Graduating in 2007, Simon Borst was part of the second class to receive the Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship that covered up to 100 percent tuition at any Michigan public university or college for those who attended Kalamazoo Public Schools. Now Borst is among those who have returned to Kalamazoo. The artist tells their story in a graphic news form. This is the first of a two-part series.
A lively Downtown Kalamazoo walking audit highlights community-driven ideas and upcoming “Streets for All” improvements aimed at creating a safer, more welcoming, and pedestrian-friendly city center.
Kalamazoo’s shift from one-way to two-way streets reflects centuries of evolving transportation as the city reimagines a more walkable, people-centered downtown.
Downtown Kalamazoo is undergoing rapid redevelopment that promises economic growth and increased activity but raises this Voices of Youth writer’s concerns about losing historic buildings, disconnecting communities, and creating inclusive spaces.