The stories that stayed with us: A year of Second Wave journalism
Through bikes, poetry, wetlands, old theaters, and everyday helpers, Second Wave writers and photographers revisit the stories that defined their year.
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Kalamazoo’s Holiday Lights Ride blends seasonal joy with winter street challenges
The Holiday Lights Ride brought bikes, music, and seasonal joy to downtown Kalamazoo, even as icy streets underscored the challenges of winter riding.
Wheel the World puts Kalamazoo on the map for accessible travel
Wheel the World’s accessibility audit has positioned Kalamazoo as a national leader in inclusive travel, benefiting both visitors and local residents.
The GOAT with the Nikon: Inside the unfiltered life of Fran Dwight
Fran Dwight, Second Wave photographer and newly named Community Medal of Arts award recipient, channels her introverted insecurity into a fearless, community-rooted body of work that captures Kalamazoo with honesty, empathy, and decades-deep artistry.
Suprise unveiling: Kalamazoo’s Cooney Cultivation Center at Farmer’s Market moving tribute to veteran activist
Kalamazoo honored longtime activist and commissioner Don Cooney with a surprise dedication of the new Kalamazoo Farmers' Market Cooney Cultivation Center, a community hub designed to nurture youth, connection, and local growth.
Madness, joy, and freedom: “The Colored Museum” Is a ‘love letter to Black people’
A bold collaboration between Face Off Theatre Company and the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, "The Colored Museum" revives George C. Wolfe’s sharp, satirical look at Black identity — offering both celebration and confrontation as it challenges audiences to see why its message still matters in 2025.
Garden of Dreams grows, thanks to Battle Creek coalition and legacy of beloved childcare pioneer
A public-private partnership led by Bronson Battle Creek Hospital is reviving the former Kids Campus as the Garden of Dreams Community Preschool and Child Care, set to open in 2026 to expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare in Battle Creek.
Battle Creek’s SHARE Center faces uncertain future as mental health funding shrinks
“Realistically, there’s no amount of foundation funding that’s going to make up for what we have lost and will lose,” says Robert Elchert, Executive Director of the SHARE Center. However, partnerships and pivoting have helped with the gap.
Micro home community is a big project in a small corner of Kalamazoo
Jeremy Cole has acquired 2 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to 132 W. Cork St. with plans to build a "micro" home community for homebuyers of modest means.
From tiny tappers to grown-up groovers, Battle Creek’s new Dancescape gets people movin’
Blending passion with purpose, Martina Reed’s new studio, Dancescape, brings high-energy dance classes to kids and adults in Battle Creek, creating an inclusive space where all ages can move, grow, and groove.
Kalamazoo’s Holiday Lights Ride blends seasonal joy with winter street challenges
The Holiday Lights Ride brought bikes, music, and seasonal joy to downtown Kalamazoo, even as icy streets underscored the challenges of winter riding.
Wheel the World puts Kalamazoo on the map for accessible travel
Wheel the World’s accessibility audit has positioned Kalamazoo as a national leader in inclusive travel, benefiting both visitors and local residents.
The GOAT with the Nikon: Inside the unfiltered life of Fran Dwight
Fran Dwight, Second Wave photographer and newly named Community Medal of Arts award recipient, channels her introverted insecurity into a fearless, community-rooted body of work that captures Kalamazoo with honesty, empathy, and decades-deep artistry.
Suprise unveiling: Kalamazoo’s Cooney Cultivation Center at Farmer’s Market moving tribute to veteran activist
Kalamazoo honored longtime activist and commissioner Don Cooney with a surprise dedication of the new Kalamazoo Farmers' Market Cooney Cultivation Center, a community hub designed to nurture youth, connection, and local growth.
Madness, joy, and freedom: “The Colored Museum” Is a ‘love letter to Black people’
A bold collaboration between Face Off Theatre Company and the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, "The Colored Museum" revives George C. Wolfe’s sharp, satirical look at Black identity — offering both celebration and confrontation as it challenges audiences to see why its message still matters in 2025.
Garden of Dreams grows, thanks to Battle Creek coalition and legacy of beloved childcare pioneer
A public-private partnership led by Bronson Battle Creek Hospital is reviving the former Kids Campus as the Garden of Dreams Community Preschool and Child Care, set to open in 2026 to expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare in Battle Creek.
Battle Creek’s SHARE Center faces uncertain future as mental health funding shrinks
“Realistically, there’s no amount of foundation funding that’s going to make up for what we have lost and will lose,” says Robert Elchert, Executive Director of the SHARE Center. However, partnerships and pivoting have helped with the gap.
Micro home community is a big project in a small corner of Kalamazoo
Jeremy Cole has acquired 2 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to 132 W. Cork St. with plans to build a "micro" home community for homebuyers of modest means.
From tiny tappers to grown-up groovers, Battle Creek’s new Dancescape gets people movin’
Blending passion with purpose, Martina Reed’s new studio, Dancescape, brings high-energy dance classes to kids and adults in Battle Creek, creating an inclusive space where all ages can move, grow, and groove.
