AADL Talks To: Tommy York, of York Food and Drink

Wed, 03/19/2025 - 12:23pm

Tommy York, owner of the popular eatery York Food & Drink, started his career with Espresso Royale, eventually transitioning to Zingerman’s community of businesses. After several years, he joined partner Matt Morgan to open Morgan & York. Tommy talks with us about his background in social work and how it shaped the evolution of his business; some of the many personal and professional challenges he’s faced over the years, and how he learned from mentors along the way to put people before profit.

AADL Talks To: Rick Ayers, Former U-M Student Activist and Member of the SDS and Weather Underground

Wed, 07/10/2024 - 9:29pm

In this episode, AADL Talks To Rick Ayers. Rick is faculty emeritus at the University of San Francisco where he was an associate professor of education focusing on English language arts and teacher education. In the late 1960s, Rick followed his older brothers to the University of Michigan and was soon radicalized by the civil rights and anti-war movements, participating in protests and demonstrations with the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the Weather Underground. Rick traces his fascinating journey as a draft dodger working with deserters in Canada through his decision to enlist in the U.S. Army where he would eventually go AWOL and live as a fugitive for seven years. Rick also shares his memories of the vibrant campus film culture and the people -- including girlfriend Gilda Radner -- who shaped his student experience at the university, and he reflects on the legacy of the 1960s protests in light of today’s political environment.

AADL Talks To: Margaret Parker, Artist and Arts Activist

Thu, 03/21/2024 - 8:13pm

In this episode, AADL Talks to Margaret Parker. Margaret has been working as an artist for seven decades. She talks about her parents’ influence on her desire to become an artist and the evolution of her artistic development, from working in different mediums to confronting social justice issues in her work. Margaret talks about her time with the Michigan chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art and her commitment to bring public to Ann Arbor through her work on the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission.

For more information, see our digital collections related to Margaret Parker, or visit the artist's website.

JCC Conversations | Implementing Restorative Justice – Dulin, Savit, Burton-Harris, Dr.”Ike” McKinnon

Wed, 02/01/2023 - 4:30pm

Chuck Newman interviews Belinda Dulin, the Executive Director of the Dispute Resolution Center, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Burton-Harris about Implementing Restorative Justice in Washtenaw County. Restorative Justice is a dramatic new approach for resolving crimes that can change offender’s behavior and give comfort to victims.