Updates from the community engagement team at the
Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors
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Seeking SAGE Advice
If you have a concern about something happening in your neighborhood, do you know what you can do about it? We have heard that people want to learn more about how to protect their communities, reduce harm, improve health, and contribute to the decision-making process. In response, we have developed a training to educate people about how to advocate for themselves and their community. We are in the process of developing a senior-driven advocacy program titled, "Senior Advocates and Guardians of our Environment" (SAGE) in Detroit. At the Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors (CURES), the focus of our advocacy work of the Community Engagement team has been to help individuals learn how to participate in decision-making about their neighborhoods and the City. If you would like to help inform an advocacy program please click here.
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What is advocacy?
A general definition of advocacy is, “public support for or recommendation of a policy.” More specifically, our approach to advocacy is to increase people’s ability to influence policies and practices that preserve, protect, and improve the well-being of their community. Environmental health is a local matter, and we believe that Detroit’s older residents are a key resource for helping to preserve and protect their neighborhoods and community and the best line of defense against harm. To make sure that people can participate in the advocacy process, we are developing a workshop tailored for people age 55 and older and seeking informants to help shape it.
If you would like to attend, participate, or provide insight on how this workshop should be developed please click here. If you have questions about this workshop please contact [email protected]
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Announcing our New Community
Advisory Board Leadership
Melissa Cooper-Sargent has been a member of the CURES CAB for several years. She leads the environmental education program for the Ecology Center in Michigan. Since 2001, she has worked at educating the public about avoiding toxins in their everyday lives, reaching thousands of people by utilizing multiple platforms, including blogs and print newsletters, in-person workshops, and education fairs. She leads the work in K-12 programming, in which she teaches students about systems change and environmental impacts, providing them the skills they need to be engaged citizens. For more information https://www.ecocenter.org/
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Donele Wilkins is our new CAB Co Chair. She has demonstrated servant leadership in her hometown Detroit for more than 30 years, first by leading the local movement for environmental justice on the front-lines, and secondarily by expanding to achieving true sustainability for all. Her leadership style has motivated many to take their place in a truly transforming movement. Her achievements include participating in the development and adoption of an Environmental Justice Policy in the state of Michigan and conceiving and launching the first Green Jobs Training Program in the city. She’s been an advocate for citizen involvement in Brownfield Redevelopment as well as other environmental policies, placing environmental stewardship on the agenda of many community leaders and decision makers. Ms. Wilkins is noted for inspiring young people to take a lead in their communities. As the founder of The Green Door Initiative, Ms. Wilkins plans to take not only the city of Detroit to the next level of environmental stewardship but the nation. For more information click on https://greendoorinitiative.org/
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Sandra Turner-Handy is our other new CAB Co Chair. She is a lifelong Detroiter and the mother of six children, 11 grand-children and one great-grandson. Ms. Turner-Handy is a graduate of WSU with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master of Science in Leadership Development and is completing a Doctorate of Education in Leadership Development. She has worked in the political arena as a chief of staff for Representative and Senator Hansen Clarke. That position motivated her to work and engage in the areas of social and environmental justice in the City of Detroit. Ms. Turner-Handy has found her niche in engagement of others to raise the quality of life for residents within the city. Ms. Turner-Handy is the Engagement Director for the Michigan Environmental Council, where she has worked for the past 12 years. She currently sits on a number of boards and coalitions whose goals are to mitigate environmental impacts, improve Detroiters’ health and improve the built environment through practices and policy changes. For more information https://www.environmentalcouncil.org/sandra_turner_handy
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Computer, Tablet, Smartphone, and Internet Connection Help
We have heard that people need help and support around technology like how to use a computer, social media, Zoom, and information on how to use and connect to the internet. We did some research and located some useful resources to help you stay socially connected while physically distancing. You can click on the buttons to the left that will link you to videos developed by the Detroit Area Agency on Aging and medical students at Wayne State University. We have also developed a manual on how to use a Chromebook, you can access that by clicking here.
Low Cost Internet Plans
Do you need to connect to the internet in your home? Call Human-I-T at 562-372-6925 to learn if you qualify to use the internet for free through something called a "hot-spot." There may also be low-cost internet plans available in your area based on whether or not you qualify.
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Who Can Get Vaccinated and
Where Should They Go?
The following groups can schedule an appointment by calling 313-230-0505 Monday-Friday from 9 am until 6 pm:
- A "Good Neighbor" who is age 55 or older who lives in Detroit or in Michigan, who drives a Detroit resident age 65 and older or someone who is 60 or older and has a chronic condition. The appointments must be made at the same time.
- Any resident of the City of Detroit who is age 65 or older (that means anyone born in 1955 or earlier).
- Childcare providers and K-12 school employees.
Where Can I Get Vaccinated?
For more information on vaccinations in general
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Connecting with You:
Community Engagement in a Pandemic
We usually provide lunch and share our videos and materials in small groups throughout Detroit, but now we are taking a new approach to engagement. We are scheduling phone and virtual meetings with small groups throughout Detroit because we are still trying to avoid large group gatherings. If you would like to learn more about any of the topics below, please contact Rochelle and we will come to your site to drop off fact sheets, a small bottle of hand sanitizer, and a $10 CVS gift card for each individual that you invite to attend the call. If you are interested please contact Rochelle Chapman at [email protected] or at (313) 577-5045. We look forward to this new way to stay connected with you. The topics we are currently focused on are below, but we have many more to offer. Please reach out to Rochelle to learn more:
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Delivering Information to
Your Doorstep
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We would like to get information to people who need it! If you would like us to drop off copies of our educational fact sheets to you or your small group, please contact us. We know that sharing paper copies is a good way to get information to your family and neighbors. We hope to get information out to as many individuals as we can to help promote good health, so please contact us to take advantage of our mobile delivery service!
Contact our Community Engagement Coordinator Rochelle Chapman,
at 313-577-5045.
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If you think this information will benefit people you know, please share it with people you know. You can also stay in touch with us on social media: |
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