Social Equity - Fluresh's Accelerator Program
Over a dozen mentorship’s provided to racial minorities, by Fluresh under their relatively unique Social Equality program have been by the staff of Fluresh. Applicants can apply directly through the Fluresh web site. In the last batch of 60 applicants, 10 individuals were selected for their mentorship program.
Shoran Reid William was the Chair of the Cannabis practice at Miller Johnson, and a trusted advisor on legal issues related to the rapidly growing and evolving cannabis and hemp industry in North America. Two noteworthy bills that have accelerated the interest in the industry are the United States 2018 Farm Bill and Michigan’s activation of authority pursuant to the United States 2014 Farm Bill being utilized to launch the State’s Industrial Hemp Ag pilot. Additionally, as Michigan voters legalized both medical and recreational cannabis consumption, Ms. Williams’ practice includes of those laws on her clients as well.
Ms. Williams recently joined the Fluresh team. Her decision to come here is rooted in all the work Fluresh has done to make a real world difference in the communities that have been unfairly targeted in the war on drugs. The lynchpin for her was when new CEO said social equity shouldn’t just be about licensing, but we should be taking this money and reinvesting it in schools in targeted communities.
The Origins of the Ann Arbor Monroe St. Fair
Since the dawn of Hash Bash, the city and university worked together to push Hash Bash out. The last time was around the turn of the century.
Together we have ushered in a 20 year era of hash bash coexistence, peace and growth in cooperation with the city, neighborhood and community leading to major shifts in opinions of cannabis.
It’s been 20 plus years since they’ve even tried to push us out. In fact, they have embraced us. Join us in leading our next 20 year era at the Ann Arbor Monroe Street Fair. If you’re a cannabis fan and Hash Basher, You’ve likely been a part of a years (decades) long exercise and liberal democratic shift in opinions of cannabis in Michigan.
I am an artist, organizer, producer and community leader and I contributed my lifetime to helping the grassroots of Michigan have pride in ourselves and our chosen means of healing and happiness. Join us Saturday April 2nd to celebrate OUR (all Hash Bash activists, patients, caregivers, homegrowers, and other artists ), 20th Anniversary and honor of “Best Street Fair” by the readers of the Metro Times. City and University deny vendors space at Hash Bash in 2002. The Ann Arbor Monroe Street Fair emerges to offer a safe space to gather in celebration.
Jeremy Berkowitz, a Michigan Daily Newspaper Staff Reporter, reported on March 21, 2002 that Hash Bash, a long-time Ann Arbor tradition for lovers of cannabis, will not be the same this year for merchants who like to sell their products outside on the street. Interim City Administrator Ron Olson declared last week that vendors and merchants will not be allowed on sidewalks during Hash Bash this year on April 6, 2002.
“The city administrator has issued a proclamation that will invalidate sidewalk occupancy vendors and peddlers permits for that day in a specified area surrounding the State Street and University Diag area,” James Kosteva, director of community relations for the University, said in 2002.
The reasoning behind the decision is to prevent vendors from blocking the sidewalks full of thousands of people. In previous years, many of these vendors were people from out of town who did not even apply for a permit to sell their goods.
But Stairway to Heaven owner Bob Kosak thought the city was overreacting. “They are using a sledgehammer to kill an ant,” Kosak said.
Kosak said he believes a better solution would be to only allow Ann Arbor merchants on the sidewalks. He said last year, the State Street Association bought all the vending spaces and sold them to merchants who desired them.
“The real issue for business people is that it draws people to town and it’s a great day for sales,” said Mark Lamke, manager of In Flight Sports. “Everybody looks forward to this event, it is like the first day of spring.”
There has been much speculation among organizers of the event and local merchants that the city is trying to slowly do away with the 30-year tradition.
But Ann Arbor City Council Member Joe Upton (R-2nd Ward) said he feels this is not the case at all.
“I don’t believe this is a concerted effort to go in that direction,” Upton said.
Lamke says he does not care about Hash Bash’s main goal, just that it has always been a wonderful day for Ann Arbor.
“Madison (Wisc.) and Ann Arbor are the two hippest cities in the Midwest, is that a bad thing?” Lamke said. “It’s not like people blatantly are abusing the law. This has been going on for so long.” said Upton.
So the story picks up here...
The Arbor Monroe Street Fair Born in 2002 - Hooray! At that time Strackbein, saw an opportunity in the new restrictions to mix his art with his event planning experience creating what’s intended to be and likened to a yearly, 12 hour pop-up art Installation, a perennial that grows from the ground at the crack of dawn, blossoms, bears fruit and settles back into the ground without a trace by nightfall, already anticipating next year. Miraculously with great cooperation, the event was put together and approved in a matter of weeks.
The special event is located just 2 blocks south of the Diag, in Ann Arbor on Monroe Street, Oakland Ave. and Tappan.
Serving the cannabis industry for over 25 years, Charlie has called upon the likes of pro-cannabis advocates Tommy Chong, Jack Herer, John Sinclair and Ed Rosenthal to join in as special guests.
Putting our best foot forward and leaving the site without a trace, we provide a destination for Michigan cannabis to connect with Ann Arbor community and businesses in efforts to amplify state-wide law reform initiative while having a good time doing it.
My business partner Fred Heller is an Ann Arbor native that has been with the fair since its inception in 2002, first as an exhibitor and then joining as a special assistant, taking on a greater roles as the fair evolved. Fred has been instrumental in expanding the fair, while keeping its Ann Arbor roots intact.
The Ann Arbor Monroe Street Fair is dedicated to giving local artists, businesses and advocates a platform and audience to promote themselves, our city and surrounding areas.
Activists have met at Casa Dominicks since its first days in 1960. Over the years the Hash Bash, Monroe Street Fair and hundreds of thousands of activists, patients, caregivers and homegrowers have ushered in a 20 year era of hash bash coexistence, peace and growth in cooperation with the city, neighborhood and community leading to major shifts in opinions of cannabis.
It’s been 20 plus years since they’ve even tried to push us out. If fact, they have embraced us.
The Ann Arbor Monroe Street Fair has celebrated leadership and pride for 20 plus years.
If you’re a cannabis fan and Hash Basher, you’ve likely been a part of a years (decades) long exercise and liberal democratic shift in opinions of cannabis in Michigan. Come out, have fun, enjoy the afternoon, and be part of the latest episode of this epic story of the greatest cannabis gathering ever told.
...and the rest is history. Hooray!
