Health and Human Services Professor leads Environmental Tour visit to Detroit city sites

DETROIT, MI - On April 9th, 2016 UM-Dearborn Health and Human Services Assistant Professor Natalie Sampson lead a group of nearly 20 people —students, faculty and community members— who took part in an Environmental Justice Tour of the Motor City. The tour bus, funded through a grant from the Hub for Teaching and Learning Resources, visited eight sites in the city, including the Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Marathon Oil Refinery and the Detroit Municipal Waste Incinerator.

The Environmental Tour Bus made a stop at the Detroit Wastewater
TreatmentPlant

 “You can share stories about this in class all day long. But when you go out and see it and talk to residents, there is much more of a lasting impact,” said Sampson, who offered the tour as part this semester’s Introduction to Environmental Health course. 

“We’ve been discussing the science and the policy in class, but getting on the ground and seeing how it all plays out in the real world is important."

Sampson, who frequently collaborates on city environmental efforts, invited two of her Detroit activist colleagues— Kimberly Hill Knott from Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice and Vincent Martin from Human Synergy Works— to narrate the tour and answer questions.

Kimberly Hill Knott, Director of Policy at Detroiters
Working for Environmental Justice, narrates the tour
and answer questions from students.

Hill Knott said the nonprofit organization gives tours frequently. And the effect of the tour is sobering.

“We take lawmakers, company heads, hip-hop artists on tours like this to see what is going on around our city,” she said. “By the end of the tour, there is usually silence because people are thinking about what they just saw. We want to bring awareness, so that change can come next.”

The Delray Neighborhood was one of the most impactful sites for the visitors. Professor Sampson mentioned that "The juxtaposition of the kids' playscape with the wastewater treatment plant is powerful". Scott Brines and Vincent Martin offered important context about what it means to live with industry and commercial traffic in your neighborhood, as well as the work it takes to advocate for your community in this context.

Despite the many environmental problems in Detroit, Sampson, Hill Knott and Martin also wanted participants to understand that many are working hard to address threats to environmental health and justice.

 

Students at Earthworks Urban Farms

The tour stopped at Earthworks Urban Farms,  a 2.5-acre certified organic farm in the middle of the city,  and the Mack Avenue Green T Project, a land reuse concept where blighted structures are removed, art is installed and gardens are grown.

 Arriving back to campus, senior Margaret Kelley said the tour was a reality check—one she was glad to have.

“Even with Detroit’s revitalization, people in the neighborhoods have been left out of the conversation,” said Kelley, a health policy studies major. “Making people, like myself—who was a suburbanite my whole life—aware of these environmental and quality of life issues is really important. And I think it will change the conversation going forward.“

Read the full story at The Reporter

UM-Dearborn distinguishes seven CEHHS students as 2016 Difference Makers

DEARBORN, MI - Seven students from the College of Education, Health, and Human Services have been selected as 2016 Difference Makers:

• Shema Aman
• Thomas Boik
• Evelyn Cramton
• Aaron Kinzel
• Freda Shatara
• Emma Watters
• Robin Wilson 

 Annually UM-Dearborn distinguishes 50 students who are at the forefront of their fields. They are improving the lives of others and making an impact here in our local communities. Nominated by faculty and staff, these individuals aren't just outstanding students and alumni, they embody academic and professional achievement, integrity and leadership.

The College of Education, Health, and Human Services congratulates these outstanding students and feels proud to have them as part of the CEHHS family.

Get to know more of them:
 
- Shema Aman (Master of Arts in Education/Reading Specialist)

- Thomas Boik (French, Spanish, Education)

 - Evelyn Cramton (Social Studies/Mathematics)

 - Aaron Kinzel (Education)

 - Freda Shatara (Early Childhood, Mathematics in Elementary Education)

- Emma Waters (Public Health)

 - Robin Wilson (Reading/English Language Arts)

To learn more about the class of 2016 Difference Makers, visit the Difference Makers website.

