Mark Bugnaski for the KSO

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma brings a full house to its feet in Miller Auditorium Read Article

Mark Bugnaski for the KSO

Helping vets in Kalamazoo who were 'smoked by life' Read Article

Fran Dwight
Fran Dwight
Fran Dwight

Fists, friends, and fighting spirit: The legacy of Kalamazoo’s Boxing Academy Read Article

Courtesy: Institute of Public Scholarship

Former local shelter transforms into lifeline for Southwest Michigan Veterans Read Article

John Grap

Benchmark bets on a Dark Horse: Success is brewing in Marshall Read Article

John Grap

Voices of Youth: How teens can help friends in crisis Read Article

Daniel Kibezi

Features

Longform Homeless Vet List Image Healthy Communities

Helping vets in Kalamazoo who were 'smoked by life'

Mark WedelWednesday, June 11, 2025
In 2024, 32,882 veterans experienced homelessness in the United States, and 68 of those were in Kalamazoo County, though local officials say they are sure that number has since increased. Many unhoused veterans don’t know there are benefits and programs that can help. Here’s how to get connected.
Longform Yo-Yo Ma at the KSO 2025 Arts and Culture

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma brings a full house to its feet in Miller Auditorium

Kathy JenningsWednesday, June 11, 2025
For 100 years, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra has been making music for the community. Its sold-out June 2 concert featuring renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma was a triumph. 
Feature Story Housing Balkema

Kalamazoo County Housing Portal opens with $2.8 million for new projects

Al JonesWednesday, June 11, 2025
On June 2, the Kalamazoo County Housing Department opened its online portal for projects seeking financial support from the county’s Homes for All Housing Millage. “It’s open and we have money for funding,” says Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema. “We’re really hoping that developers and nonprofits go in and really have some good applications for funding.”
Feature Story Kalamazoo Boxing Academy Arts and Culture

Fists, friends, and fighting spirit: The legacy of Kalamazoo’s Boxing AcademyPlus revisiting glory days of Idlewild

Mark WedelWednesday, June 4, 2025
At the Institute of Public Scholarship’s “Remembering the Block” talk on the Kalamazoo Boxing Academy, stories of bruises, brotherhood, and Black pride reminded listeners that real strength is learned both in and outside the ring. And Carlean Gill revisits the glory days of Idlewild.
Longform Dark Horse Brewing Co. Entrepreneurship

Benchmark bets on a Dark Horse: Success is brewing in Marshall

Jane ParikhWednesday, June 4, 2025
Spirits, fruit-forward, and lower Alcohol by Volume are market trends in the alcohol industry since the peak of craft beer, and Benchmark of Livonia, which recently acquired Dark Horse and Roak Brewing Co., hopes to capitalize on those trends — but the Mug Club lives on.
Longform Veterans Helping Veterans Healthy Communities

Former local shelter transforms into lifeline for Southwest Michigan Veterans

Jane ParikhWednesday, June 4, 2025
“We are the only Veterans organization in Southwest Michigan doing what we’re doing. I like to call us a neutral spot. We don’t care what branch of the service you were in or what your discharge status is. People I’ve talked to have said it’s about time."
Longform PreK for All ensures that every 4-year-old in Michigan has access to a high-quality preschool experience, regardless of income. Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

“A lifeline for families,” PreK for All expands access and raises expectations

Brianna NargisoTuesday, June 3, 2025
Enrollment in PreK for All is now open for all families, no matter their income. The program operates across a mixed delivery system, including local school districts, public charter schools, private child care providers, Head Start programs, and community-based organizations.    
Feature Story Voices of Youth Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: How teens can help friends in crisis

Jack ReillyMonday, June 2, 2025
A Voices of Youth writer delves into how teens can best help comfort friends in crisis. Experts stress the importance of sincere support, open dialogue, and knowing when to guide someone toward professionals.
Partner Content Event helps autistic children and adults get used to the airport environment and boarding experience. Second Wave - MichiganEquity

On Board for Autism: Airport simulation helps autistic kids take flight

Estelle SlootmakerFriday, May 30, 2025
To help autistic people and their families manage  these challenges, Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM), Delta Airlines, and the Detroit Metropolitan Airport partner to host On Board for Autism events that prepare them to successfully take a flight.
Feature Story Samson's Barbershop Economic Development

‘That was really big for us,’ How United Way’s mini-grants support small businesses

