No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000.
No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000. Fran Dwight
No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000.
No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000. Fran Dwight

Voices of Youth: Shaped by the scroll — when likes define life Read Article

No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000.
Photo: No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000. Fran Dwight

As sponsors pull back, community organizations step up to support Battle Creek’s Pride Festival Read Article

Courtesy, BC Pride

Teens and mental health: The emotions beneath the behaviors Read Article

Cottonbro via Pexels.com

Voices of Youth: Death of transgender man Sam Nordquist raises concern for safety of trans youth Read Article

No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000.
Photo: No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000. Fran Dwight

Battle Creek man covets Michigan Works! award as he waits for his green card Read Article

Courtesy: Michigan Works! Southwest
No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000.
No Kings protest in Kalamazoo drew over 7,000. Fran Dwight

Features

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Longform Summit Pointe Youth Services staff, from left, Matt Jones, Beth Decker, Sam Stover, Melissa DeDie, a Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Community mental health and child welfare collaborate to care for Michigan’s vulnerable children

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, April 15, 2025
Michigan’s community mental health (CMH) agencies are the lead in providing mental health care for children in the child welfare system.
Feature Story Anderson & Roe Arts and Culture

'Rock star' classical pianists to perform at Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra's season finale

Jane ParikhThursday, April 10, 2025
“It’s quite a coup that we were able to bring (Anderson & Roe) here,” says BCSO Director Anne Harrigan of the well-known piano duo. "The way they play and interact with each other is something you don’t see every day.”
Longform Hands Off Kalamazoo Community Development

Hands Off! demonstration in Kalamazoo drew nearly 4,000

Mark WedelThursday, April 10, 2025
Close to 4,000 people lined South Westnedge Avenue in Portage to participate in the Hands Off! Kalamazoo rally, one of over 1,400 protests that took place Saturday throughout all 50 states.
Longform Hands Off Battle Creek Community Development

Hands Off! protest in Battle Creek was an all-hands-on-deck moment

Jane ParikhThursday, April 10, 2025
On the Ground Project Editor Jane Parikh and OTG Photographer John Grap headed out this past Saturday to find out why people were participating in the Hands Off! Rally in Battle Creek. See also the video interviews that demonstrate the wide variety of reasons people chose to protest.
Feature Story Queer Representation in Media Arts and Culture

Voices of Youth: Queer representation in media and its impacts

Lila McCarthyThursday, April 10, 2025
“When I was coming out in 2018, I felt safe to do so within my friend group partly because of the media we were consuming, which was slowly including more queer characters, and the conversation about queer actors and artists became much more public."
Feature Story "... at least 17 children at any time are boarding in an emergency department across the state.” Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Michigan's hospitals and improved pediatric behavioral health care

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, April 8, 2025
The Michigan Health and Hospital Association addresses pediatric behavioral health care with data, advocacy, and grant funding of member hospital programs. 
Feature Story Vintage crash market

Vintage vendors "crash" campus for market event

Mary Smithnosky Friday, April 4, 2025
The local organization Vintage in the Zoo is holding a vintage "crash market" at WMU’s student center Monday, April 7.
Feature Story Village Network Equity

Village Network leads work to create a Black Wall Street in Battle Creek

Jane ParikhThursday, April 3, 2025
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."
Feature Story A Way Home Housing in the time of DOGE Community Development

Housing in the time of DOGE: Where do we go from here?

Mark WedelWednesday, April 2, 2025
There are complicated politics and attitudes aimed at efforts to provide affordable housing. In a recent public discussion, Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema detailed the projects underway and outlined the barriers to getting housing up as fast as some community members would like, including the current climate of uncertainty regarding funding.
Feature Story On the Ground Battle Creek Pride Equity

Battle Creek Pride hosts informational workshop in wake of efforts to overturn same-sex marriage

Jane ParikhWednesday, April 2, 2025
"I want to prepare people for these possible outcomes while keeping them present, focused, and together in community. There are so many moles to whack in this horrible game we’re playing.”
Feature Story Trans Day of Visibility Arts and Culture

Trans folx celebrate Trans Day of Visibility by sharing their artwork in Kalamazoo

