Local Nonprofits Combine Strengths To Expand Emergency Winter Shelter Services

Two local nonprofits combining their unique strengths means a safe and warm place to sleep for many unhoused people this winter. Starting Dec. 1, Ministry with Community (MwC) and Housing Resources Inc. (HRI) are coordinating emergency overnight winter shelter services through March 31, 2026. Kalamazoo County, the City of Kalamazoo, and the Kalamazoo County Continuum…

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The Kalamazoo Community Foundation and United Way of South Central Michigan Partner in Support of Tornado Relief Efforts

Kalamazoo, Mich. – United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF) will join Kalamazoo County emergency response teams in providing support to those affected by the May 7 tornadoes via joint crisis funding. These emergency grants, distributed through UWSCMI’s Disaster Relief Fund and KZCF’s Community Urgent Relief Fund, will be…

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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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Data for Difference: The 2024 Kalamazoo Point-in-Time Count

KALAMAZOO- More than 20 volunteers fanned out across Kalamazoo County to participate in the unsheltered portion of the 2024 Kalamazoo Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. The PIT Count, organized by United Way of South Central Michigan’s Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care program, is a literal count of all the people experiencing homelessness in our community on a…

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Food 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.…

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Building through Reading: Kalamazoo Literacy Council

united way of south central michigan logo, connection corner followed by kalamazoo with picture of 4 individuals.

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…

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Tutoring Program Grows Confidence in Readers

Fifth-grader Chondell stands next to his tutor, Kathy.

SLD Read trains volunteers to work one-to-one with students in local schools BATTLE CREEK AND KALAMAZOO – Fifth-grader Chondell hasn’t always been willing to read aloud in class. But in a recent theater activity, he didn’t hesitate to read the part he’d been practicing. Then he volunteered to read additional parts, sight unseen, for students…

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Seeding Leaders Grants: Blossoming a Second Cohort of Nonprofit Leadership

seeding leaders 2023 cohort

United Way of South Central Michigan has awarded $2,500 mini-grants to its second cohort of 10 local Kalamazoo & Battle Creek leaders as a part of its program, Seeding Leaders.  These grants are intended to support the wellness, leadership, and professional development of nonprofit leaders and primarily focused on leaders who identify as BIPOC (Black,…

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RentAble Revamp Removes Barriers to Stable Housing

The word Rentable, with two house icons underneath.

The Kalamazoo Continuum of Care has revamped its RentAble program to help more people overcome barriers to keep or obtain housing. RentAble is a pilot program managed by the Kalamazoo CoC and funded by the City of Kalamazoo. It provides one-time assistance up to $2,000 per household to qualified individual or family renters. Whereas the…

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2023 B.E.T.A Graduation Ceremony

KALAMAZOO – The 2023 Black Entrepreneur Training Academy (BETA) Graduation Ceremony, held Feb. 8, celebrated the end of training for 14 new graduates of the Black Entrepreneur Training Program, a joint effort by Black Wall Street Kalamazoo and Sisters in Business. This effort was funded in part through the City of Kalamazoo ARPA dollars, and…

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