Kristen AguirreThursday, May 29, 2025
As the product line for Samson's Barbershop grows, a Kalamazoo Enterprise Grant has helped them keep up with the equipment they need to producing the hair care products their customers are raving about.
Longform Braylon Youker Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: Inside KRESA's Career Connect Campus — a new era for career education

Braylon YoukerTuesday, May 27, 2025
Voices of Youth's Braylon Youker gets a firsthand look inside KRESA's $100 million state-of-the-art Career Connect Campus. "I can’t wait to see [the students’] eyes light up," says Eric Stewart, Asst. Superintendent. "We’ve built this for them.”
Feature Story Climate change and vulnerable SWMi Collaboration Economic Development

‘Folks aren’t left behind’: Climate change readiness includes protecting homes of most vulnerable

Julie RiddleThursday, May 22, 2025
As local governments use regulations to protect against the impacts of a changing climate, several new efforts in Kalamazoo show how going green can boost local economies while keeping people most susceptible to the harm of climate change safe in their own homes. 
Feature Story Calhoun County Land Bank Building Communities

Brownfield assessment and revitalization throughout Calhoun County focus of $1.5 million EPA grantEfforts will help with future housing and development

Jane ParikhWednesday, May 21, 2025
A $1.5 million EPA Brownfield grant will help revitalize vacant and contaminated properties in Calhoun County. Led by the Calhoun County Land Bank and its partners, the initiative aims to pave the way for future housing and commercial development, particularly in Battle Creek and Albion.
Longform small-judy-logan Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Dental aid helps cancer patients regain health and dignity

Shandra MartinezWednesday, May 21, 2025
HNC Living Foundation provides dental care, nutrition, and support to head and neck cancer patients facing financial and treatment challenges.
Longform Braids Economic Development

Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation exemplifies nonprofits' financial underpinning of economic development

Natasha RobinsonWednesday, May 21, 2025
Lalonie Willhite founded Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation to make sure kids growing up in foster homes didn’t encounter struggles with self esteem that comes with foster and adoptive parents not knowing how to care for all textures of hair. The Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation also is an example of how a nonprofit contributes to economic growth right here in the community while fulfilling its core mission of giving back.
Longform Merze Tate SWMi Journalism Collab Community Development

The Kalamazoo City parks that kids like the best – and least

By Andrew MinegarWednesday, May 21, 2025
Studies show children who had access to parks were less likely to suffer from obesity, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Merze Tate Explorers set out to find out what to expect when visiting Kalamazoo City Parks. And they ranked  their favorites. 
Partner Content Boy in classroom Second Wave - MichiganEquity

Blueprint for school funding would ensure equitable resources in special education

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, May 20, 2025
The MI Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint would ensure that Michigan adequately and equitably funds public special education in Michigan. 
Feature Story All Gods Children teacher Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

No-cost pre-K for all Michigan 4-year-olds enrolling for 2025-26 school year

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, May 20, 2025
QA with Jeffrey Capizzano, Policy Equity Group, on the implementation of Pre-K for All no-cost preschool for Michigan 4-year-olds.
Feature Story Voices of Youth Politics Community Development

Voices of Youth Commentary: How social media shapes and divides progressive politics

Braylon YoukerTuesday, May 20, 2025
This Voices of Youth commentary looks at how social media is fueling divides within the Democratic Party and argues that progressives can find strength in their differences by focusing on shared values and community-based action.
Feature Story Voices of Youth: Student Racism Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: Racism is a hard lesson for young people in high school

Kayla RicardoMonday, May 19, 2025
This Voices of Youth story focuses on teenagers' experiences with racism in their schools, describing the casual use of slurs and stereotypes as both painful and normalized among peers trying to fit in. While some youth express hope for change, others feel racism has become more insidious and less overt.
Load More Stories

Battle Creek

Village Network leads work to create a Black Wall Street in Battle Creek 

Plans for launching a Black Wall Street movement in Battle Creek will include a Black-owned business directory and two new websites with a mission to create "collective independence." For more stories, please visit here.
 

Kalamazoo

Joyful Streets, Real-world Struggles: "Happy Cities" author on the journey to transform Kalamazoo 

"What I've noticed in Kalamazoo is, that the city has been taking action to make some changes that in the short term some people might find uncomfortable, but in the long term are going to set the city on course for more vitality, more health, more equity, and I would say more happiness for the people who choose to live here."  Read the full story here. Read more stories here.
 

Recommended Content

Sponsored By
Regions
Focus Areas
Copyright © Issue Media Group. All rights reserved.