Community Development Archives – Page 5 of 56

Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation exemplifies nonprofits’ financial underpinning of economic development

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May 21, 2025

Lalonie Willhite founded Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation to make sure kids growing up in foster homes didn’t encounter struggles with self esteem that comes with foster and adoptive parents not knowing how to care for all textures of hair. The Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation also is an example of how a nonprofit contributes to economic growth right here in the community while fulfilling its core mission of giving back.

The Kalamazoo City parks that kids like the best – and least

By By Andrew Minegar

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Arts and Culture

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May 21, 2025

Studies show children who had access to parks were less likely to suffer from obesity, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Merze Tate Explorers set out to find out what to expect when visiting Kalamazoo City Parks. And they ranked their favorites.

Partner Partner Content Blueprint for school funding would ensure equitable resources in special education

By Estelle Slootmaker

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Community Development

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May 20, 2025

The MI Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint would ensure that Michigan adequately and equitably funds public special education in Michigan.

Voices of Youth: Racism is a hard lesson for young people in high school

By Kayla Ricardo

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Community Development

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May 19, 2025

This Voices of Youth story focuses on teenagers' experiences with racism in their schools, describing the casual use of slurs and stereotypes as both painful and normalized among peers trying to fit in. While some youth express hope for change, others feel racism has become more insidious and less overt.

Voices of Youth: Burnout in high school can happen, but you’re not alone

By Delilah Reynolds

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Community Development

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May 8, 2025

High school burnout goes beyond stress, driven by academic pressure and personal struggles. Support from teachers and the community can make a crucial difference.

Housing developments on Rose and Wall streets in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

Density debate: How Kalamazoo-area communities are thinking beyond single-family homes

By Julie Mack for MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette

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Arts and Culture

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May 1, 2025

Homeownership has long been an essential part of The American Dream. In the post-World War II housing boom, that often meant three- or four-bedroom homes on large lots in neighborhoods located a car drive away from commercial development. It’s time to rethink that paradigm, many say.

How this native of India has become an advocate for Kalamazoo’s unhoused

By Katie Houston, Encore Magazine

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Arts and Culture

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May 1, 2025

Now completing her first year as director of development and operations for Kalamazoo Housing Advocates, Maliha Raza seeks to help others find their home here.

AAoM NAT Conference vendors include autistic artists and entrepreneurs.

Partner Partner Content Beyond awareness, autism acceptance affirms neurodiversity and improves lives

By Estelle Slootmaker

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Community Development

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April 17, 2025

The Autism Alliance of Michigan and other advocates for autistic people are working hard to move from raising autism awareness to fostering autism acceptance.

Voices of Youth: Queer representation in media and its impacts

By Lila McCarthy

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Arts and Culture

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April 10, 2025

“When I was coming out in 2018, I felt safe to do so within my friend group partly because of the media we were consuming, which was slowly including more queer characters, and the conversation about queer actors and artists became much more public."

Housing in the time of DOGE: Where do we go from here?

By Mark Wedel

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Community Development

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April 2, 2025

There are complicated politics and attitudes aimed at efforts to provide affordable housing. In a recent public discussion, Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema detailed the projects underway and outlined the barriers to getting housing up as fast as some community members would like, including the current climate of uncertainty regarding funding.

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