Pooja, who’s name in Hindi means “prayer” was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and has a twin brother. After graduating from High School, she moved to Kalamazoo for College and has held jobs working as a caregiver/rehab aid at Residential Opportunities Inc., and Progressive Alternatives. Pooja enjoys working with people and is currently studying […]
I am a child of the ’60s. Along with many other people I gathered in large crowds, marched in the streets and carried signs; we protested a racist war in Vietnam. I wept as I listened to “Abraham, Martin and John”. I applauded when schools were integrated. I thought maybe we were winning, that things […]
The Housing Task Force would be very grateful if you could spread this message in your own congregation or organization. ISAAC was one of the key partners who worked together for passage of the “Vote Yes for Kids” millage. Now our community has the funding needed, but we still need more apartments or homes to […]
We would like to send a special thank you to our awesome guest speakers at our January meeting: Kym Hollars, Navigator Coordinator with Goodwill Industries and Kevin Ford, Shared Prosperity Coordinator with the City of Kalamazoo. A huge thank you and welcome to our awesome new Co-Chair, Nicholas Baxter. This month we will be viewing […]
After years of writing and re-writing, I finally got my book published! It is titled “Gus.” The story of a young boy pulled away from the life he enjoyed in Chicago to a place he knew nothing about. He also meets the grandfather he has never seen, and an immediate conflict starts. Feeling like all […]
Congratulations to Rev. Nathan Dannison! We are very pleased and proud to have you chosen for the Foundation for Excellence board. Rev. Dannison is the Senior Minister at First Congregational Church, which is a founding member of ISAAC, and he was previously an ISAAC community organizer who worked with Rachael Tanner and Jomil Wells on creating ISAAC’s original Beloved Community initiative. See […]
[su_vimeo url=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/137282528″] You’ve heard about it. Now come see it. RESILIENCE: THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS & THE SCIENCE OF HOPE chronicles the birth of a new movement among pediatricians, therapists, educators, policy makers, and communities who are using cutting-edge brain science to disrupt cycles of violence, addiction and disease. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to […]
John 15:12-14 – This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (NKJV) In a world where the word “friend” is thrown around so loosely, […]
This past year has brought fear and concern of the unknown, as well as divisiveness as a nation. We at ISAAC proclaim we will not shrink in fear nor shut our eyes to injustice; but we will continue to stand firmly and to work tirelessly together to ensure social justice for all in our community. […]
You are invited to: What is your position in times of challenge and controversy? Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration …given by the Northside Ministerial Alliance with Guest Preacher Pastor Jonathan Tremaine Thomas from Destiny Church, St. Louis, MO. Sunday, January 14, 4:00 pm at Mt. Zion Baptist Church 120 Roberson St. at North Burdick, Kalamazoo […]
You are invited to participate in the National Day of Racial Healing, a part of the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation initiative led by the Kellogg Foundation with community partners that include ISAAC. Download “1.16.18 – What is the National Day of Racial Healing?” for all the Kalamazoo events. Please note that you need to […]
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ. (To the Lord we belong and to the Lord we will return) It is with utmost sadness that I must share that my dear mother passed away early this morning (New Years Day) after a very long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was at peace at home with […]
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
