Dear Alumni and Friends,
As president of a major university, I am often asked what keeps me awake at night. My answer is always the same: the safety and wellbeing of our students. This has been especially true in recent weeks as our country has experienced the latest incidents in a seemingly endless chain of mass shootings that have plagued the United States for far too long. My concern for our students and our community is not unique at U-M. It fuels the work of countless faculty and their research into gun violence, crime, child abuse, racism and more.
In this edition of Michigan Impact, you’ll read about the university’s Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and its efforts to address the root causes of, and potential solutions for, the most important issues surrounding firearm violence. This is a dire national problem that we need to solve, and it should make us all proud that U-M researchers are leading the way in addressing it.
For our campus community, and for all communities, a key element in creating an atmosphere of safety and wellbeing is promoting inclusion. It’s critical that everyone is welcomed, seen and celebrated. Jim Toy understood this. As a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ rights at U-M and beyond, and as the co-founder (with Cindy Gair) of the office that would later become the Spectrum Center, he reminded us all that with love, respect, and a shared sense of purpose, we can accomplish great things together. He would say, “We are climbing the mountain of justice, hand in hand!”
Jim passed away earlier this year after decades of working to make our community more tolerant, fair and inclusive. This Pride Month, let us hope we all can draw lessons from how he lived his life, and work together, across differences, toward a safer, healthier and more just society for everyone.
Sincerely,
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A federal grant awarded to the U-M Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention will expand and strengthen its research pipeline by launching a postdoctoral research training program and building evidence to inform local, state and national leaders about best practices.
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U-M Vice President for Research Rebecca Cunningham, MD, works with groups across U-M and beyond to advance solutions that reduce firearm injuries and deaths. She explores the importance of firearm injury prevention research in this Q&A.
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Cynthia Ewell Foster, a U-M clinical psychologist, has been working with groups across Marquette County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to develop and implement a new firearm safety education program tailored for families living in rural communities.
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A U-M study that tracked the outcomes of students from kindergarten to adulthood found that increased investment in Michigan public schools pays off through reductions in contact with the criminal justice system.
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Participating in organized and group activities may play a key role in preventing firearm violence among youth who have been exposed to violence, according to a new U-M study.
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U-M School of Public Health professor Kate Bauer discusses the difficulties families are experiencing as the national infant formula shortage continues, and offers strategies to navigate the shortage.
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The Michigan Healthy Nail Salon Cooperative, led by U-M faculty, investigates hazards and identifies solutions to ensure a healthy and safe environment for nail salon owners and workers.
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Over the last 19 years, under the leadership of University of Michigan alumni, the Detroit Riverwalk has been transformed from a dilapidated warehouse district to a popular destination that attracts three million diverse visitors annually.
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The university's second annual Juneteenth Symposium was held June 15-18 with the theme "Celebrate, Educate, Inspire" to emphasize the importance of advocacy. Women of Color Task Force Juneteenth Chair Rachel Dawson explains more on Michigan Minds.
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The University of Michigan Spectrum Center was established more than 50 years ago as the first center in higher education to support LBGTQ+ students on campus. The Center continues to lead in developing student services and programs through an intersectional lens.
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Did we miss you last month? Check out the May 2022 Michigan Impact:
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The Michigan Impact newsletter is a monthly communication highlighting the impact of University of Michigan research and projects throughout the state of Michigan. To learn more visit PublicEngagement.UMich.edu.
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University of Michigan | Website | #UMichImpact
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