Fran Dwight
Fran Dwight
Fran Dwight

Empowering voices: Black disability history workshop returns Read Article

Fran Dwight

Reclamation & Testimony: Kalamazoo nonprofit premiers stories of the unhoused Read Article

Casey Grooten

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

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

Fran Dwight

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

Fran Dwight

Small blueberry farm survives by going organic Read Article

Battle Creek breakfast companies unite to raise funds for United Way — one cereal box at a time Read Article

Features

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Feature Story SugarBowl Arts and Culture

From neighborhood 'dive bar' to eclectic music venue, Edison's SugarBowl is pretty sweet

Mark WedelThursday, September 12, 2024
"There is a type of performance that, maybe you're not going to buy the record, but you feel lucky to be seeing people doing art that you've never seen before. It's like seeing a strange animal in the wild. Fascinating, amazing, but don't pet that thing, it might bite."
Feature Story Masa Center Diversity

Providing opportunities in Battle Creek for Hispanic and MiXcano youth to learn history and culture

Jane ParikhThursday, September 12, 2024
Masa Center is offering educational opportunities, including an Emerging Leadership Program, for Hispanic and MiXicanos (Xicanx/Mexicans living in Michigan) youth in Battle Creek.
Feature Story Life Well Lived Arts and Culture

What makes A Life Well Lived? Kalamazoo series aims to inspire intergenerational discussion

Mark WedelThursday, September 12, 2024
"The events we have planned for the coming months as part of 'A Life Well Lived — Kalamazoo' will challenge us to think about what is genuinely good for us in our relationships, our work, and our life projects."
Feature Story Ramone Jay Person Arts and Culture

Feeling #Solid: Battle Creek musician helps heal losses by creating and helping others create

Jane ParikhThursday, September 12, 2024
“I feel like music is the universal language of love and peace," says Ramone Jay Person (#Solid) who has been composing, creating, and mentoring his way through the tragic loss of three family members to violence.
Longform Racism barrier to housing A Way Home Housing Solutions Building Communities

Confronting racism's impact on affordable housing access in Kalamazoo

Caroline BissonnetteThursday, September 12, 2024
The enduring impact of racism on affordable housing in Kalamazoo illustrates a direct link between past injustices and present-day housing struggles.
Feature Story Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) training for staff at Muskegon Luge and Adventure Sports Park. Pictured from left to right: Jeff VanDyke and Brad Hastings. Equity

Accessibility champion recognized for impact in Muskegon community

Shandra MartinezWednesday, September 11, 2024
Brad Hastings, advocacy and outreach coordinator at Disability Network West Michigan, is honored with Muskegon’s Future 15 Award for his work in disability advocacy and improving community accessibility.
Feature Story Kids Count Kids and Education

Kids Count focuses on childhood and early learning in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, and beyond

Jane ParikhThursday, September 5, 2024
“It’s often more expensive to pay for childcare than it is to pay rent or a mortgage which makes it hard for families to want to grow. There’s more that we can be doing so families have access to paid or medical leave. When employees are not guaranteed paid time off it makes it harder.”
Feature Story Sacred Earth Sustainability

How to offer hope to earth's youngest stewards about climate change

Zinta AistarsThursday, September 5, 2024
“You can’t save a place you don’t love. You can’t love a place you don’t know. And you can’t know a place you haven’t learned.” – Baba Dioum, a Senegalese environmentalist
Feature Story Gilmore Car Museum Transportation

Day Tripper: The Gilmore Car Museum is a jaunty trip down memory lane — car person or not

Theresa Coty O'NeilThursday, September 5, 2024
Whether you come from Kalamazoo or Battle Creek, the Gilmore Car Museum delivers on a scenic, country drive and a rewarding destination. The 90-acre campus features over 400 pristine, well-cared-for automobiles, affordable diner fare, and to top off the visit, a choice of ice creams — custard or Plainwell.
Feature Story Ripple Effects Equity

