceptions that are based in my belief that I am unacceptable Not capable of being understood by others Because I have little to no context for such a situation Context that I crave because to be understood is a sign of Connection that all humans desperately need to survive, and yet, in my case Are desperately and completely terrified of When two hummingbirds meet they pause suspended in air like hands over a piano uncertain of what notes to play. Their hearts beat like little drums. In the Year of the Dragon STEPHEN LEGGETT ‘So much trouble in the world’ Nothing is repeated exactly as it is repeated some people want a war any war will do so when a column of smoke rises from the trees we worry that our choices are dwindling wars sweep up history in a blaze of regret until everyone is wishing again for peace as if peace was ever more than a cloud passing as the sun begins to set and a red glow begins again spreading across the sky oh no we say that old mad dragon is loose again! ׉ 7cassandra://n_R0AMw3JfD0GcYOCC7PP6bnaftWLlaDWxpxcTrJR1I=`gؼ"'I"׉EAPRIL 4, 2025 POETRY Life izz what you make it TERESA BASHAM Groundcover vendor No. 570 To all my lil ones Everyday izz a great day, No matter thee way, It starts out, Ya can’t have no doubt, Gotta love life, Soon you’ll be somebodies wife, Or somebodies husband, Alwayz be yourself wit joy, Life izz what you make it, No matter who ya want ta say, Or who you walk away from, Be true to yourself, Even if you know they’re scum, You’ll alwayz learn so, Never let go, & alwayz know itz a great day. Tomorrowz sun TERESA BASHAM Thangz will go wrong, Life goz on, Lessons will alwayz teach you, If you let it, Sometimez it’ll be shit, Sometimez you’ll feel, Or even say, What can I do? Just keep it real, Alwayz be true To you yourself no matter what, You can alwayz lift yourself up, Gotta push through till tha next day, Thangz are just life, People will stab you, Your heart sometimez will feel like a knife, Itz all a lesson, But you can look at tha sun, And you’ll begin ta say, I made it through another night, And be thankful you’re still alive. GROUNDCOVER NEWS Soulmates, I say SCOOP STEVENS Groundcover vendor No. 638 We all live and die, The world never really changes, So what are we here for? Soulmates I say, Soulmates I say, Another body to incarnate in, To find the one my soul seeks, Marriage is not the answer, Only my soulmate is the one for me, Only my soulmate is the answer for me, Nuclear annihilation will never happen, Ecological catastrophe is not meant to be, Cause it is all about soulmates I say, It is all about soulmates I say, Israel, Iran, Russia, Ukraine will come to an end, New conflicts will arise that will take center stage, The world never really changes I say, Cause it is all about soulmates I say, It is all about soulmates I say. 7 gؼ"'I#gؼ"'I" בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://3o63-ilgN895xFJ5SZSQv4D7kjMBrY2vtHHsMxQ39Sk O`I׉ 7cassandra://k045ayyJwGyekAa3flQkGfShCtr3oGyBOcxIuUs0-n4 #`׉ 7cassandra://zaRJh5mtS6xZkvvPvEfkYehPQE_7ZHvvrMb-ct0Kb44K`g"'OVנg"'OR̯9׉Hhttp://www.dzanchouse.orgGׁ ׁ rנg"'OS̎9׉H#http://tinyurl.com/ZellWriters24%20Gׁ ׁ rנg"'OT 9׉H$http://www.dzanchouse.org/all-eventsGׁ ׁ rנg"'Oa̳9ׁHmailto:eyelev21@aol.comׁ ׁ Јנg"'O` 9ׁHhttp://www.dzanchouse.org/allׁ ׁ Јנg"'O_̥9ׁHmailto:eyelev21@aol.comׁ ׁ Јנg"'O^̎9ׁH http://tinyurl.com/ZellWriters24ׁ ׁ Јנg"'O]̯9ׁHhttp://www.dzanchouse.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉Ed8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS POETRY APRIL 4, 2025 Everyone can be a poet: PoetTreeTown launch draws new crowd to Ypsi art space, Dzanc House LINDSAY CALKA Publisher PoetTree Town A2 isn’t just the collection of iconic teal and white posters hanging up in the windows of downtown businesses. It is a project fostering a diverse, literary community — a community that declares anyone can be a poet, and that poetry is everywhere. For three years PoetTree Town has published Washtenaw County-authored poetry, by printing and hanging poems in the windows of Ann Arbor — and now Ypsilanti — businesses during April. You might remember them from features in Groundcover's first and second annual poetry editions, or from our collaborative open mic last year at Argus Farm Stop. In 2024 PoetTree Town started a weekly poetry series, published online through the Ann Arbor Observer. Yearround they also promote local poetry events, book launches and projects. This year, on the first day of National Poetry Month 2025, PoetTree Town launched their annual poetry-in-public project with an evening celebration and open mic at Dzanc House. Located walking distance from the Ypsilanti Transit Center, downtown and Depot Town, Dzanc House has created a vibrant, inclusive space where writers, editors, artists and community builders come together to ignite creativity, foster collaboration and inspire one another. Their mission is “simple but profound: to nurture creativity at every stage of the artistic journey — whether through publishing opportunities, gallery showcases, or dynamic programs for youth, adults, and cultural creators alike.” The two mission-aligned organizations did exactly that with this event; community members of all ages gathered in the cozy living room of the house to share poetry during an open mic and party. Some shared poems from already published poetry collections, while others read poetry aloud for the first time. The space is operated by Ann Arborbased press Dzanc Books and offers gallery space, a literary/visual/cultural