Equity Archives – Page 4 of 18

Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation exemplifies nonprofits’ financial underpinning of economic development

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May 21, 2025

Lalonie Willhite founded Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation to make sure kids growing up in foster homes didn’t encounter struggles with self esteem that comes with foster and adoptive parents not knowing how to care for all textures of hair. The Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation also is an example of how a nonprofit contributes to economic growth right here in the community while fulfilling its core mission of giving back.

Partner Partner Content Blueprint for school funding would ensure equitable resources in special education

By Estelle Slootmaker

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Community Development

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May 20, 2025

The MI Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint would ensure that Michigan adequately and equitably funds public special education in Michigan.

AAoM NAT Conference vendors include autistic artists and entrepreneurs.

Partner Partner Content Beyond awareness, autism acceptance affirms neurodiversity and improves lives

By Estelle Slootmaker

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Community Development

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April 17, 2025

The Autism Alliance of Michigan and other advocates for autistic people are working hard to move from raising autism awareness to fostering autism acceptance.

Voices of Youth: Queer representation in media and its impacts

By Lila McCarthy

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Arts & Culture

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April 10, 2025

“When I was coming out in 2018, I felt safe to do so within my friend group partly because of the media we were consuming, which was slowly including more queer characters, and the conversation about queer actors and artists became much more public."

Trans folx celebrate Trans Day of Visibility by sharing their artwork in Kalamazoo

By Maya James

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Arts & Culture

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April 1, 2025

To honor Transgender Day of Visibility, OutFront Kalamazoo hosted a Trans Gallery for the Art Hop in March. Social Practice Artist Maya James spoke with several artists whose work has many intersections — from cover crops to animation.

Partner Partner Content Gala rocks and raises funds to advocate for autistic Michiganders

By Estelle Slootmaker

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Community Development

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March 5, 2025

The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) Michigan Shines for Autism Gala, its largest fundraiser, will rock Detroit’s Motor City Casino Hotel on April 25, 2025 with “an electrifying evening blending a black-tie event with a rebellious twist.”

‘Crip Camp’ screening in Muskegon highlights disability inclusion

By Shandra Martinez

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Equity

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March 5, 2025

A free “Crip Camp” screening at the Frauenthal Center will spark conversations on disability rights, accessibility, and community inclusion in Muskegon.

(From left) Peggy Helsel, development director at DAKC; Jenny Gauld, designer at Steelcase; Kamara Sudberry, global inclusive design leader at Steelcase; and Vicky Schmidt, a high-level paraplegic and longtime DAKC test pilot.

Beyond compliance: Area nonprofit and corporation are redefining inclusive workplaces

By Tommy Allen

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Equity

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March 5, 2025

For the Steelcase team, accessibility is far more than ramps and automatic doors. Through an innovative partnership with Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC), Steelcase is reimagining what it means to create truly inclusive workplaces.

Small blueberry farm survives by going organic

By Jarret Whitenack | Encore Magazine

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Arts & Culture

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February 27, 2025

For the past 80 years the Mitchell family has been growing blueberries on land that has been passed down through the generations. At one time in their part of Van Buren County, that wasn’t unusual. Today it is. Read on to find out why.

This is how to do mental health: Community outreach builds access

By Estelle Slootmaker

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Equity

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February 25, 2025

The staff of Michigan’s community mental health agencies aren’t sitting at their desks waiting for the phone to ring. They are out in their communities letting people know that mental health care is within reach.

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