Fran Dwight

Features

Feature Story Village Network Equity

Village Network leads work to create a Black Wall Street in Battle Creek

Jane ParikhThursday, April 3, 2025
Plans for launching a Black Wall Street movement in Battle Creek will include a Black-owned business directory and two new websites with a mission to create "collective independence."
Feature Story A Way Home Housing in the time of DOGE Community Development

Housing in the time of DOGE: Where do we go from here?

Mark WedelWednesday, April 2, 2025
There are complicated politics and attitudes aimed at efforts to provide affordable housing. In a recent public discussion, Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema detailed the projects underway and outlined the barriers to getting housing up as fast as some community members would like, including the current climate of uncertainty regarding funding.
Feature Story On the Ground Battle Creek Pride Equity

Battle Creek Pride hosts informational workshop in wake of efforts to overturn same-sex marriage

Jane ParikhWednesday, April 2, 2025
"I want to prepare people for these possible outcomes while keeping them present, focused, and together in community. There are so many moles to whack in this horrible game we’re playing.”
Feature Story Trans Day of Visibility Arts and Culture

Trans folx celebrate Trans Day of Visibility by sharing their artwork in Kalamazoo

Maya JamesTuesday, April 1, 2025
To honor Transgender Day of Visibility, OutFront Kalamazoo hosted a Trans Gallery for the Art Hop in March. Social Practice Artist Maya James spoke with several artists whose work has many intersections — from cover crops to animation.
Feature Story Kalamazoo Promise Kids and Education

The Kalamazoo Promise keeping its generous promise and more for 20 years

Al JonesThursday, March 27, 2025
Still going strong after two decades, the Kalamazoo Promise has grown and pivoted to adjust to current trends and needs. "We started to realize that every student's story is unique." 
Feature Story GVSU Innovation Hub Community Development

Groundbreaking Innovation Hub in Battle Creek creates abundant opportunity downtown

Jane ParikhThursday, March 27, 2025
"All of this will help to build a downtown where people want to live, where businesses want to relocate and grow, and where stores want to open, all of which is essential for the future success of Battle Creek.” 
Longform Time to Wing It Entrepreneurship

Time to Wing It: Battle Creek Biggby owner excited to launch community-oriented wing restaurant

Jane ParikhThursday, March 27, 2025
Battle Creek Biggby owner is winging it with a new wings restaurant on Michigan Avenue West — by putting customer service and community first.
Feature Story KINSHIP Safe Communities

KINSHIP: Honoring victims of crime and their families while providing resources to the community

Jane ParikhThursday, March 27, 2025
To honor National Crime Victim Rights Week, the Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office is hosting a resource fair on April 7 at First Congregational Church in Battle Creek.
Longform A Way Home Mt. Zion Legacy Senior Living

Persistence and prayer make senior housing a reality in Kalamazoo's Northside Neighborhood

Al JonesThursday, March 27, 2025
Legacy Senior Living, a 70-unit affordable apartment complex for people age 55 or older is expected to be completed in the next 17 to 18 months. More than 200 people attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church's groundbreaking for the of two, three-story buildings.
Feature Story Marshall Food Distribution Healthy Communities

Voices of Youth: Marshall's Fresh Food Distribution feeding the community

Sophia PellThursday, March 27, 2025
"This is a judgment-free opportunity to receive fresh food. They don’t need to be a member of our church, or any church. They don’t need to meet any income requirements or qualifications. They simply need to want food.”
Longform SWMi Journalism Collaboratie Neighborhood Inc Community Development

Neighborhood Inc. helps the unhoused find shelter in Battle Creek and St. Joseph counties

Jane ParikhWednesday, March 26, 2025
People are falling behind in their rent and Neighborhood Inc. of Battle Creek is helping them stay housed. About 100 individuals and families in Calhoun County and St. Joseph County that seek assistance from NIBC each month to move from being unhoused into stable housing situations.
Longform SWMi Journalism Collaborative shelter diversion' pilot progra Community Development