arts residency program, free and ticketed events, along with youth programs and classes. As the winter weather breaks, walk around this month and look for PoetTree Town’s posters or visit this new literary arts space in Ypsilanti. Visit www.dzanchouse.org to learn more. Follow @poettreetowna2 on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date on events year-round. april poetry EVENTS ZELL VISITING WRITERS SERIES: ILYA KAMINSKY UMMA Stern Auditorium, 525 S. State Street Thursday, April 10, 5:30 p.m. (also virtual) Reading and Q&A with University of Michigan's distinguished poet in residence. Join on Zoom at tinyurl.com/ZellWriters24 YPSILANTI DISTRICT LIBRARY 229 W. Michigan Ave Poetry Month Writing Workshops Wednesdays in April, 6:30 p.m. Join in celebrating poetry month with weekly writing sessions to explore the different styles of poetry and writing. • Apr. 16: Black Out and Find poetry • Apr. 23: exploring poetry through creativity with Ypsilanti's 2024 Youth Poet Laureate Ruth Mella • Apr. 30: interconnectedness of language and culture in poetry Mosaic: Poetry in Pieces Sunday, April 26, 11 a.m. (Virtual) Join YpsiWrites to celebrate National Poetry month! This hands-on, virtual workshop will feature several prominent Ypsilanti-area poets leading mini-sessions on their favorite types of poetry. Participants will learn about and try several different styles of poetry. Poetry Month Awards Ceremony and Celebration Saturday, May 3, Awards Ceremony at 4 p.m.; Celebration at 6:30 p.m. Join for a celebration of creativity, expression, and the power of words at our Poetry Month Awards Ceremony! The evening will feature heartfelt poetry readings from finalists, followed by the exciting presentation of awards and prizes for all the outstanding poets. Whether a winner or finalist, each participant will be celebrated for their unique voice and contribution to the world of poetry. DZANC HOUSE 402 S. Huron St., Ypsilanti Read more about Dzanc House above. Book Launch and Reading: “True Believer” by Jeff Kass Friday, April 11, 2025, 7-8:30 p.m. Contact for more info: eyelev21@aol.com Discovering a New Ekphrasis: A Writing Workshop for Teachers Wednesday, April 9, 2025 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Join Pioneer High School teacher Jeff Kass for a workshop on leading writing experiences prompted by art and media. You’ll have a chance to explore your own writing and leave with lessons that you can bring right into your classroom to inspire your students as they explore how the media they interact with every day can prompt and deepen approaches to writing. Free, must register at: www.dzanchouse.org/all-events Contact eyelev21@aol.com for more information. Silent Sustained Reading Saturday April 12, 1-2 p.m. A coveted time to simply focus on reading! Bring your favorite book, snack, or drink, and we will have space to spread out and enjoy reading in the company of others who also love to read. All people and ages are welcome. Happens every second Saturday in 2025. Left: Front window of Dzanc House states, "You're in the right place." Right: Petra Kuppers reads a poem from her most recent poetry book "Diver Beneath the Street." ׉ 7cassandra://zaRJh5mtS6xZkvvPvEfkYehPQE_7ZHvvrMb-ct0Kb44K`gؼ"'I'׉EAPRIL 4, 2025 POETRY Night pace PEDRO CAMPOS Groundcover vendor No. 652 Night softens Happening states Rough routine From the window, I see The haze in my mind As I go for a walk Kicking some rocks On the cadence of life Waves flow at the slope Only stars shadowing me The river, the current Our entropy The howl of wolves and wind Pulses in my chest Fine entropy A dark mystery The time spent On moonlight silent Infinite focus pocus Dancing candle’s flame Inventions magic In absolute focus The candle’s flame magic inventions Endure or wake How could I know The taste of being slave or king I can only recognize the hills I leaped The dust I raised Turns echoes into whispers Footsteps stretch longer The earth breathes wider Clocks slow the thought Night can be more than hush Holds what day lets slip away Rain all over Wet, I woke Time becomes thick It bends the air Thick for the things unsaid Hums on waking sleeping streets Within the first daylight My last words Rolling on my pillow She says: Come back From the slit, I glimpse her shadow I turn myself for a moment Her silhouette dances like a flame I enter with a smile Leaving everything in standby Wide-eyed PEDRO CAMPOS MIRELLA MARTIUS Those blade-cotton words of yours— at once striking deep wounds and softening my surrendered heart. I will turn your smile into art. Paint it, frame it, and hang it on every shard of my fractured heart. Your smile—when it stretches wide, when it turns wicked, when it becomes Mona Lisa. The void and the fullness overflow as my bewildered eyes behold the moon licking the waters of the sea. Springtime LA SHAWN COURTWRIGHT Groundcover writer Spring is in the air I wanna bask in the sun without a care Look over here and there And admire the tulips when they bloom Let the sun shine in my living room And when I go out it’s always a pleasure to see The robins, butterflies, and bees And the pink and white blossoms on the trees Oh how I love the springtime breeze I love the Lord Jesus Christ LA SHAWN COURTWRIGHT I love the Lord Jesus Christ I want the gift of the Holy Spirit With all my will and might May I be granted it And be able to live a holy sanctified life  INSTITUTIONS page 5 get sicker instead of better as they “pump you full of medications and keep you sick with