New Community Inclusion Center in Portage creating Ripple Effects

Mike WenningerThursday, August 29, 2024
"We don’t get to choose how other people parent because we don’t know their child or their child’s needs so really it’s a place where you be the family that you are and we want to encourage you, pat you on the back, let you know to keep going."
Feature Story DoubleTree Economic Development

DoubleTree Hotel in BC to offer premier hospitality for guests, hands-on learning for students

Jane ParikhThursday, August 29, 2024
Battle Creek welcomes DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in September. As part of a unique community partnership, the hotel will feature luxury accommodations and a hospitality training center, the first 'training hotel' in Southwest Michigan.
Longform Manufactured Homes Housing Solutions Community Development

New manufactured homes at Sugarloaf Park part of the mix of housing for low-income county families

Mark WedelThursday, August 29, 2024
Ten manufactured homes will be going to ten families with school-aged children, families who've experienced homelessness and are at 60% area median income.
Feature Story ALICE Sustainability

United Way of South Central Michigan putting a focus on ALICE in Battle Creek and Calhoun County

Jane ParikhThursday, August 29, 2024
"A four-person family needs $10,952 monthly, or $65.71 an hour, to be financially stable. Yet nearly three-quarters of the top 20 occupations in Michigan pay less than $20 an hour. That means thousands of people in our communities are working full-time but don’t earn enough to make ends meet."
Feature Story Detroit Pedal Transportation

Part Two, Weekend Pedal: Touring Detroit at the 'speed of bike'

Mark WedelThursday, August 29, 2024
What's it like to take a midnight pedal through the city with the Marauders, one of Detroit's many bike clubs? Read on to find out about a Kalamazoo bicyclist's urban adventures!
Longform Hope for the Planet Arts and Culture

Kalamazoo Lyceum: Hope for the Planet inspired by creating relationship with the earth

Mark WedelThursday, August 29, 2024
A youth climate activist, an eco-spiritually focused Catholic nun, and a sustainability and tiny home advocate had a lively discussion at a recent Kalamazoo Lyceum. The upshot: Engage frequently with nature and welcome inconveniences that benefit the earth.
Longform Danielle Atkinson, founder and national director of Mothering Justice, has been instrumental in advocating for paid leave in Michigan. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Paid sick leave and family leave are moving forward in Michigan. Here's what's next.

Estelle SlootmakerThursday, August 29, 2024
For more than a decade, Michigan advocacy groups and some legislators have been working to expand paid leave from work for Michiganders – and this year, their efforts are paying off in two major ways.
Feature Story Aces SWMi Journalism Collaborative Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Comprender las experiencias adversas: un paso hacia la recuperación infantil

Jane ParikhThursday, August 29, 2024
El método de puntuación ACE está iluminando la relación entre el estrés que enfrentan los niños y que conduce a problemas de salud pública en el futuro. La conciencia de esas conexiones está creciendo en Battle Creek y en otras partes del condado de Calhoun.
Feature Story ACES Southwest Michigan Journalism Collab youth mental health Healthy Communities

Uncovering Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma-informed care intervention helps children thrive

Jane ParikhThursday, August 29, 2024
The ACE scoring method is illuminating the relationship between stresses that children face that lead to public health problems later in life. Awareness of those connections is growing in Battle Creek and elsewhere in Calhoun County.
Feature Story A high jumper competes in the 2024 Hartford Nationals. Equity

West Michigan to Host 2025 and 2026 National Adaptive Sports Championship

Shandra MartinezWednesday, August 28, 2024
Grand Rapids will host the 2025 and 2026 Hartford Nationals, showcasing adaptive athletes and highlighting the city’s commitment to accessibility, inclusivity, and world-class sporting events.
Feature Story PHN-Sinan-Mikhael-administers -MMR-VaccineLIST Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Immunizations have long spared Michiganders from disease and death

Rylee BarnsdaleTuesday, August 27, 2024
In March 2024, Michigan experienced its first confirmed case of measles since 2019, reporting five unrelated cases throughout the state as of April 10. These cases were only some of many throughout sixteen other states, leading public health officials across Michigan to quickly respond.
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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.
 

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