Fulfilling dreams takes work and patience. Ask Derek Jeter, baseball Hall of Famer and Kalamazoo Central High School graduate. He worked hard to become a shortstop for the Yankees — and to give his alma mater top-tier baseball and softball fields. For the Kalamazoo community, the fields are also a dream come true.
“There are a lot of free Thanksgiving dinners that happen throughout Calhoun County and this one is a family-friendly, fun event and it’s completely free to the public," says Chris Fulbright, meal coordinator and 'executive chef.' "We just want people to come in and enjoy their food and each other's company.”
It's been a while, but now Habitat for Humanity is working in Portage to put up houses as the county works to improve the affordable housing situation.
Dignity in Motion was formed when Judy Lowery realized that people who are unhoused not only need shelter, they need transportation. Its waiting list is now at 27 people requesting bikes. The demand is year-round — last winter, they gave away about 30 bikes.
Philanthropy doesn't mean you have to have a lot of money, says Dr. Grace Lubwama, new CEO and President of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Every person can leave a legacy. "But if you have a heart of charity, and care about this community, and want to see this community thrive," she says, "the community foundation is your partner on that journey."
While Kalamazoo's gun assaults are down, gun deaths, especially among youth, have risen. The Kalamazoo Community Foundation, in partnership with the City and many others, is launching Blueprint for Peace, a program that addresses systemic factors that drive gun violence to create a framework for prevention, intervention, and healing.
Since 2019 there have been 20 homes built and another six are under construction through the work of the Kalamazoo Attainable Homes Partnership. It brings together are homebuilders and funders including the Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence.
A Kalamazoo hairstylist whose early childhood was spent in foster care remembers being bullied for her matted hair. She's launched Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation to change that — especially for youth who live in mixed-race homes where ways of caring for BIPOC hair may be new.
Jill Anderson is the new Rotary Club of Battle Creek President, a post her father once held. “It’s a very different club than it used to be," says Anderson. "There’s that whole notion that Rotary is male, pale, and stale, but it’s really changing."
Eggs, bacon, pancakes, and companionship. When free breakfast is served at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Battle Creek during the summer, people come for more than just the food. Those who work or volunteer there, like Kitchen Manager Roy Hllman, do it for joy.
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