other problems.” Another buddy, who is a Black male, feels their primary care practice doesn’t do appropriate preventative testing. An experience of a female buddy has been that as a result of bias from a historical psychiatric diagnosis, side-effects from a medication used to treat asthma and allergies was missed. Instead of considering evidence of medical problems, doctors often prescribe heavy antipsychotics that are known to cause or worsen conditions including diabetes, sleep apnea and tardive dyskinesia. Overall, the experience for many homeless individuals includes a compounding effect of missed complications, under-diagnoses or under-treatment of chronic conditions, and untreated environmental exposures. It could be said homeless people are caught in a cycle of institutionalization and deinstitutionalization, as many have the experience of incarceration, hospitals, psychiatric wards, shelters, programming and unsheltered homelessness. Despite homeless people being included in scholarly definitions of institutionalized, not all homeless buddies who provided input for this article identify as ever being institutionalized. While the statistics suggest many who are homeless do have specialized needs, a scholarly challenge to current housing approaches asserts that the approaches are based in a medical model of assessment, promote spatial segregation, and perpetuate system cycling. A 2022 article in the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, called "The Modern Day Asylum," suggests current approaches to housing are focused on sickness rather than healing, and pathologizing homelessness has created retraumatizing structures that force people into a lifetime of vulnerability and dependency. Our Hands LORRAINE LAMEY Groundcover contributor When we wash our hands of it, we mean we pilot our attention away from what we have done, what we have failed to do. It is not just scrubbing out the dirt or blood ground-in to our hands, but the very deed itself. When we wash someone's feet, we mean we humble ourselves to serve another's needs, our hands close and tight with the grime of the travels and travails of their feet. As our hands are drenched in the sullied water, we look up to meet the face of the Beloved, beholding Love. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 9 gؼ"'I(gؼ"'I' בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://cuO35asYSLTP_7s6jBULyCTCgmjoWhO_tJlzMpHmpw8%'`I׉ 7cassandra://BvD3hunc94x7-CODKvwuHkobo5P3-CBjDK0ADHrX6zE`׉ 7cassandra://aeJR5e2E9eXuwXvlhu-maBs76HBhychoUcKalFl4XQ0TX`g"'Oiנg"'Op +A9ׁHhttp://3.Giׁ ׁ Јנg"'Onr9ׁHhttp://groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ Јנg"'Om ̯P9ׁHhttp://A.Coׁ ׁ Ј׉Em10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS COMMUNITY People in the neighborhood: Josh's Story JIM CLARK Groundcover vendor No. 139 People in the Neighborhood is a Groundcover News column that focuses on the unhoused neighbors of the street community in Washtenaw County. This is Josh’s story. I began the interview by asking Josh to describe himself for the readers. “I’m not a bad person,” Josh said, “I’m big, I'm imposing, some people may say I'm intimidating, but I’m not, I’m just a big teddy bear. I love my family, I love my friends.” Jim: Where did you grow up? Josh: I grew up in Flint, Michigan on the north side. It was a middle-class neighborhood; my dad worked for General Motors. We lived paycheck to paycheck. I didn’t have a lot, but we weren't poor either. Basically just a working-class family. Jim: When did you first move out of your parents’ house and start to become self-sufficient? Josh: When I was 14. I was living with my girlfriend at the time. I was working and paying bills. If I had been old enough, I would have had a lease. When I turned 18, that’s what I did. We were both on the lease. But we grew apart. It was just one of those momentary relationships where one of us was supposed to learn something from the other. I ended up getting my own place on the east side of Detroit. Jim: What happened that made you homeless? Josh: In 2020 I first became homeless. I had some physical health issues that made it so I couldn’t work at that time. I ended up losing my place. It’s been a roller coaster ever since. Recently I was subletting but I got evicted because it was an illegal sublet. So now I’m homeless again. Over the summer I was camping in the woods. Now it’s winter. The main shelters are crowded and the environment is hostile. Josh chooses not to stay at the Delonis Center because there’s too much violence and open drug use. Instead, he uses community resources like Purple House’s overnight shelter and Delonis’s off-site location. In 1993 Josh moved back into his mother’s home to help pay bills as his father had passed away. Shortly after, Josh’s knee was crushed in a car accident. He was trying to pick up his nephew and was clipped by a van. Jim: Is that what’s keeping you from working now? Josh: My knee started deteriorating, I think the bolt bent a little bit and started rubbing against a nerve. I am not able to stand up for long periods of time. He has titanium screws and bolts that have to be replaced every five to seven years. He is currently overdue. Without a stable place to recuperate, he keeps putting it off. Jim: So if you can’t work, how will you survive? Josh: I just got awarded my disability payments. Now I'm saving up for the first and last month's rent and such. Josh applied for disability two and a half years ago with an attorney. When I met up with Josh