Category Archives: A2Awesome

The fight over the future of public education in America moves to the full Senate, as Betsy DeVos’s nomination for Secretary of Education passes out of committee

The above photo was taken by my friend Al Hoff today outside an elementary school in Pittsburg. While I imagine it’s possible that someone could have hung the flag upside down by mistake, I suspect it probably has something to do with what’s happening right now in Washington relative to public education. [The upside down […]

Also posted in Education, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Ypsi/Arbor Exit Interview: Amanda Sari Perez

What follows is our official exit interview with Amanda Sari Perez, who just recently left Ann Arbor for Pittsburgh. MARK: OK, let’s start at the beginning. What’s your name, where were you born, and what kind of kid were you? AMANDA: All right then. My name is Amanda. Or Salamanda. Or YakYak. Or AmandaPanda. I […]

Also posted in Ann Arbor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

U-M PhD Michelle Leach, the founder of Oasis Aquaponics, on leaving academia to focus on solving basic problems afflicting the poor

Upon graduating the University of Michigan with her PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Michelle Leach decided to try something different. Instead of either pursuing a careen in academia, or accepting a job in industry, she chose to start a social venture called Oasis Aquaponics with the intention of creating an affordable food production system that could […]

Also posted in Agriculture, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Two awesome teen murals unveiled in Ypsilanti in just one week’s time

On last night’s episode of the Saturday Six Pack, I talked with Ypsi Community Schools (YCS) art teacher Lynne Settles, an Ypsi High student by the name of Paris, Jackson-based artist Douglas Jones, and local historian Matt Siegfried about a new mural that, thanks to their tireless efforts, and the efforts of a good many […]

Also posted in Art and Culture, Education, The Saturday Six Pack, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Awesome U-M undergrads launch startup to teach American history through the stories of inspirational women

The Ann Arbor Awesome Foundation a few days ago awarded a $1,000 grant to Virginia Lozano, an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, who, along with her twin sister Beatriz, created an education technology company called Leesta in order to “inspire 8-11 year olds by teaching American History through the stories of women.” After bestowing […]

Also posted in Awesome Foundation, Education, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

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