Dr. Lisa Martin receives the Susan B. Anthony Campus Award

DEARBORN, MI - University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Commission for Women honored Lisa Martin and Beth Morrison during the organization’s annual Susan B. Anthony Awards Dinner on April 7, 2016 at Park Place in Dearborn. The awards recognize a member of the campus family and a member of the local community whose work exemplify the dedication of Susan B. Anthony on behalf of women. During the event that included Congresswoman Debbie Dingell as the keynote speaker, Dr. Martin received the Campus Award and Beth Morrison, president and CEO of HAVEN, recieved the community award. 

Lisa Martin, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Beth Morrison

"It's such an honor to receive this year's Susan B. Anthony Campus Award" - Dr. Martin said. "I am grateful to the Commission for Women for their recognition and I look forward to a long future career where I plan to continue working on issues of gender equity on campus.  It was a wonderful night, with inspiring speeches by Rep. Debbie Dingell and Provost Davy, and Geri Barrons."

 
Lisa Martin, holds a joint appointment in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services (CEHHS) as professor of Health and Policy Studies; and the College of Arts, Science and Letters (CASL) as professor of Womens' and Gender Studies. She has revitalized the curriculum of both Health Policy Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies.
 

 

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell participated as keynote
speaker at the 2016 Susan B. Anthony Awards dinner

Dr. Martin is a member of the SOAR Advisory Board and also serves on the Center for the Education of Women Scholarship Committee, both of which provide financial support to socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Through her directorship of the Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL) program, she has been able to connect students to numerous campus and community opportunities that are transforming students’ career paths and lives and developing their skill as leaders for social change.

As a result of these efforts, WILL students now lead the campus effort to end gender-based violence in organizing the successful “Take Back the Night” events, as well as their work on the current campus climate survey and “Abuse Hurts” campaign. Under Lisa’s leadership, WILL has put together a mentoring program for at-risk girls at Vista Maria as a way to encourage these girls to see college as an option.

Lisa has demonstrated leadership in the development of a series of site visits that connect students with local leaders such as the CEO of the Coalition on Temporary Shelter, the CEO of Walbridge Industries, and the President and CEO of HAVEN. These site visits give students the opportunity to learn from successful women leaders and strengthen our connections with community organizations. These connections have led to internships, mentorships, and employment for students.

As a result of these and other initiatives, Dr. Lisa Martin is positively impacting life at UM-Dearborn, improving our community, and changing lives of our students.

About Susan B. Anthony Campus and Community Awards
The Commission for Women (CFW) present Susan B. Anthony Campus and Community Awards annually to recognize a member of our campus family and a member of the local community, whose lives and deeds exemplify the dedication, fortitude, political agitation and involvement of Susan B. Anthony on behalf of women.  Anthony forced a nation to recognize human rights, challenged gross inequities endured by women in our society.

The first Susan B. Anthony Campus Award was presented at a Luncheon in 1979.  The Susan B. Anthony Community Award was established in 2004.  Today, both awards are presented at an awards dinner program which includes a silent auction fundraiser.

‘Ride the Tiger:’ CEHHS faculty develop resources for PBS documentary about bipolar disease

DEARBORN, MI - College of Education, Health, and Human Services Associate Dean Laura Reynolds and Professor Kim Killu have developed educational resources to complement Ride the Tiger: A Guide through the Bipolar Brain, a new documentary from Detroit Public Television (DPTV) that will air on PBS stations nationwide.

Professor Kim Killu and Associate Dean Laura Reynolds

“There are so many health concerns surrounding bipolar disease and health—individual health, community health and relational health,” Reynolds said. “Because of these concerns, there’s an educational need as well—a need to approach the broader population in terms of how we talk about and address mental health in this country.”

Ed Moore, executive producer of DPTV’s national documentary unit, said about this cooperation, "We are thankful for all the experts and individuals who shared their stories to make this film so valuable. We are also thankful to all our partners, especially University of Michigan-Dearborn for writing the curriculum for this film to provide students and educators with the tools necessary to talk about the film and the issue of bipolar disorder.”

