With its hilly views, plentiful old trees, gabled houses, and deep yards, Kalamazoo’s Eastside is a quiet, steady neighborhood that is home to single folks, families, some who represent generations of Eastside living. Over the past few years, the neighborhood of nearly 3,000 has expanded its housing options, improved its two parks, and launched a group of engaged neighbors, business owners, governmental officials and nonprofit leaders called Eastside Networking (ENet) who are working together to improve the Eastside. Eastside is the third neighborhood being covered in the “On the Ground" series which amplifies the voices of residents in Kalamazoo neighborhoods. Over four months, Second Wave journalists will be embedded in the Eastside Neighborhood to explore topics of importance to residents, business owners, and other members of the community. The On the Ground program is made possible by funding from the City of Kalamazoo, LISC, the Fetzer Institute, the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, Michigan WORKS!, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.
A photograph captures a moment in time — but for a photographer, there's usually so much more to the story. Check out some of Fran Dwight's favorite 2023 photos. She shares a few thoughts about how she connected with the moment the shutter clicked.
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.
Construction work is progressing on six condominium units and 1,800 square feet of commercial space at 1601 E. Main St., spearheaded by the Kalamazoo County Land Bank to help the Eastside Neighborhood develop affordable, mixed-income housing, and more space for new businesses.
National Night Out is a Kalamazoo summer tradition, a chance to connect with neighbors, police, and resources. People "need to see the fun and silly, interactive side of law enforcement," says Community Service Officer Dajanick Barlow. "We do a lot of good things in the community." Check out these great photos!
A doorbell camera initiative in Kalamazoo's core neighborhoods will benefit 200 households. The program is being funded by the City of Kalamazoo and administered by Building Blocks of Kalamazoo.
The former detailing shop can accommodate Patrick Hershberger's and Chad Burke's respective businesses with room for paint storage and studio space, maybe a gallery space to show his work; it also has high ceilings for multiple shelves of bikes, and areas for bike mechanics, painting, and bodywork.
Pamphlets, fliers, business cards, and lots of information about community projects, city services, educational opportunities, job opportunities, civic affairs, and human services was available Tuesday in Kalamazoo’s core neighborhoods.
Resident associations in the Northside Neighborhood, Eastside Neighborhood, Vine and Edison neighborhoods will bring people together on Aug. 2, by hosting free, casual, family-friendly activities.
The president of the Milwood Neighborhood Watch Association has died. The Executive Director of the Edison Neighborhood Association will retire this month. Two other core neighborhoods have executive directors who are planning their exits when major projects are finished. How will this transfer of leadership affect Kalamazoo's neighborhoods?
Despite the quarantining and social distancing Kzoo Makers has continued to attract creative builders, engineers, artists, and crafters and has even been a home for growing businesses.
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