Lunch & Learn

Eco-Burial - Lunch & Learn

Eco-Burial Gives Michigan Residents Lower Cost, Environmentally Friendly Option

The way we live impacts the world. So does the way we die. It isn't death that creates ecological problems, but rather the processes for dealing with our deceased.

Each year, in burying the deceased, Americans use:

20 million feet of wood
4.3 million gallons of embalming fluids
1.6 million gallons of reinforced concrete
17,000 tons of copper and bronze
64,500 tons of steel

Although cremations have the reputation as being an eco-friendly option, they tend to have an extra-large carbon footprint. Each year in the U.S., cremations release over 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere - the equivalent of burning over 30 million gallons of gas. And that doesn't even include the mercury from burning dental fillings.

But there are greener ways. Natural (or "green") burial is one of them. A green burial is one that encourages the natural process of decomposition. That means no embalming, no non-biodegradable caskets and no burial vaults. Conservation burial takes it one step further and combines land conservation with natural burial.

Details:

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - 11:30-12:30 pm

EXCLUSIVELY ON ZOOM

This is a FREE event, however, we ask that you register.

This event is part of the Local Impact Alliance's "Lunch & Learn" program.

Bring your lunch and feed your mind.

About our Speakers

Peter and Annica Quakenbush live in Grand Rapids and founded Michigan Burial, LLC.

Peter Quakenbush is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University. Annica is a birth doula and photographer.

Together they are working to establish Michigan's first conservation burial ground.

Click here to register

4 Great Topics to Start 2024

January: Green Burial Gains Traction
February: Growth Works - A Parent's Guide to Building Teen Life Skills
March: Plymouth Canton Community Literacy Council - Integrating Adult English Language Learners Into the Community
April: Michigan Library Association - Protecting Access to Books through the Michigan Right to Read Initiative

Published in Lunch & Learn

FIREARM SAFETY - Lunch & Learn

Firearm Safety - Developing Solutions for a Growing Public Health Crisis

An informative talk by Dr. Laura Seewald from University Of Michigan.

Firearm injury and death has become a persistent public health crisis in the United States. Firearms are the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens; and each day more than 120 people in the United States are killed by firearms. In 2020 alone more than 45,000 people died from firearm-related injuries.

As firearm injury rates continue to increase, there is a great need for data-driven solutions. The University of Michigan has taken the lead in this effort launching the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention in 2021. Their goal is to generate new knowledge and advance innovative solutions that reduce firearm injury.

In this Lunch and Learn, Dr. Laura Seewald from the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention spoke on the magnitude of the firearm injury problem and offered a framework for developing solutions and reducing injury, all while respecting the rights of responsible, law-abiding firearm owners. The focus was not on gun control, but rather on injury prevention

.

Thank you to those who participated in the discussion and Dr. Seewald.

Here are some pictures from the presentation.

Published in Lunch & Learn

FIREARM SAFETY - LIA Lunch & Learn

FIREARM SAFETY

Developing Solutions for a Growing Public Health Crisis

Firearm injury and death has become a persistent public health crisis in the United States. Firearms are the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens; and each day more than 120 people in the United States are killed by firearms. In 2020 alone more than 45,000 people died from firearm-related injuries.

As firearm injury rates continue to increase, there is a great need for data-driven solutions. The University of Michigan has taken the lead in this effort launching the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention in 2021. Their goal is to generate new knowledge and advance innovative solutions that reduce firearm injury.

In this Lunch and Learn, Dr. Laura Seewald from the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention will speak on the magnitude of the firearm injury problem and offer a framework for developing solutions and reducing injury, all while respecting the rights of responsible, law-abiding firearm owners. The focus is not on gun control, but rather on injury prevention.

We hope that you will join us for this very important topic.

Details:

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - 11:30-1:00 pm

Plymouth District Library

(223 Main St., Plymouth, MI Walldorf Room)

This is a FREE event, however, we ask that you register.

This event is part of the Local Impact Alliance's "Lunch & Learn" program.

Bring your lunch and feed your mind.

Click Here to Register

About our Speaker

Dr. Laura Seewald is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and a Research Assistant Professor with the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention at the University of Michigan. She is also an adult emergency medicine physician at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan.

