Region
Second Wave - Michigan
Capital Gains - Lansing
Catalyst Midland
Concentrate - Ann Arbor/Ypsi
Epicenter - Mount Pleasant
Route Bay City
Rural Innovation Exchange
Southwest Michigan
UPword - UP
The Keel - Port Huron
The Lakeshore
Metromode - Metro Detroit
Flintside - Flint
Model D - Detroit
Rapid Growth - Grand Rapids
Focus Areas
Arts and Culture
Building Communities
Community Development
Diversity
Economic Development
Entrepreneurship
Equity
Healthy Communities
Kids and Education
Safe Communities
Sustainability
Technology and Innovation
Transportation
Place
Battle Creek
Benton Harbor
Calhoun County
Eastside Neighborhood
Edison Neighborhood
Historic Northside
Kalamazoo
Milwood
Northside
Oakwood Neighborhood
Old Lakeview
Portage
Post-Franklin Neighborhood
South Haven
St. Joseph
Stuart Neighborhood
Urbandale
Vine Neighborhood
Washington Heights
West Douglas/Fairmont Neighborhood
Series
Southwest Michigan
A Way Home: Housing Solutions
Block by Block
COVID in Calhoun
Designed in Michigan
Disability Inclusion
En Espanol
Faith in Action
Good Food
MI Mental Health
On The Ground
Sacred Earth
SWMI Journalism Collaborative
Urban-Rural Exchange
Voices of Youth Battle Creek
Voices of Youth Kalamazoo
Statewide
Areas of Concern
Block by Block
Bridging the Talent Gap
COVID19
Cyber Security
Disability Inclusion
Early Education Matters
Forestry
Girl Scouts SE Michigan Team Up
Good Food
Greater Lakes
Inside our Outdoors
Invasive Species
MI Mental Health
Michigan Nightlight
Michigan's Agricultural Future
Michigan's State of Health Podcast
Nonprofit Journal Project
Preserving Michigan
State of Health
Stories of Change
Voices of Youth
Yours, Mine, & Ours - Public Health
Toggle navigation
Focus Areas
Arts and Culture
Building Communities
Community Development
Diversity
Economic Development
Entrepreneurship
Equity
Healthy Communities
Kids and Education
Safe Communities
Sustainability
Technology and Innovation
Transportation
Place
Battle Creek
Benton Harbor
Calhoun County
Eastside Neighborhood
Edison Neighborhood
Historic Northside
Kalamazoo
Milwood
Northside
Oakwood Neighborhood
Old Lakeview
Portage
Post-Franklin Neighborhood
South Haven
St. Joseph
Stuart Neighborhood
Urbandale
Vine Neighborhood
Washington Heights
West Douglas/Fairmont Neighborhood
Series
Southwest Michigan
A Way Home: Housing Solutions
Block by Block
COVID in Calhoun
Designed in Michigan
Disability Inclusion
En Espanol
Faith in Action
Good Food
MI Mental Health
On The Ground
Sacred Earth
SWMI Journalism Collaborative
Urban-Rural Exchange
Voices of Youth Battle Creek
Voices of Youth Kalamazoo
Statewide
Areas of Concern
Block by Block
Bridging the Talent Gap
COVID19
Cyber Security
Disability Inclusion
Early Education Matters
Forestry
Girl Scouts SE Michigan Team Up
Good Food
Greater Lakes
Inside our Outdoors
Invasive Species
MI Mental Health
Michigan Nightlight
Michigan's Agricultural Future
Michigan's State of Health Podcast
Nonprofit Journal Project
Preserving Michigan
State of Health
Stories of Change
Voices of Youth
Yours, Mine, & Ours - Public Health
About
Support Us
Al Jones
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Share
Al Jones is a freelance writer who has worked for many years as a reporter, editor, and columnist. He is the Project Editor for On the Ground Kalamazoo.
Load More Stories
Longform
Arts and Culture
Listen for jazz music this fall in Kalamazoo's Edison Neighborhood
Al Jones
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Feature Story
Economic Development
Banking, retail, and office center will reuse prominent spot near Kalamazoo’s Woods Lake
Al Jones
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Feature Story
Economic Development
Black Wall Street Kalamazoo looks to build generational wealth in the African-American community
Al Jones
Monday, February 21, 2022
Feature Story
Healthy Communities
Shipping woes waylay plans for a pod community for Kalamazoo's homeless
Al Jones
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Feature Story
Community Development
Creative leadership was already at the table when the Edison Neighborhood Association went looking
Al Jones
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Feature Story
Community Development
New president of the Milwood Neighborhood Watch steps up and hopes others will do the same
Al Jones
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Longform
Community Development
Kalamazoo Gospel Mission’s new shelter for women and children nears completion in downtown Kalamazoo
Al Jones
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Feature Story
Entrepreneurship
A tasty tradition is turning into a legacy business for an enterprising Kalamazoo woman
Al Jones
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Feature Story
Entrepreneurship
More small businesses will move to the front burner as Can-Do Kitchen becomes Can-Do Kalamazoo
Al Jones
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Feature Story
Kids and Education
Larry Bell raises a glass to young people with a $1M gift to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo
Al Jones
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Feature Story
Healthy Communities
Vaccination, masks, and distancing remain keys to fighting COVID-19, Kalamazoo’s medical leaders say
Al Jones
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Feature Story
Community Development
2022 outlook: COVID is a dark cloud, but some Kalamazoo leaders see cooperation and optimism ahead
Al Jones
Thursday, January 6, 2022
Feature Story
Economic Development
Northside Association in Kalamazoo sets plans to build houses and help residents buy them
Al Jones
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Longform
Kids and Education
WMU tells first step of how largest financial gift to public school will benefit students
Al Jones
Friday, December 10, 2021
Feature Story
Equity
Yeas and nays from public greet Kalamazoo’s Emergency Housing law and efforts to house the homeless
Al Jones
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Feature Story
Community Development
Wanted: Dedicated, trustworthy leader for a tough but rewarding job in a neighborhood near you
Al Jones
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Feature Story
Community Development
Building trust in people and partnerships have been keys for outgoing director of Kalamazoo’s Edison
Al Jones
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Longform
Entrepreneurship
Joblessness, homelessness, and the pandemic didn’t stop Kalamazoo man from starting his own business
Al Jones
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Feature Story
Economic Development
Where have all the workers gone? Some Kalamazoo observers offer answers
Al Jones
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Longform
Entrepreneurship
A simple idea gives a Kalamazoo-area man an edge on a tough and complicated year
Al Jones
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Load More Stories
Across Our Network
Indiana nonprofit’s oral health program reaches 39 states
Source: Soapbox
Living on couches, in hotels, or in cars, many in Oakland County experience "hidden" homelessness
Source: Metromode
‘Strong neighborhoods build strong cities’: Fort Wayne's ground-up approach to community development
Source: Input Fort Wayne
Grand Rapids entrepreneur shines nationally through TV show, fellowship
Source: Rapid Growth
Regional craft beers and live bands: IndieCraft returns for its sixth year
Source: Hub Springfield
As border, visa policies face upheaval, Global Detroit remains committed to immigrant-founded biz
Source: Metromode
Ybor's new coworking space Hive creates a buzz
Source: 83Degrees
Career tech program tackles skilled trades labor shortage
Source: The Lakeshore
Boosting resources for legal reform in Michigan
Source: Second Wave Michigan
Open Roads, Kalamazoo's bike hub, moving and growing
Source: Southwest Michigan's Second Wave