Page 290 – Second Wave

OutFront’s Faith Alliance: An allyship sailing in Kalamazoo for 15 years

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March 16, 2023

As part of our series, Faith in Action, sponsored by the Fetzer Institute, Southwest Michigan Second Wave speaks with local religious leaders and OutFront Program Manager Dell Darnell about the 15-year-old Faith Alliance, a group comprised of 14 local religious leaders devoted to allyship. Faith Alliance is currently focused on OutFront's upcoming celebration, Trans Day of Visibility, and Host Homes, a volunteer-based housing program for LGBTQ+ youth aged 13 to 18.

Kalamazoo Earth Day 2023 Festival on the horizon

By Al Jones

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General

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March 16, 2023

What better way to celebrate spring than planting flowers and trees with your neighbors? The first truly post-pandemic Kalamazoo Earth Day may be the biggest yet. In a move to bring together the environmental and beautification efforts of three Kalamazoo neighborhood (Vine, Edison, and Oakwood), the Kalamazoo Earth Day Festival takes place April 22, 2023.

Battle Creek Pulse receives childcare investment grant

By Jane Parikh

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General

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March 16, 2023

In Michigan, the average pay for a Child Care Worker is $30,047 a year and $14 an hour and the average salary range for a Child Care Worker is between $23,406 and $34,343. “Childcare itself is not a money-making venture. Many of our childcare providers live in poverty and often without benefits,” says Kathy Szenda Wilson, co-director of Battle Creek's Pulse, which will use the grant money to help support childcare providers.

Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, founder of the Women-Inspired Neighborhood Network: Detroit.

Detroit initiatives combat high Black infant mortality rate with dignity and compassion

By Brooke Marshall

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Health

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March 16, 2023

Black infant mortality rates in Michigan are consistently two and sometimes even three times higher than in white communities.

Kalamazoo Kinetics: Senior synchro-skaters glide in formation all the way to nationals

By Andy Robins

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General

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March 16, 2023

Falling in line is both an art and an avoidance for these 25-54-year-old synchronized figure skaters from Kalamazoo. Their passion has propelled them to pursue adult synchronized skating at a competitive level as part of the Kinetic Masters Team, which recently placed an impressive tenth in the 2023 U.S. Synchronized Skating Competition this March.

The Greater Flint Health Coalition’s work in gardens grew out of its SNAP-Ed direct education programming like Fresh Conversations and Rec-Connect™, pictured here at Burton Senior Activity Center.

Partner Partner Content Gardens growing change in Flint

By Estelle Slootmaker

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General

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March 15, 2023

The Greater Flint Health Coalition delivers nutrition and physical activity education with SNAP-Ed direct education programming to residents, including senior citizens, across Flint and Genesee County.

Community mental health offers BIPOC youth hope through mental health supports

By Sarah Spohn

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Health

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March 14, 2023

MI Mental Health spoke with Genesee Health System Director of Strategic Initiatives Angela Tyler on the importance of providing resources and services to BIPOC youth in Flint and throughout Genesee County.

Whatzit at the Dormouse Theatre? Kalamazoo’s own Darcy Wilkin and her talented musical guests

By Mark Wedel

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General

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March 9, 2023

Patsy Cline, the Muppets, Hamilton, the Spice Girls: You never know what might come up during the Darcy Wilkin Whatzit Hour at Edison's Dormouse Theatre, but you can count on bluegrass, folk, and a host who "Keep(s) on the Sunny Side," even if some tunes move a few to tears.

Southwest Michigan’s North Country Trail offers local access to a national treasure

By Jane Parikh

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General

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March 9, 2023

Did you know that Southwest Michigan hosts 114 miles of an eight-state national scenic trail? The North Country Trail, managed by the local Chief Noonday Chapter, is a quiet, local treasure. On 10 a.m. March 11, the Chapter is inviting visitors on a four-mile guided hike. Hikers will meet at Ned’s Deli on Gull Lake located at 15450 M-43.

Come as you are: What that means to this nonbinary writer and artist

By Casey Grooten

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General

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March 9, 2023

In a personal essay and through their artwork, Second Wave's Casey Grooten explores what it means to them to be a nonbinary person as they prepare to attend a Trans Pool Party. The pool party, hosted by OutFront Kalamazoo, invited transgender and gender nonconforming people who are 18 or over to come and swim in whatever attire felt most comfortable in a space free of judgment. OutFront's Faith Alliance is hosting a Trans Day of Visibility on March 18, 2023.