The City of East Lansing may use stimulus funds to further sustainability efforts

In this month’s East Lansing Commission on the Environment meeting, members discussed the possibility of using federal stimulus funds to advance the city’s sustainability efforts.

The City of East Lansing was allocated around $12.2 million as the result of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2020, a $1.9 trillion stimulus package designed to offset the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council members floated a variety of ideas as to what to do with this funding. Commission member Jessica Crawford pitched a storm shelter that would double as a resource center where homeowners can learn about sustainability.

Commission member Michael Townley suggested that the money could be used for several improvements in infrastructure, as well as the implementation of rain gardens.

African history museum offers opportunity to explore local, global Black history

Through extensive travel and research, Willie Davis has documented the African Diaspora throughout the world, and he’s sharing with the Lansing community through the All Around the World African Museum and Resource Center.

Since getting his Ph.D. at Michigan State University in international comparative education, Davis has visited every continent other than Antarctica, researching the African Diaspora and collecting photos, art and artifacts.

Davis is trying to combat the misconception that people of African descent only come from Africa, when in actuality, people of African descent are from all over the world.

From unity sculptures carved from a single piece of wood, to elaborate spiritual masks and a depiction of the chocolate-making process.

Featured on the Greater Lansing Michigan African American Heritage Trail, the museum is a great way to explore local Black history.

New McLaren- MSU health campus opens doors

On Monday, McLaren executive leadership and notable Lansing-area figures gathered at McLaren Greater Lansing and Michigan State University’s new health care campus at 2900 Collins Rd. to partake in a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

The event marked the beginning of the first stage of the campus’ opening, with the Karmanos Cancer Institute outpatient care center which opened on Feb. 28.

The hospital and emergency department will open on March 6, and the Health and Wellness Pavilion will open its doors later this spring.

The campus, which was announced in 2017, is a partnership between McLaren Greater Lansing and Michigan State University.

It’s a consolidation of McLaren’s previous two healthcare facilities in Lansing on Greenlawn and Pennsylvania avenues.

Those two campuses will close their doors and move their entire operations to the new MSU-adjacent park.

Based on original reporting by Jack Armstrong, Raenu Charles, and Drew Goretzka. Script by Shakyra Mabone.