Today’s teens face numerous challenges to their mental health, and nearly one in five teens surveyed reported experiencing a major depressive episode in the past year. In 2023, nearly a third of U.S. teens received mental health treatment, according to the CDC report. In Michigan, some of those teens saw practitioners and joined groups at OnPoint, which provides behavioral health and homelessness services in Allegan County.  

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.”

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.

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.