by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
We will describe the process we went through to establish a fruit Orchard at our high school and explain the reasons we decided to do so and how this helps improve food justice for us and our community. By: Layla Covington, Ruba Kouj Aoghlan, Mojtaba Mahmoud, Chase...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
First, we will describe our place-based activities from garden club this year and then we will show you how to make and your own mint tea and plant seeds harvested from our garden! By: Aiden Bodary, Lizzy Moore, Ephraim Kisia, Chris Greer, and Zeke Matthews, 9th-10th...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
This timeline looks at how population has changed from 1930 to present day in Ypsilanti Michigan, and the consequences of those changes, including how the physical environment and opportunities for the population have changed. By: Danasia Murphy-Roberts, Basile...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Biology students will apply their Master Rain Gardener skills to assess and maintain the rain gardens on the Ypsilanti Community High School campus. As part of this hands-on environmental stewardship project, students will evaluate soil conditions and determine...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Students began the year looking at the quality of the water in Mill Creek by assessing what living things were (or weren’t) present. They have continued learning about biodiversity in many different biomes and now are looking at healthy and unhealthy Riparian...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Students will be presenting their ideas to help teach their community about fighting Climate Change including protecting trees, composting, saving monarchs, creating a weather kit and stopping plastic waste. By: Lily Lippens, Jace Cochran, Aidan Anderson, Julian...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Wylie Elementary students wondered about the Huron River Watershed. We came up with these questions: How can you tell if a river’s watershed is healthy? How healthy is the Huron River? What are ways that we can help the community keep the Huron River and Watershed...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Our third grade students received a challenge letter from the city of Dexter to help them pick out tree species to be handed out for the annual Arbor Day event. The city gave students criteria of how to pick the best trees- such as making sure they were native to...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
The Eber/Bowman Fourth Grade Team at Wylie Elementary in Dexter researched Michigan Watersheds and our favorite Michigan Rivers. We used data from The Huron River Watershed Council website to learn about the whole Huron River Creekshed. We learned about the healthy...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
The Eber/Bowman Fourth Grade Team at Wylie Elementary in Dexter researched Michigan Watersheds and our favorite Michigan Rivers. We researched the impact that humans have on rivers. We used the school Stream Table to create an unhealthy river and came up with ways...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 25, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Salina students spent the cardmarking learning about climate change’s impact on local communities. They discovered how vulnerability exacerbates the effects of climate change and recognized the crucial role of tree equity alongside climate justice in supporting...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
During this presentation students from Renaissance High School will talk about their relationship with the outdoors and how it has been impactful to them. The students will highlight outdoor experiences that they’ve had, including skiing/ snowboarding, ice...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
To remove CO2 emission from food waste consistently and decrease world hunger with a food waste solution. By: Desmond Cason, 11th Grade Teacher: Alexis Anderson, Renaissance High School, Detroit Type: Video Click on the links above to see other gallery entries with...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
The students will present the problem with our old playground. They will then describe the dream for our new outdoor learning space. They will answer questions, and finally they will have audience members complete a sheet that would include any other science, math or...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Students will display their proposed policy changes to the county’s sustainability plan based on what they have learned through an interdisciplinary unit on gentrification. By: Brailyn Hiemstra, Charles Harding, Jozef Jason, Harper Keelan, Bria Powell, Tamia...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Students will present on their argument for a more sustainable method of world conflict resolution based on their findings about air toxins and the Willow Run Bomber Plant contributions to WWII. By: Arianna Inman, Samuel Bentley, Emma Berehendt, Riley Eilertson,...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Students read Promises to Keep by Sharon Robinson, exploring the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson while engaging in deep conversations about race, equality, and social change. As part of their learning, students created a timeline to reflect on key events and...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Our 5th-grade class visited Freedom Dreams, a community land trust on Detroit’s East Side and the neighborhood where the Boggs School began. As the first class to explore the space, students engaged in hands-on activities that centered on community, creativity, and...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Students were invited to share original art, poetry, photography, and writing with Riverwise Magazine for their special collection on hope and healing. In a world filled with challenges, students took time to reflect, create, and express what matters most to them —...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Exploring the Detroit Riverwalk By: Madeline Kinkead, Merrill Kinkead, Grace Tanabe-Longton, Kairos Bloom, Jayce Pratt, 5th Grade Teacher: Spencer Price, James and Grace Lee Boggs School, Detroit Type: PowerPoint Click on the links above to see other gallery entries...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
The Lunch Enhancement Group is a student-led initiative focused on improving the lunch experience at school by giving students a stronger voice. Through collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership, students in this group are working to create a lunch environment...
