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Help Us Show Love to our Nonprofit Community on #GivingTuesday
To celebrating Giving Tuesday 2023, we’d like to share the love we’ve been given by turning the spotlight on another group of stakeholders that is absolutely critical to building stronger communities – our nonprofit partners.
Read MoreRequest for Proposal: Public Policy Planning/Government Relations Facilitation
TO: Prospective Bidders FROM: United Way of South Central Michigan CONTACT: Lyonel LaGrone II (he/him), Community Impact Director RE: Request for Proposal (RFP) to provide public policy planning & government relations facilitation services DATE: October 30, 2023 ABOUT UNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) gathers the power of three legacy organizations—Capital Area…
Read MoreFood Inspired: Clark’s Special Kitchen
“Food is where my heart is. Food makes me happy.” These are the words of Isa Clark, who as owner and founder of Clark’s Special Kitchen, wants to share his passion for food and make others happy, too. Since 2022, Clark’s Special Kitchen has been serving the Kalamazoo community with some incredible Nigerian Fusion cuisine.…
Read MoreDay 2: Intersectionality
Intersectionality “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” – Audre Lorde, civil rights activist A discussion of any marginalized group is not complete without a broader discussion of intersectionality. The Combahee River Collective, a group of Black, lesbian women is often credited for…
Read MoreTackling Local Hunger: South Michigan Food Bank
JACKSON – For most of us, the biggest uncertainty about our next meal is what we’ll eat. But for thousands in Jackson County, the unknown is where that meal will come from. United Way partners with South Michigan Food Bank to support food distribution and local pantries to make sure people can feed themselves and…
Read MoreIntroduction to the LGBTQIA+ Community
Introduction to the LGBTQIA+ Community Welcome to the 21-Day Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Equity Challenge, and to the start of LGBTQ History Month! We celebrate LGBTQ History Month every October to commemorate the first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979 as well as National Coming Out…
Read MoreTeens in Jackson develop leadership skills while mentoring youth
JACKSON COUNTY – During a summer photo shoot atop a Jackson rooftop, the teen members of DRIP laughed with each other, perfected TikTok dances, and just genuinely enjoyed being together. They are a tight-knit, inclusive and enthusiastic group making a positive impact with the relationships they’re building in the community and with each other. DRIP…
Read MorePerspective: Recovery Tide Isn’t Lifting All Boats
Editor’s Note: On this Labor Day, President & CEO Chris Sargent offers insights on the economic struggles of ALICE households – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Sadly, there are two starkly different economic realities in America. There’s one in which middle- and high-wage workers saw savings and wealth increase throughout the pandemic. And there’s another…
Read MoreBuilding through Reading: Kalamazoo Literacy Council
At its core, Kalamazoo Literacy Council works to enhance the lives of adults by improving their reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension skills. The organization achieves this in a number of ways, one of which is their adult learning plan, which helps students set goals and overcome educational barriers. The impact carries far beyond each individual…
Read MoreHow Gun Violence Affects The Whole Community
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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