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Behind The Scenes: Committed to Equity
Over the past five years, United Way BCKR has been growing its efforts to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The task ahead is to accelerate this evolution. “We firmly believe EDI is critical to our impact work and to our regional community,” said Chris Sargent, President & CEO. “That’s why every investment, every partnership,…
Read MoreBehind The Scenes: The Community Impact of Win-Win
A win for someone struggling to succeed—to get an education, access health care and achieve financial stability—does a lot more than benefit that person. It’s a win for the community, too. “Poverty imposes costs on the nation in terms of both programmatic outlays and productivity losses that can affect the economy as a whole,” states…
Read MoreBehind The Scenes: ‘Festoon’ for a Better Community
“At United Way, we know that we can’t accomplish our impact work alone,” said Natalie Saucedo, United Way BCKR’s Senior Director of Strategy & Innovation.
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 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…
Read MoreUWBCKR Statement: A Call to Live United
Never in American history have we faced an assault on our national values of the scale we saw on January 6, 2021. Neither in rebellion nor in wartime nor under unprovoked attack have the fundamental principles of our nation been so threatened, its institutions so terrorized. Such violence is inexcusable, and we at United Way condemn it unequivocally.
Read MoreUWBCKR Statement of Position on Harassment Allegations
United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region is profoundly concerned by allegations reported by news media regarding sexual harassment, retaliation and other inappropriate behavior at United Way Worldwide. We have reached out directly and formally to UWW earlier this month to express our concerns and call for swift action and accountability. Our local…
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