Her research on firearm injury prevention is focused on the development, testing, and implementation of emergency department-based interventions to decrease firearm violence, youth violence, intimate partner violence, and associated risk behaviors.

Published in Lunch & Learn

Create your own Pollinators Garden - Lunch & Learn

David Hammond, Founder & Executive Director of Creating Habitats gave a very informative talk on Creating your own Pollinators Garden - a Lunch & Learn event hosted by Local Impact Alliance.

Dave is on the board of Canton Community Foundation and has done extensive planting of Native gardens in Plymouth, Canton, Northville in MI and VT, NH, KY, NY, MA and RI.

Here are some pictures from the presentation which also includes informational slides if you want to start your garden.

Learn more about Creating Habitats

Dave Hammond has a fund at Local Impact Alliance called "Creating Habitats for Pollinators". You can donate below to support this community non profit.

Creating Habitat for Pollinators Fund

Here is the link to the video of the event -Create Your Own Pollinators Garden

Published in Lunch & Learn

Create Your Own Pollinator Garden - Lunch & Learn

Create Your Own Pollinator Garden

Create Your Own Pollinator Garden

Interested in helping the environment and beautifying your yard? Why not plant a wildflower garden? Native wildflowers can provide beneficial habitats for pollinators like butterflies, bees, moths, birds and other insects. They are beautiful, beneficial and easy to maintain.

Although pollinators are a critical part of our food system and the cornerstone of many ecosystems, they are in trouble. For the last two decades, pollinators have been under serious threat from habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use.

One of the very best, and easiest, things you can do to help pollinators is to plant a wildflower garden at your own home. These wildflower gardens not only provide new habitats for pollinators to thrive, they brighten up your yard, and reduce yard maintenance costs.

Join us on Wednesday, October 11, at 11:30 am to learn how to create your own pollinator garden with step-by-step instructions to make your DIY wildflower planting a success!

Details:

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - 11:30-12:30 pm

Canton Township Administrative Building

(1150 Canton Center Rd., Canton - 1st floor board room)

This is a FREE event, however, we ask that you register.

This event is part of the Local Impact Alliance's "Lunch & Learn" program.

Bring your lunch and feed your mind.

Click Here to Register

About our Speaker

David Hammond is an EMMY award-winning documentary producer — an entrepreneur with a diverse background in professional sports, broadcasting, environmental policy, and non-profit management.

In 2022 he founded Creating Habitats for Pollinators, a nonprofit whose goal is to increase habitats for pollinating insects and animals by planting native wildflowers.

Published in Lunch & Learn

14th Annual summit - Lunch & Learn

The 3rd year of Lunch & Learn series hosted by Local Impact Alliance started with the Veteran's Summit

.

It was the 14th Annual summit organized in partnership with Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC.

The topic was "PACT Act and How Will It Affect My VA Benefits and Care?

Speakers Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone (retired) and Kristina L Derro, Esq presented new information on PACT Act.

Veterans and their family members from the Local Community were able to ask questions and discuss over important topic over lunch, sponsored by Glen Shaw Jr. Family Foundation.

We, at Local Impact Alliance, along with affiliated members are forever grateful for your service.

Veteran Andrew Paris brought the model of the ships which were on display at the event.

Here is the link to the recording of the event. 14th Annual Veterans Summit

Published in Lunch & Learn

14th Annual Veterans' Summit - Lunch & Learn

Local Impact Alliance - Lunch & Learn

14th Annual Veterans' Summit

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

11:30-1:00

Canton Township Administration Building

1150 Canton Center Rd., Canton, 48188

FREE!

Topics Include:

• What you should know about the PACT Act

• Information on the VA Care Giver Program

Presented by Canton Community Foundation and Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC

Our Speakers:

Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone (Retd)

General Fausone has been a nurse for over 40 years. She served her country for 36 years and retired in 2011. She now owns The Veterans Advocate, LLC that consults for businesses in matters related to VA health care, education and programs. She was approved in 2016 as a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. She also helps direct individual veterans to resources and benefits. She works part-time at Legal Help for Veterans as its chief-fix-it officer on VA road blocks.

