‘Housing for All’ Millage is set to help families and individuals recover
Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners has approved $725,000 in new awards through the “Homes for All” Millage for supportive services projects and creative housing projects.
Al Jones's Latest Articles
Give them shelter: The Landing Place for unhoused families to open in phases, starting in December
The conversion of a former hotel on Kilgore Road into an 80-unit shelter where unhoused families can receive support as they transition back to permanent housing is urgent, local housing officials say. And work is expected to get underway soon to move the project forward in hopes of housing some families by the end of the year.
Routes and roots: How Kalamazoo’s buses keep the county moving — and connected
“A community the size of Kalamazoo... has an excellent, robust public transit system, and we have a group of employees here that care about being community servants and taking care of people’s needs to get them where they need to go.”
High schools huddle up with Police Athletic League to kick off Kalamazoo Youth Football Camp
Kalamazoo’s Youth Football Camp brought together local high schools, the Police Athletic League, and families for a free, skills-based event aimed at teaching kids the fundamentals of football, building community unity, and keeping youth active and engaged.
Making good scents: Kalamazoo’s The Aroma Labs spreads its smell of success across the Midwest
At The Aroma Labs, custom scents become bottled memories. What began in a Kalamazoo kitchen is now a scent-sational business spreading across the Midwest.
Back to build bridges: Yarbrough brings homegrown vision to Northside leadership
Northside native Jonathan Yarbrough has been named executive director of the Northside Association for Community Development. Seen as a "connector, bridge-builder, and advocate," he plans to "move the needle" on the neighborhood’s legacy while driving community-focused growth.
Kalamazoo County Housing Portal opens with $2.8 million for new projects
On June 2, the Kalamazoo County Housing Department opened its online portal for projects seeking financial support from the county’s Homes for All Housing Millage. “It’s open and we have money for funding,” says Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema. “We’re really hoping that developers and nonprofits go in and really have some good applications for funding.”
Ministers lead Dominion March to galvanize community to end gun violence in Kalamazoo
Following the recent gun deaths of two Kalamazoo youth, the Northside Ministerial Alliance organized a Dominion Walk for peace and against gun violence that drew over 250. “There’s more of us in the community than there are shooters, and so if we make our voices loud and do what we’re supposed to, I think we can make it better.”
Kalamazoo’s ‘Speak It Forward’ continues to help others find their voice and celebrate success
Speak It Forward hosts the Kirk Latimer Celebration of Success, the group's 16th event that will highlight a year's worth of working with youth and honor its late co-founder. The event takes place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at Chenery Auditorium.
The Kalamazoo Promise keeping its generous promise and more for 20 years
Still going strong after two decades, the Kalamazoo Promise has grown and pivoted to adjust to current trends and needs. "We started to realize that every student's story is unique."
