BC/Kzoo General
‘Amazing!’: Board Member Climbs Kilimanjaro
“Phenomenal. Amazing. Humbling.” That’s how Dr. Ashutosh “Ash” Goel described his incredible trek up Mount Kilimanjaro. Goel and his daughter, Amiti, along with his nephew Tilak Gupta and niece Shagun Gupta, set off in mid August to climb the famous dormant volcano in Tanzania. In the process, they raised over $8,000 to support childhood education…
Read MoreInstructional Designer Needed to Elevate ALICE
United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region is collaborating with United Way of Northern New Jersey to build a professional curriculum and recognition program to Elevate ALICE. Elevate ALICE is focused on uplifting low wage workers – workers who identify as ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. This course will be geared…
Read MoreAnalysis: Pandemic Hits ALICE Families Hard
Lower-income people struggled in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to financially stable households, according to a new analysis. “The Pandemic Divide: An ALICE Analysis of COVID Surveys” found a much higher percentage of lower-income people struggling to get by, having lost jobs and income, and wrestling with depression and anxiety. The report comes…
Read MoreUnited Way Grants Address Disparities in Vaccine Access
Community grants totaling $50,000 will help local nonprofits and grassroots groups connect underserved people to information and opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19. United Way BCKR provided the local grants as part of the Get Vaccinated Michigan campaign led by the Michigan Association of United Ways and the Michigan Nonprofit Association. The statewide effort aims…
Read MoreStatement: Closing of Ampersee Encampment
The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care, a partnership of local government and community service agencies coordinating housing and services for houseless families and individuals, supports the decision to close the Ampersee encampment and provide safer shelter for those affected. The encampment, which has grown to 180 people, has become known in other unhoused communities as…
Read MoreRedistricting: Your Chance to Make History
Gerrymandering is a term you might be familiar with thanks to your high school civics class. For those of us that may need a refresher, gerrymandering is the practice of manipulating geographic boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one party a disproportionate advantage over its political opponents. It was an approach traditionally…
Read MoreContinuum of Care Mid-Year Update
Partners Continue to Serve Unhoused Individuals & Families The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care works to administer federal and state funding, as well as increase and better coordinate the services available for houseless families and individuals. These services include outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing. The CoC’s goal is to increase data…
Read MoreBehind The Scenes: Here’s Your Curtain Call
By Chris Sargent, President & CEO I love it when our local communities earn national recognition. Battle Creek has earned All-America City status, and Kalamazoo recently topped a list of coolest, most affordable cities. Among the strengths that gain such attention is our rich cultural life, notably live theater. If you’re like me, one thing…
Read MoreBehind The Scenes: Ready When Disaster Strikes
Tragic events don’t always happen somewhere else. Sometimes they happen right here in our community—be it natural disasters, violence, or a piece of a global pandemic. What we’ve learned is the value of approaching the next crisis in a more powerful, collective way. United Way BCKR and its community partners have a solid track record…
Read MoreBehind The Scenes: There’s No Place Like Home
People experience homelessness for many reasons. The issue is complicated, the solutions more so. But one thing is clear: It takes a community-wide effort to solve the challenge. “There’s no single solution,” said Sara Jacobs, Director of the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care. “It’s incredibly complex. That’s why it takes all of us working together…
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