for the interview we were at a hospitality house in Ypsilanti. He was visibly upset about something. I asked if he wanted to share it. Josh: I’m blind in my left eye. I just found out Friday that I have a detached retina in my right eye. I have to have major surgery. I’m terrified about it, but I can’t lose my other eye. Jim: What can the local community do to support you? Josh became emotional. Josh: I’m not asking for a handout, but as of right now, just finding somewhere to recover from surgery would be amazing. Even just a couch. At the point he was interviewed, Josh was not sure if his housing would come through in time for the surgery. He needs to be able to recuperate. If he can’t get the housing before the surgery, he will have to put it off. Read that again — Josh is losing his vision and can barely walk. He is homeless and can’t work. Even with SSI, Josh may have to put off the surgery that will determine if he gets to keep his vision or not. Any adult with medical challenges knows that putting off major surgery can spell disaster. Jim: If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? Josh would like to study Autism in order to be a better father. Photo credit: Emily Mills Josh: The fact that people judge you based on how you look and your situation. Contrary to popular belief, I have some college education. I get treated like a three-year-old because I’m homeless. I hate being judged because of my situation. For example, I was lost in downtown Ann Arbor one day. I tried stopping people to ask for directions, but they would just brush past me and stick their nose in the air. After thirty minutes of this, I lost my temper. It took me getting mad to get help. And then I found out my destination was just two blocks from where I was standing. That’s all it would have taken — just a few seconds and some kindness. Jim: If you could speak to the people who ghosted you, what would you say to them? Josh: I would remind them of what Matthew chapter seven says — “Do not judge or you too will be judged.” Jim: If you could have a free ride to college, what would you study? Josh: I have a special needs son. He’s six and non-verbal autistic. I would study autism and understand how to help my son. Author's note: At the end of March, Josh once again got his housing. APRIL 4, 2025 exp. 06/31/2025 ׉ 7cassandra://aeJR5e2E9eXuwXvlhu-maBs76HBhychoUcKalFl4XQ0TX`gؼ"'I)׉EnAPRIL 4, 2025 PUZZLES GROUNDCOVER NEWS Short Films Peter A.Collins 11 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 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. Thank you! ACROSS 1. "Beat it!" 5. Flood 11. Baking meas. 14. Firm up 15. President two before Lincoln 16. AQI org. 17. 2003 film about Ararat? 19. Something glossed over 20. Changes gradually 21. "I'll take that as ___" 22. Spiced stew 23. Groom carefully 24. 1980 film about a farm animal put out to pasture? 26. Dancer's landing spot? 28. Have a lofty ambition 29. Long-running CBS drama 32. Tub 34. Stage direction 36. Big time 37. 1977 film about rival road-paving companies? 40. Morse code unit 41. 2020 U.S. Open winner 43. Half of 12? 44. Greek letter that rhymes with three others 45. "The Honeymooners" role 48. "Piece o' cake!" 50. 1954 film about the optimal time frame for harvesting corn? Rear Window 52. "Uncle!" 56. Three, auf Deutsch 57. Lucy of "Kill Bill" 58. Cairn components 59. Pitching stat 60. 1984 film about federal agents who go after homeowners who throw drug parties? 62. Debussy's " La ___" 63. Sticker words on election day 64. Gaelic 65. Things that might pop up 66. Dovetail pieces 67. Memphis record label DOWN 1. Tread heavily 2. Lilac or lavender 3.Giant wrestler 4. Hardens, as steel 5. Musical composition 6. "Delta of Venus" writer Anais 7. Label anew 8. Muse of astronomy 9. Progeny 10. Feathered layer? 11. Colorado film festival town 12. Blabbed 13. From the Vatican 18. [Gasp!] 22. Kimono sashes 24. Way off 25. Transcript figs. 27. Latin eggs 29. Paleo- opposite 30. Shared top billing 31. Behind on payments 33. Half of 12? 35. Pilot's prognostication 37. Approach the runway 38. From the beginning 39. Mens ___ (legal term) 42. Fuzzy fruit 44. Fertilized egg cells 46. Smitten 47. Stock ticker inventor 49. Doesn't play 50. Swelling 51. ___lunch 53. Immobile 54. It often follows vice 55. County in southeastern England 58. Head matter? 60. Top ten tune 61. Big ___ gؼ"'I*gؼ"'I) בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://jUZ-ryl6kibzAHjqtwUDsV3TaRl1UU-klFbfL1jqJ2o`I׉ 7cassandra://JszsPTvYPLQN0HG_vjpcacEuoZMGPBocC4H0j6e-hTcͽ`׉ 7cassandra://MeUaPhFivVMcrxO6YKa7omtnEHs9n-kVB1a5ktLfspo8`g"'Oq׉E 12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS POETRY Steal our breath SYDNEY SCHIMMEL Groundcover contributor I’m hardly qualified to talk about this. But I don’t wear sunglasses anymore So we shall begin. They want to steal our breath. They do so over time so when it happens, we do not know it was them. In a world so boundless and abundant we self-impose limitations on infinity Blind to the truth they walk around Seeing only half of the Light we radiate. Those that wear these sunglasses change their perception of what is real We don’t have to live this way. If we just learn to take them off we reveal Light beyond the clouds we were always meant to see We disguise this reality as “normal.” Suffering is normal. Disease and war are normal. This was never our true state Clever to keep truth hidden in plain sight We did not know it was missing. But once in a while . . . We break away and answer