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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Feature Story Voices of Youth Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: Meet Darrin Slade, the tough, new superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools

Regina KibeziThursday, December 26, 2024
With a year under his belt, Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Darrin Slade has instituted some stricter student conduct rules and is pleased with the success. But he says there's still a ways to go.
Feature Story Voices of Youth Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: Why high school student council participation matters

Sophia PellThursday, December 26, 2024
Participating in student council offers students experience in leading, governing, collaborating, volunteering, and more. 
Feature Story LaShawnda Bates, wearing a yellow dress, stands in front of a table with health brochures on it. Equity

Bronson Cancer Care Equity Project breaks down barriers to health care

Shandra MartinezMonday, December 23, 2024
Bronson’s Cancer Care Equity project addresses health disparities through community partnerships, improving accessibility, communication, and inclusivity in cancer care.
Longform West Main Safe Communities

Can the 'River of Death' be tamed? West Main residents, businesses express appetite for 'road diet'

Mark WedelThursday, December 19, 2024
In Kalamazoo, street calming has helped to decrease accidents by 23 percent. Residents and business owners along West Main, a major artery to downtown, are also requesting changes to slow the hazardous flow of traffic.
Feature Story Artique Entrepreneurship

Sustainable Sanctuary: Health and beauty refillery to open in former Bedford Twp. church

Jane ParikhThursday, December 19, 2024
Refilleries for health, beauty, and cleaning products are on the rise as people search for ways to avoid single-use plastics. Aware of that trend, Krystal Smith is opening Artique, a health and beauty refillery also featuring antiques and crafts at a former Bedford Township church.
Longform A Way Home Stanwood Crossings Community Development

Groundbreaking expected in Portage this spring for 45 single-family workforce homes

Mark WedelThursday, December 19, 2024
Houses for teachers, health care workers, assembly line workers, public safety officers — workforce residents — are going up in Portage this spring. Here's the plan for Stanwood Crossings. 
Feature Story Devon Wilson points out some of the young plants growing in one of the hoop houses at Sunlight Gardens. Entrepreneurship

Farmacy: Urban farm in Battle Creek reaching over the counter for farm-to-table dining

Jane ParikhThursday, December 19, 2024
Battle Creek's Sunlight Gardens and Farmacy opened a new event center to partner with local restaurants in providing farm-to-table food.
Longform A Way Home Housing Solutions Tiny houses Building Communities

‘Tiny’ house project sends a hard-to-place population to the front of the line

Al JonesThursday, December 19, 2024
Tiny houses, a project that has been years in the making, has celebrated its grand opening in Kalamazoo. Each of the one-story houses – which have about 410 square feet of living space – was built to provide housing for individuals who are trying to improve their lives after being incarcerated or after recovering from substance abuse disorders 
In The News Voices of Youth Sustainability

Voices of Youth: How safe is the Kalamazoo River?

Sophia BaldwinThursday, December 19, 2024
Voices of Youth Sophie Baldwin speaks with Doug McLaughlin, executive director of Kalamazoo Watershed Council, to learn more about the pollutants in the Kalamazoo River and what impacts they have.
Feature Story A Way Home Heads in Beds Building Communities

For Christmas, this Kalamazoo group is booking hotel rooms for the unhoused

Al JonesThursday, December 19, 2024
A local advocacy group is working to provide a safe and warm Christmas setting for up to 100 unhoused people in the greater Kalamazoo area. Find out how Kalamazoo Together for the Unhoused is working to raise money, collect contributions, and schedule volunteer efforts for its third annual Heads in Beds for Christmas.
Feature Story Nathan Dlouhy appreciates how DAKC's Interview Day helps him to be his best self. Equity

DAKC event empowers young adults with disabilities through mock interviews and job connections

Tommy AllenWednesday, December 18, 2024
A Disability Advocates Kent County event uses mock interviews to build confidence among young adults with disabilities and connect them to job opportunities.
Feature Story "We live here, we work here and we care about you and your family." Second Wave - MichiganCommunity Development

A New Vision for Public Health in Michigan

Brianna NargisoTuesday, December 17, 2024
Michigan has stepped forward with a comprehensive Public Health Call to Action, a set of recommendations crafted by the Michigan Public Health Advisory Council (MPHAC) to guide the state’s journey toward a more equitable and resilient health system. 
Feature Story Robert Sheehan Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

Michigan’s community mental health agencies will do even more good work in 2025

Estelle SlootmakerTuesday, December 17, 2024
Federal dollars, state initiatives, community partnerships, and a normalization of seeking and receiving behavioral health care have positioned Michigan’s community mental health agencies to do even more good work in 2025.
Feature Story Meresa Salisbury attends the Baldwin Senior Expo earlier this year. Equity

Disability Network West Michigan’s new Lake County office brings support to rural residents

Shandra MartinezMonday, December 16, 2024
Disability Network West Michigan’s Lake County office empowers individuals with disabilities, providing essential resources and personalized support while fostering independence.
Longform Napkin Lady Arts and Culture

The Napkin Lady: 50,000 and counting for a Calhoun County collector

Jane ParikhThursday, December 12, 2024
Her first napkin was collected at a birthday party when she was 5. Now the Smithsonian reaches out to her with requests to include her rare and one-of-a-kind pieces in their collections.
Feature Story New Vicksburg Arts logo Arts and Culture

New logo and 'arts for all' focus unveiled at Vicksburg Arts Gala

Maya JamesThursday, December 12, 2024
The Vicksburg Arts Gala in November unveiled a new name, logo, and expanded commitment to increasing accessibility to the arts by adding programs that serve those who are neurodivergent or have special needs.
Longform Staci Stuart Entrepreneurship

A book-related accident didn't stop Albion woman from running two businesses

Jane ParikhThursday, December 12, 2024
An unfortunate accident didn't stop bookstore co-owner Staci Stuart from also running a construction business, a field typically not well-represented by women. From her wheelchair, "She's the spider in the web, controlling the web."
Feature Story Signs galore at the Kalamazoo Women's March Healthy Communities

Voices of Youth: ACLU, YWCA Kalamazoo sue Michigan over Medicaid's abortion coverage ban

Krithvi RayarupuThursday, December 12, 2024
ACLU Kalamazoo and YWCA Kalamazoo are bringing a suit against the State of Michigan because of a ban on funding abortion care for Medicaid recipients.
Feature Story Teen Voters Kids and Education

Voices of Youth: Ten things teens should know about voting

Anas ElkafrawyThursday, December 12, 2024
Even though the 2024 presidential election has come and gone, many youths will turn 18 in the coming year and be eligible to vote. Voices of Youth's Anas Elkafrawy has identified 10 important things to know before teens cast their first vote.
Longform The program reduced postpartum depression by 50% among participants. Second Wave - MichiganHealthy Communities

MSU public health researchers seek to expand successful preventive postpartum depression program

Joanne Bailey-BoorsmaTuesday, December 10, 2024
ROSE program trains expectant mothers on how roles and relationships change postpartum and teaches assertiveness skills so expectant mothers can ask for the support they need.
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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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