Fran Dwight
Fran Dwight

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

John Grap

Starr Commonwealth broadens its reach through partnership with GVSU's Omni initiative Read Article

Fran Dwight

Weekend pedal: A Kalamazooan tours Detroit at the 'speed of bike' Read Article

Fran Dwight

Family fun will be in focus at Kalamazoo’s 4th Annual Anti-gun Violence Community Carnival Read Article

Fran Dwight

City and County are strategizing for better housing in Kalamazoo area Read Article

Members of the Kalamazoo City Commission voted on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 to work with Kalamazoo County to fund new strategies for housing.
Photo: Members of the Kalamazoo City Commission voted on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 to work with Kalamazoo County to fund new strategies for housing.

As teens experience mental health crisis, music therapy is one way they are finding help Read Article

Adolescentes en crisis mental encuentran alivio en musicoterapia Read Article

Fourth Estate Acquires Issue Media Group Read Article

Features

Feature Story Revolutionary Love Project Building Communities

Revolutionary Love Project comes to Battle Creek to create a space of love for the community

Jane ParikhThursday, October 10, 2024
Revolutionary love is when, “We are brave enough to look upon anyone around us and say, 'You are a part of me I do not yet know. I will let your story into my heart. I will let your grief into my heart, and I will fight for you when you are in harm’s way.'”
Feature Story Citizens Rising Kids and Education

Exorbitant campaigns, disinformation, and dark money are nonpartisan issuesFred Upton and Mark Schauer discuss threats to fair elections

Mark WedelThursday, October 10, 2024
Republicans and Democrats agree that expensive campaigns, disinformation, and 'dark money' are all threats to fair elections. Citizens Rising, a nonpartisan Kalamazoo group, hosted a recent forum on protecting democracy.
Feature Story Battle Creek Central H.S. Band Arts and Culture

Students are jumping on the marching bandwagon at Battle Creek Central High School

Jane ParikhThursday, October 10, 2024
Battle Creek Central High School's Marching Band Alum Fred Jankowski takes the reins as the new band director and is focused on rebuilding the program after losses to the program during the pandemic.
Feature Story Tsugi Ogane Arts and Culture

How a 94-year-old's visit strengthens the bond between Kalamazoo and its sister city, Numuzu, Japan

Mike WenningerThursday, October 10, 2024
Tsugi Ogane's recent visit to Kalamazoo, her sister city, rekindled memories of visits past, including Mike Morrison's stories shared by his grandfather, former Kalamazoo Mayor Paul Morrison, regarding his visit to Numuzu, Japan in 1963.
Feature Story LifeWays Staff Healthy Communities

LifeWays peer support and recovery staff inspire clients to 'walk the walk'

Rylee BarnsdaleTuesday, October 8, 2024
LifeWays employs peer support specialists and recovery coaches for clients to work with throughout their recovery journeys. 
Feature Story Anti-gun Violence Safe Communities

Outreach efforts are working to keep violent crimes down in KalamazooPolice and community organizations having impact

Al JonesThursday, October 3, 2024
“I think it’s that balance between outreach and enforcement that is what’s working. . .The outreach folks are talking to the enforcement folks and vice-versa. I think that’s what’s really got a handle on our shootings and homicides.”
Feature Story Robert Shegog Diversity

Former Albion wrestling standout comes out of the closet and wrestles with the truth

Jane ParikhThursday, October 3, 2024
“I had a private life and a public life and I decided who knew what. Now that the book is out I have a recorded legacy of my authentic truth.”
Feature Story Community Peace Project Safe Communities

Voices of Youth: Kalamazoo youth 'at forefront' in fight to decrease gun violence and its impactsYouth-driven Community Peace Project teaching resilience, stress management skills

Regina KibeziThursday, October 3, 2024
"The vision for Kalamazoo after the success of the program is a community that knows how to self-regulate, not only when traumatic experiences happen, but in their daily lives."
Feature Story Commerce Pointe Gallery Arts and Culture

25-year retrospective celebrates one of Battle Creek’s longest-running art galleries

