Features

Longform On the Ground Calhoun County Millage renewal

Calhoun County millage renewal votes put elder healthcare and Veterans services front and center

Maintaining or expanding the capacity to provide medical care for Calhoun County’s elderly population and ensuring that veterans in the county have access to the services they need are the focus of two separate millage renewal proposals on the Aug. 2 ballot.

Longform On the Ground Calhoun County Millage Request

Millage request asks voters to approve improvements to tools for Calhoun County’s 911 program

New radios and radio towers for first responders in Calhoun County will take 911 call system to the next level.  

Feature Story Paul Ecklund

Kalamazoo advocate works behind the scenes to create a more inclusive community

From affordable housing to accessible transportation, big-picture thinker Paul Ecklund works to make lasting changes by changing systems.   

Feature Story Valarie_Portrait

Synergy Health works to overcome the barriers to accessing mental health care for people of color

“Talking about mental health and how it impacts Black people shifts the narrative from (it being) taboo to normalization, from shame to acceptance, from lack of understanding to a greater awareness,” says Valarie Cunningham. She opened a nonprofit mental health services clinic in 2003 to increase that awareness.

Feature Story Valarie

Synergy Health trabaja para superar las barreras de acceso a la atención de salud mental

“Hablar sobre la salud mental y cómo afecta a las personas negras cambia la narrativa de (ser) un tabú a la normalización, de la vergüenza a la aceptación, de la falta de comprensión a una mayor conciencia”, dice Valarie Cunningham. Abrió una clínica de servicios de salud mental sin fines de lucro en 2003 para aumentar esa conciencia.

Longform Housing Solutions Mt. Zion senior housing project

The Lord will provide: Efforts underway to build affordable senior housing in Kalamazoo’s Northside

The $26 million housing project involves the construction of two, three-story buildings -- a 36,000-square-foot northern structure with 36 apartment units, and a 33,000-square-foot southern structure with 34 units. 

Longform On the Ground Battle Creek River Naturalization

A next step: $13 million grant carries river naturalization project forward in Battle Creek

Proponents of the removal of a concrete channel that contains the river in downtown Battle Creek no longer feel like they’re swimming against the current.

Longform VOY Kalamazoo Summer 2022 Mahdi Hassnawi

Voices of Youth: A look at youth mental health, an art project

For the summer 2022 Voices of Youth Mahdi Hassnawi’s expressed himself through artwork on the topics of youth mental health.

Longform On the Ground Kalamazoo  Playscape

Children turn out to romp as first phase of downtown Kalamazoo’s Nature Playscape opens

The Children’s Nature Playscape at Bronson Park project is dedicated to transforming reclaimed greenspace into a nature park in downtown Kalamazoo where it is expected to foster the cultural, emotional, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual development of children and families.

Longform SWMi Journalism Collab Mental Wellness Peer Support

The power of hope, the power of peers in dealing with mental health care

Recovery Institute of Southwest Michigan, Inc. in Kalamazoo, is run entirely by peers. The nonprofit was established in 2006 on the peer support concept. All but one of the 16 staff members have all traveled the challenging path of recovery with various mental health and/or substance abuse issues and now they help others like themselves.   

Longform List image peer support

El poder de la esperanza, el poder de los pares en la atención a la salud mental

Recovery Institute of Southwest Michigan, Inc. en Kalamazoo, está dirigido en su totalidad por pares. La organización sin fines de lucro se estableció en 2006 con el concepto de apoyo entre pares. Todos menos uno de los 16 miembros del personal han recorrido el desafiante camino de la recuperación con varios problemas de salud mental y/o abuso de sustancias y ahora ayudan a otros como ellos.

Longform Kal-Haven Trail

Popular Kal-Haven Trail gets money for upgrades

The Kal-Haven Trail has been awarded $5 million in federal funds for the long-overdue resurfacing of 17 miles of the trail’s 33.5-mile length.

Longform Housing Solutions Kalamazoo City Programs

Funding for three basic but important housing programs gets Kalamazoo City Commission approval

The City of Kalamazoo is working with and through various organizations to help provide more housing opportunities. With the additional funding approved this week for housing programs the city is helping to maintain and improve existing housing.

Feature Story Christina Ne’Cole Smith Photography otg Battle Creek

A picture-perfect profession for this Battle Creek photographer

A recent project for Christina Ne’Cole Smith involved capturing images of children dressed as African American historical figures during Black History Month in February. And the Battle Creek photographer displayed the photos on various social media platforms.

Feature Story Temple Grandin takes a tour of Benjamin’s Hope in Holland. (Courtesy)

Temple Grandin makes memorable visit to Benjamin’s Hope

Temple Grandin, whose work inspired the founder of Benjamin’s Hope, visits the Holland farmstead community for adults with autism. She’ll return for a 2023 event.

Longform Voices of Youth Transportation Daniel  Kibezi

Voices of Youth: Transportation and getting to school, a photo story

The latest installment in the Voices of Youth series looks at transportation and getting to school and discusses solutions to late buses. 

Feature Story OTG Battle Creek Pride Month

Pride Month festivities in Battle Creek expected to attract many to celebrate and support events

Pride Month festivities in Battle Creek during July are expected to draw record numbers of people to support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Feature Story Housing Solutions Dog Shelter

Kalamazoo Humane Society considers a facility for displaced dogs

People who are transitioning from a domestic crisis have a tough time finding a place for themselves let alone their dogs, cats, and other pets. Now the Kalamazoo Humane Society is exploring the possibility of providing a place for such animals.

Longform Housing solutions Jake Tardani

Landlord rehabs dilapidated Kalamazoo properties, charges low rent to make stronger neighborhoods

Through city and federal grants, and cost-saving measures, a local landlord keeps rent low, provides housing security, and hopes to make a small dent in Kalamazoo's housing crisis. Jake Tardani's been called a landlord with a mission.

Longform On the Ground Battle Creek Kellogg Arena

'There's always something going on': Personal touches and flexibility bring events to Kellogg Arena

Having a hotel connected to Kellogg Arena is one of the solid selling points for those seeking a place to host their events. Events that have a multimillion-dollar impact on the city and the county.

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.