The stories that stayed with us: A year of Second Wave journalism

For more than 15 years, Second Wave has been telling the stories of Southwest Michigan through a solutions-oriented lens — stories rooted in place, possibility, and the people working to strengthen our communities. This past year alone, our weekly publication brought readers more than 220 stories exploring housing, arts and culture, local businesses, the environment, transportation, youth voices on topics that matter to youth, nonprofits, and the everyday developments shaping life across the region. Each piece was reported, written, and photographed with care, guided by a belief that local journalism can illuminate challenges while also highlighting what’s working.

As we look back on the year, we’re pausing to reflect on the stories that stayed with us — the ones our writers and photographers found especially meaningful long after publication. In the reflections that follow, members of our team share the moments, people, and insights that made certain stories resonate on a deeper level, and why they mattered not just as news but as snapshots of a community in motion. Together, these selections offer a behind-the-scenes look at the work that inspires us and the reasons we continue telling Southwest Michigan’s stories, week after week. 

A strong sense of community defines Battle Creek

Second Wave covers stories of note all around Southwest Michigan, but our coverage is most often centered on Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. Jane Parikh, our On the Ground Battle Creek/Calhoun County Project Editor, has written thousands of stories since she began her Second Wave tenure over six years ago, garnering a reputation as a trusted and well-connected reporter. John Grap, our On the Ground Battle Creek Photographer, is a well-known presence in Calhoun County, having worked for many years as a photojournalist for the Battle Creek Enquirer. John and Jane both have a big heart for stories of local community impact, which shows in the reporting and images. And as it happens, John and Jane both chose this piece on a bicycle ministry as one of their most memorable. 

A simple but perfect machine: Bicycle ministry picks up speed in Battle Creek neighborhood

Jane Parikh: “This story continues to resonate with me because it is a relatively simple concept that is making a real difference in the lives of youth in one of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. The program itself is volunteer-driven, with a group of adults finding meaningful ways to connect with young people who lack positive influences in their lives. While the bicycles donated aren’t brand new, for the kids who receive them, they are.”

John also adds this piece to stories that stood out: Battle Creek’s Share Center faces uncertain future as mental health funding shrinks

John Grap: “Anytime I can spend time learning about others’ lives is meaningful to me: whether it’s adults helping kids or work that aids those without homes.”

Kalamazoo’s giving spirit fuels art and change

Al Jones, reporter extraordinaire, has been a Second Wave contributor for the past five years, and before that, a part of Kalamazoo’s fabric as a business writer and editor for the Kalamazoo Gazette (for decades). His institutional knowledge runs very deep, as do his connections. Readers can trust Al to make difficult concepts easy to understand and to get to the bottom of intriguing stories, especially related to housing, community-building, and economic development. Al chose a recent, widely-read story as his most meaningful.

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

Al Jones: “A lot of dreams die on the vine, particularly when they are dependent on many people coming together and many things going right. That was the case with the Legacy Senior Living project that was envisioned by Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kalamazoo’s Northside Neighborhood. The need for more and better housing for people age 55 and older is evident, and Mt. Zion’s position as an entity that can make things happen in the African-American community was being tested. So the groundbreaking for the 70-unit apartment project in March felt like a celebration.”

Mark Wedel, long known for covering arts, culture, and entertainment in Kalamazoo, has been writing for Second Wave for over a decade and has a loyal following. With a passion for bicycling, exploring, and justice, Mark has covered a wide range of stories as one of our lead writers for A Way Home: Housing Solutions and Curtain Call, a fly-on-the-wall series of performance reviews in Kalamazoo. When asked to mention one or two meaningful stories, Mark responded with SEVEN, which is an indication of how much he loves the work that he does.

As a Homeless Navigator works to help the unhoused, he says, ‘I just try to be a good person’

Formerly unhoused, Bill Brown now builds trust and hope with Kalamazoo’s unhoused

The Villas: Reach Sober Living expands to offer independent living for men in recovery

Mark Wedel: “Like Mister Rogers, I have to point to the helpers, people who’d gone through rough times, and are now helping others, like Brandon Mion, Bill Brown, and Chris Pompey.”

Final Chapter: Kalamazoo remembers Dean Hauck and the legacy of Michigan News

Curtain rises again: New owners aim to revive Kalamazoo’s State Theatre for second act

Mark Wedel: “There were institutions who’d passed, like Dean Hauck and Michigan News Agency, and the struggle to bring an institution back to life, the State Theatre.”

The kids are alright — but the Geezers are having more fun

Mark Wedel: “But the two that will stick with me are the Geezer Happy Hour, Kalamazoo’s oldsters dancing to the oldies at a reasonable hour. This is what our town does — we make our own fun. And. . .”

The GOAT with the Nikon: Inside the unfiltered life of Fran Dwight

Mark Wedel: “‘The GOAT with the Nikon’. I’ve never had such a positive response as I got from this story. Mainly because it’s about someone Kalamazoo loves — Fran Dwight.”

Second Wave’s lead photographer, Fran Dwight, needs no introduction to many in our community who are familiar with her iconic photographs of both people and places (and animals) that represent the heart and soul of Kalamazoo. This year, we had the great pleasure of honoring Fran by nominating her for a Community Medal of Arts Award and featuring her own story in a piece by her colleague and ‘partner in crime,’ Mark Wedel (see above). Fran’s choice illustrates what many of us in the publishing business often find — sometimes the stories that bring out the most resistance provide the most joy.