Kristina Derro Veterans Legal Expert

Kristina L. Derro is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School and has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Michigan. She has spent the past 18 years representing veterans on behalf of Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC before the VA and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims.

Register Here

The 14th Annual Veterans' Summit is a part of the Local Impact Alliance's Lunch and Learn Program.

Thank you to our sponsor, the Glenn Shaw Jr. Family Foundation for providing lunch.

Published in Lunch & Learn

Firearm Injury The Magnitude of the Problem, Root Causes & Innovative Solutions

Firearm Injury

The Magnitude of the Problem, Root Causes

& Innovative Solutions

Firearm injury and death has become a persistent and pressing public health crisis in the United States. The causes are complex, involving factors across the ecological spectrum from individual behavior to policy-related issues.

Wednesday, June 14th, Dr. Laura Seewald of the University of Michigan will speak at our June "Lunch & Learn" on the magnitude of this problem in the U.S. as well as offering a framework for developing solutions and reducing injury.

We hope that you will join us for this very important topic.

Details:

NOVEMBER, 2023 - 11:30-12:30 pm

Canton Township Administrative Building

(1150 Canton Center Rd., Canton - 1st floor board room)

This is a FREE event, however, we ask that you register.

This event is part of the Local Impact Alliance's "Lunch & Learn" program.

Bring your lunch and feed your mind.

Click Here to Register

About our Speaker

Dr. Laura Seewald is an adult emergency medicine physician at the University of Michigan and current postdoctoral fellow with the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention.

The focus of her postdoctoral research and education is in the field of firearm injury prevention, with a specific interest in learning how to use machine learning algorithms to tailor interventions for high-risk ED populations.

In addition to her research duties, Dr. Seewald works clinically at Hurley Medical Center in Flint.

Published in Lunch & Learn

Discover the Benefits of the Plymouth-Canton Community Literacy Council

Discover the Benefits of the Plymouth-Canton Community Literacy Council - Lunch & Learn by Local Impact Alliance

Details:

Wednesday, March 2024 - 11:30-12:30 pm

Canton Township Administrative Building

(1150 Canton Center Rd., Canton - 1st floor board room)

This is a FREE event, however, we ask that you register.

This event is part of the Local Impact Alliance's "Lunch & Learn" program.

Bring your lunch and feed your mind.

Click here to register

Is English your second language? Would you like to feel more confident with your communication? Perhaps English is your primary language and you’re looking for the opportunity to tutor others.

Join the conversation Wednesday, May 17th to learn about all the opportunities offered through the Plymouth Canton Community Literacy Council.

Whether it’s one-on-one tutoring, conversation groups, or English language learner book clubs, the Literacy Council is available to help you gain confidence in reading, writing and speaking English.

Speakers:

Andrea Hug became the Executive Director of the Community Literacy Council in 2017. She received her B.A. from Albion College in Economics and Communications and her M.A. from EMU in Education. She taught at Livonia Public Schools and substitute taught at P-CCS. She served on the board of P-CCS Parent Council for four years. When Andrea is not helping English language learners with their conversational English language goals, she enjoys volunteering at the Humane Society of Huron Valley.

Joyce Silagy has over 30 years of experience as a teacher. Her experience with Dearborn Public Schools was primarily in adult education where she taught business classes. Joyce served as

Community Education Manager and Supervisor of Career and Technical Education for Southfield Public Schools. In 2006, Joyce became a volunteer tutor for the Plymouth Canton Literacy Council; and in 2011 helped create the ESL outreach program for Connection Church where she teaches students and facilitates tutors.

Published in Lunch & Learn

April Lunch & Learn with Living & Learning Enrichment Center

Beautiful afternoon with beautiful people!

Thank you Living and Learning Enrichment Center for telling your story and sharing the success of your dream.

Local Impact Alliance will continue to partner with great organizations for their Lunch & Learn series to and bring important topics for discussion in the community.

Please visit Living and Learning Enrichment Center and Mod Market in Northville to learn and support this great initiative.

Here are some pictures from the event and a video of the recording for those who could not attend the event.

Watch here

Published in Lunch & Learn