Soulardarity Featured on Today Show: March 2022

There is hot, and then there is hot! Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. In extreme heat your body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature, which can lead to death. Extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards.

Older adults, children and sick or overweight individuals are at greater risk from extreme heat.

Humidity increases the feeling of heat.

Prepare for Extreme Heat

• Learn to recognize the signs of heat illness.
• Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device. Fans create air flow and a false sense of comfort, but do not reduce body temperature or prevent heat-related illnesses. 
• Identify places in your community where you can go to get cool such as libraries and shopping malls or contact your local health department to find a cooling center in your area.
  • Check Out Edsel T Ford Center 10 Pitkin St, Highland Park, MI 48203
    • Hours
      • Monday 11AM–7PM
        Tuesday Closed
        Wednesday Closed
        Thursday 11AM–7PM
        Friday 8AM–4PM
        Saturday 8AM–5PM
        Sunday Closed 

• Cover windows with drapes or shades.
• Weather-strip doors and windows.
• Use window reflectors specifically designed to reflect heat back outside.
• Added insulation helps to keep the heat out.
• Use a powered attic ventilator, or attic fan, to regulate the heat level of a building’s attic by clearing out hot air.
• Install window air conditioners and insulate around them.

Be Safe DURING

• Never leave people or pets in a closed car on a warm day.
• If air conditioning is not available in your home go to a cooling center.
• Take cool showers or baths.

• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Use your oven less to help reduce the temperature in your home.
• If you’re outside, find shade. Wear a hat wide enough to protect your face. 
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
• Avoid high-energy activities or work outdoors, during midday heat, if possible.
• Check on family members, seniors and neighbors.
• Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Consider pet safety. If they are outside, make sure they have plenty of cool water and access to comfortable shade. Asphalt and dark pavement can be very hot to your pet’s feet.
• If using a mask, use one that is made of breathable fabric, such as cotton, instead of polyester. Don’t wear a mask if you feel yourself overheating or have trouble breathing.

Heat-Related Illnesses

Know the signs of heat-related illnesses and ways to respond. If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for advice and shelter in place if you can. If you are experiencing a medical emergency call 9-1-1.

Get more detailed information about heat-related illnesses from the CDC and National Weather Service.

HEAT STROKE

• Signs:
  • Extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees F) taken orally 
  • Red, hot and dry skin with no sweat
  • Rapid, strong pulse
  • Dizziness, confusion or unconsciousness

If you suspect heat stroke, call 9-1-1 or get the person to a hospital immediately. Cool down with whatever methods are available until medical help arrives. Do not give the person anything to drink.

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HEAT CRAMPS

• Signs: Muscle pains or spasms in the stomach, arms or legs

HEAT EXHAUSTION

• Signs: Heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, fast or weak pulse, dizziness, headache, fainting, nausea, vomiting

 

If you have signs of heat cramps or heat exhaustion, go to a cooler location and cool down by removing excess clothing and taking sips of sports drinks or water. Call your healthcare provider if symptoms get worse or last more than an hour.

Good news for Highland Park! Our city is one of twenty two communities that has been selected to participate in Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program). This opportunity is being offered through the Department of Energy’s clean energy deployment work.

To qualify, it was required to submit an extensive application to make the case. Through a collaborative effort amongst multiple stakeholders, including Highland Park Community Crisis Coalition, Soulardarity, Avalon Village, Parker Village, and Highland Park Water and Engineering Department, the city is now eligible to receive up to $500k worth of technical assistance to address the energy crisis. With engagement from Highland Park residents and city government, we will partner with DOE to pursue a path toward 100% local, clean, renewable energy.

Securing this support is a major step forward towards the goals of our Blueprint For Energy Democracy, a vision established by our Highland Park leaders in 2019.

This could not have happened without the offers of support in all the forms they came in. In addition to the community organizations of the multi-stakeholder team, letters of support from the following were included:

• Representative Rashida Tlaib - Vice Chair Subcommittee on Environment
• State of Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification
• State of Michigan Public Service Commission
• Union of Concerned Scientists
• Polar Bear Sustainable Energy Cooperative
• City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovation
• 5 Lakes Energy
• Elevate: Equity Through Climate Action
• Highland Park Human Rights Coalition
• Vote Solar

We wanted to share this good news with our members. And we want you to know that we will be working hard to ground this process in meeting the real needs of our community - affordable rates, reliable power, healthy environment, and resilience to crisis. We can’t do it without you - so get ready to get involved!