Maya JamesTuesday, April 1, 2025
To honor Transgender Day of Visibility, OutFront Kalamazoo hosted a Trans Gallery for the Art Hop in March. Social Practice Artist Maya James spoke with several artists whose work has many intersections — from cover crops to animation.
Feature Story SWMi Journalism Collab Equitable Housing

Density debate: How Kalamazoo-area communities are thinking beyond single-family homes

By Julie Mack for MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette)Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Homeownership has long been an essential part of The American Dream. In the post-World War II housing boom, that often meant three- or four-bedroom homes on large lots in neighborhoods located a car drive away from commercial development. It’s time to rethink that paradigm, many say.
Longform Jessica Rickert Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Breaking Barriers: Dr. Jessica Rickert inspires native dentists

Shandra MartinezMonday, March 31, 2025
Jessica Rickert, DDS, the first American Indian female dentist, advocates for oral health equity and inspires Native youth through mentorship and representation.
Feature Story Kalamazoo Promise Kids and Education

The Kalamazoo Promise keeping its generous promise and more for 20 years

Al JonesThursday, March 27, 2025
Still going strong after two decades, the Kalamazoo Promise has grown and pivoted to adjust to current trends and needs. "We started to realize that every student's story is unique." 
Feature Story GVSU Innovation Hub Community Development

Groundbreaking Innovation Hub in Battle Creek creates abundant opportunity downtown

Jane ParikhThursday, March 27, 2025
"All of this will help to build a downtown where people want to live, where businesses want to relocate and grow, and where stores want to open, all of which is essential for the future success of Battle Creek.” 
Longform Time to Wing It Entrepreneurship

Time to Wing It: Battle Creek Biggby owner excited to launch community-oriented wing restaurant

Jane ParikhThursday, March 27, 2025
Battle Creek Biggby owner is winging it with a new wings restaurant on Michigan Avenue West — by putting customer service and community first.
Feature Story KINSHIP Safe Communities

KINSHIP: Honoring victims of crime and their families while providing resources to the community

Jane ParikhThursday, March 27, 2025
To honor National Crime Victim Rights Week, the Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office is hosting a resource fair on April 7 at First Congregational Church in Battle Creek.
Longform A Way Home Mt. Zion Legacy Senior Living Community Development

Persistence and prayer make senior housing a reality in Kalamazoo's Northside Neighborhood

Al JonesThursday, March 27, 2025
Legacy Senior Living, a 70-unit affordable apartment complex for people age 55 or older is expected to be completed in the next 17 to 18 months. More than 200 people attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church's groundbreaking for the of two, three-story buildings.
Feature Story Marshall Food Distribution Healthy Communities

Voices of Youth: Marshall's Fresh Food Distribution feeding the community

Sophia PellThursday, March 27, 2025
"This is a judgment-free opportunity to receive fresh food. They don’t need to be a member of our church, or any church. They don’t need to meet any income requirements or qualifications. They simply need to want food.”
Longform SWMi Journalism Collaboratie Neighborhood Inc Community Development

Neighborhood Inc. helps the unhoused find shelter in Battle Creek and St. Joseph counties

Jane ParikhWednesday, March 26, 2025
People are falling behind in their rent and Neighborhood Inc. of Battle Creek is helping them stay housed. About 100 individuals and families in Calhoun County and St. Joseph County that seek assistance from NIBC each month to move from being unhoused into stable housing situations.
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Battle Creek

Former local shelter transforms into lifeline for Southwest Michigan Veterans

“We are the only Veterans organization in Southwest Michigan doing what we’re doing. I like to call us a neutral spot. We don’t care what branch of the service you were in or what your discharge status is. People I’ve talked to have said it’s about time." For more On the Ground Battle Creek stories, please visit here.
 

Kalamazoo

Helping Vets in Kalamazoo who were 'smoked by life'


In 2024, 32,882 veterans experienced homelessness in the United States, and 68 of those were in Kalamazoo County, though local officials say they are sure that number has since increased. Many unhoused veterans don’t know there are benefits and programs that can help. Here’s how to get connected.Read the full story here. Read more stories here.
 

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