Kellogg Community College is strengthening its bridge from associates to bachelors degrees at Grand Valley State University. Credit alignment, programming, and pre-transfer support are part of the collaborative effort. "Our advisors will be coming to KCC to work with these students," says Al Shiflett, Director of Community Engagement with GVSU's BC Regional Outreach Center. "They’ll be Lakers from day one even if they’re not at GVSU yet."

With a desire for transparency, accountability, and trust-building – and the data to demonstrate it – the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety has launched a public survey of its police services. And KDPS' popular Kalamazoo Regional Citizens' Academy is now running twice a year giving residents a chance to walk in the shoes of a police officer. “Honestly, we’re looking for people that aren’t all pro-police," says KDPS Chief David Boysen. "We want people that are a little skeptical about the policing, that are like, ‘we’re not sure about you guys.'”

On the first publicly-celebrated Earth Day since the pandemic, Southwest Michiganders gathered to plant, weed, and beautify. For the Litter Ladies and Lads in Battle Creek who pick up trash year-round to protect humans and wildlife, every day is Earth Day.

After seven people died in Kalamazoo from suspected fentanyl overdoses last week, people are scared, says Gwen Lanier, co-founder of Mothers of Hope. "We’re probably going to get some people who haven’t been here in a long time.” And providing hope in crisis is part of the reason Mothers of Hope has succeeded and grown in its mission to offer fellowship, non-judgemental support, and respite for people with drug addictions for 25 years.