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 Sacred Earth Pagan Sustainability

Faith rooted in the Earth: Kalamazoo pagans honor the seasons, cycles, and web of life

Zinta AistarsThursday, July 25, 2024
Modern paganism is a religious movement founded on principles derived from living on this planet we call home. And its practices and tenets have a lot to teach us about Earth and human care during this time of climate crisis.
Feature Story Kalamazoo Blaze Entrepreneurship

With women's basketball in the spotlight, a semi-professional team takes the floor in Kalamazoo

Al JonesThursday, July 25, 2024
Meet Felicia Nikia Thomas, founder and coach of the Kalamazoo Blaze, the area's new semi-pro women's basketball team. 
Feature Story Battle Creek Community Foundation Youth Alliance Community Development

Voices of Youth: Youth advisory councils give youth experience seeking and funding solutions

Trey SebringThursday, July 25, 2024
Foundation-based youth advisory councils provide a valuable opportunity for youth to speak up about issues and solutions they think will matter.
Feature Story Graphic Packaging Sustainability

Voices of Youth: Meet the man helping to make Kalamazoo a more sustainable city

Dmitri AgdanowskiThursday, July 25, 2024
The City of Kalamazoo aims to be 'net zero' by 2050. Kalamazoo's Sustainability Planner Justin Gish plans to help the city get there. VOY's Dmitri Agdanowski sits down with Gish to find out more.
Longform Ariane Donnelly, Anne Davis, and Tanya Andrews at the Prescription for Health booth at the Pittsfield Township Farmers Market. Prescription for Health is Washtenaw County's produce prescription program. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Prescriptions for fresh produce grow in Michigan through collaboration and new funding

Estelle SlootmakerThursday, July 25, 2024
Efforts are underway to better coordinate efforts between produce prescription programs and to create more standardized funding mechanisms for them.
Feature Story Small-ADA-Celebration Equity

West Michigan events celebrate 34th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act

Shandra MartinezWednesday, July 24, 2024
The  Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice 2024 will stop in Muskegon and Kalamazoo to celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
Feature Story King's Kid Christian Daycare staff members Adrian Robinson, left, Lolita Granger, center and Tamara Jones laugh Wednesday, July 17, 2024, as they play with toys in one of the classrooms in the Detroit child care center. Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

MiLEAP fund provides essential equipment, upgrades for child care facilities

Sarah SpohnTuesday, July 23, 2024
Quality child care is necessary, but not always available or affordable. The MiLEAP Caring for MI Future: Facilities Improvement Fund has launched a $59 million fund to provide new and expanding home-based and center-based facilities across the state.   
Feature Story Opioid health homes address physical, emotional, and social barriers to recovery. Healthy Communities

Opioid health homes remove barriers to recovery

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, July 23, 2024
Opioid health homes provide a central point of contact where people living with opioid use disorder work with an interdisciplinary provider team to develop an individualized recovery care plan.
Feature Story R.I.S.E. Corp. Kids and Education

Battle Creek voices shape Children’s Defense Fund agenda in 2024 election year

Jane ParikhThursday, July 18, 2024
“We really want to make sure that the public policy advocacy we’re doing was grounded in the experiences of families we serve all across the country."
Feature Story Sacred Earth Sustainability

The Earth asks us to change: Author calls on us to adopt 'two-eyed seeing' of science and kinship

Mark WedelThursday, July 18, 2024
"How is it we show Mother Earth that we care so much for her?... We need a transformation toward kinship, that's the living world. I hope you give it a try."
Feature Story BC Pride Equity

Pride Festival in Battle Creek maintains a focus on being family-friendly and welcoming to all

Jane ParikhThursday, July 18, 2024
As BC Pride begins celebrations, organizers, allies, and advocates are excited to celebrate. "We are your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. We contribute to our community in many positive and impactful ways and we are here to stay.”
Feature Story VOY Cell phones Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: Is face-to-face communication a ‘dying art’?

Lucas GreeneThursday, July 18, 2024
“There are times when students would rather listen to the Bible in Chinese and Mozart at two times speed than listen to their teacher." Cell phones have become the 'third person' in the room of any in-person conversation. What are the impacts?
Feature Story Kalamazoo Chinese Academy Arts and Culture

To build a bridge: Kalamazoo Chinese Academy nurtures cultural roots and fosters new speakers

Zinta AistarsThursday, July 18, 2024
In its 52nd year, the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy serves more than 50 area families, teaching language, performing arts, and traditional dance to both Chinese and non-heritage learners.
Longform Kindleberger Festival for the Summer Arts Arts and Culture

PHOTOS: 2024 Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts

Fran DwightThursday, July 18, 2024
The 2024 Kindleberger Summer Festival for the Arts took place from July 10 to 15 in Parchment. This longstanding, popular festival brings the community together in celebration of the arts, autos, and more. Check out Fran Dwight's joyful photos.
Feature Story Nick Wahl, 26, was able to become a first-time home buyer with the purchase of this home in the Oakwood Neighborhood. Building Communities

Getting started: How tough is it to find a home to buy in the Kalamazoo area?

Al JonesThursday, July 18, 2024
“It used to be, we’d list a home on Monday and I’d get a call on Tuesday to show it on Wednesday. Now we list it on Monday and I get a call asking if I can show it in 5 minutes,” says Jim Hess, a Realtor with Jaqua Realtors in Kalamazoo. Prospective buyers -- and sellers -- have to be prepared for a brisk selling market in multiple price ranges, real estate professionals say.
Feature Story Small-DWord Equity

DNSWM launches #DWord Campaign during Disability Pride Month

Shandra MartinezWednesday, July 17, 2024
Disability Network Southwest Michigan (DNSWM) has launched the #DWord campaign, aiming to reshape cultural perceptions of the word "disability."
Feature Story Michigan Health and Hospital Association represents all community hospitals in the state. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

How public health collaborations with hospitals benefit Michigan's communities

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, July 16, 2024
Yours, Mine and Ours — Public Health spoke with Lauren LaPine, Michigan Health and Hospital Association senior director of legislative and public policy about how various public health agencies and programs collaborate with hospitals across the state.  
Feature Story High Dive Arts and Culture

Downtown construction: An unlikely catalyst for revitalized nightlife in Kalamazoo?

Casey GrootenThursday, July 11, 2024
Kalamazoo street work may be slowing you down; that could have some advantages for a burgeoning downtown nightlife scene. Stay tuned for more stories in our summer series on Kalamazoo After Dark.
Longform Balloon Festival Arts and Culture

Capturing the magic: Balloon festival photos of Battle Creek's Field of Flight

John GrapThursday, July 11, 2024
If you missed Battle Creek's Field of Flight Airshow and Hot Air Balloon Festival this year, be sure to mark your calendar for next year. On the Ground Photographer John Grap captured some photos for us — and a story, too.
Longform Battle Creek Fire Station Community Development

Battle Creek Fire Department seeks to modernize its facilities

Jane ParikhThursday, July 11, 2024
Long-overdue updates to Battle Creek's fire stations will help bring the structures into the 21st Century. The city is seeking a $20 million plus bond to fund the improvements.  
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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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