With Kalamazoo's annual Pickleball Tournament just around the corner, Southwest Michigan Second Wave's Andy Robins takes a look at the current state of the country's fastest-growing recreational and competitive sport here in Kalamazoo County.
April is National Poetry Month and Kalamazoo has more than its fair share of homegrown poets – which suits this year's Kalamazoo Poetry Festival theme of "The Garden." In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the festival takes place April 13 to 15, featuring both local and visiting poets, including Kzoo's own Pulitzer Prize-wining poet Diane Suess, Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall (WMU graduate), Hala Ayhan, and Kaveh Akbar, among others.
Falling in line is both an art and an avoidance for these 25-54-year-old synchronized figure skaters from Kalamazoo. Their passion has propelled them to pursue adult synchronized skating at a competitive level as part of the Kinetic Masters Team, which recently placed an impressive tenth in the 2023 U.S. Synchronized Skating Competition this March.
Four COVID-delayed houses are back on track and four families are scheduled to move in later this year.
Advocacy for fair housing policies and personal experience with homelessness will serve Patrese Griffin well in new role as head of Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care.
Like most communities, Kalamazoo has struggled for decades with homelessness. There are an array of government and nonprofit agencies and services focused on the problem. But they are not alone. Some members of the area’s faith community are also deeply involved. They include the First United Methodist Church in downtown Kalamazoo.
The new leader of Kalamazoo County’s Land Bank is coming aboard as the program faces new challenges – and an urgent demand for more affordable housing. Sid Ellis joined the anti-blight initiative as CEO earlier this month, continuing a high-profile career in community service and the arts. Ellis says he’s excited by the opportunities his new position offers though there is uncertainty over how to maintain the program’s funding sustainably.
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