our Calling to return to source, unmistakably rooted in loving presence. We care for thinking far too much to accept ourselves into a world our bodies don’t understand We are heavenly in the middle of hell. I finally understand that preacher was right when he told me humanity was broken. Cast his words aside while I cleaned dirty lenses See when one sees the truth, Even a glimpse, it is ripped just as quickly Stardust made we cannot deny our heritage They cannot steal what we have For it can only be taken when we accept who we are. Eloise Hospital archives TOMMY SPAGHETTI Groundcover vendor No. 669 Larceny As spring lies dreaming in her tree top lair Sly summer steals the rosebuds from her hair As summer pins the blossoms to her gown Fall querulous fingers turn them brown As Autumn trails them crumbling in her train Mad winter sweeps them off in gusts of rain And as we watch this wanton swift display The thieving seasons steal our lives away. — S.A. Levitt, Pinky Corner News (1962) This poem was found in the wreckage of Eloise Psychiatric Hospital in the 1980s. It was part of a newsletter published by patients and faculty at Eloise. Not sure who S.A. Levitt was/is, but I memorized this poem 40 years ago. Fire and ice VERONICA SANITATE Groundcover contributor April snow explodes like drunken fireworks, drives at us, devours us in our night drive; claws through the dismal dark tunnel, singling us out, insisting upon existence. Here, in your face, Mr. Mesmer. (He couldn’t master this entrancement or enhance it.) Spellbound, we fall, victims into vortex. Titanic flakes dart at us, then disintegrate, the way sparks of fire consume themselves, dissipate. Flares of snow singe like ice that scalds our skin. Awareness is the thing that makes us gasp or takes the breath away — the way fire or ice can cleanse or exterminate. Sometimes you can decide. APRIL 4, 2025 Defined EJ WILSON Groundcover contributor Female Told what I am Told what I am not Told to smile Lied to Lied about Laid on Used Held back Held down Ignored Dismissed Denied Held hostage Starved Beaten Raped Broken Justified by their belief I am female Copyright 2023 ׉ 7cassandra://MeUaPhFivVMcrxO6YKa7omtnEHs9n-kVB1a5ktLfspo8`gؼ"'I+׉E 6APRIL 4, 2025 POETRY The Beautiful One DONNA MCGAUGHY Groundcover vendor No. 310 You are my beautiful one, and you’ll always be my special love. You have blessed me from the very start, and I love you with all of my heart. Most of all your life people picked on you, but you always managed to survive through it. You’re a sweet, harmless, kind person, that’s why you always manage to get your blessings. Somehow God sends a blessing to me, and that lets me know that He loves me. When the times seem that things ain't gonna never work out, I know in my heart to just have faith, Keep my head up high, because my Lord in the sky has never let me say goodbye! So with that my beautiful one, you’ll always be my one and only one! I love you, my beautiful one! GROUNDCOVER NEWS 13 Mister PAOLO GABRIEL POQUIZ U-M student contributor Mister, muppet, loaf, Lying belly up and arms twitching, snoring softly as you soak dwindling rays of sun Mister, guardian, oaf, Sitting proud upon my stomach, watchful eyes attuned to the kitchen’s piercing shouts Mister, my good friend, Remember when we drove miles through the hills to get you, When we sheared the knots in your hide, and Washed the tobacco stench clinging to your fur? Mister, gentleman, joy, Eager to play, or fight, with the neighbors' twin Dobermans, or your reflection in the window Mister, troublemaker, cowboy, Digging through the cabinet to find somewhere warm, safe from the lonely air Mister, my first brother, I remember Pa threw you across the bathroom, and Ma kept you in that kennel for years, till they let you on their bed All while I couldn’t find the strength to leave my room. Mister, rat, old man, Soldiering under the bed on late nights, squirming through shoeboxes and lost baseball gear Mister, buddy, biggest fan, Let out, lost by Them on rainy nights–I look for hours just to see you stand gleeful on the porch Mister, my heart and my warmth, Why do you patiently press your head firm Against the broken door in this blackened house, Till you return to my side, and let the light back in? I wish I was a song by you DIANA FEAD Groundcover contributor I wish I was a song by you Your lips would sing me all day through My words would capture your feelings in rhyme A melody lilting forever in time. I wish I was your fleeting dream Dancing across your mind’s sunny stream I’d paint your colors and shine your smile On clouds lifting us higher mile by mile. I wish I was your beating heart Our love ever flowing, never apart, In concert reminding us all our lives Our promise to keep our love always alive. PUZZLE SOLUTIONS gؼ"'I,gؼ"'I+ בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://H7ilNqurZYnxgO6T9IfXhsqTv_o-OcvSE7tDLSzsRVc h`I׉ 7cassandra://FCYBDqGyraGrn6cv-2s-sJ1xmhAZsnBR989vwDa0VywAr`׉ 7cassandra://H6NQmIioy2wfLU9MbF8j0qVynNS0ZT_54EGSFdJ8c1MV`g"'Ox׉E14 GROUNDCOVER NEWS COMMUNITY APRIL 4, 2025 Big House 5K leverages the “Michigan Difference” for local partners LINDSAY CALKA Publisher Charity 5Ks happen almost every weekend in Washtenaw County, but only one day a year do 10,000 people run through downtown Ann Arbor. The morning of Sunday, April 13, over 10,000 people will participate in the University of Michigan Athletic Department’s Big House 5K. The race begins on State Street, courses through the University of Michigan’s