Amanda Edmonds · The Ypsilantian

Amanda Maria Edmonds served as Mayor of Ypsilanti from 2014 to 2018 — she did not seek a second term. She founded Growing Hope in 2003, a nonprofit focused on food access, urban agriculture, and youth development, and served as its executive director until 2017. She holds an undergraduate degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan (2000). She is currently a consultant, strategist, and educator in food systems and nonprofits through AM Edmonds LLC, and is an artist and photographer through AMEPIX. She serves as Secretary of the Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS) Foundation board. She has endorsed Mayor Nicole Brown for the 2026 mayoral race.

In September–October 2017, Edmonds traveled to Beijing, China for 10 days as part of a trip connected to the proposed International Village development — a $300 million mixed-use project on 28 acres of city-owned Water Street land that would have catered largely to wealthy Chinese students. Also on the trip: Mayor Pro-Tem Nicole Brown, Economic Development Director Beth Ernat, and at least one other city official.

The trip was initially represented to the public as being funded by the Wayne State University Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA). An independent investigation by attorney Ed Plato, commissioned by the city council, found that developer Amy Xue Foster — who was simultaneously proposing a major development on city-owned land — actually paid for the trip. Ypsilanti City Attorney John Barr had warned in writing as early as May 2017 that it would be "unethical and illegal" for Foster to pay for city officials' travel.

Plato's report called Edmonds' testimony "questionable" — she had received a LinkedIn message on September 12 indicating that Foster was paying for the trip, but claimed she never saw the message before traveling. Edmonds said she believed a Wayne State student group was providing "scholarships" funded by the Chinese Consulate in Chicago — which was not actually involved with the trip at all.

The Ypsilanti City Council voted on a censure resolution in April 2018. The resolution failed by one vote. Council did vote to refer the findings to Michigan State Police for potential criminal investigation. Edmonds announced she would not seek a second term. No charges were publicly filed against Edmonds.

The same John Barr who warned the China trip was "unethical and illegal" later investigated the John Meyers complaint against Frances McMullan and found nothing — and was the city attorney during McMullan's four years of daily credit card charges.

Nicole Brown — China Trip / 2026 Endorsement Brown was Mayor Pro-Tem and a passenger on the same China trip. Edmonds has endorsed Brown for mayor in the 2026 race against Amber Fellows — who stood at public comment on October 17, 2017 and demanded accountability for the trip.

YCS Foundation — Secretary Edmonds serves as Secretary of the Ypsilanti Community Schools Foundation board — the nonprofit that raises funds for a school district where 26% of students experience homelessness and the 2013 merger debt still affects the budget. Also on the YCS Foundation board: Jeanice Townsend, who simultaneously serves as Treasurer of the YCS Board of Education (overseeing a $79.9M annual budget).

Growing Hope / Simmons Recall Context Growing Hope — the organization Edmonds founded — was cited by recall petitioners as a location where open drug markets had occurred near downtown Ypsilanti. Simmons was partly blamed by petitioners for the Growing Hope situation. Edmonds endorsed Brown, not Simmons' challenger.

Water Street — Institutional Continuity The China trip was connected to the International Village proposal on Water Street — the same 28-acre parcel that has now cost the city $33M over 27 years, remains largely undeveloped, and hosts an active encampment that has produced reports of sexual assault and children in the woods. Edmonds was mayor when the Water Street development was actively being pursued. The Water Street saga runs from the Ed Koryzno era through McMullan's tenure and into the present Brown administration — with Edmonds as a documented figure in the middle chapter.