by SEMIS Coalition | May 24, 2025 | Community Forum 2025
Students will engage the audience in an interactive activity that demonstrates the interconnectedness of Michigan ecosystems. They will highlight the roles of native plants and animals to illustrate these ecological relationships. By: Amelia Batkiewicz, Nali...
by SEMIS Coalition | Nov 15, 2024 | Blog
Help deepen our ecosystem of support! Since 2007, the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition has facilitated school-community partnerships rich with opportunities that develop students and educators as change makers for healthy ecological-social systems. Our...
by SEMIS Coalition | Aug 13, 2024 | Professional Development Materials, Summer Institute
The SEMIS Coalition’s Annual Summer Institute took place July 29 – August 2, 2024. It was filled with adventure, wonder, and community building. This four-day experience guided SEMIS Coalition teachers, community partners, and alumni through a Place-Based...
by SEMIS Coalition | Jun 20, 2024 | Blog, College / University, Community Partners, Environmental Sustainability, Events, Press Release, Transformational Partnership
Grant to expand high-demand, Eco-STEM Place-Based Learning across southeast Michigan. SEMIS Coalition plans to host engaging and educational events with the new funding. (Photo by Leisa Thompson) YPSILANTI — The Southeast Michigan Stewardship (SEMIS) Coalition at...
by SEMIS Coalition | Mar 15, 2024 | Blog, Civic Engagement
Director's Corner: Strengthening Democracy through Place-Based EducationElection season is upon us and it is tempting to focus on voting as the most important action a person can take to protect democracy. And indeed voting is critically important. But democratic...
by SEMIS Coalition | Jan 4, 2024 | Blog, Grants / Funding, Place-Based Education
Community care grows from common ground.Our 20K goal was met thanks to your support! As we start off 2024, the year that I transition out of the directorship—a position I’ve dedicated a good portion of my career to—I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on my own...
by SEMIS Coalition | Dec 5, 2023 | Blog, Events, Place-Based Education
Image Description: Five James & Grace Lee Boggs School Students and their educator, Jacinda Bowman, after their presentation titled “How Student-Led Environmental Justice Teams Organized the First Annual Boggs Earth Day Event.” Photo taken at the 2023...
by SEMIS Coalition | Nov 21, 2023 | Blog, Civic Engagement, College / University, Community Partners, Environmental Sustainability, Events, Gratitude
In nature, we see the beauty of succession, where ecosystems evolve over time, each generation building upon the legacy of the last. As stewards of our environment, we too must invest in a sustainable future for the generations to come.The SEMIS Coalition is dedicated...
by SEMIS Coalition | Nov 1, 2023 | Blog, College / University, Humanizing Education
During this incredibly painful and difficult time in the world, we would like to amplify this message from the President at EMU:October 18, 2024 “To the Eastern Michigan University community, As we return from what I hope was a restful Fall Break, it’s incumbent...
by SEMIS Coalition | Oct 27, 2023 | Blog, College / University, Environmental Sustainability, Events, Press Release
NOAA Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program announced $941,100 in funding for seven environmental education projects throughout the Great Lakes basin. Great Lakes B-WET awards are funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative....
by SEMIS Coalition | Aug 17, 2023 | Blog, Summer Institute
Image Description: Attendees stare up at an unusual sighting of a fish skull that had been dropped by a bird of prey into a decaying tree trunk at the Detroit River International Wildlife RefugeThe SEMIS Coalition’s Annual Summer Institute took place July 24-27,...
by SEMIS Coalition | Jul 18, 2023 | Blog, Environmental Sustainability, Press Release
NOAA Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program announced $941,100 in funding for seven environmental education projects throughout the Great Lakes basin. Great Lakes B-WET awards are funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative....
by SEMIS Coalition | May 28, 2023 | Community Forum 2023, Student Gallery
Wylie fourth graders were learning about the Michigan Legislative Process and discovered that House Bill #6382 had been introduced to the House of Representatives in September 2022. This is a bill to change the Michigan State Bird from Robin to Kirtland’s Warbler....
by SEMIS Coalition | May 20, 2023 | Community Forum 2023, Student Gallery
In this video, we will be discussing how we can keep our community healthy and safe. By: David Nzoma and Leland Taylor, 8th Grade Teacher: Kimberly Finley Theme: Civic Engagement Subject: Science Type: Video...