central campus, then finishes on the 50-yard line of Michigan Stadium. For 12 years the goal has been simple: raise money and raise awareness for local nonprofits. Since the inception of the race, the U-M Athletic Department has raised over $1.4 million for charity beneficiaries. This year they are once again on track to accomplish their goal. Last year, the event completely sold out in 15 days. In response, this year, they added 2,500 additional spots — but registration still sold out, this time in 13 days. The Athletic Department would like to expand further, but there is just not enough space. Meghann Oblak, Director of Partnerships, elaborated, “There is a hard cap at 12,500. Nearly one third of all participants finish within the same 20 minutes, so any more than 12,500 will hurt the experience.” To continue to drive donations without growing past a safe and comfortable number of runners, the Big House 5K has added extra fundraising opportunities such as the Big House Brunch, a ticketed breakfast served at the end of the race, and set up optional direct donations to beneficiaries through RunSignUp, the registration platform. When asked how the Athletic Department selects the six nonprofits from many deserving applicants, Oblack shared they partner with the U-M Ginsberg Center to pick based on immediate needs in Washtenaw County. “Working with Ginsberg allows us to be responsive, flexible to create the highest impact possible. Only selecting six beneficiaries allows us to provide the organizations with a gift that really moves the needle.” Read more about this year’s six beneficiaries below. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. “Bigs” volunteer their time to provide one-on-one support and guidance to their “Littles.” Their matches build strong bonds through shared activities and experiences, such as playing sports, going to museums, or simply talking and hanging out. BBBS knows that after just one year of mentoring, the quality of classroom work is higher for Littles than their non-mentored peers. They are less likely to skip school, engage in misconduct, or use illegal substances, and they report feeling an increased sense of self-esteem and self-confidence. Mentoring relationships have a lasting impact on a child's life, helping them to overcome challenges, achieve goals, and reach their full potential. Community Family Life Center Community Family Life Center is a neighborhood-based, non-profit entity providing crucial services and support to economically disadvantaged families in the greater Ypsilanti area. CFLC’s Foundations Preschool Foundations Preschool of Washtenaw County is committed to Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley has been a catalyst for stabilizing see BIG HOUSE page 16  programs primarily focus on supporting the youth and addressing the root causes of institutional inequity including poverty, systemic racism and trauma. Their core programs include afterschool and summer programs supporting the youth, family focused mental health services, food distribution, and health and wellness programs. The Youth Enrichment After School Program provides support to children and their families with personalized math and reading tutors, STEMS program, energizing physical activities, nutritious meals and much more. The Corner Health Center The Corner Health Center is an integrated health and wellness clinic in Downtown Ypsilanti for anyone ages 12-25 (and their children). Their mission is to inspire young people to live and sustain healthy lives by providing them with judgment-free affordable health and wellness care and education. At The Corner they believe "No Insurance? No problem!" Goals are to enable young people to get exceptional health care, reduce risk-taking, understand the long-range implications of their behaviors and choices, and participate in and take responsibility for their own health and well-being. The Corner Health Center’s services include primary clinical care, maternal health, psychiatry, gynecology/reproductive health, gender-affirming care, fatherhood support, support groups, free local food pantry, and so much more! 2024 starting line. Photo submitted increasing accessibility to equitable, high-quality care and early education for underserved and historically marginalized families. The organization provides care that ensures accessibility for families, empowering them to work full-time with reliable, year-round childcare. To maximize the impact, Foundations offers tuition support, free meals and snacks, support in navigating family assistance programs, a supplemental food pantry, in-house translation services, and an in-house social worker. Foundations envisions a community where all families have their unique needs understood, valued and met. Girls Group For over 20 years, Girls Group has helped socioeconomically disadvantaged youth create the educational foundation and build the tools to graduate high school, become first generation college students, and mentor others that may be on the same journey. Programs span middle school through early adulthood, focusing on academic readiness, social-emotional life skills, financial education and community service. In the words of a Girls Group youth, “Girls Group has encouraged me to dream bigger and set ambitious goals. Girls Group provided the tools and mentors that gave me the necessary support to make college a realistic option for me.” Habitat for Humanity Huron Valley ׉ 7cassandra://H6NQmIioy2wfLU9MbF8j0qVynNS0ZT_54EGSFdJ8c1MV`gؼ"'I-׉E!SAPRIL 