Michelle Jokisch Polo

Bilingual Latinx Stories Reporter and Weekend Host
  • portrait: Michelle Jokisch Polo
    Michelle Jokisch Polo
    Isabel Garcia / Dreams By Bella Photography

As WKAR’s Latinx stories reporter, Michelle reports in both English and Spanish on stories affecting Michigan’s Latinx community. Michelle is also the voice of WKAR’s weekend news programs.
 
Michelle joined WKAR in August 2020.

Before joining WKAR, Michelle was the inclusion reporter at WGVU Public Media, covering stories of people at the intersections of racial justice immigration reform, criminal justice system reform, reproductive justice and trans and queer liberation. Michelle began her journalism career as the head reporter at El Vocero Hispano, the largest Hispanic newspaper in Michigan.

Michelle has a master’s degree from Grand Valley State University and a bachelor’s degree from Calvin University.

Ways to Connect

Joe Biden Makes An Appeal To MI Voters In Virtual Rally

By • Sep 13, 2020
Michelle Jokisch Polo / WKAR-MSU

During a virtual rally on Saturday. Joe Biden urged people to cast ballots for down-ticket Democratic candidates -- as well as himself -- in the November election.

 

 


MI Secretary Of State Informs Non-English Speaking Voters In Virtual Town Hall

By • Sep 11, 2020
Michelle Jokisch Polo / WKAR-MSU

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson held a virtual town hall Thursday to inform non-English speaking voters how to get their ballots in on time for the November election.

 


MI Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission To Meet For First Time

By • Sep 10, 2020
PUBLIC DOMAIN / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The commission tasked with redrawing the state’s congressional district lines plans to hold its first meeting later this month.

 


Hijos De Trabajadores Agricolas Enfrentan Dificultades De Vivienda Cuando MSU Movio Clases En Linea

By • Sep 4, 2020
TAYLOR HAELTERMAN / WKAR-MSU

Kiara Zarate se encontraba a 13 horas de su casa cuando recibio un email informandole que el semestre del otoño de MSU iba a ser en linea. Usando el ultimo del dinero de sus padres, ella continuo manejando a East Lansing sin planes de vivienda concretos. 

Children Of Migrant Workers Face Housing Challenges After MSU Goes Remote

By • Sep 4, 2020
Taylor Haelterman / WKAR-MSU

Kiara Zarate was 13 hours from home when she got the email telling her MSU's Fall Semester was pivoting to remote learning. Using the last of her parents' money, she carried on to East Lansing with no concrete housing plans.

Corte del Sexto Circuito de Apelaciones Vota En Contra Una Demanda De Una Orden De Salud Publica

By • Sep 3, 2020
Michigan Farm Bureau

La Corte de Apelaciones del Sexto Circuito de EE. UU. vota a favor de una orden de emergencia del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Michigan.

Sixth Circuit Court Of Appeals Rules Against A Challenge To Michigan Public Health Order

By • Sep 3, 2020
Michigan Farm Bureau

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against a challenge to Michigan’s public health order requiring farm owners to test workers for COVID-19.

Trabajadores Agrícolas De Michigan No Estan De Acuerdo Con Demanda De Las Compañías Agricultoras

By • Aug 31, 2020
United States Department of Agriculture

Las compañías agrícolas quieren anular una orden de salud pública que requiere que los empleadores realicen pruebas a los trabajadores agrícolas para detectar el COVID-19. Pero los trabajadores dicen que estas medidas son necesarias para protegerlos del virus.

Michigan Farm Workers, Farm Owners Disagree On Public Health Order Requiring COVID-19 Testing

By • Aug 31, 2020
United States Department of Agriculture

Michigan farm workers are speaking out in response to a lawsuit backed by the Michigan Farm Bureau. Farm owners want to annul a public health order requiring employers to test farm workers for COVID-19. But workers say these measures are necessary to protect them from the virus.

MSU Students Face Housing Crisis After School Closes On-Campus Housing

By • Aug 22, 2020
Taylor Haelterman / WKAR-MSU

There was some chaos this week for students at Michigan State University. They were preparing to move into residence halls when the school announced undergraduate classes would move online and on-campus housing would be closed, leaving many thousands of students in a housing lurch.