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

John Grap

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

Fran Dwight

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 BC Voices of Youth Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: Battle Creek teen explores coming out safely through her comic art

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Coming out safely is not one-size fits all, as Voices of Youth Battle Creek Artist Athena McCarthy explores in her comic strip illustrations. "I wanted to bring to light the different experiences people can have when coming out," she says.

Feature Story KJSO Paths to Dignity Arts and Culture

Paths to Dignity: Kalamazoo’s Junior Symphony premiers concerto for the unhoused

Theresa Coty O'NeilThursday, February 16, 2023
The Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra is world-premiering Paths to Dignity, a violin concerto for the unhoused by composer and Grammy-award winning conductor Lucas Richman  and featuring well-regarded violinist Mitchell Newman on Sunday, Feb. 19.
Feature Story Shower SHARE Healthy Communities

Coming clean about a growing demand in Battle Creek

Jane ParikhThursday, February 16, 2023
Many of us take for granted our ability to shower or bathe, but for the unhoused, getting clean can involve many variables and few options. SHARE Center in Battle Creek is seeking to change that by raising funds to install public showers for those who are unhoused, housing insecure, or living somewhere with no running water.
Feature Story The documentary, “Unseen: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers & Why It Matters,” explores the lives of parent caregivers for children and adults who are disabled. Equity

Documentary explores challenges faced by parent caregivers of children with disabilities

Shandra MartinezTuesday, February 14, 2023
The public is invited to a Feb. 26 screening of a documentary that looks at parent caregivers for children and adults who are disabled or medically complex, and their lack of support from society.
Feature Story Confections with Convictions Entrepreneurship

Kalamazoo chocolate shop expands its sweet spot to help those rebuilding their lives

Al JonesThursday, February 9, 2023
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Al Jones visits Confections with Convictions to catch up with owner Dale Anderson. The local sweet shop launched in 2010 with a mission to employ youth with criminal convictions. Thirteen years later, Anderson, 70, is preparing to hand over the reins to an employee, Jennifer Fakkety, who wants to expand the shop’s employment to include those of any age who are experiencing substance use disorder and are in recovery or 12-step programs.
Feature Story BC Voices of Youth Kids and Education

New Voices of Youth from Battle Creek shed light on important issues

Jane ParikhThursday, February 9, 2023
The second cohort of Battle Creek Voices of Youth launches today and we’re excited to publish these new stories that cover such issues as vacant buildings and their impact on a community, particularly a neighboring school; coming out safely to family and friends; and social media’s impact on body image. We will be publishing these stories throughout February. Our new Battle Creek Voices of Youth program begins in March. See the story for more details.
Feature Story Abandoned Factory Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: Vacant Battle Creek buildings near schools tempt youth to explore

Thursday, February 9, 2023
Abandoned buildings are an eyesore and pose safety hazards. Youth may see these buildings as an invitation to explore and at times engage in unsafe behaviors. Voices of Youth Reporter Mar'Chionna Sardin, a sophomore at Battle Creek Central High School, says "I never thought I would be writing a story about vacant buildings. You see issues with the community, but you don’t think you will ever do anything about it. When you decide to write about an issue, you find out how much deeper the story is and you learn a lot from it."  
Longform On the Ground Battle Creek Jamie Stuck Healthy Communities

Jamie Stuck plays a pivotal role in the future of Native American healthcare

Jane ParikhThursday, February 9, 2023
Jamie Stuck, Tribal Chairperson of the Nottowaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, will focus on improving Native American health in his new role as a member of a U.S. Health and Human Services Tribal Advisory Committee. Stuck plans to encourage practices that support a return to a pre-colonized diet and to promote trauma-informed and culturally-appropriate healthcare to help combat elevated disease rates in the Native American community that have direct ties to historical atrocities.
Feature Story Kalamazoo Lyceum Arts and Culture

New Kalamazoo Lyceum continues an old tradition of learning together in friendship

Mark WedelThursday, February 9, 2023
To bring back a tradition of neighbors gathering face-to-face, to discuss without the divisiveness that seems to have been born, in part, out of social media, a new Lyceum Movement has begun. Also called “A School for Community Life,” lyceums are happening in various towns in Iowa and Minnesota, and now Kalamazoo is a chapter affiliate. The topic of the inaugural Kalamazoo Lyceum was titled, “How is media changing the way we think?” Read on to hear what panel members and attendees had to say.
Feature Story Tiffany Ankley and Gwen Hooker Building Communities

Kalamazoo organization recognizes Judge Tiffany Ankley and others as Trailblazers of HOPE

