Elisa Seltzer figured she’d serve five years as Emmet County’s director of public works — just long enough to get a recycling program up and running. That was 21 years ago. Seltzer has created a self-supporting recycling program that includes 13 drop sites, curbside collection for 60 percent of Emmet Countyand more than 250 businesses, and […]
Jo Mathis
A guest author for Bridge Magazine.
Posted inChildren & Families
Racial divide persists in Michigan's infant mortality rate
For nearly 30 years, Michigan has been reducing its infant mortality rate. Still, as of 2009, a black infant in Michigan is three times more likely to die than a white baby, according to the latest statistics from 2009. In fact, the mortality rate for black infants in Michigan for 2009 (15.5 per 1,000 live […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Literacy woes hamstring Detroit's revival
When Averil Dixon was a senior at Mumford High School in Detroit, the only people who knew he couldn’t read or write were his family, a few teachers and his closest friends — the ones who helped with his homework. “I was a cool kid,” said Dixon, 19. “If everybody knew I couldn’t spell or […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Plan for Detroit: Immigrants bring money
Former state Rep. Steve Tobocman argues immigration is the key to repopulating and reviving Detroit. Now director of Global Detroit, Tobocman recently wrote The Global Detroit Study, which outlines a plan to help Michigan regain economic prosperity by encouraging more immigrants to move here. Bridge Magazine’s Jo Mathis caught up with the voluble Tobocman recently […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Students left with little guidance in high schools
High school seniors are expected to ask their guidance counselors where they can find work in Michigan. Their guidance counselors, though, may be asking the same question. At a time when Michigan teens are struggling to find their footing in a changing economy, schools are thinning the ranks of guidance counselors. State schools averaged one […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Herman Miller's Brian Walker talks LEED, green tech
Herman Miller is known as an innovative design and manufacturing firm of office furniture and equipment and furniture for the home. With 6,500 employees worldwide, this Zeeland company also has earned admiration for sustainability. Rachel Hood, executive director of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council in Grand Rapids, applauds the way both Herman Miller and competitor […]
Posted inSuccess
Flint enjoys 'Diplomat'-ic initiative
Flint is home to the largest privately held specialty pharmacy in the United States. Didn’t think you would ever read that sentence, did you? But Flint is indeed home to Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, a firm with more than 500 employees that is winning national business growth awards as well as the adoration of the Flint […]
Posted inSuccess
Touting Michigan in 100% cotton
(Originally published May 4, 2011) Jon Bell got so tired of hearing friends slam Michigan as a place with no future, he started a company that promotes the state everywhere people go. Since the day he opened Michigan Awesome two years ago, the Grand Rapids native has sold 3,500 T-shirts, each with a pithy slogan […]
Posted inSuccess
Staying connected way up north
(Originally published March 30, 2011) When President Obama decided to stump for his plan to make high-speed wireless services in reach of virtually every American within five years, he flew to a city whose Internet access is a model for the country. It has helped students, improved government services and contributed to growth in private […]
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