“The preschool is one of the most important and vital options at the church. It has a waiting list that continues to expand. One possible future option is that Garden of Dreams would expand to occupy more of our building or an additional childcare center could come in here.”
"We are praying to open an African restaurant, plant a garden, open a barber shop," says Pastor Johsua Kibezi, director of the African Community Kalamazoo. "Our future goal is to offer 55 jobs for refugees. I cannot give up on this work or my people will suffer. In my heart, I know I must help.”
"It won't paint itself, Love," reads a mural at Imagine Art N Lee, a fully stocked art experience and retail space at Crossroads Mall. Owner Nicole Lee, passionate about art, healing, and social justice, envisioned a nurturing, creative space welcoming to all.
Student debt, living expenses, credit card interest. Many students graduate from high school with little or no financial understanding. By 2028, all Michigan high schoolers will be required to take a financial literacy course. Ahead of the pack, Olivet High School plans to implement the requirement next year.
“One of the many things we’ve learned from other communities like this is the need to provide information, allay concerns, and create strong partnerships. There are many misperceptions about safety, security, and how the site will fit with the surrounding neighborhood. We want to address those issues.”
Guardianship is designed to protect those who can't care for themselves, but it doesn't always work that way. Advocates are pursuing a variety of solutions to improve the system.
To better serve their communities, many health departments and hospitals undertake community health needs assessments (CHNA) by surveying the people they serve.
The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan and its be nice. program will host four spring mental health events this year.
Corktown Health has evolved and grown from offering end-of-life services during the HIV/AIDS epidemic to providing primary care for the LGBTQ community. Through financial support from IFF, and through partnerships with local organizations including MiGen, the health network continues to provide a life-changing impact on the patients it serves.
Grand Rapids resident Mickey Carolan describes himself as a CODA, short for child of deaf adults. Growing up with two deaf parents gave him experiences that have inspired his three books and his work as an ally for the Deaf community.
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