YOUR ELI: Down to the Wire

We’re down to the wire.  If we work together, ELi keeps bringing you hyper-local news and features through the end of September.

This month, ELi needs $8,000 to meet that goal. This time, we’re raising funds to support two things you told us you valued; contributions may be earmarked to go towards East Lansing Public Schools reporting, or to support our student reporters. In both cases, funding will also help to cover our overhead costs. (So you can also make a general donation to go directly to our overhead costs because you generally value what we’re giving the community. That’s always encouraged.)

As of today, the Student Reporters fund is up to $1140 out of $4,000 and the Educational (ELPS) fund is up to $1720 out of $4,000. That’s less than half of what we need to survive, with only ten days left in the month.

Here are two (of the many) reasons to support our ELi:

1. We are the only new source with a mission to cover East Lansing. Our reporting on East Lansing City Council is so thorough that readers can stay on top of important issues, debates and decisions from the comfort of their laptops and tablets. When readers ask questions, we dig in and find answers whenever possible.

 We want to cover the schools with the same depth. You’ve asked us to deliver timely, detailed information on ELPS Board meetings, teacher contract negotiations, budget decisions and curriculum decisions. To do that, we need to be able to pay dedicated reporters. If ELPS coverage matters to you, and you want a thorough, one-stop source for news about our local schools, click here to donate.

2. We are giving young citizen journalists a chance to hone their writing skills, interact with the community and get paid for writing, all while bringing you so much local news we can’t otherwise bring you. Right now we have eight student/youth reporters including a high school student, two ELHS grads and a recent college graduate. You probably don’t even realize how many of our reporters are students, because they are talented and our editors make sure they meet our standards.

Here are three of the young writers working to bring you stories that come not only from “their” side of Grand River Avenue, or “our” side, but from the community we all share:

Rosalind Arch is a sophomore at Michigan State University planning to double-major in Philosophy and Women's Studies. She lives off-campus with her best friends and fat feline, Cali. Rosalind reports on upcoming East Lansing events for ELI have often included in our Show of the Week column. She is an aspiring activist, part-time waitress, tree-hugger, and someday, world traveler. In her free time she enjoys reading, attending music festivals, and late night dining at Insomnia Cookies.

Peyton Lombardo is a native of Shelby Township, Michigan, and currently an Michigan State University student studying Professional Writing and Media & Information, with an expected graduation date of 2018. She currently lives in Landon Hall in MSU’s historic North Neighborhood. She enjoys reporting stories involving sports and entertainment. She is a student manager for the MSU Women's Basketball team and enjoys film and any activity that gets her outdoors (golfing, kayaking, and hiking).

Paige Filice is a native of Lansing, Michigan, and currently serves as a Watershed Technician for the Clinton Conservation District and as a Program Assistant for the Fisheries and Wildlife Department at Michigan State University. She graduated from Lake Superior State University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation Leadership. Her reporting interests for Eli include environmental and water resources issues, gardening, and anything to do with the outdoors. When she isn’t working or writing, she enjoys kayaking, mountain bike riding, and playing badminton.

If you value the growing ties between MSU and the community as a whole, and supporting the growth of dedicated and passionate young reporters, click here to donate.

We’re down to the wire.

Let’s keep a good thing going. Together.