Soulardarity is helping Highland Park prepare for a #solarfuture. We're excited to announce that we've partnered again with Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) for the Rise Up Scholarship Training program to offer career training for jobs in the solar industry. Apply for admission and scholarships by Monday, February 28, 2022. MREA is able to provide a limited number of loaner laptops to assist with completing the self guided courses. Complete the online application here.

Residents of Highland Park

There is a winter storm watch in effect from late Tuesday, February 1 night through Thursday, February 3 evening. The metro Detroit area will see a possible total snow accumulation of 8 to 16 inches. 

• Due to upcoming winter storm, we are asking that residents are mindful of safety and snow protocols and work together with the Police, Fire, & Public Works Department.
• The City of Highland Park will have salt and plow trucks out in the community to maintain the roads.
• Where able, Please Do Not Park On The Street, but in the driveways, garages, and lots. 
• All snow will be plowed to the north side of most residential streets.
• If you have to park on the street, please be mindful that you may be plowed in. 

Fire Safety

Please practice fire safety during this time. If at any time you experience a fire, please have a meeting point for your family. 

What To Do In Case of Power Outages

In the event of a power outage, here are some time on how to be prepared:

Before Power Outage

Check flashlights and battery-powered portable radios to ensure that they are working, and you have extra batteries. A radio is an important source for obtaining weather and emergency information during a storm. Remember to charge your devices (tip: you can use your car to charge your phone if you have the appropriate cords).

 Election time is here! Your Vote is Needed Soulardarity Members!

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW 2021 BOARD CANDIDATES & CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS: 

1. You must be a Soulardarity member whose dues are paid (you gave given at least $10 in the last 12 months) in order to vote. Need to start or renew your membership to vote? Click here
2. Each member has one vote for each available board position.
3. After reviewing the candidate information, use the 2021 Election Form to rank the candidates from the one you support the most (First Choice) to least (Third Choice). ****DO NOT select a candidate more than once!****

VOTING WILL CLOSE ON SATURDAY MAY 1st, DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING

Members are encouraged to attend the meeting by phone or computer. Zoom link and instructions will be provided upon RSVP. Candidates will be in attendance to answer questions from the membership. 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR OUR (VIRTUAL) ANNUAL MEETING on 5/1/2021 at 12:30pm

DOWNLOAD SOULARDARITY'S FULL STATEMENT

On Wednesday, DTE Energy publicly filed a proposed settlement agreement in a Michigan Public Service Commission case regarding their clean energy plans. As the result of Soulardarity’s engagement, the agreement includes a low-income renewable energy pilot that, if successful, will lead to three solar projects of over 250 KW being built in Highland Park, Detroit, and River Rouge. While the pilot makes some useful steps, it leaves a lot to be desired from the perspective of racial, economic, and environmental justice and energy democracy.

Soulardarity believes this proposal does not go far enough, and we are clear-eyed about why. DTE continues to spend excessively on fighting locally owned solar, slamming residential ratepayers with rate hikes they can’t afford for some of the worst service in the country, and selling the resulting debt to predatory collection agencies. We expect that DTE will continue to fight efforts for truly community-owned solar, while asking ratepayers to foot the bill for unnecessary fracked gas plants and pipelines.

In 2011 DTE Energy repossessed over 1,000 of Highland Park’s streetlights, leaving our kids and residents to live in the dark for almost a decade. We Lit Avalon! is a citizen-led campaign to bring solar-powered streetlights and connectivity to Avalon Village in Highland Park - a sustainable eco-village led by powerhouse resident, Mama Shu - to transform one of the city’s most blighted blocks into a safe, welcoming, and beautiful space for the entire community. 

With your support, we will:

• purchase, install and maintain 5 solar-powered smart streetlights 
• establish a free, public wifi mesh network to children, residents, and visitors
• provide year-round safety, streetlighting, and internet for Avalon Village community centers and services
• create a safe, walkable, and welcoming environment to host community gatherings and celebrations 
• elevate Avalon Village as a landmark example of energy democracy and independence, and place-based equitable development for cities across the country 
• provide Highland Park residents four essential connections: light, internet, dignity, and community

Photo courtesy of Model D Media