Al JonesWednesday, February 8, 2023
 “You have to listen to them. You have to see them. You have to hear them. It’s not a one size-fits-all system,” says Judge Tiffany Ankley, who, along with other individuals and one organization, was recently honored as a Trailblazer of HOPE, a tribute bestowed on those whose work is instrumental in preserving Drug Treatment Court and recovery-oriented services.
Longform Washtenaw County Community Mental Health is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Michigan's CCBHCs open mental health access to all

Joanne Bailey-BoorsmaTuesday, February 7, 2023
Michigan's 34 CCBHCs provide whole-person care by integrating physical health with a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services to vulnerable individuals no matter what a patients' income or insurance coverage.  
Longform BC Art Center Arts and Culture

Art Center of Battle Creek celebrates 75th Anniversary

Jane ParikhThursday, February 2, 2023
On the outside, it may look like the former church it once was, but on the inside, vibrant artwork lines the walls and generations of local artists have practiced art through the center’s many classes. As the Art Center of Battle Creek celebrates its 75th Anniversary, Executive Director Linda Holderbaum reflects on its past, present, and future, and the center’s relevance to the community.
Longform KDPS Building Communities

Kalamazoo Public Safety’s Community Service Team looks to build relationships with the unhoused

Al JonesThursday, February 2, 2023
KDPS Sgt. Amil Alwan says Public Safety doesn’t have all the answers to homelessness or how to address those suffering from mental health, substance abuse, and other issues. But officers say, “If we build the connections with the community services providers that we have in this area, we can have a unit that can have a hand-off with those other services to help do long-term solutions to these issues.”
Feature Story Reggie Moore Safe Communities

Kalamazoo's public health approach to gun violence opens doors to creative solutions, says expert

Mark WedelThursday, February 2, 2023
A single gunshot that results in a homicide costs $1.2 million, robs feelings of safety, and rips a gaping hole into a family and community. Ahead of the national curve, both Kalamazoo County and City have declared gun violence a public health issue which moves the emphasis from penalty to prevention. Gun violence prevention expert, Reggie Moore, spoke to a large audience of invested community members last week at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, calling on Kalamazoo to become a "healing-informed" city.
Feature Story WKKF Economic Development

Kellogg Foundation is making quiet, but major economic development impact in Battle Creek

Jane ParikhThursday, February 2, 2023
While the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is known for redevelopment projects such as The Milton and McCamly Place, there’s more to the foundation’s local support than meets the eye. WKKF partners on a variety of smaller-scale initiatives, including with City of Battle Creek, Battle Creek Unlimited, Northern Initiatives, Community Inclusive Recreation, and Sprout. Jamie Schriner, WKKF Program Officer, says these investments are vital because Battle Creek “is our hometown.”
Feature Story The DNSWM brain injury support group celebrates its first in-person meeting in the fall since the pandemic. (DNSWM) Equity

How the pandemic made brain injury support groups more accessible

Shandra MartinezTuesday, January 31, 2023
After going virtual during the pandemic, the brain injury support group hosted by Disability Network Southwest Michigan has shifted to a hybrid model as in-person meetings resume so more people can attend. 
Feature Story Lucia Rios's first time driving her new car. Her nephew Angelo Mata is in the front seat. He helped her identify how to work with the new technology. Equity

Living with a disability is expensive

Lucia RiosTuesday, January 31, 2023
From buying a car to getting groceries, these necessities cost more when they need to adapt to someone who uses a wheelchair. Lucia Rios explains the hidden costs of living with a disability. 
Longform Orchestra Rouh Arts and Culture

Kalamazoo Middle Eastern music groups connect cultures and people

Mark WedelWednesday, January 25, 2023
Bahar Ensemble and its educational youth group Orchestra Rouh have made Middle Eastern music one of the many sounds of Kalamazoo's community. After going virtual over the pandemic, both gear up for a busy 2023.
Longform Safe Place Safe Communities

Survivors of sex trafficking have a S.A.F.E. Place to go for support

Jane ParikhWednesday, January 25, 2023
Michigan ranks among the top 10 states for rates of human trafficking.January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. On the Ground Battle Creek Project Editor Jane Parikh takes a close look at myths, risks, local resources, and supports to raise awareness of this issue. Please Note: This story contains description of scenes of abuse that are not suitable for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
Feature Story Downpayment Assistance Building Communities

Downpayment Assistance in Kalamazoo expands to help more people buy homes

Al JonesWednesday, January 25, 2023
As the affordable housing crisis continues, some Kalamazoo organizations are finding new ways to provide downpayment assistance to help first-time home buyers purchase a new home.
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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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