4, 2025 HISTORY GROUNDCOVER NEWS 60th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery: How 1965 Voting Rights Act was won WILL SHAKESPEARE Groundcover vendor No. 258 What is known as the famous “March from Selma to Montgomery” actually refers to three major marches. The distance between Selma and Montgomery, two cities in Alabama, is 54 miles. A determined group of civil rights activists decided to march from Selma to the state capital in Montgomery. The day was March 7, 1965. Approximately 600 people joined in the march from Selma across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The march was led by John Lewis, President of the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee, and Reverend Hosea Williams, a civil rights leader from Southern Christian Leadership Council. That day is described by historians and journalists as “Bloody Sunday.” Why? According to the online magazine Scenic America, “The group of 600 marchers was brutally attacked and forced back. Activist John Lewis had his skull fractured, and was one of the 58 people admitted to the hospital for injuries sustained during the event. The violence was shown on television and drew many civil rights and religious leaders for the next attempt.” The “Bloody Sunday” of March 7, 1965, was not successful in reaching Montgomery from Selma, but it was successful in awakening the consciousness of many Americans to the Black struggle for voting rights and other civil rights which a majority of the American citizens enjoyed and took for granted. Later, on March 9, more than 2,000 marchers attempted to march from Selma, across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, to Montgomery. At night, they were stopped by sheriff deputies and a group of segregationists. Scenic America Magazine said a young white male was beaten to death for his peaceful protest. Selma to Montgomery marches timeline USA Today republished a March 5, 2015 article written by historian Rick Harmon of The Montgomery Advertiser. It provided a brilliant timeline of the Selma to Montgomery marches. We know that the March 7 “Bloody Sunday” march did not make it beyond the Edmund Pettus Bridge because of violence and brutality. John Lewis and other protestors were met by Alabama State troopers, some on horseback, and Sheriff Jim Clark and his deputies. Those Alabama State troopers and the Dallas County law enforcement officials met the marchers at the bridge and insisted that they disperse. We know what happened to the peaceful protestors when they refused to disperse. They were severely beaten up! According to USA Today, “The national coverage of the event galvanized the country, and King called for volunteers from throughout the nation to come to Selma for another march on March 9.” The March 9 march was led by Rev./ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When the marchers came to Pettus Bridge, local KKK members attacked them. Writing about this march, at which Dr. King asked protesters to disperse at the Pettus Bridge, writer Rick Harmon said, “James Reeb, a Unitarian Universalist minister who had come from Boston and marched in the protest earlier in the day, was beaten severely by KKK members. He died of head injuries two days later at the age of 38.” The March 9 event is described by historians as the “Turnaround Tuesday.” On March 15, President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed a joint session of Congress and showed his support for a Voting Rights Bill. He even quoted a popular civil rights mantra, “We Shall Overcome …” On March 8, 1965, the day after the “Bloody Sunday,” Attorney Fred Gray and SCLC filed a lawsuit titled, “Hosea Williams v George Wallace” before Judge Frank M. Johnson of the Montgomery U.S. District Court. The lawsuit was about the safety of marchers. On March 17, 1965, Judge Frank M. Johnson ruled in favor of the marchers’ rights. Judge Johnson’s favorable ruling took account of the U.S. Justice Department’s plan to protect peaceful protesters during the Selma-to-Montgomery march. On March 18, 1965, Wallace condemned Judge Johnson and said the State of Alabama would need federal government funding in order to provide security to the marchers. Subsequently, he sent a telegram to President Lyndon Johnson which asked for help with security for marchers. Writer Rick Harmon wrote, “March 20, 1965 — President Johnson issues an executive order authorizing the federal use of the Alabama National Guard to supply protection. He also sends 1,000 military policemen and 2,000 Army troops to escort the march from Selma.” He continued, “March 21, 1965 about 8,000 people assemble at Brown Chapel [in Selma] before starting the five-day march to Montgomery's capitol.” Dr. King had called for a third march on March 21 from Selma to Mongomery but only if marchers would be safe and protected. After District Judge Johnson’s ruling and President Johnson’s executive order, the movement and the march for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were back on track. The marchers were on the road again, walking 54 miles in five days. As documented by Rick Harmon in USA Today, on March 24, 1965, “Marchers rest[ed] at the city of St. Jude, a Catholic Church and School Complex on the outskirts of Montgomery, where Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Joan Baez, Sammy Davis Jr., Nina Simone, Frankie Laine and Peter, Paul, and Mary performed at a ‘Stars for Freedom’ rally.” Conclusion Stanford University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Educational