Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative (SWMJC) – A dynamic group of 12 partners representing media, educational or community organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism.

‘A connector of people’: Village Network turns voices into action in Battle Creek

Now, the Village Network of Battle Creek funds initiatives, plans events, goes to bat at the state level, and clears the way for others to take action, all with the end goal of allowing everyone an equal shot at participating in their economy. The organization’s name reflects its intent to build communication networks ― not just uniting leaders of on-the-ground organizations, but also building bridges that give individuals access to systems, funders, legislators and decision makers.

Encore Profile on Maliha Raza, Director of Development & Operations at Kalamazoo Housing Advocates

A world traveler who has found a home in Southwest Michigan, Maliha Raza is devoted to Kalamazoo, her family, her faith and her work as an activist and servant to others — not necessarily in that order but passionately on all fronts. Born and raised in India, Raza arrived in Kalamazoo in 2008 and has worked throughout the community in fields including refugee resettlement, foster care, nonprofit strategic planning and grant writing, often as a volunteer.

‘Everybody needs help sometime’: Rural eviction drives cycles of housing instability

Local housing agencies work with what they have to improve rental options and keep the county’s renters in their homes, including tapping a state program meant to stabilize housing insecure people as quickly as possible. But, to truly combat evictions and the physical and mental instability that accompany them, rural communities need to address housing, jobs, transportation, mental health care, and the other root conditions that lead to eviction in the first place, housing advocates say.

Neighborhood Inc. helps the unhoused find shelter in Battle Creek and St. Joseph counties

They are among about 100 individuals and families in Calhoun County and St. Joseph County that seek assistance from NIBC each month to move from being unhoused into stable housing situations. NIBC is home to a Housing Assessment and Resource Agency (HARA), which enables NIBC to provide services to house the unhoused in Calhoun and St. Joseph counties.