Through joyful play of Sibshops, youngsters find new ways to relate to siblings with disabilities
Sibshops give kids who have siblings living with disabilities the opportunity to connect, share their experiences, ask questions, and offer advice.
Battle Creek’s Women’s Life Recovery Program is for all women
Battle Creek's Women's Life Recovery Program, housed in the beautiful historic Andrus House, has successfully supported women in recovery for almost 70 years. Andrus House welcomes women from all walks of life, race, ethnicity, and age (over 18), including mothers with their children. Program Manager Gloria Givhan is implementing an aggressive marketing campaign to invite BIPOC women seeking support with addiction recovery to apply for this transformational program.
Valhalla: Kalamazoo meadery with all the Viking feels
Is trying mead on your bucket list? The world's oldest known alcoholic beverage (not a beer, not a wine) made with honey and yeast is available at Kalamzoo meadery Valhalla, a BYOF, open hall with all the Viking feels – longtables, Runes, and Valkyries serving flights of artisan mead. When you visit Valhalla, Hunter Dodge, CEO of Norse Nector Meadery, says "time stands still." Just ask Second Wave's Mark Wedel.
Kalamazoo Lyceum panelists promote ‘DIY Culture’ if you want something you can’t find
The second Kalamazoo Lyceum focused on the city's culture and whether our community has a shared story. Panelists Kama Tai Mitchell of Rootead, Daniel May of Dabney & Co., and Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert of Sounds of the Zoo, spoke about what culture means to them in Kalamazoo where they all agree race has divided a sense of a common story. "Culture is safety," says May. "It's being able to be yourself."
Kalamazoo’s historic Stuart Neighborhood has a new plan for progress and preservation
As the City of Kalamazoo begins its historic conversion of downtown streets from one-way to two-way, the Stuart Historic Neighborhood has submitted its neighborhood plan to work closely with the city and for the neighborhood's own placemaking and wellbeing. As part of Imagine Kalamazoo 2025, Stuart is the eighth of the City's 22 neighborhoods to submit its plan, which will be reviewed by the Kalamazoo Planning Commission on May 4.
Lakeview Middle School student spells her way into National Spelling Bee
The odds of making it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee are the same "as being struck twice by lightning in your lifetime," says Barb Galonsky, who runs the Lakeview Public Schools Spelling Club which has sent an impressive four students to the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2016. Jane Parikh looks into Lakeview's spelling success and interviews this year's national contender, eighth-grader Emily Demlow.
Michigan’s new Medicaid coverage for birth doulas brings benefits and new challenges
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has been bolstering support for Michigan doulas through its Doula Initiative.
Carter Kits help first responders take better care of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder
North Country Community Mental Health and Northern Lakes Community Mental Health provide Carter Kits to first responders. The kits contain sensory items that help distract children with Autism Spectrum Disorder from the stress of being involved in an emergency situation.
Building relationships is at the heart of great design
Skot Welch, Julia Swenson and Carl Dunker are three designers who live and work in West Michigan. They share the ways they work to create a community where people belong.
How life is better in West Michigan for those designing our world
Sarah Crookston, Mimi Ray and David Allan are all leaders in design. While they could work anywhere in the world, they discuss why they choose to live and work in West Michigan.
