Sustainability

Where every goat has a name: Chubby Goat Acres gives neglected farm animals a second chance

Chubby Goat Acres, a 17-acre sanctuary in Southwest Michigan, rescues neglected and abused farm animals, giving them individualized care, love, and lifelong homes while educating the public about their needed tending and unique personalities.

Latest in Sustainability
Metro Transit hopes to replace aging fleet with hybrids, eyes federal grant

Kalamazoo Metro Transit is seeking federal funding to gradually replace its aging bus fleet with more environmentally and financially sustainable hybrid vehicles — and also seeking local millage support for current bus system and popular Metro Link.

How urban agriculture feeds, educates, and uplifts Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and other Michigan cities

Community gardens provide more than just food for urban residents. These organizations serve as educational centers, community spaces, and environmentally-friendly food production for urban Michigan residents.

Voices of Youth: Spot and Stop program fighting invasive plant species

Invasive plants threaten Michigan’s ecosystems, but the Spot and Stop program in Kalamazoo, Calhoun, and Barry counties empowers residents to fight back through community action and tech tools.

Sanilac County CMH CEO Wilbert Morris presents iPad to Sanilac County Sheriff Paul Rich
Meeting rural Michiganders’ mental health care needs

Michigan’s rural residents face different challenges when accessing mental health care than residents of urban areas. Transportation issues, loneliness, and limited group therapy options can compound their mental health needs. To address these challenges, community mental health (CMH) agencies like Sanilac County Community Mental Health innovate community-based solutions that meet their populations where they are at.   

Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition Executive Director learned early to leave only footprints

"I try to spend time outside every day, and every time I get out in nature, I just fall in love with this world that we live in," says Jenny Doezema is the new executive director of the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition.

Community collaborations help coordinate shelter, food, clothing, and other basic needs alongside behavioral health services. Community Action of Allegan County home-delivered meals drivers.
Mental health agencies strengthen services through community collaborations

Across Michigan, community mental health (CMH) agencies are expanding their reach through partnerships with local organizations that address housing, transportation, and other barriers to care. These collaborations aim to create a more coordinated and accessible mental health system, particularly for individuals with complex needs.  

The START Collaborative's first retreat in January 2024.
From tornado to ice storm, collaborative addresses unmet needs in Otsego County

Inspired by a string of recent disasters, the START Collaborative aims to address unmet needs in Otsego County through collaboration between nonprofits, schools, hospitals, government entities, and businesses.

Treading lightly: The ethics and how-tos of reducing our carbon footprints

What is our personal and collective responsibility in reducing our carbon footprint? Learn about the City of Kalamazoo's commitment and what individual residents can do to contribute.

Voices of Youth: How safe is the Kalamazoo River?

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.

Our Sponsors

Gilmore Foundation

Our Media Partners

Battle Creek Community Foundation
Enna Foundation
BINDA Foundation
Southwest Journalism Media Collaborative

Solutions journalism takes time, trust, and your support.

Close
Psst. We could use your help today!

Don't miss out!

Everything Southwest Michigan, in your inbox every week.

Close the CTA

Already a subscriber? Enter your email to hide this popup in the future.