News and Updates
Why 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…
7 Ways You Can Choose to Challenge Gender Inequity
Celebrate International Women’s Day, March 8, with These Mentorship Ideas Challenges faced together are often easier to manage. That’s true no matter your age or stage in life. Having someone who is by your side to help you face challenges…
Statement on Southwest Michigan First’s CEO Search
United Way firmly believes that an equitable community, diverse and inclusive of all people, is vital to a vibrant, enduring society. We strive each day to lead with our values, of which equity is the heart and soul, driving our…
Task Force Turns to ALICE Data to Inform Report
United Way’s data for ALICE provided valuable perspective for the Michigan Poverty Task Force, which unveiled recommendations on Wednesday.
HUD Funding Bolsters CoC Work on Homelessness
The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care received $1,714,409 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support local programs to help people experiencing homelessness. The grant is part of $2.5 billion in renewed support to thousands of…
Eviction Moratorium: What You Need To Do Right Now
Some welcome news came to renters facing eviction due to the economic effects of COVID-19: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended a moratorium on evictions as a protective public health measure. “Despite extensive mitigation efforts, COVID-19…
Kalamazoo 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…
18 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…
8 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…