People & Places Posts

If you pay attention to local advocacy around disability issues or you are connected to our City media and broadcasting community, you may already know Zach Damon.

If you live in Ann Arbor or pay any attention to politics at the state level, you already know our current State Representative Yousef Rabhi. He is finishing up his third term as a member of the State House; he was first elected to that office in 2016.

If you are involved in local advocacy around social services, affordable housing, or food policy, you may already know Jim Mogensen. Jim is a retired occupational safety and health engineer and has been an active citizen since he moved to Ann Arbor 30 years ago. He has lived in Ward 4 for seven years.

If you live in the Allmendinger neighborhood of Ward 4, you may have walked by the Lustron house on Seventh Street. I learned about this house very recently, when I was in the neighborhood and the owner invited me in to see it. I have never seen a house quite like it!

If you are involved in the local birding community, you may already know Dr. April Campbell. Dr. Campbell is a local advocate committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation, specifically birding. Most recently, she has established a group called BIPOC Birders of Michigan.

If you read MLive, follow local boxing, or live on the eastern edge of Ward 4 off Packard, you may already know Jasmine Hampton. She is an amazing boxer who has accomplished a lot in the sport — she now qualifies for the 2024 Olympic trials!

If you live in the Lower Burns Park neighborhood of Ward 4, you may already know about the Robert Hayden house. I first learned about Robert Hayden and his house last summer, when Council voted to establish a Historic District committee to make recommendations about the home at 1201 Gardner Avenue.

If you live in the Burns Park neighborhood of Ward 4, you already know about Argus Farm Stop (1200 Packard). Argus offers a remarkable opportunity for local residents to access fresh produce from local farmers, 365 days a year.

If you pay attention to local housing or energy issues, you may already know Ember McCoy. She is an appointed member of the City’s Energy Commission (since 2018) and active in the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO). Ember is a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Policy & Justice at U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). She studies the politics of air pollution regulation and monitoring in the US.

If you live on the east side of Ward 4 (anywhere in the vicinity of Eisenhower/King George Boulevard/Packard), you probably recognize Karen Hoffman. Karen spends a lot of her day out and about, walking the local neighborhoods. The only two conditions that keep her inside: freezing rain and temperatures under 10 degrees. Any other weather, she is outside walking!