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Bugs in Our Brains: Changing the World by Changing Our Thinking

ISAAC would like to send a heartfelt thank you to Beth Washington for facilitating an awesome, eye opening and powerful Bias Workshop! Participants learned how to examine human bias, recognize different cultural dimensions, define key terms needed for eliminating racism and oppression and understanding the connection between USA history and structurally disadvantaged communities and populations.  A […]

Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

At our third meeting, with 12 members present, the Gun Violence Task Force started our Power One-on-One interviews by interviewing Judge Curtis Bell of Kalamazoo County Probate Court and retired KDPS Capt. Stacey Ledbetter.  Capt. Stacey talked about her work in ALPACT (Advocates and Leaders for Police And Community Trust).  Its mission is to address […]

Service of Remembrance

A Beautiful Service of Remembrance! Sending a special thank you to our Beloved Community Kalamazoo Survivors and All Community Members who attended! Thank you to all of our Awesome Speakers: Sister Mollie Peterson, Elder Doug King, Brother Ed Genesis, Elder Robyn Robinson, Sister Ora O’Connell and Dr. Michael T Scott. A heartfelt thank you for a powerful Word Spoken by Dr.Tamara […]

Anti-Racism Collaboration Work

There were approximately 20 members in attendance at our February meeting. Lay Pastor Charles Moerdyk, representing North Presbyterian Church, gave the opening reflection, which dealt with the topic of implicit bias. There was a brief evaluation of the Bias Workshop. Members who attended found it fascinating and powerful. Differences between implicit bias and explicit bias […]

Meet our ISAAC Community Engagement Coordinator

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 […]

Meet our ISAAC Marketing & Communications Intern

Kaleb Beiter comes from the town of Lawrence, Michigan. He is no stranger to ISAAC and was a part of the First Ever Walk/Run/Roll Committee in 2018. Kaleb helped with social media & technology management and designed our event t-shirts while in the Van Buren Early College Program focused on impacting the community through communications. […]

Meet our ISAAC Anti-Racism Task Force Intern!

Ashante Collins is originally from Savannah, GA and grew up in Jacksonville, FL. Upon graduating high school, she moved back to her hometown for a few years before making her way up to Michigan. Collins is currently a Psychology major at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and will be graduating in the spring of 2020 and […]

A Justice/Unity Blessing Given by ISAAC Clergy & Leaders at the Women’s March Kalamazoo

A special thank you to Rev. Mason (Unity of Kalamazoo), Juliana (El Concilio), Rabbi Schicker (Temple B’nai Israel), Mariam (UUCC), Pastor Jess (Wesley Foundation) and Deacon Sandra (Westwood UMC) for leading a beautiful and powerful Unity Blessing at the Women’s March Kalamazoo 2020 on January 18. Speaker 1 – Rev. Mason Dear Creator, who we know by many names. Life Giver, Pain-Bearer, Love Maker. Blessed are You. […]

Anti-Racism Task Force

The National Day of Racial Healing celebration on January 21st highlighted a key principle of the Anti-Racism Task Force—that we must address racism as we seek to right the disparities and injustices of any sector of community life.  This insight drives the Task Force’s focus on racial healing. The January 21st event celebrated the accomplishments of the […]

Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

We had a special guest at our January 28 meeting, Rev. Rachel Lonberg, who serves as the Faith Sector representative on the Foundation for Excellence (FFE) board. Rev. Rachel asked the task force for our input on ways that the FFE can support our work and other aspirational projects throughout the city in 2021. She shared with us […]

Housing Task Force

Our Housing Task Force keeps growing!  And the expertise among our task force members is quite amazing.  Members with a deep desire to end homelessness now include professionals from The Ark, CARES, Housing Resources Inc., City of Kalamazoo Dept. of Community Planning & Economic Development, Kalamazoo City Commission, Kalamazoo County Public Housing Commission, Kalamazoo Township […]