Author

Casey Grooten

Casey Grooten is a Kalamazoo native who lived in the Vine and Stuart neighborhoods for over a decade and graduated from WMU with a Bachelors in English. Casey lives in Kalamazoo and spends their free time making artwork and music. Casey is passionate about social justice and equity, transgender rights, community events, and the arts. 

Casey Grooten's Latest Articles

Kalamazoo’s Caged Lotus hip hop collaborative wants to showcase other artists

It can be hard to find hip hop music shows in this area, though it seems there is starting to be more acceptance of hip hop at Kalamazoo shows. Caged Lotus wants to speed things up.

Voices of Youth — Teen podcaster: ‘If I don’t speak out, who will?’

“Violence, academics, sports,” are the most important issues facing youth today, says Percy Gordon, adding that youth don’t intend on choosing violence first. “Violence is a mechanism of people, how we were raised. Violence is everywhere.” 

Kalamazoo Parks and Rec’s summer program helps middle schoolers transition to high school using art

Dreamscene Placemaking and Kalamazoo Parks and Rec team up for the arts section of the 2022 All Things Possible program. 

Voices of Youth marks second year of empowering youth to offer solutions to issues affecting them

Voices of Youth lifts up the issues important to youth in our community. This year the youth wanted to report on transportation, youth mental health, and policing.

Psychologist by day, championship pro wrestler by night, Davison Sarai pursues dual enthusiasms

Davison Sarai was a part of the pro wrestling scene as a commentator for a year before her surprise debut as a wrestler in 2021. Her involvement helped and she says most people have been supportive of her wrestling. 

House shows are back and the Kalamazoo music scene takes seriously the need to keep them safe

In garages and living rooms of the Kalamazoo house music scene, the bands and their fans have returned. Here's how they are keeping things safe as the pandemic goes on.

Kalamazoo’s City Snaps 2021 was about ‘Putting the camera in everyone’s hands’

What happens when you give 150 youth each a 27 exposure, single-use, 35-millimeter film camera? City Snaps 2021.

New sculpture at Bronson Children’s Hospital in Kalamazoo lets kids see themselves

Joshua Diedrich recently unveiled his latest piece of public artwork outside the Bronson Methodist Children's Hospital in memory of John Polzin.

Brave Space event hosted by YWCA Kalamazoo and ONEplace one of a series of anti-racism opportunities

The anti-racism tool Brave Spaces requires radical truth-telling. It's usually not comfortable but it is necessary. Find out more about this event coming up at OnePlace at the Kalamazoo Public Library.

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