Kellanova Volunteers Feed Battle Creek Kids, Community Spirit

BATTLE CREEK – When it comes to community caring, Kellanova employees lead by example. About 20 Kellanova employees from Battle Creek volunteered at the South Michigan Food Bank on April 4, packing more than 1,300 food packages in less than two hours. The packages will be shared with students at Battle Creek Public Schools who…

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RFPs Released for Kalamazoo County

Blue background with white lettering that reads RFP: Request for Proposal

KALAMAZOO – United Way of South Central Michigan has released two Requests for Proposals for American Rescue Plan grant funding in two areas: Violence Intervention and Community Health Worker Training. Eligible organizations may apply now online. The deadline for both grant applications is May 3 at noon. Learn more about eligibility criteria, activities and timeline…

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Alyssa Stewart Reflects On UW Career

Alyssa Stewart sits in a chair and smiles.

After a decade as a driving force in United Way’s work, Alyssa Stewart is moving on to a new challenge – but she is still a United Way champion. Stewart, who has been UWSCMI’s Executive Impact Officer, is joining the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, where she will direct impact activities, grantmaking and scholarships. It’s a role…

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Take the LGBTQIA+ Equity Challenge

The text 21-Day LGBTQIA+ Challenge, on a pride flag backdrop.

United Way of South Central Michigan is partnering with OutFront Kalamazoo to offer a 21-Day LGBTQIA+ Equity Challenge as an opportunity for our communities to learn, come together and break down the systems and biases that keep many people from living a flourishing, equitable life. You will receive one email a day throughout the month…

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RFP: Community Violence Intervention Grants

Text on banner reads: RFP, Community Violence Intervention Grants

KALAMAZOO – United Way of South Central Michigan is now accepting applications for Phase 2 of the Community Violence Intervention grant process.  Kalamazoo city commissioners approved the allocation from Community Violence Prevention ARPA State and Local Fiscal Relief funds earlier this month. Programs operated by 501c(3) organizations that align with city priorities are eligible to…

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How Gun Violence Affects The Whole Community

Jen Heymoss, VP for Initiatives & Public Policy at Kalamazoo Community Foundation, discusses the Blueprint For Peace during an interview with NowKalamazoo.

KALAMAZOO — Many people think gun violence is something that happens “elsewhere” — some other community, some other school, some other neighborhood. So they pay it little mind, convinced it doesn’t affect them. That view can keep gun violence from being a widely shared priority. It’s also completely wrong. “Gun violence costs all of us,”…

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ALICE: 39,433 Kalamazoo County Households Fall Below ALICE Threshold

Man stands in the rain with a yellow umbrella. Text reads: ALICE in the Crosscurrents: Covid and Financial Hardship in Michigan: Kalamazoo County.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY – The United Way network and research partner United for ALICE released its latest report in April, giving us our first look at ALICE data since the COVID-19 pandemic began. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than…

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ALICE: Calhoun County sees 6% rise in struggling households

Man stands in the rain with a yellow umbrella. Text reads: ALICE in the Crosscurrents: Covid and Financial Hardship in Michigan: Calhoun County.

CALHOUN COUNTY – The United Way network and research partner United for ALICE released its latest report in April, giving us our first look at ALICE data since the COVID-19 pandemic began. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than…

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ALICE Speaks: Personal Stories Mark Report Rollout

LANSING – A news conference spotlighting financial hardship in Michigan included powerful stories of life for families that have experienced that hardship. The April 26 news conference, spearheaded by the Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW), shared the latest findings on ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE households are those with…

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