Fire Arts Collaborative is a 10-year-old nonprofit in Edison.
Fire Arts Collaborative is a 10-year-old nonprofit in Edison. Fran Dwight
Fire Arts Collaborative is a 10-year-old nonprofit in Edison.
Fire Arts Collaborative is a 10-year-old nonprofit in Edison. Fran Dwight

Voices of Youth: Racism is a hard lesson for young people in high school Read Article

Jaden Davis

Seeking a less stressful, elegant wedding option? Consider Elopement Day at Battle Creek farm Read Article

Courtesy: Of the Land

'We're all related, we're all connected': Many march for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Read Article

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Final Chapter: Kalamazoo remembers Dean Hauck and the legacy of Michigan News Read Article

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Antique expert to share tips, tricks, and treasures at Battle Creek’s Regional History Museum Read Article

UnSplash: Alexander Schimmeck

Voices of Youth: Burnout in high school can happen, but you’re not alone Read Article

UnSplash: Nguyen Phan Nam Anh

Features

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Longform Beth McCann, KNNHS Building Communities

New Executive Director for KNHS leads a super busy nonprofit on the cusp of a growth spurt

Mark WedelThursday, March 2, 2023
From a position with Downtown Kalamzoo, Inc. to working with the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, Beth McCann helped build up Kalamazoo's cultural image. In her new position as Executive Directory of Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, she is building community in a different way – through affordable housing. "We need, what, 7,000 housing units right now?" says McCann. "I can't build 7,000, but hopefully, I can make a dent."
Feature Story DJDemers Equity

Accessible humor takes the stage at Laughfest

Shandra MartinezMonday, February 27, 2023
D.J. Demers, who is hearing impaired, brings his unique stand-up style to LaughFest on March 8 at the Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center in Grand Rapids. His opening act will be local comedian Jon Cauchi, who is visually impaired. 
Feature Story The United Way ALICE initiative puts focus on the financial struggles faced by people with disabilities, while other efforts work to address those needs. (Canva) Equity

More than half of people with disabilities in West Michigan struggle financially

Paul R. KopenkoskeySaturday, February 25, 2023
The United Way ALICE initiative puts focus on the financial struggles faced by people with disabilities, while other efforts work to address those needs.
Feature Story Benjamin's Hope founders Krista Mason (right) and Dave Mason pose with animal scientist and autism advocate Temple Grandin. Economic Development

Autism rights advocate Temple Grandin hails those who think differently

Andrea GoodellFriday, February 24, 2023
Although Temple Grandin is a widely sought-after professor for animal science and veterinary colleges, she couldn’t get into veterinary school when she failed the math portion of the SAT. The educational system is screening out visual thinkers such as herself, Grandin says.
Longform Dabney and Co. Entrepreneurship

Kalamazoo's new Dabney and Co. is a Black culture bar that welcomes all

Mark WedelThursday, February 23, 2023
Open since November, Dabney and Co., Kalamazoo's only current Black-owned bar, was created to be a safe space for that showcases the “elevated beauty of Black culture” through food, music, drinks, and art. "For me, it's really important, in every aspect of Dabney and Co., you feel exactly how you would when you come into a Black household. We treat you just like family,” says owner Daniel May.
Longform Women of Color Bussiness Entrepreneurship

Battle Creek Black women business owners achieving success

Jane ParikhThursday, February 23, 2023
Battle Creek's Tiffany Blackman is beating the odds with her small downtown business, Bread & Basket, while supporting, encouraging, and mentoring other Women of Color with their businesses. Her business plans got an unexpected gift during the pandemic, she says. “When you have the responsibility of raising and supporting a family you don’t have time to dream. The pandemic gave me the time to dream.”
Feature Story Social Media and Body Image Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: Battle Creek teen talks with peers about social media's effect on body image

Lila McCarthyThursday, February 23, 2023
Numerous studies have demonstrated that social media use can have harmful impacts on teens by causing higher levels of anxiety, body dissatisfaction, and increasing rates of depression. Lila McCarthy, a 13-year-old Voices of Youth Battle Creek writer, examines and editorializes on an issue that she has witnessed first-hand among her peers.
Feature Story Cereal City Concert Band Arts and Culture

Cereal City Concert Band stages concert in honor of Black History Month

Jane ParikhWednesday, February 22, 2023
A 'best kept Battle Creek (musical) secret,' Battle Creek's Cereal City Concert Band honors Black History Month with the world premier of a piece by Flint native Gary Powell Nash featuring local soprano soloist Carmen Bell and several selections by African American composers at their "Life Every Voice and Sing" February concert.
Feature Story Anguish in Afghanistan Arts and Culture

Kalamazoo artist Jeanne Fields' show dares viewers to be aware

Mike WenningerWednesday, February 22, 2023
Kalamazoo artist Jeanne Fields’ exhibit, “Dare to Be Aware: Our World Needs You,” is on display during February at the Epic Center’s Westin Gallery. While Field’s paintings present dichotomies between beauty and suffering, Fields says her show is primarily “about love.”
Longform Caregivers Mental Health Darcy Thiel Healthy Communities

