GVSU Symposium brings national voices together to support Black men and boys in Battle Creek
More than 500 people gathered in Battle Creek for GVSU's Black Men and Boys Symposium, focused on improving educational, health and career outcomes.
With an economic development organization that is the envy of many communities, Battle Creek is a city building on its food industry roots and the land that makes it the state’s third largest city. For fun, each year the Cereal City, world headquarters to the Kellogg Co., celebrates the significance of the most important meal of the day with the World’s Longest Breakfast table. Bikers, cyclers and joggers take in the parks, forests and streams linked by a 24-mile linear park. Campers and outdoor lovers visit Fort Custer Recreation area for fishing, hiking, cross country skiing and boating. For animal lovers, African creatures, like giraffes, and Asian animals, like snow leopards, make the Binder Park Zoo a must. The Battle Creek Art Center and Battle Creek Symphony stoke the city’s cultural offerings and the new Firekeepers Casino adds to the city’s fun side. B.C’s Math and Science Center is acclaimed and secondary education needs are accommodated by Kellogg Community College, Robert B. Miller College and a branch of Western Michigan University. And Sojourner Truth, who lived here, watches over downtown from the memorial in her honor.
More than 500 people gathered in Battle Creek for GVSU's Black Men and Boys Symposium, focused on improving educational, health and career outcomes.
RxKids is expanding across parts of Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties, providing eligible pregnant women with $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for six months after birth to support maternal and infant health regardless of income.
The Battle Creek Battle Jacks enter a new era under owner Scott Miles, a Massachusetts businessman investing in fan experience, community engagement, and competitive summer collegiate baseball in the Northwoods League.
Milestone Senior Services helped an Oshtemo senior replace a failed furnace and rebuild an unsafe ramp at no cost through grant-funded home repair and accessibility programs serving Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.
After overcoming a life-threatening illness, Battle Creek entrepreneur Nicole Hart launched New Eden Microgreens with support from local business organizations, bringing fresh, health-focused products to stores and restaurants across Southwest Michigan.
The Village Network of Battle Creek is dissolving after helping direct more than $1.25 million to BIPOC-led organizations and entrepreneurs, saying its mission to build community-led economic justice networks has successfully created lasting local momentum.
Through community gardening, Kathy Antaya became involved in equity and racial healing initiatives. "I’m a full-time volunteer and community activist,” she says.
Jazz prodigy Esteban Castro returns to the Gilmore International Piano Festival in Battle Creek as a 2026 Young Artist Award winner, bringing a career that began on a toy piano to the Kool Community Center.
Maid in Battle Creek has expanded into Kalamazoo, growing from a local startup into a two-city cleaning company with a team of employees, commercial and residential clients, and a continued focus on personalized service.
As child abuse cases outpace foster care capacity in Calhoun County, a newly launched CASA program is training volunteers to provide consistent, court-appointed advocacy for vulnerable children navigating the welfare system.
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