It’s a sign of progress that Youth Violence Prevention was not chosen as a top concern of community members surveyed in our Listening Engagement before the 2017 Issues Convention. One reason may be that the Youth Violence Prevention Task Force had accomplished their long-held goal of instituting Group Violence Intervention (GVI) in Kalamazoo and had […]
Scripture gives us valuable direction on the importance of the work that we do. “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. “ – Isaiah 1:17 “Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. “ – Proverbs 31:9 “Give justice to the weak and the […]
Form your Beloved Community TEAM Today! Walk or Run with us Towards Justice! To bring the Kalamazoo County Community together, ISAAC usually has an Annual Banquet. In 2018 we will host a Walk/Run instead–Building the Beloved Community: Moving Towards Justice. The Beloved Community is an inclusive, democratic reality, which while not devoid of conflict, is free of violence. It is a place […]
El Concilio and ISAAC hosted a Luncheon with our new Chief, Karianne Thomas and Asst. Chief Dave Boysen. Our discussion included the work both organizations are doing, continued partnership and growth in open communication, trust, justice and culturally competent practices. A special thank you to Chief Thomas and Assistant Chief Boysen for their commitment to […]
“Turn up the heat, and the snakes come out.” When Dr. Michael T. Scott, Sr., Senior Pastor at Galilee Baptist Church began reading his chosen text, Acts 28.1-10, I was not alone in wondering where exactly he could possibly be taking us! But by the time he completed his words of hope and inspiration, the […]
“The haves and the have-nots. The line. The place the people at the bottom are trying to get to, and the place the people at the top are trying to keep from going below. They don’t want to look below it either.” – The Line The Documentary The Line shares stories of four American individuals […]
When speaking on the issue of racism a lot of feelings manifest. Dealing with these issues in America right now is hard for us people of color because we want justice for the wrong brought against us. Not being able to have your voice heard in a situation that pertains not only to you, your […]
Remember this? We voted “Yes!” First-Year Successes of the millage program: A place to call home for over 100 families with school-aged children throughout Kalamazoo County Children attending school regularly and improving academically LANDLORDS WANTED Do you or anyone you know have available rental property? Would you or they consider joining this very successful program? […]
“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” on Tuesday, April 3, 6:30-8:30 pm, at Transformations, is co-sponsored by ISAAC on this very important 50th anniversary: On April 3, 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King delivered the “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” speech at Mason Temple in Memphis, TN. The next day he was assassinated. Fifty years […]
I have shared three quotes below from Martin Luther King Jr. that will hopefully encourage you as they did me. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe […]
On May 6, 2017 Rev. Rasmussen accepted ISAAC’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Preceding the Banquet Rev. Rasmussen was faced with serious health challenges and was placed in hospice care. Many believed that this Award would be given posthumously. However, we thank God that Rev. Rasmussen attended the Banquet as a walking miracle. That night during his acceptance speech, he reminded our community that God did not want us to forget those who are oppressed. […]
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest ISAAC Family Member: Portage Chapel Hill United Methodist Church (PCHUMC.) We look forward to learning from PCHUMC and building the Beloved Community together. How far have we come towards realizing the Beloved Community? Looking at our segregated worship services, noting the rising violence and […]
Ed Genesis is an artist, poet, musician, organizer, entrepreneur, and community leader. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana and moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan permanently in his early 20’s, his love of art/music, his passion for his people and community, and his gift of creativity are evident in all areas of his work. In October 2018 Ed Genesis released a song to accompany the campaign he was working on around school push out, entitled Junior High, which was distributed nationwide including on his own iHeart radio station, Spotify, and iTunes.
In 2017 Ed Genesis created Poetic Justice, a monthly open-mic that was hosted/led by 5 local poets. He has performed as well as hosted several events such as the Black Arts Festival, the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival, and the National Day of Racial Healing.
Ed Genesis is Lead Mentor and head of community relations at Speak It Forward where he teaches youth at Lakeside Academy, Starr-Commonwealth, and the Kalamazoo County Juvenile home healing through music and art. In 2017, he started WE ACTIVE! a community organization aimed at fighting against mass incarceration and the school to prison pipeline. The organization was recognized by the State of Michigan and presented with a Special Tribute by Representative Jon Hoadley for its work on Criminal Justice Reform and Mass Incarceration in the Kalamazoo Community. Ed Genesis has been a panelist and featured speaker in Washington D.C., Chicago, and Milwaukee. He has and continues to collaborate with artists local to Kalamazoo, youth included, to create music to address social justice issues. In 2018 Ed Genesis joined Truth Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT). He leads the Racial Healing design team with a focus on healing justice and is also part of the Law Design Team.
ISAAC
