Idea exchange: Rural and urban folks work to create and preserve greenspaces
How is the protection of Kalamazoo's wilder spaces going? We brought together some of those who are doing the work to find out.
Mark Wedel's Latest Articles
Broadway veteran from Kalamazoo leads Farmers Alley’s ‘Songs for a New World’ to heal hurting souls
Jerry Dixon, a 1979 Kalamazoo Central grad who went on to become a Broadway actor, then director, returns to his hometown to turn "Songs for a New World" at Farmers Alley Theatre into a healing, cathartic experience for people trying to create a new new-normal for themselves.
Lack of affordable housing means more are living in the woods and encampments. What can be done?
Affordable housing is being built, but the progress is slow. Two agency executive directors talk about possibilities for getting work done as Second Wave explores common concerns and solutions to those issues in rural and urban Kalamazoo county.
Kalamazoo Youth Development Network brings youth in to help build their own spaces
What youth do when they are out of school can determine their success later on. Organizations that work with KYD Network find youth feel ownership of the projects they're participating in and are therefore more engaged.
With a new executive director, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre gets ready to turn on the footlights again
Facing a choice between continuing her career as a lawyer and heading a community theater in a challenging time, Laura Zervic went with what she loved.
Creating a space in Kalamazoo where all runners feel comfortable running in public
A big part of the motivation behind Run This Town is the need to make all runners in Kalamazoo feel comfortable running in public, organizers say.
Voices of Youth program offers Kalamazoo-area young people a chance to be heard
Policies at all levels affect the day-to-day life of all young people. Today's youth are making it known they want a say in those policies. The Voices of Youth program offers youth of Kalamazoo County the opportunity to use journalism to express their views.
Neighbors worry about plans for Portage Road. City says changes will come slowly and are needed.
Rumor and misinformation have riled up residents who live near a narrow corridor of businesses and homes between West Lake and Austin Lake on Portage Road. A City of Portage steering committee has been studying the best way to make it safer.
Kalamazoo’s State Theatre returns with State on the Street where musicians play from the marquee
The State Theatre is doing what it can to bring back live entertainment and to remind people that it's still a vibrant venue -- as vibrant as a global pandemic allows.
New nonprofit owners of First Baptist Church dream, plan future as venue in downtown Kalamazoo
Together the group of nonprofits is working to transform the historic First Baptist Church in downtown Kalamazoo without losing its character and in a way that is financially feasible.
