BC/Kzoo
Behind The Scenes: Our History of Dreaming & Doing
If anyone knew about dealing with tough times, it was Frances Wisebart Jacobs. By 1887, the 44-year-old Jacobs and her husband, Abraham, had lost a young son, suffered major fires at their two clothing stores, and saw one store go out of business. Yet Jacobs looked beyond her own difficulties to her fellow Denver residents…
Read MorePartnership Expands Small-Business Support in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo small businesses can benefit from loans and grants through a three-year partnership between the City of Kalamazoo and United Way BCKR that builds on a successful pandemic-related effort. The new agreement, approved by the Kalamazoo City Commission on March 1, does two things. One, it expands the Kalamazoo Small Business Loan Fund (KSBLF), which…
Read MoreWhy United Way Matters
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series called Behind the Scenes, designed to give readers an inside look at what we do, and why. Giving to a good cause is easier than ever these days–click on a GoFundMe link, buy something through Amazon Smile, round up your next fast-food purchase. Those things aren’t…
Read MoreStatement on Southwest Michigan First’s CEO Search
United Way firmly believes that an equitable community, diverse and inclusive of all people, is vital to a vibrant, enduring society. We strive each day to lead with our values, of which equity is the heart and soul, driving our commitment to accountability, transparency, partnership and impact. Robust economic development is a key to individuals…
Read MoreTask Force Turns to ALICE Data to Inform Report
United Way’s data for ALICE provided valuable perspective for the Michigan Poverty Task Force, which unveiled recommendations on Wednesday.
Read MoreHUD Funding Bolsters CoC Work on Homelessness
The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care received $1,714,409 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support local programs to help people experiencing homelessness. The grant is part of $2.5 billion in renewed support to thousands of local homeless assistance programs across the nation. HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) grants provide critically…
Read MoreEviction Moratorium: What You Need To Do Right Now
Some welcome news came to renters facing eviction due to the economic effects of COVID-19: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended a moratorium on evictions as a protective public health measure. “Despite extensive mitigation efforts, COVID-19 continues to spread in America at a concerning pace,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky,…
Read MoreKalamazoo County Encampments: CoC Update
Editor’s note: Since January 2020, the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region has led the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care (CoC); its vision is for all Kalamazoo County residents to live in safe, healthy, affordable homes in a thriving community. Kalamazoo County, like many communities across the country, has experienced homeless encampments…
Read More18 Ways to Learn About Black History
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate and reflect on the contributions African Americans have made to our country and our communities, and the central roles they have played in our history. At United Way BCKR, we are also marking the occasion with our 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, a learning journey that examines…
Read More8 Ways to Work for Equity on MLK Day
In his 1963 book “Strength to Love,” Martin Luther King Jr. wrote: “The ultimate measure of a man is … where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” In the past 12 months as we witnessed more instances of ongoing police violence against African Americans — as well as the overwhelming and disproportionate toll…
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