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 SWMi Journalism Collaborative shelter diversion' pilot progra Community Development

In Michigan, a new push to fight homelessness before it begins

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Advocates say Michigan’s $4 million 'shelter diversion' pilot program is keeping people off the streets by helping pay for rent, utilities, transportation and more. Is it time to take it statewide?
Longform A Way Home Point in Time Count Community Development

Counting the unhoused in Kalamazoo County to learn more about local needs

Mark WedelTuesday, March 25, 2025
On a bitterly cold night in January, volunteers spread out across Kalamazoo County to see how many unhoused people they could find. It's part of what the federal government calls the Point in Time count, and it gives communities information as they prepare services and policies to serve this population. 
Longform Maribeth Leonard Healthy Communities

Countywide mental health millages have remarkable results

Monique BedfordTuesday, March 25, 2025
Jackson, Hillsdale, Ottawa, and Washtenaw counties passed mental health millages and seen positive impacts such as expanded access to care to their residents, increased service capacity, improved crisis response, and more.
Feature Story RADFest Arts and Culture

Conversations in Movement: Wellspring's RADFest showcases the beauty of modern dance

Mark WedelThursday, March 13, 2025
"They're movement pieces that push the boundaries of what we know about movement and the ideas of the genre. I don't think of contemporary dance as necessarily a category, but more of a way to think of how movement is explored, and explored in a contemporary way."
Longform Phenomenal Woman Battle Creek Arts and Culture

Phenomenal Woman: Bringing historical women's stories to life in Battle Creek

Jane ParikhThursday, March 13, 2025
To honor Women's History Month, reenactments of historical Battle Creek women will take place on March 22. “We’ll speak in first person like them and from there look at what made each woman so unique. Her style, inner beauty and her essence will be brought back to life in our readings." 
Feature Story The Cinderella Project Community Development

Real-Life Fairy Godmothers: Kalamazoo prom dress giveaway event for high schoolers in need

Juliette BournayThursday, March 13, 2025
The Cinderella Project, sponsored by Memories Bridal and Evening Wear, offers high school students the chance to feel like a princess, replete with a fairy godmother to assist in their choice of a gown. This year's prom dress giveaway takes place March 28.
Feature Story Torti Taco Entrepreneurship

Torti Taco closes its downtown Battle Creek location while owner looks for what’s next

Jane ParikhThursday, March 13, 2025
“We have a lot of loyal customers and this was their favorite restaurant, but they don’t come here every week... I think downtown Battle Creek has the potential to be great. We need more businesses and things to bring people downtown."
Feature Story LifeWays staff Healthy Communities

Community mental health delivers care to Michigan's schools

Brianna NargisoTuesday, March 11, 2025
Michigan's CMHs play a critical role in schools, providing counseling, crisis intervention, and case management to students who might otherwise slip through the cracks.  
Feature Story Pre-Approved Housig plans SWMI Journlism Collab Community Development

Kalamazoo embraces preapproved plans, zoning reform to turn vacant lots into homes

Julie RiddleTuesday, March 11, 2025
Several national housing-related organizations have applauded Kalamazoo’s preapproved housing program. The National Association of Home Builders highlighted the city’s approach to filling lots in a report about preapproved housing. Here's a look at how the program is going.   
Feature Story Sky Bergman Arts and Culture

Many Paths to A Life Well Lived: Filmmaker Sky Bergman to speak at Western Michigan University

Mark WedelThursday, March 6, 2025
What does it mean to live a well-lived life? Ask your mom, your grandmother, and other important elder people in your life. That's what filmmaker Sky Bergman did. Come hear what she found in the final event of Kalamazoo's series "A Life Well Lived" on March 15.
Feature Story Ida Byrd-Hill Economic Development

Calhoun County’s Hispanic population making the American dream a reality, report says

Jane ParikhThursday, March 6, 2025
A study conducted by Ida Byrd-Hill, CEO of Automation Workz, found that Hispanics in Calhoun County are following a national trend that finds them outpacing other minorities in earning both college degrees and money. Many have high-paying jobs in technology or run their own businesses.
In The News Climate Migration Sustainability

Climate change forcing animal and plant migration — and they may need human help

Sam KappThursday, March 6, 2025
“Very few nonhuman climate migrants are moving fast enough [and] the rate of movement is going to increase [which] leads to the conclusion that to avoid extinction, many species are going to require us to intervene via assisted migration."
In The News Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 Community Development

Kalamazoo launches the ‘Plan It!’ phase for creating a new 10-year master plan

Al JonesThursday, March 6, 2025
“In Kalamazoo, we have a proven track record of turning community vision into action: Ninety-nine percent of the actions in Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 have been completed or are in progress. This wouldn’t be possible without our community showing up and sharing their voices, ideas, and energy to help shape our community.” 
Feature Story (From left) Peggy Helsel, development director at DAKC; Jenny Gauld, designer at Steelcase; Kamara Sudberry, global inclusive design leader at Steelcase; and Vicky Schmidt, a high-level paraplegic and longtime DAKC test pilot. Equity

Beyond compliance: Area nonprofit and corporation are redefining inclusive workplaces

Tommy AllenWednesday, March 5, 2025
For the Steelcase team, accessibility is far more than ramps and automatic doors. Through an innovative partnership with Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC), Steelcase is reimagining what it means to create truly inclusive workplaces.
Feature Story Small-Crip-Camp Equity

'Crip Camp’ screening in Muskegon highlights disability inclusion

Shandra MartinezWednesday, March 5, 2025
A free “Crip Camp” screening at the Frauenthal Center will spark conversations on disability rights, accessibility, and community inclusion in Muskegon.
Feature Story webinar-1 Equity

Empowering voices: Black disability history workshop returns

Shandra MartinezTuesday, March 4, 2025
Disability Network Southwest Michigan brought back a popular workshop on Black disability history, led by Frances Vicioso, highlighting intersectionality and civil rights contributions.
Feature Story NHBP Diversity

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

Jane ParikhThursday, February 27, 2025
Indigenous languages "are in the extinct stage. There are not many fluent speakers who survive. Our elder fluent speakers are slowly leaving us and there aren’t many left today. We are trying to bond together with each band" to keep the languages alive.
Feature Story Ampersee Equity

Reclamation & Testimony: Kalamazoo nonprofit premiers stories of the unhoused

Casey GrootenThursday, February 27, 2025
“Kalamazoo is a beautiful place, but it’s also very small in some ways. People can live in their own bubbles, never seeing or acknowledging the unhoused community. This play keeps the humanity of people in focus. It does not pretend that this group does not exist.”
Longform Rootead Arts and Culture

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

Casey GrootenThursday, February 27, 2025
Rootead's Youth Drum and Dance Ensemble showcased their incredible talent and artistry on the Comstock Community Theatre stage on February 9. Check out Fran Dwight's vibrant photographs!
Longform Jerico SWMI Journalism Collab Community Development

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

Mark WedelThursday, February 27, 2025
The once-crumbling 1890s brick buildings on Fulford in the Edison neighborhood have been revitalized and vow Jerico's spaces are full.  The hub for businesses and artisans has grown from its beginnings as a place to build electric scooters to one where projects are shared between those who make Jerico their business home. 
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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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