Part of choosing a university is not just understanding exactly what a school can offer students as a whole, but also on an individual level.

Here's who was recognized this year by United Way of Washtenaw County for their efforts in advocating, giving, volunteering and promoting equity in area communities.

Why having a lack of black dieticians in the U.S. impacts the health of our communities.

The Michigan Diversity Council started the event to encourage the next generation of Black male leaders in the workforce while also changing the narrative of Black men in America.

As part of a lively music festival that is currently in its 30th year, tens of thousands of people continue to visit Detroit.

In an environment that is so culturally diverse, two parents who have PHDs in counseling psychology are highlighting the importance of raising culturally aware children.

Practicing diversity, equity and inclusion -- or DEI -- has become commonplace for many people and industries across the U.S. as society responds to increasingly public outcries against racism.

This summer the work of more than 25 artists will hang high above the ground on 60 billboard-sized banners around Washtenaw County.

The Academy Awards are happening in March, and in the 94 years the event has been running, only 20 Black actors have won an acting Oscar.

Emotions ran high in Oakland county over the district’s efforts to promote diversity and equality. Results saw participants from the districts republican party stage a protest outside Tuesday (Jan. 11) night’s board meeting in Farmington over parts of ‘equity challenge.’

Ann Arbor SPARK is launching a free online event series designed for small business owners.

An event on Sunday is a chance to show what students have learned not just on racial justice, but one another as well.

The Michigan Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation has received support from the National Science Foundation.

There’s a new program at Royal Oak Schools where the parents are the students.

U-M sets an enrollment record in the 2021-2022 school year.

Ann Arbor City Council unanimously voted to hire Milton Dohoney as the new interim city administrator.

The University of Michigan has ranked as a top public university in the nation, again.

Tom Crawford formally resigned after City Council voted to terminate his employment over racially insensitive comments.

Thirty individuals were chosen out of approximately 80 applicants, the city said.

"Halal Metropolis" aims to highlight the diversity of Metro Detroit's Muslim population.

Oxford Companies creates a committee to discuss culture related to diversity and inclusion.

A Broadway veteran will join U-M's School of Music, Theatre & Dance in the fall.

GM has committed to increase ad spending from half a percent of the billions spent every year to 2% this year, 4% percent in 2022 and 8% by 2025.

ANN ARBOR – Shine & Rise will hold its first public-facing event on Friday, March 26 in honor of Women’s History Month. While its regular monthly events are members-only, the March 26 event titled “Challenge Your Team: Gender Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at Work” is free to the public. Her talk will focus on how employees can challenge their companies to better practice diversity, inclusion and equity. Throughout the month of March, Shine & Rise is also collecting donations to support Girls Who Code and Alternatives for Girls. AdFor more information about Shine & Rise and to learn how to become a member, visit www.shinerise.org.

WDIV-Local 4, in keeping with the station’s initiative of “Celebrating Black History” throughout February, aired a primetime special called “History 4 All” on Wednesday, Feb. 24. You can watch the full special in the video above. From what should be taught in our schools’ history classes to why we still need Black History Month, Local 4′s anchors and reporters highlight topics impacting on our local communities and beyond. “Our hope is that these in-depth stories will spark conversations about how we all benefit from a diverse community like we have here in Metro Detroit,” said Vice President and General Manager Marla Drutz. This hour-long special was hosted by Devin Scillian and Kimberly Gill, and featured stories from them, as well as Rhonda Walker, Evrod Cassimy, Paula Tutman, Steve Garagiola, Larry Spruill, Victor Williams and Jamie Edmonds.

DETROIT – More than 70% of NFL players are people of color. However, those in top roles often times do not look like the players they lead. In Detroit, both the Lions and Pistons have Black men in prominent, leadership roles. There were seven open general manager positions in the NFL this year. Only two of them went to Black me, which doubled the number of minority general managers in the league.

But for Black people, code-switching is far more complex and can often be taxing. Myles Durkee is an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Michigan and has done extensive research on racial code-switching. AdWhen a Black person cannot effectively code-switch, the result can be damaging. If simply by code-switching of an officer already perceives a Black male as threatening, code-switching is an extremely effective way to alleviate some of that anxiety,” Durkee said. AdDurkee said that when it comes to code-switching in the workplace, leadership needs to recognize that it’s happening.

