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.
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...
Strengthening Democracy through Place-Based Education
Election 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 societies are strengthened or degraded way before votes get cast. Learning...
Abundant gratitude
Community care grows from common ground. Our 20K Year End Campaign goal was met thanks to your support!
PBE Conference 2023 SEMIS Staff Reflections
The SEMIS Coalition staff (and several Coalition members) were able to participate with hundreds of educators during the national 8th Place-Based Education Conference last month in Grand Rapids. This three day event put on by the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI) was designed to inspire and support a community of educators around the power of place-based learning. The following reflections will give you a feel for the impact this conference has had on our staff.