Author

Mark Wedel

Mark Wedel has been a freelance journalist since 1992, covering a bewildering variety of subjects. He also writes books on his epic bike rides across the country. He's written a book on one ride, "Mule Skinner Blues." For more information, see www.markswedel.com.

Mark Wedel's Latest Articles

Counting the unhoused in Kalamazoo County to learn more about local needs

On a bitterly cold night in January, volunteers spread out across Kalamazoo County to see how many unhoused people they could find. It's part of what the federal government calls the Point in Time count, and it gives communities information as they prepare services and policies to serve this population. 

Conversations in Movement: Wellspring’s RADFest showcases the beauty of modern dance

"They're movement pieces that push the boundaries of what we know about movement and the ideas of the genre. I don't think of contemporary dance as necessarily a category, but more of a way to think of how movement is explored, and explored in a contemporary way."

Many Paths to A Life Well Lived: Filmmaker Sky Bergman to speak at Western Michigan University

What does it mean to live a well-lived life? Ask your mom, your grandmother, and other important elder people in your life. That's what filmmaker Sky Bergman did. Come hear what she found in the final event of Kalamazoo's series "A Life Well Lived" on March 15.

Building businesses and community at Jerico in Kalamazoo’s Edison neighborhood

The once-crumbling 1890s brick buildings on Fulford in the Edison neighborhood have been revitalized and vow Jerico's spaces are full.  The hub for businesses and artisans has grown from its beginnings as a place to build electric scooters to one where projects are shared between those who make Jerico their business home. 

Joyful Streets, Real-World Struggles: “Happy Cities” author on the journey to transform Kalamazoo

"What I've noticed in Kalamazoo is, the city has been taking action to make some changes that in the short term some people might find uncomfortable, but in the long term are going to set the city on course for more vitality, more health, more equity, and I would say more happiness for the people who choose to live here."  

Gadson Chris Pompey
Road to Recovery: Transportation to treatment steered by peer support drivers who’ve been there

"These drivers bring a unique understanding of recovery through their own lived experiences, which helps clients feel safe, understood, and free from judgment as they take transformative steps toward recovery."  

Hands across Eleanor: An oral history of a unique downtown Kalamazoo business corner

"Set the Wayback Machine to 1977." Flipside, Mr. President's, Sarkozy's, Missias — places that might jog a few memories. A December gathering that included former business owners explored the history of this iconic corner.

Can the ‘River of Death’ be tamed? West Main residents, businesses express appetite for ‘road diet’

In Kalamazoo, street calming has helped to decrease accidents by 23 percent. Residents and business owners along West Main, a major artery to downtown, are also requesting changes to slow the hazardous flow of traffic.

Groundbreaking expected in Portage this spring for 45 single-family workforce homes

Houses for teachers, health care workers, assembly line workers, public safety officers — workforce residents — are going up in Portage this spring. Here's the plan for Stanwood Crossings. 

El Concilio celebrates new building, prepares for life under Trump, round two

Correspondent Mark Wedel recently visited El Concilio's new building to learn how much more work the organization can do for the community in the new location. But the sense that the coming years are going to be years of crisis kept intruding on the visit that included a serious discussion of what could be coming under a second Trump administration for the community El Concilio serves.

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