Where every goat has a name: Chubby Goat Acres gives neglected farm animals a second chance

Fran Dwight: “I was resisting driving to Three Rivers to the Chubby Goat Acres. Either the weather was bad, or other appointments were getting in the way.  On the day I finally went, I gave a shoutout to my friend Jackie Mitchell to see if she’d like to go on an adventure. She was game, free, and ready, and off we went. The farm is nondescript from the road. And walking in was a little tricky, and then the whole world opened up to the animals. So many animals. Goats, of course. But also horses, cattle, donkeys, pigs, sheep, chickens, pigeons, turkeys… 

“It was just the afternoon I needed.”

Casey Grooten, who also wears the hat of Kalamazoo Poetry Festival Executive Director, has written, artistically depicted, and photographed a wide range of stories for Second Wave, from green burials to the Trans Pool Party. Casey has a knack for finding unusual stories in out-of-the-way places. They also serve as our Voices of Youth Lead Artist Mentor.

Shining an iridescent light on LGBTQIA+ healthcare: Cares of Kalamazoo opens new clinic

Casey Grooten: “I moved into Kalamazoo at the age of 19, and the first organization I became involved with was OutFront Kalamazoo. It is really amazing to see all the progress they have made through the years. It is also very illuminating to realize how much more they could do if they had wider support from the community and, more so, the federal government.”

Not only is Taylor Scamehorn a talented photographer, but she is also a gifted artist. Her prints for our series Sacred Earth earned the respect and admiration of many. She has also illustrated and photographed many other Second Wave stories, including for our housing series and for Poet’s Press, the project she chose as her most meaningful.

Taylor Scamehorn: “The chance to work with the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival and make artwork for our piece featuring Markeva Love’s poem was my most recent project with Second Wave, and the most impactful to me personally. Having the chance to meet Markeva and talk about our childhoods in and around the Northside of Kalamazoo, and dive into how childhood has changed in our lifetimes, was really meaningful. We got to share how our history in Kalamazoo shaped us and how we want to be as the “new adults” in this town, and how we want it to be for children today. It was beautiful capturing that moment in time with her, and having the opportunity to put out that article made it possible.”

With such a varied group of writers and photographers, we’re grateful at Second Wave to be both the space where some writers start their freelancing career, and where others share their lifetime of experience with our readers. Writer Mike Wenninger is no stranger to journalism. He comes to us with a long newspaper career and then as an editor and owner of a weekly paper in a small town for 16 years. Mike has a heart for the arts, the environment and wildlife, and for any story that highlights the meaningful contributions people and institutions are making to our community. Mike chose his piece with photographer Fran Dwight (which she also chose — see above) and this special story.

Answering the cry: A Kalamazoo rehabilitator’s journey of love, loss, and saving wildlife

Mike Wenninger: “This year, I wrote two stories that greatly impressed me. One was about Celine Saillant, who rehabilitates wild animals that become helpless. The other was about a large sanctuary for farm animals that have been abused or abandoned. It is operated by Chris and Dave Kreutz and Jeanne Carter. All these people sacrifice time, money, and social life to care for needy creatures that share our world. It’s a blessing to know there are such loving people.”

Finally, Sam Kapp reached out two years ago with an idea to cover local nature preserves, including their history and unique topography. As a recent graduate of Michigan Technological Institute, Sam brought an expertise as a naturalist with a passion for ecological history that made this series, Trail Tales, special. It’s no surprise that he chose this piece as last year’s most meaningful.

Rare interdunal wetlands under threat from development, climate change in Michigan

Sam Kapp: “This story really stayed with me because it illuminated a local natural feature that most people have never heard of, yet it’s one so vital to Michigan’s ecological tapestry. Learning about interdunal wetlands— their fragility and dazzling diversity— reminded me how important it is to discuss underappreciated ecosystems. Dr. Schriever’s talk underscored the power of sharing science with the public, with awareness being the first step toward protection.”

At Second Wave, we love to cultivate and encourage new talent. Maya James, our social practice writer and artist, is multi-talented — as a writer, artist, and photographer with a passion for incorporating artistic expression into social justice. From her early days as a youth correspondent to her recent accolades, including the Vanguard Award in ArtPrize 2023, Maya’s journey is a unique testament to the power of art for social change.

The future is Zerø-proof: Inside Kalamazoo’s first non-alcoholic bar

Maya says she loved that she “could support a small business and help the community join in healthier third spaces.”

Poet’s Press: ‘My Church Poem 2025’ by Buddy Hannah

She also says she loved working with local poet (and former radio show personality) Buddy Hannah on an installment of Poet’s Prize.

The Second Wave Team is looking forward to bringing you many more meaningful stories in 2026 as we increase our focus on entrepreneurs, small businesses, transportation, housing, arts & culture, community development, nonprofits, senior living, Voices of Youth, voices from our faith leaders, and all the ways that make our communities vibrant and unique. Thank you for being our valued readers! As always, we’d love to hear from you about stories that you think need to be covered. We welcome your ideas and feedback at contact@secondwavemedia.com.

Wishing you an abundant and glorious 2026!