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Feature Story Lakeview Square Mall Economic Development

Voices of Youth: What's next for Lakeview Square Mall?

Mason AllenThursday, April 11, 2024
Voices of Youth's Mason Allen has been going to Lakeview Square Mall "before I can remember." But over the years, he has watched the mall struggle against what's being called the "retail apocalypse." Allen speaks with a Battle Creek official to learn what changes are underfoot.
Longform Dr. Theresa Hastert (right) helped develop the Michigan Community Outreach to Address Financial Toxicity (MI-COST). Ali Fakih (left) is a research assistant with MI-COST, and Cornelius Wilson (center) sits on its Community Advisory Board. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Here's how Michigan organizations are working to reduce cancer treatment's crushing financial burden

Estelle SlootmakerThursday, April 11, 2024
In Michigan, several efforts are underway to help cancer patients prepare for, manage, and alleviate the financial struggles associated with treatment.
Feature Story Enlightened Recovery Healthy Communities

Holistic recovery center for treating substance use disorders to open in Kalamazoo

Al JonesThursday, April 4, 2024
What's happening at the former nursing home on Alamo Avenue? It's soon to be the new home of Enlightened Recovery, a holistic substance use disorder rehab facility.
Feature Story Seaux Sundays Community Development

Sundays in Battle Creek, seaux boring, so not

Jane ParikhThursday, April 4, 2024
“Some people use Sundays to prepare for the week, I want to prepare in a completely different way. I want to expose people to things they may never have heard of before and bridge those gaps.”
Longform Mobility App Transportation

Electric vehicle Carshare program in Kalamazoo and Portage expands the mobility landscape

Mark WedelThursday, April 4, 2024
"We know that if we can reduce the cost of transportation, then that improves people's ability to afford quality housing or quality childcare or quality healthcare," says Matthew Hollander of the new EV car rental program in place at Edison's The Creamery.
Longform Kimberly Singh (right), Michigan Oral Health Coalition board member and chief community and governmental affairs officer for My Community Dental Centers, chats with Dental Assistant Kortney Jones. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Oral health care is inaccessible to many Michiganders. This coalition is working to change that.

Estelle SlootmakerThursday, April 4, 2024
The Michigan Oral Health Coalition brings together a multitude of Michigan oral and general health partners to collaborate on improving oral health for all Michiganders, especially those who have barriers to access. 
Longform Teacher helping child at NEST Child Care and Parent Institute in Detroit Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

خارطة طريق "التعليم ما قبل الابتدائي للجميع" تتخذ منهجًا شاملًا لإطلاق برنامج "التعليم ما قبل الاب

Joanne Bailey-BoorsmaTuesday, April 2, 2024
في يناير 2023، أعلنت الحاكمة غريتشن ويتمر عن خطتها "التعليم ما قبل الابتدائي للجميع"، والتي ستوفر الوصول إلى التعليم ما قبل الابتدائي المجاني لجميع الأطفال البالغين من العمر أربع سنوات في ميشيغان بحلول عام 2027. في فبراير 2024، أصدرت دائرة التعليم مدى الحياة، التقدم، والإمكانيات في ميشيغان (MiLEAP) خطة الطريق مع توصيات حول كيف يمكن للولاية تحقيق هذا الهدف. شاركت مجموعة السياسات العادلة، وهي منظمة استشارية تعليمية في واشنطن العاصمة تركز على سياسات الرعاية والتعليم المبكرة، في تأليف خارطة الطريق.
Longform Robin Beasley is the director of Garden of Dreams Preschool inside First Congregational Church. Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

Tri-Share makes quality child care more affordable for working parents

Jaishree DrepaulTuesday, April 2, 2024
MI Tri-Share is a first-of-its-kind cost-sharing funding model. The state, the employee, and their employer each chip in for one-third of the price of child care.
Longform Josh Williams Community Development

Addressing the Gap: The need for increased mental health support for LGBTQ Michiganders

Valerie LegoTuesday, April 2, 2024
With all the positive work being done, the fact remains that 51% of LGBTQ Youth in Michigan are afraid to talk about their mental health with someone else. 
Feature Story Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller says 911 should not be the only number people call to help people with substance use and mental health issues. Safe Communities

Kalamazoo County Jail numbers are down; new programs likely to bring them lower

Al JonesThursday, March 28, 2024
“When we talk about the programs that we’re doing at the jail, what we want to do is change the mindset of not just people who come to jail, but the mindset of our community. We need people to understand that there are other services that can help people with mental health issues, substance use disorders.”
Feature Story BC Art Bash Arts and Culture

