Environment
The Blackbottom Group’s EV Automotive Mobility Program prepares Detroiters for an electrified future
The Blackbottom Group has launched an innovative program, the EV Automotive Mobility Program, that equips Detroiters with the skills necessary for jobs that will soon be in high demand. The Program offers hands-on training in the maintenance and repair of electric vehicles, as well as education in internal combustion engine technology, in an effort to bridge the gap and address the racial disparity within the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Only roughly 2% of EV owners are Black, a statistic often attributed to vehicle costs and a notable lack of charging stations in predominantly Black neighborhoods, often referred to as “charging deserts.” The racial disparity within the EV industry is not just about car ownership; it extends to broader implications for public health and economic opportunities. RELATED: Students of The Blackbottom Group’s EV Automotive Mobility Program in Detroit learn how to repair and perform maintenance on electric vehicles. | Photo by One Detroit High asthma rates and air pollution have disproportionately affected Black Americans in zip codes where electric vehicle adoption has been slower due to a lack of infrastructure. Additionally, the lack of charging stations has hindered mobility and participation in the gig economy, especially in urban areas. Ray Smith, the visionary behind the Deroit program, spoke with One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota, to shed some light on the critical mission of the program and the skills students are being taught. Smith also talks about how he hopes the program will narrow the employment gap, improve health outcomes, and promote green job opportunities in communities of color. Stay Connected: Subscribe to Detroit Public Television’s YouTube Channel & Don’t miss American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @amblackjournal. View Past Episodes > Watch American Black Journal on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.
New CRC report shows Michigan’s infrastructure struggles under climate change pressure
Michigan’s infrastructure is crumbling — literally. Michigan has witnessed a troubling decline in the condition of its aging infrastructure, including its roads, water, and energy systems, and the tangible effects of climate change through increased flooding, heatwaves, and severe storms have placed additional stress on these already fragile systems. Addressing the interplay between deteriorating infrastructure and the impact of climate change has become a pressing issue for residents and policymakers alike. These challenges raise urgent questions about how to modernize and fortify critical infrastructure in the face of an evolving climate landscape. The Citizens Research Council of Michigan believes it has the answers. The council has released its latest findings in the fourth of a series of five reports, in partnership with the nonprofit Altarum, titled “Michigan’s Path to a Prosperous Future: Challenges and Opportunities.” The reports are helping to inform Michigan’s new Growing Michigan Together Council, announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at the 2023 Mackinac Policy Conference. The council’s latest report explores the multiple challenges, several of which are amplified by climate change, involved with rebuilding and maintaining the state’s infrastructure, as well as remediating and protecting the environment. RELATED: In Southeast Michigan specifically, the effects of climate change on Michigan’s weather, with warmer winters and springs and heavier rains causing more destructive storms, have overwhelmed the region’s water systems. With the impacts of climate change at the forefront, what it will take to address the stress on the state’s current water infrastructure in the face of increasingly extreme weather events in the future? Chuck Hersey, Senior Policy Advisor for OHM Advisors, a company that works with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) on addressing regional challenges, including those connected with water infrastructure talks with “One Detroit” producer and Future of Work host Will Glover. They talk about the process of water getting to our homes, coordination between organizations that handle different sectors of infrastructure, the need to invest in infrastructure repair, and the increased funding it will likely take to replace Southeast Michigan’s water infrastructure. Stay Connected: Subscribe to One Detroit’s YouTube Channel and don’t miss One Detroit on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter @DPTVOneDetroit, and Instagram @One.Detroit View Past Episodes > Watch One Detroit Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on Detroit Public TV on Detroit Public TV, WTVS-Channel 56.