The developed resources by Killu and Reynolds will be mailed to community, educational and religious organizations throughout the country along with a copy of the documentary. They also will be available to the general public on the Ride the Tiger website.

Reynolds and Killu also helped create short, online video clips, combing through hours of interview transcripts and organizing the materials by theme. They said the creative process—which began for them last year with a viewing of an early cut of the documentary—provided an opportunity to both learn from experts in a variety of fields and strengthen their enthusiasm for their own work.

All members of the UM-Dearborn community are invited to a special Ride the Tiger screening and discussion panel on campus on April 22. The College of Education, Health, and Human Services will host the event, which will focus on community resources and the collaborative relationships among community organizations.

Ride the Tiger premiered on PBS on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. The special UM-Dearborn screening and discussion panel will take place Thursday, April 22, at 9 a.m., in Fairlane Center South’s Michigan Room. To register for the event, visit CEHHS website.

Read full story in The Reporter.

Dean Janine Janosky visits the White House

From left to right: Catherine Oaker, Deputy Director "Let's Move"; Kevin Hagan,
CEO, American Diabetes Association; Janine Janosky, dean of UM-Dearborn
College of Education, Health, and Human Services; Carole Johnson, White House
Domestic Policy Council;  Jeff Levi, Professor of Health Management and Policy,
George Washington University

WASHINGTON, DC - CEHHS Dean Janine Janosky participated in the White House Domestic Policy Council’s “Making Health Care Better” series on Thursday, April 7. She was one of three participants in a panel presentation about diabetes and healthy lifestyles, moderated by Catherine Oakar, deputy director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign.

The "Making Health Care Better" series highlighted the significant progress made in improving the health system over the past seven years. This first event was focused on diabetes, and brought together experts on diabetes within and outside of government, individuals living with diabetes, and passionate diabetes activists. Through three panel discussions and a "lightning round" interview, the event focused on advancements in diabetes prevention, research, quality of care, and coverage.

The opening remarks were given my Patrick Conway, MD, Acting Deputy Principal Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The panel presentations addressed the progress made for those living with diabetes and heartfelt testimonies of living with diabetes from NFL players and advocates from the American Diabetes Association.

Dean Janosky participated on the panel discussion "Healthy Lifestyle" along with Cat Oakar, deputy director of Let's Move; Kevin Hagan, CEO of American Diabetes Association; Carole Johnson, White House Domestic Policy Council and Jeff Levi, professor or Health Management & Policy at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University.

The event ended with closing remarks from Mary Wakefield, Acting Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Dean Janosky is invited to the White House

DEARBORN, MI - Janine Janosky PhD, Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services has been honored with an invitation to participate on a panel at the White House on Thursday April 7, 2016.

Dean Janine Janosky

The White House Domestic Policy Council will host a five-part series entitled, "Making Health Care Better" as part of the World Health Organization's World Health Day 2016. The purpose is to highlight the significant progress made in improving the health system over the past seven years. The first event in this series will focus on advancements in diabetes prevention, research, and quality of care, and coverage.
 

The activities of this day will include an interview with Dr. Griffin Rodgers, Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and three panel discussions. Dean Janosky will participate on the panel discussion "Healthy Lifestyle". The group of panelists include:

Catherine Oakar (Moderator)

Deputy Director, First Lady Michelle Obama Let's Move Campaign

Senior Policy Advisory, White House

Kevin Hagan

CEO

American Diabetes Association 

Janine E. Janosky, PhD

Dean, College of Education, Health, and Human Services
University of Michigan-Dearborn 

Carole Johnson

White House Domestic Policy Council

Jeff Levi, PhD

Professor of Health Management & Policy
Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University

This is not the first time for Dean Janosky at the White House.  Three years ago, while serving as the Vice President and Head of the Center for Community Health Improvement at the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron, she was honored as a Champion of Change:Prevention and Public Health.

The event will be held on Thursday April 7, 2016 with the panel discussion scheduled for 3:45pm-4:20pm. The entire event runs 2:00pm-4:30pm and will be streamed on the CEHHS website.