On August 25 and August 26, 2025, the Douglass Community Association, El Concilio, ISAAC (Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community), Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch of the NAACP and PDMK (Participatory Defense Movement Kalamazoo) partnered to host two listening sessions for community members to offer feedback and input connected to the City of Kalamazoo’s City Manager search. These sessions were planned by our organizations after the City of Kalamazoo hosted only one Stakeholder Meeting, which was not open to the Public.

A special thank you to the Douglass Community Association and El Concilio for their hospitality during these sessions, and also to Davis Delectables, Designs Catering and Los Sabores Mexicano for our delicious food. We send a heartfelt thank you to all attendees who shared powerful feedback!

We invite you to read the feedback that we compiled and shared with Raftelis, the firm conducting the City Manager search.

View Community Feedback Document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IL0vatqPS9BSz3fDsvTqBtIE-sf9curA/view?usp=drive_link

YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED!

Please join us next week at the events below to learn more about the candidates and share feedback in real time.

“The Meet-and-Greet event will be held on Tuesday, October 14, from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at the Catalyst Center at 180 E. Water St. Attendees can share their feedback on each candidate during public comments at a subsequent City Commission meeting or by completing an online form that will be made available closer to the interview process.”

“The City Commission will conduct interviews with finalists for the City Manager position at a Special Meeting on Wednesday, October 15, at 4 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall. This meeting is open to the public, and community members will have an opportunity to provide comments before the interviews begin.”

From the City Of Kalamazoo’s website: https://www.kalamazoocity.org/Government/City-Manager-Search

Click this link to view the City Manager Candidates, Interview Times, Resumes and Cover Letters: https://kalamazoomi.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2524/files/agenda/4350

(You may also watch these interviews via YouTube or Facebook Live via the City of Kalamazoo’s pages)