Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative (SWMJC) is a dynamic group of 12 partners representing media, educational or community organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. We support and enhance the news ecosystem in Southwest Michigan, to provide accurate and equitable coverage, and to promote diversity of voices among journalists and sources alike.

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LATEST COLLABORATIVE STORIES

Kalamazoo is a few thousand residents smaller than it was a quarter-century ago. Despite that, the city has a housing shortage. That’s because household size is shrinking. More people are living alone. There are more empty-nesters in the homes once filled with children. With fewer people under each roof, the city needs about 2,300 more housing units by 2030 to accommodate future growth, based on a 2022 Kalamazoo County housing study by the Upjohn Institute. To get there, Kalamazoo officials have spent recent years taking a hard look at its zoning codes, so that zoning is part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Developer Matt Watts went to Comstock Township last year with a proposal to help address the shortage of affordable homes. His specific ask: Change the township laws to allow for smaller houses on smaller lots. Watts offered compelling arguments for the zoning change. Most importantly, it would lower the costs of new construction, he pointed out. Land is typically 15 to 25% of new construction, and smaller houses are cheaper to build. Plus, there’s a growing market for smaller homes: More households today have only one or two members. Yet another benefit: More homes on the same amount of land increases property tax revenue for the township. Still, Watts faced plenty of resistance. People worried the increased housing density would hurt both nearby home values and the community’s character.
Portage has long had the hallmarks of a post-World War II suburb, with residential neighborhoods separated and distinct from the city’s commercial strips. Now city officials are looking to shake that up by creating “walkable villages” and mixed-use neighborhoods that should provide Portage residents with a new kind of housing option and simultaneously address the city’s shortage of affordable homes.
Dr. Nakia Baylis
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.

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

Equitable Community Development

This collaborative reporting project is focused on economic and community development issues in Southwest Michigan.

Youth Mental Health

In early 2024, SWMJC was awarded a collaborative reporting grant by Solutions Journalism Network to focus on youth mental health. With the U.S. General Surgeon’s recent report on the increased urgency to address youth mental health, this project highlights current solutions.

The Mental Wellness Project

SWMJC inaugural collaborative reporting project focused on mental health in Southwest Michigan. The goal of this project is to shed light on the key issues impacting access to mental health services. This project was funded by Solutions Journalism Network.

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