The SEMIS Coalition Blog
The place to connect, learn and share perspectives in place-based learning
Welcome to our SEMIS Coalition blog! A commons-based digital space for shared resources, images, and more. It’s a place for you to ask questions, interact with peers, and keep current with the latest Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition activities.
Browse through the most recent posts below, or browse past posts by category via the toolbar on the right.
2024 Year End Campaign
Help deepen our ecosystem of care! 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 Coalition...
Director’s Corner November 2024
Dear SEMIS Coalition, Many years ago, I attended a training that opened with an invitation onto ‘the balcony’. This balcony wasn’t a physical place, but a metaphorical higher vantage point on which to rest, reflect, and see the bigger picture. The trainer told us that...
Art with Purpose: Tolu’s Story
Art with Purpose: Tolu's StoryOn Monday, October 14th, I had the privilege of interviewing Toluwaleyi’ Meadows, a 12th grader at Renaissance High School. I first met Tolu last year in Emily Phillips’ IB Biology class, where they were selected to participate in the...
Director’s Corner October 2024
Hello SEMIS Coalition! There are several points every year that bring the word ‘transformation’ to mind for me, but none so readily as fall. Watching the trees transform from bright greens to even brighter shades of red, orange, and yellow; watching fields high with...
Indigenous Ways of Knowing Initiative
Why Indigenous Ways of Knowing Initiative The Southeast Michigan Stewardship (SEMIS) Coalition is a coalition of teachers, community partners, administrators, and students that come together to address social and ecological issues in their classrooms using a...
Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM) Interview with Janiala and Harry
Youth Voice and Power with members of Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM)Earlier this month, I had the privilege of interviewing two members of DAYUM (Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan), each offering unique insights into the organization’s evolution and...
Director’s Corner September 2024
Dear SEMIS Coalition members, Welcome to the start of another new school year! We’ve been hearing so much from our teachers and community partners over the past few weeks about your plans for the upcoming year and we are so excited for all of the place-based learning...
Director’s Corner August 2024
I hope everyone has been able to enjoy their favorite parts of summer in Southeast Michigan and to find time for rest, reflection, and rejuvenation amidst all of your other activities these past few months! As you’ve read in other parts of this newsletter, the SEMIS Coalition- including our planning team, community partners, and several teachers- has been pouring a lot of energy and love into preparing for our Summer Institute, which was held the last week of July.
Director’s Corner, July 2024
Greetings SEMIS Coalition members! I am so honored and excited to be serving as the new Director for the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition and to be working within and across this powerful, and hopeful community. If we haven’t met yet, my name is Anna Balzer...
Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition at Eastern Michigan University secures $75K Bosch Community Fund Grant to enhance Eco-STEM education
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...