Jane ParikhThursday, October 3, 2024
What started as art displayed on walls in a public space became one of Battle Creek's longest-running art galleries. A 25-year retrospective is planned for Oct. 18 at Commerce Pointe Art Gallery.
Longform Of the Land Arts and Culture

PHOTOS: It's harvest time in Southwest Michigan and Calhoun County farm and school celebrate

John GrapThursday, October 3, 2024
If you don't yet have a pumpkin, these photos might get you in the mood. Photographer John Grap captured some harvest joy at Of the Land, a homestead, farm, and farm school, in Battle Creek.
Feature Story Kalamazoo Forward Ventures Equity

$50M Kalamazoo Forward Ventures becomes Southwest Michigan’s first Black-owned investment fund

Al JonesThursday, September 26, 2024
“We understand that traditional businesses are often being funded and started by traditional white males. The new fund answers the question: “So how do we support people outside of that group?”
Feature Story Women In Wind Sustainability

Women and wind: KVCC academy training women for sustainable future in wind industry

Caroline BissonetteThursday, September 26, 2024
Women are helping harness wind as a renewable energy source thanks to Kalamazoo Valley Community College's nationally-recognized Wind Turbine Training Academy.
Feature Story Village Network Diversity

World's Biggest Rice Table: Village Network of Battle Creek connects cultures through rice

Jane ParikhThursday, September 26, 2024
"At the core of the various rice dishes there was one common denominator: rice. We believed that this would help us all see that at the core we are the same.”
Feature Story Bellflower Entrepreneurship

Simpler space, simpler time: Cooper Township one-room schoolhouse charms as small events venue

Zinta AistarsThursday, September 26, 2024
Thanks to the vision and hard work of the building's neighbors, a charming one-room schoolhouse in Cooper Township now hosts small events that celebrate important milestones — and more.
Feature Story Jordan Hamilton Arts and Culture

Fantastic Beats to open Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-25 season

Jane ParikhThursday, September 26, 2024
The Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra's opening concert on Oct. 5 will feature "Fantastic Beats," including the “Game of Thrones” orchestra suite, “Star Trek Into Darkness,” and “Symphonic Suite from Lord of the Rings."
Longform David Harris Homeowner A Way Home Housing Solutions Building Communities

From unhoused to homeowner: David Harris says connection makes the difference

Mark WedelThursday, September 26, 2024
"Some days it doesn't feel real." That's the reaction David Harris has when he surveys the house that he now calls his own after years of being unhoused. 
Partner Content Parents indicated that needed services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, and paraprofessional support were inadequate. Second Wave - MichiganEquity

Survey activates education advocacy for Michigan children with disabilities

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, September 24, 2024
Special Education Experience (SEE) survey results revealed that needed improvements in special education that the state identified in 2014 have not been made.  
Longform Joe Volpe, program manager at Ferndale's Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Mental health takes heavy toll on Michigan's LGBTQ youth

Estelle SlootmakerMonday, September 23, 2024
Mental health is a major challenge for Michigan youth in general, but the problem is even greater for the state's LGBTQ youth.
Longform Equine Therapy SWMI Journalism Collaborative Youth Mental Health Arts and Culture

Mientras los jóvenes enfrentan problemas de salud mental, el tratamiento de caballos ayuda

por Julie Mack Monday, September 23, 2024
La terapia asistida por caballos, en la que un terapeuta de salud mental tiene formación adicional para usar caballos como parte del plan de tratamiento, es una modalidad que parece estar en expansión por todo el país. Esto es particularmente cierto en la era post-Covid, ya que el número de niños diagnosticados con ansiedad, depresión o ambas ha aumentado considerablemente.
Longform Equine Therapy SWMi Journalism Collab Healthy Communities

As youth struggle with mental health, treatment using horses is helping

Julie MackMonday, September 23, 2024
Equine-assisted therapy, in which a mental health clinician has additional training to use horses as part of the treatment plan, is a modality that is on the rise across the nation. That’s particularly true in the post-COVID era, as the number of children diagnosed with anxiety or depression or both has skyrocketed.
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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 here. For 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.
 

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