Access to free training boosts number of certified Early Childhood Educators in Battle Creek

“I have been looking for love for my whole life. Just somebody to unconditionally love me and the kids give me that. I can’t wait to go to work every day to see those kids.”

A tale of two cities: South Bend has been where Kalamazoo is now and the future is promising

'Quieting' downtown streets is a noisy process. Change can be unsettling. Ask any Kalamazoo resident. But South Bend, Ind. has completed the transition of urban one ways to two ways. The results are encouraging: downtown reinvestment, beautification projects, and increased community pride.

Wimee the Robot to help celebrate National Reading Month at Willard Library

“I think we’re ahead of our time. We had an earlier mindset of creating and inspiring kids to see their words become images and that’s when we built Wimee, a robot with the personality of a young kid."

Community holds vigil after shooting inside beloved Battle Creek coffee shop

Gun violence rocks a community, especially when it takes place inside a well-loved establishment. In Battle Creek on February 15, 2024, an officer was wounded and a Texas man shot dead in a police altercation in Cafe Ricá. Residents, clergy, and local leaders organized a vigil to offer healing and support. 

Head Start students at St. John's Universal Church of Christ in Jackson learn about cucumbers and dragonfruit in a lesson on mindful eating.
Pilot program in Jackson County aims to support preschoolers’ mental health through mindfulness

A new study will test whether and how mindfulness-based food-body-mind interventions can optimize young children's cognitive function and behavioral health.

Kids in Lansing's pre-K classrooms achieve academic readiness along with social-emotional skills.
Lansing School District: Free, universal pre-K well worth the effort

Lansing School District, the 14th largest school district in Michigan, operates one of the largest preschool programs in the state and offers universal pre-K.

Elizabeth Agius, WSU School of Social Work associate director of research administration, with Larry West, Peers to Higher Education project manager.
Wayne State University program helps peer support specialists pursue higher ed in mental health

The Peers to Higher Education program helps peer support specialists find funding and child care to support them in building a career in mental health.

Nursing training gives career path to those with disabilities

Certified nursing assistant training is being offered in Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor, giving people with disabilities an opportunity to earn their credentials for free.

Discover Kalamazoo to use state grant to show community’s accessibility to travelers

Kalamazoo will partner with Wheel the World and Disability Network Southwest Michigan to map at least 130 locations across the county to show potential tourists the region’s accessibility. 

New website simplifies search for accessible public transportation in Michigan

One of the barriers to accessing COVID vaccinations for the disability community has been transportation. In response, Disability Rights Michigan has unveiled an interactive guide to help users navigate the complex transportation system in the state.

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