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 Kristin Graham, principal of Macatawa Bay Middle School, confers with a student. Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

Successful suicide prevention protocol expands from Corewell hospitals to Western Michigan schools

Estelle SlootmakerThursday, March 28, 2024
The Blue Envelope program trains all school employees how to respond to a student expressing thoughts of suicide, and assigns interventions based on the student's risk level.
Longform Teacher helping child at NEST Child Care and Parent Institute in Detroit Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

PreK For All Roadmap takes a holistic approach to rolling out PreK For All

Joanne Bailey-BoorsmaWednesday, March 27, 2024
The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) has released the PreK for All Roadmap plan with recommendations on how the state can achieve universal pre-K for all 4-year-olds in Michigan.
Longform Teacher helping child at NEST Child Care and Parent Institute in Detroit Second Wave - MichiganKids and Education

La Hoja de Ruta de PreK Para Todos adopta un enfoque holístico para el despliegue de PreK Para Todos

Joanne Bailey-BoorsmaWednesday, March 27, 2024
En enero de 2023, la gobernadora Gretchen Whitmer anunció su plan PreK para Todos, que proporcionaría acceso a la educación preescolar gratuita a todos los niños de cuatro años de Michigan para 2027. En febrero de 2024, el Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) publicó el plan de la Hoja de Ruta con recomendaciones
Longform John Fuse, Community Health Worker with the Berrien County Health Department, stands outside the department’s building in Benton Harbor. Second Wave - MichiganCommunity Development

Community Health Workers: Michigan's public health messengers

Sarah SpohnTuesday, March 26, 2024
Community health workers perform essential roles in delivering physical and mental health care and increasing health care access for Michigan residents. 
Feature Story Amber Desgranges and Rachel Ruddock of the Michigan Primary Care Association. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

New initiative offers Michigan nursing students opportunity to build careers in underserved areas

Estelle SlootmakerMonday, March 25, 2024
The Michigan Primary Care Association is collaborating with nine of Michigan’s state universities to provide nursing students with opportunities to train in Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics.
Feature Story Small-Jae-Gerhart Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

How local healthcare systems leverage local farms for healthy food options

Kelsey SandersMonday, March 25, 2024
Medical institutions around Michigan are using their local resources to bring real food to their staff and patients.
Feature Story SmallStarbucks Equity

How a GR firm played a role in first fully accessible Starbucks store

Shandra MartinezMonday, March 25, 2024
The new D.C. store is serving as a model for all new and renovated Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. Grand Rapids-based Progressive Companies helped develop the framework used to create the inclusive design guidelines for the store.
Longform Family & Fatherhood Services Hub Healthy Communities

Battle Creek's Fatherhood & Family Services Hub supports fathers to nurture their children

Jane ParikhThursday, March 21, 2024
“I remember when my son was born. . .I’d often talk about it with my mom and friends and I’d tell him that I didn’t understand how someone could have a child and not be there for them. Every dad is their kid's superhero.”
Feature Story Potato Project Sustainability

The Potato Project: Building a stronger, more sustainable food-to-school system

Zinta AistarsThursday, March 21, 2024
Getting fresh fruits and vegetables on the plates of school children has had a few food system obstacles. Enter KVCC ValleyHub's partnership in an innovative 'Potato Project' to increase farm-to-school options. A win-win for farmers and families.
Feature Story Bearcat Advantage Kids and Education

Battle Creek Public School's Bearcat Advantage expands to include Michigan's private institutions

Jane ParikhThursday, March 21, 2024
“This really helps the child guide their education in a way they couldn’t before. They can choose the program that best suits what they’re looking for versus what they can afford."
Feature Story Hobbit Hole Gallery Arts and Culture

Hidden enchantment: The Hobbit Hole Gallery in downtown Kalamazoo

Casey GrootenThursday, March 21, 2024
The Hobbit Hole Gallery in the Kalamazoo Mall’s Devisser Alley transforms a quaint space into one man’s haven for artistic expression.    
Feature Story South Westnedge Construction Entrepreneurship

Small businesses in Kalamazoo navigate South Westnedge construction

Casey GrootenThursday, March 21, 2024
When it comes to supporting small businesses in Kalamazoo disrupted by street and water line repairs, it is up to residents to take the detours.
Longform Christine Sauvé. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

New state law will help ensure health care access for non-English-speaking Michiganders

Estelle SlootmakerThursday, March 21, 2024
Michigan's new Statewide Meaningful Language Access Coordination Act will require public services to be more accessible to non-English speakers. 
Longform Kelsey Lehman and Autumn Carson Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Podcast a "not-so-clinical approach to conversations surrounding all things mental health."

Jaishree DrepaulTuesday, March 19, 2024
Podcast hosted by three friends covers a range of topics like finding a therapist, tips for loved ones, and misconceptions and stigmas surrounding medications. 
Feature Story Robert Sheehan, executive director of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Proposed licensure changes aim to ease Michigan's social worker shortage

Estelle SlootmakerMonday, March 18, 2024
Mental health and social work advocates are pushing for legislative change to shift Michigan's social worker licensing process from a test-based approach to a practice-driven alternative that has proven successful in other states.
Feature Story Roel Garcia is an adjunct professor at Grand Rapids Community College as well as an English as a second language instructor at Zeeland Adult Education. Equity

How a teacher regained his independence after losing his sight

Roel GarciaMonday, March 18, 2024
Roel Garcia shares how the loss of most of his sight in high school turned his world upside down before he figured out how to adapt to his disability. He graduated from college, became a journalist, and now is a teacher. 
Feature Story small-jocelyn Equity

Author to keynote West Michigan Disability Awareness Day celebration

Shandra MartinezFriday, March 15, 2024
Author and advocate Jocelyn Dettloff will speak about disability and mental health, the theme of the Disability Awareness Day event on March 22. 
Longform First Presbyterian Community Development

What's behind the big red doors? Sanctuary in the city

Mike WenningerThursday, March 14, 2024
Kalamazoo's First Presbyterian Church borders Bronson Park and its weekly Red Door Dinners provide homecooked meals and hospitality for the unhoused and others in need. “Our congregation seeks to live faith as a sanctuary in the city, with the city, for the city, and others far beyond." This story is part of our Faith in Action series, sponsored by the Fetzer Institute.
Feature Story R.I.S.E. Community Development

Community Centers in Battle Creek awarded $1.5 million in State funding

Jane ParikhThursday, March 14, 2024
Three community centers in Battle Creek were awarded over $1.5 million of State funding to "ensure that more than 100,000 Michiganders already living in poverty have access to better food and living conditions, transportation, and childcare opportunities."
Feature Story Maya James Arts and Culture

What is a social practice artist? Kalamazoo's Maya James, a movement pioneer, explains

Maya JamesThursday, March 14, 2024
Meet Southwest Michigan Second Wave's newest writer and artist, Maya James, Art Prize Vanguard winner and trailblazer who has been following her own unique path only to discover there is a name for what she does — social practice art. And she may well be a 'mother of a movement' that she invites you to join.
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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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