The Village Network of Battle Creek dissolves as an organization

Editor’s note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave’s On the Ground Battle Creek series.

BATTLE CREEK, MI — A catalyst, not a destination. By design, this was the focus of The Village Network of Battle Creek (TVNBC).

“That catalyst has done its job,” says Dr. Nakita Baylis, President and CEO of TVNBC, in a press release announcing that TVNBC is formally dissolving as an organization. “This decision is not an ending, but a reflection of the success of the work we set out to do.”

The organization was established in January 2023 as a coalition-building entity that helps create and sustain networks for historically, chronically, and systemically under-invested people to achieve economic justice, Baylis said in an earlier story.

From its inception, Baylis says TVNBC has been rooted in a simple but powerful belief: lasting change comes from within the community. Together, we have worked to ensure that residents, entrepreneurs, and local leaders have a seat at the table and the resources to shape their own future.

“Because of your leadership, partnership, and trust, we have helped direct more than $1.25 million into the community, with the majority supporting BIPOC-led organizations and entrepreneurs,” Batlis says. “We’ve strengthened local institutions, supported grassroots innovation, and helped create a more inclusive ecosystem where community voices are truly centered.”

But beyond the numbers, she says, what matters most is the shift we’ve built together — a culture of participation, ownership, and possibility. “We’ve seen residents step into leadership. We’ve seen organizations grow stronger. And we’ve seen what can happen when a community is given the tools and trust to lead itself,” she says. “While this chapter is coming to a close, the momentum we’ve created is very much alive, and it belongs to the community.”