We are delighted to welcome our new ISAAC Executive Director, Dr. Charlae Davis. Charlae was born and raised in Kalamazoo, the child of KPS educators Vern and Auga Davis. She grew up in Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, where ISAAC President Elder Doug King was her youth pastor, and where her family is still […]
Thursday, Nov 6, 2014 1:00 pm—2:30 pm @Metro Transit Office 530 N. Rose Street, Kalamazoo Your ideas needed! Share ideas and learn about Metro Transit & Metro County Connect. Light refreshments served. RSVP to Joan at melekianj@kalamazoocity.org. If you have questions please call (269) 337-8446. Sponsored by:
ISAAC gets support for Youth PROMISE Act, Equal Opportunity K-12 Funding, Very Early Childhood Focus, and Sunday Buses All 450 people at the ISAAC Public Meeting on 10/9/14, rose to their feet in an instant when middle school student and Freedom School Scholar Jumica Golliday recited the poem he wrote and said, “Stand up and […]
“People are hungry for ways to end youth violence, to give disadvantaged children a fair start, and to get transit on Sundays,” says Rev. Doug King, pastor of Grace Covenant Ministries and President of ISAAC. “ISAAC is advocating four policy changes to address these issues. On October 9, public officials and candidates in the Nov. […]
This is an easy but powerful way to help change the dynamics that lead to youth violence! It’s a national effort that ISAAC has joined, which would make a huge difference for us locally. Please do your part!
9:00 am Registration, 10:00 – 5:00 Tournament
ISAAC honors Kalamazoo Public Schools, County Board of Commissioners, Friends of Transit & Rev. Rick Tyson THANK YOU to everyone who came to the ISAAC 2014 Banquet! It was a joyful celebration of the past year’s accomplishments, with lots of inspiration for the work to come, from award-winning keynote presenter Elise Bryant and singer and […]
“Love Will Guide Us” is the theme of the ISAAC 2014 Banquet. Please put the date on your calendar: Saturday, March 29, 5:00 seating and 5:30 program, at the WMU Bernhard Center ballrooms. The keynote speaker is an inspiring educator, Ms. Elise Bryant, who’s known in the DC area for her ability to bring people […]
TRANSIT Until this fall, there was no bus service to Pavilion Estates, a large mobile home park east of Sprinkle Road. But with the help of Friends of Transit (founded by ISAAC & Disability Network Southwest Michigan), residents there gathered signatures and spoke to the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority and Metro Transit. The residents of Pavilion Estates have had a shuttle to the closest bus ever since, and they are about to get regular bus service!
ISAAC welcomes two new staff members, Johnnie Berry, Community Organizer for Youth Violence & Drug Prevention initiatives, and Vanessa Miller, Community Organizer for Education & Early Childhood initiatives. Both are from the Kalamazoo area and have strong experience locally, working for a more just community. Come meet them March 29 at the ISAAC Banquet!
If you or someone you know would like to learn the skills to build a more just community, and become more engaged or more effective in ISAAC, don’t miss this chance! There are still a few openings for the ISAAC Organizing Skills Training Workshop on Saturday, November 9, so the due date for applications is […]
Come see why we’re not voting on changing our issues this year! We’re in the middle of so much good work! Join us. Put feet to your faith. Help build a more just community. Thursday, October 3 at 7:00 pm First Congregational Church UCC 129 S. Park St. Kalamazoo 49007 Enter on W. Michigan Ave. […]
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
