Perched at the Kalamazoo Literacy Council table inside the Kalamazoo Expo Center, Cakneeshia Stegall smiled brightly at the dozens of jobseekers wandering past. She was eager to connect with them. After all, she knew what they were feeling. Stegall was once on the other side of the table, looking for work, at a past Career […]
There are days when Kaye Sanders realizes she’s been holding her breath from the moment she woke up. As the Recovery House Coordinator for Community Healing Centers’ Women’s Specialty Program, Sanders and her team walk beside women working to rebuild lives and families while battling addiction. Many of them – particularly those who reside at […]
The power of volunteerism gained the spotlight at the 2018 Community Volunteer Awards ceremony held July 26 in downtown Battle Creek. Seven awards – five individual awards and two group honors – were handed out during the event, which was held at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation headquarters. The awards are held each year by United […]
In response to Saturday’s tragedies in Kalamazoo County, and in an effort to address both immediate and long-term community needs related to community violence, a collaborative group of local nonprofits has established a fund. Battle Creek Community Foundation, Kalamazoo Community Foundation and United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region will be partnering with […]
A community-wide disaster seems doubtful—until it isn’t. That’s why preparation before a disaster strikes, and a robust response after, makes all the difference. Adam Castle, the new Community Resilience Program Manager at Gryphon Place, leads a regional effort that’s making sure every community is ready to deal with any crisis. This role is made possible […]
The Kalamazoo Flood Relief Fund raised more than $375,000 to help victims of the historic 2018 flood. by Andrea Opalewski, Guest Blogger As we enjoy the summer sunshine and warmer temperatures, it’s hard to believe that a historic flood deluged Kalamazoo a little more than five months ago. But for many people, it’s like it […]
We’ve all heard the advice: If you’re sick, stay home. For ALICE, that might not be an option. “Equal access to precautionary measures cuts along the same lines that divide the United States in other ways: income, education and race,” according to a new article in The New York Times. “Service industry workers, like those […]
A neighborhood-focused news series is turning up stories of resilience in communities throughout our region—and United Way is a partner in that work. Issue Media Group launched its On The Ground (OTG) online news series in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek starting in 2018. OTG embeds locally trained journalists in specific neighborhoods to better understand them, […]
There’s no question that when it comes to healthy babies and healthy families, a mother’s role is crucial. But what about fathers? Many dads feel relegated to the sidelines during pregnancy and birth, and others disengage or are absent altogether. Studies show, however, that their role is just as key. Children without an active and […]
The Battle Creek and Kalamazoo region showed its generosity once again by donating 55,134 new diapers to the area’s first United Way Diaper Drive, exceeding the drive’s goal of 50,000 in just five days. United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region (UWBCKR) spearheaded the drive, which brought together residents, businesses, nonprofits and volunteers […]
I was two months pregnant with my first child when I became aware of our community’s infant mortality crisis. Still a little shell-shocked from the discovery that I was pregnant, I was tentative and keeping things quiet, careful to avoid doing anything that might endanger this tiny little being. It was during this time that […]
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Looking to be part of a team that is changing lives and building community? Consider joining United Way! We use our individual talents and collective strength to help solve some of our region’s toughest challenges with and for the community, alongside our donors, advocates, volunteers, and partners. United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo […]
United Way is hitting the road this summer for the Live United Summer Tour, and everyone’s invited. We’re staging a series of Pop Up Volunteering events and collection drives to support our community goals in infant health and early grade reading, and we can’t do it alone. During the months of June, July and August, […]