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."
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.
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.
Pops is a peacekeeper. He also advocates in any way he can to help others and is always trying to get people in need, the supplies they need. He is also a kind ear and sympathetic friend. And Pops has been homeless off-and-on for the past eight years, and unsheltered for the past two years straight until recently.
Street Medicine Kalamazoo came out of the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine early in 2021 to take healthcare directly to the most underserved population, the unsheltered. Now they conduct an open-air clinic Mondays near PFC and Wednesdays at Ministry.
The needs of people living outside are many. The volunteer group United for the Unsheltered works to get them food and they give out hygiene kits, clothes, supplies for pets, and more. Often they are traveling to hidden encampments where the need is greatest.
Remy is not homeless anymore and neither is Yancy Barrett, her person. He says caring for Remy has helped save his life.
The former detailing shop can accommodate Patrick Hershberger's and Chad Burke's respective businesses with room for paint storage and studio space, maybe a gallery space to show his work; it also has high ceilings for multiple shelves of bikes, and areas for bike mechanics, painting, and bodywork.
Like some Kalamazoo neighborhood spots, natural places, cemeteries, etc., the Michigan Festival of Sacred Music's Music in Place project has just been quietly existing, waiting for people to discover what's special about it.
The Edison Jazz Fest will bring national and local jazz luminaries to Kalamazoo to perform in the neighborhood Sept. 12-18. The Dormouse Theatre, Jerico, La Luna Recording, and The Creamery's rooftop garden will be the venues.
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