Mark Wedel, Author at Second Wave

New Executive Director for KNHS leads a super busy nonprofit on the cusp of a growth spurt

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March 2, 2023

From a position with Downtown Kalamzoo, Inc. to working with the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, Beth McCann helped build up Kalamazoo's cultural image. In her new position as Executive Directory of Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, she is building community in a different way – through affordable housing. "We need, what, 7,000 housing units right now?" says McCann. "I can't build 7,000, but hopefully, I can make a dent."

Kalamazoo’s new Dabney and Co. is a Black culture bar that welcomes all

By Mark Wedel

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February 23, 2023

Open since November, Dabney and Co., Kalamazoo's only current Black-owned bar, was created to be a safe space for that showcases the “elevated beauty of Black culture” through food, music, drinks, and art. "For me, it's really important, in every aspect of Dabney and Co., you feel exactly how you would when you come into a Black household. We treat you just like family,” says owner Daniel May.

New Kalamazoo Lyceum continues an old tradition of learning together in friendship

By Mark Wedel

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February 9, 2023

To bring back a tradition of neighbors gathering face-to-face, to discuss without the divisiveness that seems to have been born, in part, out of social media, a new Lyceum Movement has begun. Also called “A School for Community Life,” lyceums are happening in various towns in Iowa and Minnesota, and now Kalamazoo is a chapter affiliate. The topic of the inaugural Kalamazoo Lyceum was titled, “How is media changing the way we think?” Read on to hear what panel members and attendees had to say.

Kalamazoo’s public health approach to gun violence opens doors to creative solutions, says expert

By Mark Wedel

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February 2, 2023

A single gunshot that results in a homicide costs $1.2 million, robs feelings of safety, and rips a gaping hole into a family and community. Ahead of the national curve, both Kalamazoo County and City have declared gun violence a public health issue which moves the emphasis from penalty to prevention. Gun violence prevention expert, Reggie Moore, spoke to a large audience of invested community members last week at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, calling on Kalamazoo to become a "healing-informed" city.

Kalamazoo Middle Eastern music groups connect cultures and people

By Mark Wedel

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January 25, 2023

Bahar Ensemble and its educational youth group Orchestra Rouh have made Middle Eastern music one of the many sounds of Kalamazoo's community. After going virtual over the pandemic, both gear up for a busy 2023.

Something to toot about: Kalamazoo has its own Mastodon server

By Mark Wedel

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January 11, 2023

Mastodon has arrived in Kalamazoo! Is it a large extinct mammal or a local ‘instance’ that’s part of the fediverse? Correspondent Mark Wedel will help you decide.

Home Start Initiative believes its approaches to affordable housing will help project move forward

By Mark Wedel

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December 22, 2022

Services from financial education to emotional health and daycare are part of the package that is Playgrown Home Start, a community of 10 homes near what was once a tent encampment of the unhoused. The project is seeking funding and the project leader says: "I have faith in our grantors, I have faith, I have so much faith in this project and our team."

Community Homeworks of Kalamazoo helps make the critical repairs that keep people in their homes

By Mark Wedel

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December 8, 2022

For Community Homeworks work is laser-focused on critical home repairs in homes that have health or safety issues its Executive Director Chris Praedel says. "Is there a current or imminent health or safety risk to the homeowner or their family? If the answer is yes, then that's the project we want to prioritize."

For everyday riders using bikes for short trips in Kalamazoo changes at the street level are welcome

By Mark Wedel

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December 1, 2022

City bikers looking to switch from gas-burning vehicles to pedals for everyday travel are finding reason to hope that newly configured bike lanes will make a difference for them.

Volunteers say besides housing, what Kalamazoo’s unhoused need is to know that someone cares

By Mark Wedel

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November 30, 2022

Volunteer Jan van Schaik says apart from the obvious need for shelter, Kalamazoo's homeless need to be seen as fellow humans. His work with the unhoused, handing out food, hot chocolate, coffee, and providing mentorship as needed, and as importantly showing them he recognizes them by name.

Mark Wedel

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