Caregiving and mental health: 'Overload in every sense of the word'

By Scott Scanlon, The Buffalo NewsWednesday, February 22, 2023
The pressure of being a caregiver become more common. AARP estimates the number of unpaid caregivers – roughly one of every five adults – has grown nearly 25% during the last half-decade, to about 50 million people.
Longform Caregivers Mental Health Darcy Thiel Healthy Communities

Los cuidadores y la salud mental: una 'sobrecarga en todos los sentidos'

Por Scott Scanlon, The Buffalo NewsWednesday, February 22, 2023
La presión de ser un cuidador se vuelve más común. AARP estima que la cantidad de cuidadores no remunerados, aproximadamente uno de cada cinco adultos, ha aumentado casi un 25 % durante la última media década, a alrededor de 50 millones de personas.¿Qué soluciones pueden aliviar los múltiples peajes que pagan los cuidadores?
Longform SWMI Journalism Collab Caretakers mental health families Healthy Communities

A familiar setting for older adults, and respite for those who care for them

By Patricia Anstett, Urban Aging NewsWednesday, February 22, 2023
The PACE program is one of countless resources older adults and their families may sort through — and often miss —  looking for help so their loved ones can continue living at home.
Longform SWMI Journalism Collab Caretakers mental health families Healthy Communities

Un entorno familiar para las personas mayores y un respiro para quienes las cuidan

Por Patricia Anstett, Urban Aging NewsWednesday, February 22, 2023
El programa PACE es uno de los innumerables recursos que los adultos mayores y sus familias pueden revisar, y a menudo perder, en busca de ayuda para que sus seres queridos puedan seguir viviendo en casa.  
Longform SWMIJ Collaborative Mental Health and Caregivers Young Healthy Communities

Young caregivers need more support. There's an app for that.

By Julie Mack, Watershed Voice Wednesday, February 22, 2023
 The average age of a caregiver is 49, but about 24% of adult unpaid caregivers — almost 13 million Americans — are 18 to 34, according to a 2020 report issued by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. And that doesn’t include another 5.4 million adolescents who are unpaid caregivers. They say caregiving has taken a toll on their mental or physical health, or both. 
Longform SWMI Journalism Collab Paid Caretakers Mental Health Healthy Communities

These perks and benefits are critical to keeping paid caregivers healthy

By Zinta Aistars, Southwest Michigan Second WaveWednesday, February 22, 2023
Nurses surveyed in 2021 said the most common reason they planned to leave their job was that work had negatively affected their health and well-being. The second most common reason was insufficient staffing. Here's why it's important to provide care for them and what some are doing to make sure they get it.
Longform SWMIJ Collaborative Mental Health and Caregivers Young Healthy Communities

Los jóvenes que cuidan de otros necesitan más apoyo. Hay una aplicación para ello.

Por Julie Mack, Watershed Voice Wednesday, February 22, 2023
La edad promedio de un cuidador es de 49 años, pero alrededor del 24 % de los cuidadores adultos no remunerados (casi 13 millones de estadounidenses) tienen entre 18 y 34 años, según un informe de 2020 emitido por la Alianza Nacional para el Cuidado y AARP. Y eso no incluye a otros 5,4 millones de adolescentes que son cuidadores no remunerados. Dicen que el cuidado ha afectado su salud mental o física, o ambas.
Longform SWMI Journalism Collab Paid Caretakers Mental Health Healthy Communities

Estas ventajas y beneficios son fundamentales para mantener saludables a los cuidadores remunerados

Por Zinta Aistars, Southwest Michigan Second WaveWednesday, February 22, 2023
Las enfermeras encuestadas en 2021 dijeron que la razón más común por la que planeaban dejar su trabajo era que el trabajo había afectado negativamente su salud y bienestar. La segunda razón más común fue la falta de personal. He aquí por qué es importante brindarles atención y lo que algunos están haciendo para asegurarse de que la reciban.
Feature Story SWM Journalism Collab Resources Healthy Communities

CAREGIVING RESOURCES

Southwest Michigan Journalism CollaborativeWednesday, February 22, 2023
These resources can help caregivers find the help they need.
Longform Summit Pointe’s First Step program operates out of their facility on College Street in Battle Creek. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

First Step Psychiatric Urgent Care Center a stepping stone to mental wellness

Brooke MarshallTuesday, February 21, 2023
First Step Psychiatric Urgent Care Center provides services when people need them most. The 24/7 facility treats patients of all ages, irrespective of insurance.
Longform Valais Sheep Entrepreneurship

Flocking to a new breed of sheep in Calhoun County

Jane ParikhThursday, February 16, 2023
Raising Blacknose Sheep in Calhoun County isn’t about the meat or the wool. “We got reading about them more and more and just fell in love with them,” says Mike Zebolsky of raising the rare Valais sheep with his wife Tammy Zebolsky. “They’re just so docile and friendly and with us not being truly farmers, they’re the perfect animal for us.”
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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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