Battle Creek creatives offer advice and support to area students during Art Bash 2024

Jane ParikhThursday, March 28, 2024
“More of our students need to see the arts in nontraditional ways. We want children to see and be engaged and be empowered through the message that was being given out.”
Longform Housing Solutions Kalamazoo Housing Advocates Building Communities

Kalamazoo Housing Advocates helps people navigate barriers to housing using 'that corny love thing'

Mark WedelThursday, March 28, 2024
Kalamazoo Housing Advocates strives to provide one-on-one supportive services, where instead of just offices and forms, a person in crisis can call on someone to help navigate the steps toward a more stable environment. And love is built into the organization.
Feature Story Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Equity

What would Lucinda do? Southwest Michigan women channel their feminist forebears

Jane ParikhThursday, March 28, 2024
To commemorate Women's History Month, we asked some Southwest Michigan area women to offer their perspectives on what local women of note might have to say today about issues that cemented their place in history.
Feature Story Robin Wall Kimmerer Sustainability

Voices of Youth: State's largest high school Climate Symposium hosted by Calhoun County students

Trey SebringThursday, March 28, 2024
Calhoun County students are hosting Michigan's largest high school climate symposium. Representing seven school districts, these climate activists spent after-school hours organizing the event that features "Braiding Sweetgrass" author Robin Wall Kimmerer, among other climate standouts.
Longform Kristin Graham, principal of Macatawa Bay Middle School, confers with a student. Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

Successful suicide prevention protocol expands from Corewell hospitals to Western Michigan schools

Estelle SlootmakerThursday, March 28, 2024
The Blue Envelope program trains all school employees how to respond to a student expressing thoughts of suicide, and assigns interventions based on the student's risk level.
Longform Teacher helping child at NEST Child Care and Parent Institute in Detroit Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

PreK For All Roadmap takes a holistic approach to rolling out PreK For All

Joanne Bailey-BoorsmaWednesday, March 27, 2024
The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) has released the PreK for All Roadmap plan with recommendations on how the state can achieve universal pre-K for all 4-year-olds in Michigan.
Longform Teacher helping child at NEST Child Care and Parent Institute in Detroit Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

La Hoja de Ruta de PreK Para Todos adopta un enfoque holístico para el despliegue de PreK Para Todos

Joanne Bailey-BoorsmaWednesday, March 27, 2024
En enero de 2023, la gobernadora Gretchen Whitmer anunció su plan PreK para Todos, que proporcionaría acceso a la educación preescolar gratuita a todos los niños de cuatro años de Michigan para 2027. En febrero de 2024, el Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) publicó el plan de la Hoja de Ruta con recomendaciones
Longform John Fuse, Community Health Worker with the Berrien County Health Department, stands outside the department’s building in Benton Harbor. Second Wave - MichiganCommunity Development

Community Health Workers: Michigan's public health messengers

Sarah SpohnTuesday, March 26, 2024
Community health workers perform essential roles in delivering physical and mental health care and increasing health care access for Michigan residents. 
Feature Story Amber Desgranges and Rachel Ruddock of the Michigan Primary Care Association. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

New initiative offers Michigan nursing students opportunity to build careers in underserved areas

Estelle SlootmakerMonday, March 25, 2024
The Michigan Primary Care Association is collaborating with nine of Michigan’s state universities to provide nursing students with opportunities to train in Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics.
Feature Story Small-Jae-Gerhart Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

How local healthcare systems leverage local farms for healthy food options

Kelsey SandersMonday, March 25, 2024
Medical institutions around Michigan are using their local resources to bring real food to their staff and patients.
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Battle Creek

Laundry Love: Finding community and dignity at a Battle Creek laundromat

St. Thomas' Laundry Love is focused on those who are “struggling to make ends meet,” says Deacon Trish Harris. “There are people who have asked me, ‘How do you know if I meet the qualifications?’ We have no qualifications. We want them to know that we see you as an important person and we’re coming to you with love." For the full story, click here. For more stories, please visit here.
 

Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo's Sarkozy Bakery: Old world baking in an ever-changing world

"We had a liter bottle of Hungarian wine. As we were finishing the bread, and finishing the wine, we said, 'Man, this (bread) is good! You know, we could sell this!' And that's why you shouldn't drink too much." Read the full story here. Read more stories here.
 

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