Nearly a third of Michigan adults report having at least one disability.

Series to explore the state of West Michigan’s growing disability community

This article begins a weekly series that will explore the challenges faced by those with disabilities along with the efforts across West Michigan to address the discrimination and inequity.

Owner of $100m The Mill in Vicksburg re-opens beloved Southwest Michigan bakery in Vicksburg

For those who might be missing their favorite treat from MacKenzie's bakery in Kalamazoo after it closed the same recipes, smells and even some staff from the former locations on West Main and Ransom streets can now be found in Vicksburg courtesy of the folks developing The Mill there.

Jake Williams, Gleaners Community Food Bank nutrition education manager, and Bridget Brown, director for Gleaners' Food Secure Livingston program, at Shared Harvest Pantry in Howell.
SNAP-Ed inspires healthy eating in Southeast Michigan food pantries

Gleaners Community Food Bank is working to bolster nutrition security by actively sourcing a variety of fruits and vegetables for food pantries, and by providing nutrition education information for pantry guests. 

McCamly Plaza Hotel will be place to stay for guests and a place to learn for hospitality students

A $59 million investment in the complete overhaul of Battle Creek's McCamly Plaza Hotel will also pay huge dividends to area high school and college students interested in pursuing careers in the hospitality industry.

Timothy Michling, research associate in health affairs at the Citizens Research Council of Michigan and author of a report entitled "Michigan Falls Short on Mental Health Services."
How can Michigan address its dire shortage of mental health professionals?

Even as mental health issues have risen worldwide, Michigan has fallen behind on having enough health professionals to address that trend.

Temporary housing PODs have been built. Kalamazoo agency seeks a suitable site for them.

“We’ve learned that we are held to timelines beyond our control -- pandemics, supply chains, logistics, site availability, funding,” says Michelle Davis, Executive Director of Housing Resources Inc. as they work to establish a community in Kalamazoo of temporary, longer-lasting housing “pods” for those without houses. 

Kalamazoo leaders, police, anti-violence nonprofit representatives take on gun violence

Second Wave listened in as Western Michigan University's Walker Institute led discussions on the ideas put forward in "Bleeding Out"  and examines what police and community members alike can do about gun violence. 

Un enfoque holistico es clave para la salud mental y la retencion de los estudiantes

Los servicios de salud mental ya no se limitan a los centros de asesoramiento de las universidades; un enfoque holístico es la mejor práctica para atender las necesidades de los estudiantes, dicen los responsables de la WMU, el Kalamazoo College y el Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

A holistic approach is key to student mental health that can help college students stay in school

Mental health services for college students are no longer isolated to university counseling centers. A holistic approach is the best practice to address the needs of students, say officials at WMU, Kalamazoo College, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Battle Creek’s at-risk youth will have a new place to call home at Cool People’s teen center

A teen center and homeless shelter for youth who need a temporary place to stay developed through Cool People, a nonprofit founded in 2009, is in the works as part of the Washington Heights Entrepreneurial Fund initiative in Battle Creek. 

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