Fran Dwight
Fran Dwight
Fran Dwight

Empowering voices: Black disability history workshop returns Read Article

Fran Dwight

Reclamation & Testimony: Kalamazoo nonprofit premiers stories of the unhoused Read Article

Casey Grooten

Preserving Indigenous language focus of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Read Article

Building businesses and community at Jerico in Kalamazoo's Edison neighborhood Read Article

Fran Dwight

PHOTOS: Rootead's annual Youth Drum and Dance Ensemble wows once again Read Article

Fran Dwight

Small blueberry farm survives by going organic Read Article

Battle Creek breakfast companies unite to raise funds for United Way — one cereal box at a time Read Article

Features

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Feature Story UnSilenced Safe Communities

Breaking her silence to help other victims of sex trafficking in Battle Creek

Jane ParikhThursday, June 20, 2024
“We build a rapport and connect them to services they need. It’s not so much about education. It’s about awareness and doing street outreach to connect with victims. As they pursue recovery we want them to know they’re not walking that journey alone,”
Feature Story Drama Mamas Kalamazoo Central Arts and Culture

Amplifying the arts: Drama Mamas fundraising to make sure K Central stage voices are heard

Mike WenningerThursday, June 20, 2024
"Can you hear us NOW?" Drama Mamas (Papas and rising student stars, too) are raising money to purchase microphones to make sure that Kalamazoo Central High School cast members have their stage voices heard.
Longform Washtenaw County CMH reception Healthy Communities

Connecting to mental health services is as simple as picking up a phone

Joanne Bailey-BoorsmaTuesday, June 18, 2024
For Michiganders who are looking for answers on mental health care or are having a mental health crisis, help is only a phone call away.
Feature Story BC Housing Community Development

Foundation for housing equity in Battle Creek to be created with community

Thursday, June 13, 2024
A recent gathering of housing advocates in Battle Creek focused on systemic inequities and how to address them. The discussion is part of work that will culminate in the building of a housing equity plan for the community.
Feature Story Sacred Earth Sustainability

Refugia: How to find and create places of shelter during the climate crisis

Mike WenningerThursday, June 13, 2024
“The refugia model calls us to look for the seed of life where we are, concentrate on protecting and nurturing a few good things, letting what is good and beautiful grow and connect and spread."
Feature Story Juneteenth Equity

Juneteenth celebration in Battle Creek educates and inspires

Jane ParikhThursday, June 13, 2024
"I think about the day that 250,000 slaves learned they were free and how they celebrated. Juneteenth is a day to be able to reflect on those struggles and how people persevered, how they’ve been innovative, and how they built this country. This is America’s history and I think all people should know it."
Feature Story Kalamazoo Pride Arts and Culture

Coming out to come together: One writer's evolving appreciation of Kalamazoo Pride

Casey GrootenThursday, June 13, 2024
Writer Casey Grooten attended this year's Kalamazoo Pride as the new Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival. While volunteering at the KPF booth, they learned a few things about themselves — and about what Pride has come to mean to them. 
Feature Story Father's Day Community Development

The Ultimate Guide to Being a Dad: Kalamazoo Edition

Al JonesThursday, June 13, 2024
To honor Father's Day, Al Jones (a father of five himself!) speaks to a cross-section of Kalamazoo men about the rigors and joys of being a dad.
Longform small-vac Second Wave - MichiganEquity

Addressing cultural, language barriers that hinder health equity

Shandra MartinezThursday, June 13, 2024
Many people from refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities experience significant logistical barriers to COVID-19 vaccination. That’s where Disability Rights Michigan has stepped in to increase access
Longform Derek Miller, program supervisor for Kalamazoo County’s Healty Babies Healthy Start & 4Dad Fatherhood Program, with Sidni Miller, community health worker, inside Kalamazoo County’s Health and Community Services building. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

$5 million in federal funding will help 5 Michigan organizations reduce infant and maternal deaths

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, June 11, 2024
Five Michigan organizations will receive federal support of about $1 million each to improve maternal and infant health in the state.
Feature Story LifeWaysList Healthy Communities

LifeWays takes a whole person-centered care approach to health care

Monique BedfordTuesday, June 11, 2024
LifeWays, a Community Mental Health Services Program and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) utilizes whole person-centered care for their patients in Jackson and Hillsdale counties. Person-centered care is integrated care served in a collaborative manner between patient and provider. Care is guided by the patients’ goals, preferences and values.
Longform small-sensory Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Sensory-friendly spaces play key role in improving health equity

Shandra MartinezMonday, June 10, 2024
The Autism Alliance of Michigan has been a leader in encouraging clinics to create safe spaces by including sensory rooms.  
Feature Story Pine Creek Reservation Housing Community Development

Road home for members of Tribe with roots in Calhoun County paved with HUD dollars

Jane ParikhThursday, June 6, 2024
“Your great ancestors had to fight for everything just like you continue to fight. It is important that we don’t just talk about it, but actually do something," said HUD representative Richard Monnocchio in an announcement of a $1M grant for Pine Creek Indian Reservation housing.
Longform Kalamazoo Choral Arts Arts and Culture

Reflecting new name and mission, Kalamazoo Choral Arts blends genres in Vigil Against Violence

Mike WenningerThursday, June 6, 2024
“As it turns out, programming a 120-year-old a cappella choral masterwork alongside soul, rap, folk, and spoken word doesn’t just work, it brings together the community in a way that programming doesn’t always when we focus on one genre."
Feature Story Love Muffins Entrepreneurship

Love Muffins keeps sweet aroma going at former beloved Kalamazoo bakery

Zinta AistarsThursday, June 6, 2024
'Better When Shared' is a tagline of Kalamazoo's Love Muffins which features scrumptious carrot cake based on a family heirloom recipe. Love Muffins will soon add a storefront and also be sharing a kitchen at the former Boonzaaijer Bakery, which continues to sell baked goods at the Kalamazoo Farmers' Market. 
Longform BC 8th Grade Kids and Education

GVSU offering free tuition, academic support to Battle Creek Innovation Center 8th graders

Jane ParikhThursday, June 6, 2024
Some Battle Creek eighth-grade students will receive free tuition to Grand Valley State University along with tutoring and other academic support to make college accessible as part of the Eighth Grade Pathways to GVSU program. 
Feature Story Small-ASL Equity

Kalamazoo theaters work together to make performances accessible for all

Shandra MartinezWednesday, June 5, 2024
The consortium Theatre Kalamazoo is working to make theater more accessible to people with disabilities.
Feature Story KCAD grads Justin Beitzel and Fernando Ramirez head up Common Object, which helps organizations take steps toward sustainability. Arts and Culture

Take a journey into regenerative design with Common Object

Laura BergellsWednesday, June 5, 2024
KCAD grads Justin Beitzel and Fernando Ramirez share their philosophy of regenerative design in their firm Common Object, which helps organizations take steps toward sustainability.
Feature Story small-greenhouse Arts and Culture

How KCAD student collaborations are building community

Shandra MartinezWednesday, June 5, 2024
Since 2016, a group of graduate students in KCAD's Master of Architecture program have had an opportunity to offer a solution to an architecture issue in Grand Rapids. The projects have included designing a greenhouse, wayfinding project, and visioning new uses for a historic building. 
Feature Story Students from the Wege High School Collaborative Studio tour Padnos Recycling. Arts and Culture

Designing a better world: Wege High School Collaborative Studio builds skills and networks

Laura BergellsWednesday, June 5, 2024
The Wege High School Collaborative Studio is a summer program that gives West Michigan high school students hands-on experience in sustainable design and problem-solving. Applications for 2024 are open.
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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.
 

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