Saying 'Yes' to the Future

Put a few folks from the nonprofit sector in a room, and they’ll soon start talking about their work, their progress and their fundraising. That’s important, but I prefer when the conversation turns to people. Take this local mom, for example. Her family’s finances are precarious — what we call ALICE, or Asset Limited, Income…

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Grants Tackle Childhood Trauma, Infant Health

Equipping schools to help students who suffer trauma and helping vulnerable families promote better health for newborns are among five programs receiving a total of $196,736 in funding from United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region. UWBCKR announced a third set of grants under its new impact strategy. The new grants are one-year…

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Celebrate Black History Month with events in Battle Creek, Kalamazoo

February is Black History Month, and both the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo communities offer a number of learning opportunities, celebrations and other ways to participate. United Way invites you to not only take the opportunity to celebrate African-American art, history, and culture this month, but also to continue year-round to acknowledge past and present contributions…

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Income

56,200 households (41%) have annual income at or below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold—people who are working but struggling to make ends meet. The median annual household income is $43,291(State of Michigan median is $48,411). On average, Black & Hispanic households have 63% the median annual income of White households. 2018 data…

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Envisioning A Vibrant Community

Matt Lynn

  Your United Way has embarked on one of its most exciting journeys ever. Earlier this evening, during our annual recognition and impact event, we announced a new vision, mission and community-level goals that aim to transform our region in specific, measurable and powerful ways. The text of our news release, which appears at the…

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices. —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love I’m a fan of Gilbert’s advice. In our hustling, bustling, plugged-in world, it’s easy to let the power and…

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