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Carrying her own backpack: daughter of global activist, Stella Young joins On the Ground

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The message from Timothy Young to his six-year-old daughter Stella was clear: you’ll carry your own backpack, throughout the trip. About that he was adamant. The trip was to Chiapas, Mexico, in 2007 to meet rural coffee-growing communities which Higher Grounds Trading Co. supported through the Chiapas Water Project. That journey has now come full circle. A year after she graduated from Kalamazoo College, the 2018 Glen Lake School graduate recently became director of development for On the Ground, the international nonprofit co-founded in 2010 by her father and Higher Grounds owner Chris Treter. The organization has supported coffee farmers in Chiapas, Ethiopia and the Congo, and olive farmers in the Palestinian West Bank. On the Ground will host a party and fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 12, at The Alluvion at Commongrounds in Traverse City.

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Timothy Young: locavore, social entrepreneur

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Food For Thought has played a critical role in the local foods movement here in Northern Michigan. But when he started the business out of his house south of Empire in 1995, Timothy Young was one of just a handful of pioneers in this niche market. The demand for local foods has exploded over the last decade, and Young’s business has expanded to 10 full-time, year-round employees and a spattering of part-time and seasonal employees.

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Palestinian cuisine meets the harvest of Northern Michigan

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Local chef Jennifer Blakeslee of The Cooks’ House will team with Nasser Abufarha, founder of Canaan Fair Trade to hold a special Taste of Palestine on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 5 p.m. at The Box in Traverse City (425 Boardman). Guests will venture into the rich food culture of Palestine with a six-course meal, crafted with fresh ingredients from local Northern Michigan farms and accompanied by fine Northern Michigan wines. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore Palestinian culture, farming and cuisine among friends in a state-of-the-art open kitchen.

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Solstice Runs benefit Glen Arbor Park Commission, Ethiopian schools

Endurance Evolution, the local marathon facilitator spearheaded by high school buddies Joel Gaff and Eric Houghton, will hold two races in Leelanau County this month to benefit good causes. On Saturday, June 15, athletes can run the Glen Arbor Solstice Half Marathon and 5K before the town’s BBQ and Brew festival, to benefit the Glen Arbor Park Commission.

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Nocturnal Solstice Run through Leelanau supports education in Ethiopia

Endurance Evolution and On The Ground have teamed up to raise funds to build a library in a remote village in Ethiopia. Area runners are invited to run The Solstice Run, which will travel from the northern tip of the Leelanau Peninsula to the beaches of West Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City. Runners can choose the a full 40 miles, 20 miles, or a four-person relay (roughly 10 miles per runner).

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Locally-made documentary about Palestinian olive farmers shows at Leelanau School

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The People and the Olive, a feature-length documentary about the daily joys and struggles of Palestinian olive farmers living under the occupation, and last year’s Run Across Palestine (an initiative of the Traverse City-based nonprofit On the Ground, which supports fair-trade farmers around the world), will show at The Leelanau School north of Glen Arbor on Tuesday, May 7, from 2-4 p.m. The event is free, and the public are invited to attend. The film was created by Traverse City filmmaker Aaron Dennis and journalist Jacob Wheeler (founding editor of the Glen Arbor Sun). Wheeler will attend and take part in a question-and-answer session following the screening.

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Palestinian film, Joshua Davis, play at Frankfort theatre

On Thursday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m., Frankfort’s Garden Theatre will show The People and the Olive, a documentary created by Aaron Dennis and Glen Arbor Sun editor Jacob Wheeler, as well as music by Joshua Davis from his forthcoming album “A Miracle of Birds”. The film follows this year’s Run Across Palestine — a five-day ultra-marathon across the West Bank of Palestine to illuminate the struggles of fair-trade olive farmers. Davis’ album is inspired by the run, and his experiences as a Jewish-American in Palestine. Learn more about the film here.

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Crossing barriers in the Holy Land

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Traverse City filmmaker Aaron Dennis (his dad, Jerry, writes wonderful books about the Great Lakes) and I are thrilled that the State Theatre in Traverse City will host the world premier of our documentary, The People and the Olive, on Monday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

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Women’s progressive holds Middle Eastern-themed benefit for Palestine documentary

Ladies, it’s time to channel your inner road warrior and come together to impact your community and the world. Come join us Sunday, March 18 for “The People & The Olive” Women’s Progressive. The fun begins at 1 p.m. at Charlie’s Natural Food Market in Frankfort with a middle-eastern luncheon and a presentation by filmmaker Aaron Dennis.

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Michiganders run across Palestine, forging bond with olive farmers

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Traverse City filmmaker Aaron Dennis and Glen Arbor Sun editor Jacob Wheeler traveled to the Holy Land in early February to document the Run Across Palestine, which was organized by northern Michigand-based On The Ground. The runners logged over 100 miles over five days across the West Bank to raise awareness about the struggles facing […]

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