Archive for September 2018
Leading the Dialogue on Homelessness
United Way has been working to help our community tackle an issue that’s been highly visible recently: homelessness. The visibility comes from a protest in Kalamazoo. Homeless individuals and advocates camped in a city park to promote awareness and action. That protest, which began Aug. 19, ended on Sept. 19 when police cleared the park.…
Read MoreCreating Pathways Toward Stability Through Mentoring
UNITED WE WIN by helping at-risk students improve their reading skills and prepare for their future. Students who come from households that are at or near poverty, more often than not are also struggling in school. Through your support, United Way has partnered with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Jackson County to help students and…
Read MoreWhen Poverty is Real
by Ken Toll When is poverty real? Maybe when you see that man on the street corner with a sign. Or maybe when you read a blog on our website. Or maybe when a financial crisis happens to someone you care about. Maybe, just maybe, it becomes real when it shows up in a national…
Read MoreService From The Inside
Getting close to the work of United Way and our partners is eye-opening. Guest blog by Jeremy Hermann Basic needs. It’s something that I’ve heard a lot of nonprofits talk about when discussing homelessness. We’ve seen it on posters, flyers and United Way brochures. For individuals experiencing homelessness in the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek region,…
Read More#LetsLiveUnited Unifies Campaign Kickoffs
Don’t be surprised if you see United Way everywhere you look this week. Dozens of United Ways across Michigan, including United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, have joined forces to share local successes and invite the entire state to get involved in making a difference. This week’s unified kickoff will show up…
Read MoreAdvocacy Academy is More Than a Resume Builder
A first job is a big milestone in life. For a person with a disability, it can be loaded with barriers. Advocacy Academy, an 8-week paid summer internship program through Disability Network Southwest Michigan, offers people a way to gain employment skills and minimize those barriers. They learn by planning and implementing a disability advocacy…
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