Community Consultants Play Key Role in Addressing Homelessness

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KALAMAZOO – In a recent Second Wave Media article, “Confronting racism’s impact on affordable housing access in Kalamazoo,” the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care (CoC) program was highlighted for its role in addressing homelessness, as well as its efforts to gain critical engagement and feedback from members of the community who have experience in being…

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Volunteer Fair Coming Sept. 21 to MSU

Figures at left depict people volunteering, with text at right tht says: Volunteer Fair, Sept. 21, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

United Way to Host Event at MSU Aiding Local Nonprofits LANSING – United Way of South Central Michigan will help local nonprofits recruit volunteers to serve their community through a Volunteer Fair at Michigan State University. The event takes place on Saturday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Michigan State University’s Student Services Building, 556…

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Day 21: Resources

Thank you for participating in the 21-Day Disability Equity Challenge. We hope that the information we have shared over the past month has helped you to see disability through a lens of equity, social justice, and pride. We know that this has been a lot of information, and we hope some of it has introduced…

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United Way Drives $23.6 Million in Impact

Pie chart detailing dollar amounts spent in certain categories.

BATTLE CREEK/JACKSON/KALAMAZOO/LANSING, Michigan – United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) announced that local support and outside grants in 2023-24 totaled more than $23.6 million to drive efforts addressing financial hardship and basic needs among households across six counties. UWSCMI also said it began the next round of local allocations — unrestricted dollars from United…

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Day 21: Taking Action

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Day 21: Taking Action Congratulations on completing the 21-Day Equity Challenge! We are thankful that you are on this journey and made time to learn and reflect. We know these topics and the feelings they evoke are complex. We encourage you to channel your hopefulness, frustration, joy, love, and whatever else you may be feeling…

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Day 20: Equity Tools and Making Change

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Day 20: Equity Tools and Making Change Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) tools are essential resources for organizations and individuals. These tools include a wide range of strategies and practices designed to promote equity with consideration to multiple identities and how they interact with one another. One effective DEI tool is conducting regular assessments or…

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Day 19: Workplace Considerations

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Day 19: Workplace Considerations Over the past three weeks, you’ve learned how discrimination impacts income, housing, healthcare, education, and other factors that make a huge difference in our lives. Employment, access to a thriving wage, and wealth-building are critical for leveling the playing field.  There are social, ethical, and moral reasons to engage in justice…

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Day 18: Creating inclusive spaces – allyship

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Day 18: Creating inclusive spaces – allyship What does it mean to be an ally? An ally is someone who does not belong to an oppressed group but works to actively advocate with and for that group. To do this well, allies work to understand what it feels like for another person or group to…

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Day 17: Showing up as your whole self

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Day 17: Showing up as your whole self For many people holding oppressed identities, navigating spaces requires a careful calculation of how much of themselves to show. Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) often engage in a practice called code-switching, adapting their speech and behaviors to their environment. This is something many of us…

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