Voices of Youth: Meet the man helping to make Kalamazoo a more sustainable city

The City of Kalamazoo aims to be 'net zero' by 2050. Kalamazoo's Sustainability Planner Justin Gish plans to help the city get there. VOY's Dmitri Agdanowski sits down with Gish to find out more.

Ariane Donnelly, Anne Davis, and Tanya Andrews at the Prescription for Health booth at the Pittsfield Township Farmers Market. Prescription for Health is Washtenaw County's produce prescription program.
Prescriptions for fresh produce grow in Michigan through collaboration and new funding

Efforts are underway to better coordinate efforts between produce prescription programs and to create more standardized funding mechanisms for them.

West Michigan events celebrate 34th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act

The  Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice 2024 will stop in Muskegon and Kalamazoo to celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Opioid health homes address physical, emotional, and social barriers to recovery.
Opioid health homes remove barriers to recovery

Opioid health homes provide a central point of contact where people living with opioid use disorder work with an interdisciplinary provider team to develop an individualized recovery care plan.

King's Kid Christian Daycare staff members Adrian Robinson, left, Lolita Granger, center and Tamara Jones laugh Wednesday, July 17, 2024, as they play with toys in one of the classrooms in the Detroit child care center.
MiLEAP fund provides essential equipment, upgrades for child care facilities

Quality child care is necessary, but not always available or affordable. The MiLEAP Caring for MI Future: Facilities Improvement Fund has launched a $59 million fund to provide new and expanding home-based and center-based facilities across the state.   

The Earth asks us to change: Author calls on us to adopt ‘two-eyed seeing’ of science and kinship

"How is it we show Mother Earth that we care so much for her?... We need a transformation toward kinship, that's the living world. I hope you give it a try."

Battle Creek voices shape Children’s Defense Fund agenda in 2024 election year

“We really want to make sure that the public policy advocacy we’re doing was grounded in the experiences of families we serve all across the country."

Pride Festival in Battle Creek maintains a focus on being family-friendly and welcoming to all

As BC Pride begins celebrations, organizers, allies, and advocates are excited to celebrate. "We are your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. We contribute to our community in many positive and impactful ways and we are here to stay.”

Voices of Youth: Is face-to-face communication a ‘dying art’?

“There are times when students would rather listen to the Bible in Chinese and Mozart at two times speed than listen to their teacher." Cell phones have become the 'third person' in the room of any in-person conversation. What are the impacts?

To build a bridge: Kalamazoo Chinese Academy nurtures cultural roots and fosters new speakers

In its 52nd year, the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy serves more than 50 area families, teaching language, performing arts, and traditional dance to both Chinese and non-heritage learners.

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