DETROIT – Our future -- the next generation of Americans -- got together with Local 4′s Paula Tutman on Inauguration Day. It was a roundtable of more than 30 local students. As we celebrate Black History Month, these students share how they see change and progress happening in our country when it comes to race relations. Experts in our History 4 All special airing during Black History Month say our young people -- our next generation -- are our hope for real change in the future. More: Black History Month stories

WDIV-Local 4, in keeping with the station’s initiative of “Celebrating Black History” throughout February, will air a primetime special called “History 4 All” on Wednesday, February 24 at 8 p.m.Watch it on Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit -- it will stream here:From what should be taught in our schools’ history classes to why we still need Black History Month, Local 4′s anchors and reporters highlight topics impacting on our local communities and beyond. “Our hope is that these in-depth stories will spark conversations about how we all benefit from a diverse community like we have here in Metro Detroit,” said Vice President and General Manager Marla Drutz. This hour-long special is hosted by Devin Scillian and Kimberly Gill, and features stories from them, as well as Rhonda Walker, Evrod Cassimy, Paula Tutman, Steve Garagiola, Larry Spruill, Victor Williams and Jamie Edmonds. Stories include:AdChanges in the corporate world in response to 2020′s civil unrestLesser known Underground Railroad sites in Metro DetroitDiversity in the front office of sport teams and why the Lions and Pistons are leading the wayMotown’s programs for young musicians and singersWDIV’s “History 4 All” special airs Wednesday, February 24 at 8 p.m. on Local 4.

DETROIT – The Nasdaq stock exchange is seeking U.S. authority to require more diversity in the boardrooms of Nasdaq-listed companies, or for those companies to explain why they can not. The proposal filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, if approved, would require all companies listed on the exchange to publicly disclose consistent, transparent diversity statistics about their board of directors. It would require most Nasdaq-listed companies to have, or explain why they don’t have, at least two diverse directors. This includes having one board member who self-identifies as female and one who self-identifies as either an underrepresented minority or LGBTQ. Foreign companies and smaller reporting companies would have additional flexibility.

ANN ARBOR – The University of Michigan is seeking to hire at least 20 new tenure-track faculty members on its Ann Arbor campus with scholarly expertise in structural racism and racial inequality as part of a new three-year hiring initiative. Funding for the faculty hires, research and scholarships affiliated with the initiative will be provided by the Provost’s Office. Additionally, the Provost’s Office will partner with the Office of Research and the National Center for Institutional Diversity to organize and support research and education under the initiative. The U-M Biosciences Initiative, in conjunction with the hiring initiative, will be filling four tenure-track positions this year. A selection committee of faculty members will review proposals by deans and groups of faculty submitted in January and will make hires.

ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor Summer Festival is looking for community members to participate in its October Community Listening Session focused on Black residents in Washtenaw County. “The work we began earlier this year with the South Asian Listening Session with support from the National Endowment for the Arts energized our organization,” A2SF executive director Mike Michelon said in a statement. “It sparked a series of sessions and expanded to the Black community. To end the 2020 season, A2SF held a virtual public panel discussion called The Future of the Arts Must be Antiracist with local Black arts and nonprofit leaders. To participate in October’s Black community Listening Session, contact A2SF marketing and communications manager Natalie Robbins at info@a2sf.org.

Deeply impacted by recent events, one Florida native has made it her mission to spread messages of love, diversity and inclusion through books.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The University of Michigan Ross School of Business is expected to receive a $6 million donation for its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. This will include students from low-income who are interested in a career in investing or real estate through the Michigan Ross School of Business. The Blau Initiative will also integrate existing U of M and Michigan Ross School of Business initiatives. This summer I announced a Commitment to Action related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Michigan Ross, and one of our commitments is to expand support for students from diverse backgrounds at the school, Michigan Ross Dean Scott DeRue said. This new gift from Stephen Ross and Jeff Blau will help Michigan Ross create opportunities for students who are underrepresented in business leadership.

DETROIT – Local 4 sat down with eight local high school and college students ages 14 to 18 from the inner city to the suburbs to talk about the racial equality movement. READ: How Metro Detroit high school students are working for diversity, inclusion, acceptanceThe students said they believe attention and exposure to racial diversity initiatives is needed in school. They also said students need better education about race and the African American side of American history past and present. Extended cut: Rhonda Walker talks to youth in Metro Detroit about racism, climateWatch the full report aboveClick here for more Spirit of Detroit: Fulfilling the Dream reports

Students share their views on the racial equality movementPublished: June 23, 2020, 10:48 pmLocal 4 sat down with eight local high school and college students ages 14 to 18 from the inner city to the suburbs to talk about the racial equality movement.

Oakland County Executive David Coulter has named Robin Carter-Cooper, currently executive director of instructional equity for the Rochester Community Schools, as the countys first chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. Carter-Cooper, a Flint native and Genesee County resident, begins her position with Oakland County on July 1 and will report directly to Coulter. She will be a tremendous asset to Oakland County. "I am honored to be the first chief diversity, equity and Inclusion officer for Oakland County, Carter-Cooper said. She was honored in 2019 by Crains Detroit Business as a member of its Most Notable Women in Education Leadership.RELATED: Oakland County unveils guidance on reopening business amid COVID-19