Features

Feature Story The Urban Collaboratory’s work includes a focus on community water systems and health impacts related to contaminants like microplastics and PFAS.

Public health focus on the built environment improves health for Michiganders

Public health and infrastructure go hand in hand, as organizations across Michigan work to address the built environment's critical role in shaping health outcomes.

Feature Story Healthy House for Women

Beyond the Headlines in 2024: Journalists reflect on stories that impacted them

A look back at the stories of 2024 through the eyes of your Southwest Michigan Second Wave writers.

Feature Story Women's Giving Group

Women in Albion and Marshall make an impact through collective giving groups

Collective giving groups, especially among women, continue to rise in popularity. We introduce you to two such Southwest Michigan groups to find out how they were formed and why they are thriving.

Feature Story Dreamers Ball

Dreamers Ball in Battle Creek celebrates MLK's legacy while building for the futureAnd BIPOC Battle Creek Endowment Collaborative pilot launches

“MLK Day is probably one of the most celebrated holidays among those who are into any form of justice and in our community. We have not always had a communitywide celebration of Dr. King and so we felt it was good to leverage the unity around the ideas of Dr. King to host our event in the form of a Dreamers Ball to remember his vision."

Partner Content Autism can be a very isolating. AAoM shares and hosts events that are relevant to the autism community.

Welcome Kit helps Michiganders navigate autism resources and support

AAoM Welcome Kits provide a broad yet concise overview of AAoM’s roster of services. Available in two versions — one for families raising autistic children and autistic adults and another for professionals serving the autistic clients — Welcome Kits extend a warm handshake that welcomes them to AAoM’s services.

Feature Story Bent Not Broken

Bent Not Broken: Kalamazoo nonprofit empowers families affected by the juvenile justice system

Through participatory defense support and community collaboration, Bent Not Broken aims to disrupt the systemic juvenile injustice cycles in Kalamazoo.

Feature Story Sacred Earth: Carbon Usage

Treading lightly: The ethics and how-tos of reducing our carbon footprints

What is our personal and collective responsibility in reducing our carbon footprint? Learn about the City of Kalamazoo's commitment and what individual residents can do to contribute.

Feature Story Voices of Youth

Voices of Youth: Why can’t I wear hoodies and text my friends in Kalamazoo Public Schools?

New rules prohibiting cell phones and hoodies at Kalamazoo Public Schools have some students wondering why. Voices of Youth's Braylon Youker speaks with students and KPS Superintendent Dr. Darrin Slade to find out more.

Feature Story Voices of Youth

Voices of Youth: Meet Darrin Slade, the tough, new superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools

With a year under his belt, Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Darrin Slade has instituted some stricter student conduct rules and is pleased with the success. But he says there's still a ways to go.

Feature Story Voices of Youth

Voices of Youth: Why high school student council participation matters

Participating in student council offers students experience in leading, governing, collaborating, volunteering, and more. 

Feature Story LaShawnda Bates, wearing a yellow dress, stands in front of a table with health brochures on it.

Bronson Cancer Care Equity Project breaks down barriers to health care

Bronson’s Cancer Care Equity project addresses health disparities through community partnerships, improving accessibility, communication, and inclusivity in cancer care.

Longform West Main

Can the 'River of Death' be tamed? West Main residents, businesses express appetite for 'road diet'

In Kalamazoo, street calming has helped to decrease accidents by 23 percent. Residents and business owners along West Main, a major artery to downtown, are also requesting changes to slow the hazardous flow of traffic.

Feature Story Artique

Sustainable Sanctuary: Health and beauty refillery to open in former Bedford Twp. church

Refilleries for health, beauty, and cleaning products are on the rise as people search for ways to avoid single-use plastics. Aware of that trend, Krystal Smith is opening Artique, a health and beauty refillery also featuring antiques and crafts at a former Bedford Township church.

Longform A Way Home Stanwood Crossings

Groundbreaking expected in Portage this spring for 45 single-family workforce homes

Houses for teachers, health care workers, assembly line workers, public safety officers — workforce residents — are going up in Portage this spring. Here's the plan for Stanwood Crossings. 

Feature Story Devon Wilson points out some of the young plants growing in one of the hoop houses at Sunlight Gardens.

Farmacy: Urban farm in Battle Creek reaching over the counter for farm-to-table dining

Battle Creek's Sunlight Gardens and Farmacy opened a new event center to partner with local restaurants in providing farm-to-table food.

Longform A Way Home Housing Solutions Tiny houses

‘Tiny’ house project sends a hard-to-place population to the front of the line

Tiny houses, a project that has been years in the making, has celebrated its grand opening in Kalamazoo. Each of the one-story houses – which have about 410 square feet of living space – was built to provide housing for individuals who are trying to improve their lives after being incarcerated or after recovering from substance abuse disorders 

In The News Voices of Youth

Voices of Youth: How safe is the Kalamazoo River?

Voices of Youth Sophie Baldwin speaks with Doug McLaughlin, executive director of Kalamazoo Watershed Council, to learn more about the pollutants in the Kalamazoo River and what impacts they have.

Feature Story A Way Home Heads in Beds

For Christmas, this Kalamazoo group is booking hotel rooms for the unhoused

A local advocacy group is working to provide a safe and warm Christmas setting for up to 100 unhoused people in the greater Kalamazoo area. Find out how Kalamazoo Together for the Unhoused is working to raise money, collect contributions, and schedule volunteer efforts for its third annual Heads in Beds for Christmas.

Feature Story Nathan Dlouhy appreciates how DAKC's Interview Day helps him to be his best self.

DAKC event empowers young adults with disabilities through mock interviews and job connections

A Disability Advocates Kent County event uses mock interviews to build confidence among young adults with disabilities and connect them to job opportunities.

Feature Story "We live here, we work here and we care about you and your family."

A New Vision for Public Health in Michigan

Michigan has stepped forward with a comprehensive Public Health Call to Action, a set of recommendations crafted by the Michigan Public Health Advisory Council (MPHAC) to guide the state’s journey toward a more equitable and resilient health system. 

Battle Creek

New leader of Battle Creek’s Burma Center talks challenges and opportunities

“My biggest passion and mission for the Burma Center is to empower our people and make these people valued in this community and make sure that their voices are heard so that they can thrive alongside other people here so they can be successful like other families." For the full story, click hereFor more stories, please visit here.
 

Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo's Healthy House for Women offers women in recovery a loving place to stay

"Our core values are to be sober, safe, and self-sufficient. I think there is a balance between self-sufficiency and community. I don’t want the women to think they can do everything by themselves.". Read the full story here. Read more stories here.