Author to keynote West Michigan Disability Awareness Day celebration
Author and advocate Jocelyn Dettloff will speak about disability and mental health, the theme of the Disability Awareness Day event on March 22.
What’s behind the big red doors? Sanctuary in the city
Kalamazoo's First Presbyterian Church borders Bronson Park and its weekly Red Door Dinners provide homecooked meals and hospitality for the unhoused and others in need. “Our congregation seeks to live faith as a sanctuary in the city, with the city, for the city, and others far beyond." This story is part of our Faith in Action series, sponsored by the Fetzer Institute.
What is a social practice artist? Kalamazoo’s Maya James, a movement pioneer, explains
Meet Southwest Michigan Second Wave's newest writer and artist, Maya James, Art Prize Vanguard winner and trailblazer who has been following her own unique path only to discover there is a name for what she does — social practice art. And she may well be a 'mother of a movement' that she invites you to join.
Community Centers in Battle Creek awarded $1.5 million in State funding
Three community centers in Battle Creek were awarded over $1.5 million of State funding to "ensure that more than 100,000 Michiganders already living in poverty have access to better food and living conditions, transportation, and childcare opportunities."
April showers bring rain barrels to catch them in Battle Creek
Saving April showers for drier months is easy with a rain barrel, which both helps conserve water and capture storm runoff. In April, the City of Battle Creek is selling rain barrels and composting containers to help reduce environmental impact.
Housing Matters Kalamazoo: Learning, dialogue, relationships based on affordable housing solutions
The people behind Housing Matters are volunteers. Together with local officials and area agencies, they are looking for what's next in terms of getting and keeping people housed in Kalamazoo County.
Voices of Youth: After-school forensics program builds community and confidence
After-school activities like forensics offer students ways to express themselves that are part debate, part performance art. Voices of Youth Sophia Pell takes a look at how Olivet High School's forensics and theater programs help students increase confidence and connect with youth throughout the state.
West Bloomfield synagogue will train Jewish leaders on providing behavioral health support
A new initiative at The Shul seeks to provide more tools for Jewish community leaders to better offer behavioral health support to their community.
PreK for All a good way to disrupt the preschool-to-prison pipeline
Good preschool programs yield tremendous social and economic advantages such as higher high school graduation rates and reduced chances of criminal behavior.
Recent Michigan housing legislation incentivizes more housing developments
As part of the Make it in Michigan Strategy, the state of Michigan has new finance tools and opportunities to convert vacant land into housing via the Transformational Brownfield Fund and tax increment funding. The State Land Bank Authority and Michigan Community Capital are working with state, local, and federal organizations to develop attainable workforce housing in their communities.