In Michigan, a new push to fight homelessness before it begins

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Advocates say Michigan’s $4 million 'shelter diversion' pilot program is keeping people off the streets by helping pay for rent, utilities, transportation and more. Is it time to take it statewide?
Longform A Way Home Point in Time Count Community Development

Counting the unhoused in Kalamazoo County to learn more about local needs

Mark WedelTuesday, March 25, 2025
On a bitterly cold night in January, volunteers spread out across Kalamazoo County to see how many unhoused people they could find. It's part of what the federal government calls the Point in Time count, and it gives communities information as they prepare services and policies to serve this population. 
Longform Maribeth Leonard Healthy Communities

Countywide mental health millages have remarkable results

Monique BedfordTuesday, March 25, 2025
Jackson, Hillsdale, Ottawa, and Washtenaw counties passed mental health millages and seen positive impacts such as expanded access to care to their residents, increased service capacity, improved crisis response, and more.
Feature Story RADFest Arts and Culture

Conversations in Movement: Wellspring's RADFest showcases the beauty of modern dance

Mark WedelThursday, March 13, 2025
"They're movement pieces that push the boundaries of what we know about movement and the ideas of the genre. I don't think of contemporary dance as necessarily a category, but more of a way to think of how movement is explored, and explored in a contemporary way."
Longform Phenomenal Woman Battle Creek Arts and Culture

Phenomenal Woman: Bringing historical women's stories to life in Battle Creek

Jane ParikhThursday, March 13, 2025
To honor Women's History Month, reenactments of historical Battle Creek women will take place on March 22. “We’ll speak in first person like them and from there look at what made each woman so unique. Her style, inner beauty and her essence will be brought back to life in our readings." 
Feature Story The Cinderella Project Community Development

Real-Life Fairy Godmothers: Kalamazoo prom dress giveaway event for high schoolers in need

Juliette BournayThursday, March 13, 2025
The Cinderella Project, sponsored by Memories Bridal and Evening Wear, offers high school students the chance to feel like a princess, replete with a fairy godmother to assist in their choice of a gown. This year's prom dress giveaway takes place March 28.
Feature Story Torti Taco Entrepreneurship

Torti Taco closes its downtown Battle Creek location while owner looks for what’s next

Jane ParikhThursday, March 13, 2025
“We have a lot of loyal customers and this was their favorite restaurant, but they don’t come here every week... I think downtown Battle Creek has the potential to be great. We need more businesses and things to bring people downtown."
Feature Story LifeWays staff Healthy Communities

Community mental health delivers care to Michigan's schools

Brianna NargisoTuesday, March 11, 2025
Michigan's CMHs play a critical role in schools, providing counseling, crisis intervention, and case management to students who might otherwise slip through the cracks.  
Feature Story Pre-Approved Housig plans SWMI Journlism Collab Community Development

Kalamazoo embraces preapproved plans, zoning reform to turn vacant lots into homes

Julie RiddleTuesday, March 11, 2025
Several national housing-related organizations have applauded Kalamazoo’s preapproved housing program. The National Association of Home Builders highlighted the city’s approach to filling lots in a report about preapproved housing. Here's a look at how the program is going.   
Load More Stories

Battle Creek

Kellogg Community College launches new Associate of Music degree

Kellogg Community College is growing its music program as it launches an Associate of Fine Arts in Music degree in Fall 2025. For the full story, click here. For more stories, please visit here.
 

Kalamazoo

Joyful Streets, Real-world Struggles: "Happy Cities" author on the journey to transform Kalamazoo 

"What I've noticed in Kalamazoo is, that the city has been taking action to make some changes that in the short term some people might find uncomfortable, but in the long term are going to set the city on course for more vitality, more health, more equity, and I would say more happiness for the people who choose to live here."  Read the full story here. Read more stories here.
 

Recommended Content

Sponsored By
Regions
Focus Areas
Copyright © Issue Media Group. All rights reserved.