When I think about Smart Commute Week, I’m enveloped by a sense of warmth, camaraderie, and the feeling of being among friends (even if they are strangers). Everyone involved seems to be in a great mood, and it’s contagious! The 31st...
Ice storm should serve as ‘canary in the coal mine’ for Michigan utilities
Above: Northern Michigan ice storm, March 2025. Courtesy Kevin Donner. This op-ed first published in On March 28th, 2025, Northern Lower Michigan was hit by a historic ice storm and Cori Fitzpatrick, Groundwork Center’s Farm to Institution Specialist, and her family...
Celebrate Groundwork’s 30th birthday with a spin through our highlight reel!
Groundwork—originally christened Michigan Land Use Institute—turned 30 on Earth Day 2025, and we’re happy to be celebrating the day with you. To pay tribute to the big three-oh, we put together a list of 30 highlights from Groundwork’s years on the planet (not easy...
How Groundwork Executive Director Elizabeth Palchak fell in love with nature and learned to lead
Hello. Today we are so pleased to share thoughts from Elizabeth Palchak, our new executive director! Elizabeth comes to Groundwork from the University of Vermont, where she directed the University’s Office of Sustainability. She has worked in the private sector,...
Takeaways from Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo 2024
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to travel to the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. FNCE is the largest conference for registered dietitians and nutrition professionals and brings together thousands of food...
Takeaways from the 2024 Michigan Rail Conference
This year’s rail conference with the theme Pivot to the Future brought together industry professionals, government officials, and transportation advocates to discuss the future of rail in Michigan. From workforce development to ambitious goals for expanding service...