Institute provides us with an excellent publication titled, “Selma to Montgomery March (March 21, 1965 to March 25, 1965).” It said that when thousands of non-violent demonstrators led by Martin Luther King arrived at the steps of the capitol in Montgomery, they were greeted by our nation’s Dreamerin-Chief: Dr. King. King gave an address which concluded the march from Selma to Montgomery. He said, “There never was a moment in American history more honorable and more inspiring than the pilgrimage of clergymen and laymen of every race and faith pouring into Selma to face danger at the side of its embattled Negroes.” Stanford Papers reported, “During the final rally, held on the steps of the capitol in Montgomery, King proclaimed: 'The end we seek is a society that can live with itself, a society that can live with its conscience. And that will be a day not of the white man, not of the black man. That will be the day of man as man.’” The Stanford Papers also noted that the Alabama Governor rebuffed a petition which the marchers attempted to deliver to him. At the conclusion of the events in Montgomery, ferry boats started to carry marchers back to Selma at night. Sadly, Mrs. Viola Luzzo who was described as a housewife from Michigan, “who had come to Alabama to volunteer, was shot by four Ku Klux Klan. [Civil rights activist and Federal prosecutor John] Doar later prosecuted three Klansmen for conspiring to violate her civil rights.” President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law on August 6, 1965. Dr. King and several civil rights leaders were present in the White House during the ceremony. President Johnson talked about his outrage over the violence and brutality in Selma. He said that the right to vote is “the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.” A few days later, during Dr. King’s annual address to the Southern Christian Leadership Council in his capacity as the President, he made the following observations: “Montgomery led the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and 1960; Birmingham inspired the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Selma produced the Voting Rights Legislation of 1965.” The Supreme Court’s June 25, 2013 decision on Holder v. Shelby County noted that Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU said in 2013, that SCOTUS decision “swung open the door for states to enact restrictive voting laws, making it harder for people of color to vote.” Since 2023, millions of Americans have urged Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. What would this new legislation do? According to Wikipedia, “The bill would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, most notably, its requirement for states and jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations to seek federal approval before enacting certain changes to their voting laws.” 15 gؼ"'I.gؼ"'I- בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://vRMsy0HmNC-846MLQdxDQPL8AY7AP51nHPfaN495V1A`׉ 7cassandra://BjF49OSiJUnkSCWOHuFVTKIBUiiMPIknDtLNzSZe4ec͌7`h׉ 7cassandra://Sn0AU9hC0SlAYcsC7WvgiHmOUyqZMTO_i9qgZFdnnO4-g`g"'Oנg"'O{̀9׉H1http://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/bighouse5k%20Gׁ ׁ rנg"'O|9׉H1http://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/bighouse5k%20Gׁ ׁ rנg"'Oua 9ׁHhttp://PEOPLESFOOD.COOPׁ ׁ Јנg"'Ò9ׁHhttp://mgoblue.com/ׁ ׁ Ј׉E16 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FOOD Sweet potatoes with maple syrup glaze ELIZABETH BAUMAN Groundcover contributor Ingredients: 2 large sweet potatoes 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons, plus 1 teaspoon maple syrup 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar Sea salt Black pepper Directions: Peel potatoes and dice into ¾ cubes. Place the sweet potatoes with two tablespoons of water and three tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan. Cover and cook over medium heat for six minutes. Remove the lid, add remaining oil, butter, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Lightly toss and spread in one layer in the pan. Saute uncovered over medium heat until tender (13-15 minutes), be sure to toss occasionally with a spatula. Turn off heat and drizzle potatoes with maple syrup and balsamic vinegar and toss well. Sprinkle potatoes with sea salt and serve hot. A delicious addition to many meals.  BIG HOUSE from page 14 homes, families and communities in Washtenaw County since 1989. Through its Home Ownership Program, Home Improvement Program, and Community Development program, Habitat works to create and sustain affordable homeownership for low- to mid-income families and individuals. Habitat utilizes donations and volunteers to build homes, secure futures, and strengthen communities. Every year, six energy-efficient homes are APRIL 4, 2025 built to provide affordable housing for qualified local families and individuals in need of decent, safe and affordable housing. Habitat also serves households of low- to mid-income with critical home repairs, weatherization and modification improvements to ensure health, safety and stability. Registration for the 2025 Big House 5K is closed, but volunteering opportunities are still open. Volunteers receive a gift and hot meal during their shift. Sign up online at mgoblue.com/ sports/2017/6/16/bighouse5k USE THIS COUPON ANYTIME $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 5/30/2025 ׉ 7cassandra://Sn0AU9hC0SlAYcsC7WvgiHmOUyqZMTO_i9qgZFdnnO4-g`gؼ"'I1׈Egؼ"'I2gؼ"'I1 ,April 4, 2025g ˁDؖ