Every July marks the arrival of National Park and Recreation Month, a nationwide initiative dedicated to highlighting the profound impact local parks and recreation systems have on making communities stronger, healthier, and more resilient. This year's commemoration comes as Washtenaw County celebrates its bicentennial, providing an opportunity to look beyond parks as simply places for recreation and to consider the many ways that contribute to environmental stewardship, public health, education, and community connection. Joining us today is Rhonda Bouma, Deputy Director of Operations for the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Every day, the choices we make in our homes and communities connect to much bigger environmental stories. Today, we're exploring one of those connections through Plastic Free July, a global movement encouraging people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. But what does that look like right here in Washtenaw County? And can local actions really make a difference in a problem that spans the globe? Our guest today is Lydia McMullen-Laird, co-founder of ZeroWaste.org and one of the leaders behind this year's Plastic Free July efforts in the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor area.

Today, we're looking at one of the most significant environmental challenges facing Michigan: PFAS contamination. Few environmental issues have affected Michigan communities more directly than these so-called forever chemicals, which have been found in our waterways, groundwater, and drinking water systems across the state. We're joined today by United States Senator Elissa Slotkin, who has been leading efforts in Washington to preserve federal PFAS protections and accelerate cleanup efforts at contaminated military sites, including those around Michigan.