You can watch the whole meeting at ISAAC – Virtual Public Meeting 2020 Or you can watch any sections you choose: ● Performers and opening blessings and songs ● Elder King’s welcome & explanation of the public meeting purpose ● Housing Task Force Presentation ● Anti-Racism TF Presentation ● Gun Violence Prevention TF Presentation ● […]
Ask #1 – Housing Equity Ordinances in More Municipalities Good evening, I’m Andrew Chaponda, I’m Ellen Nelson. I’m Brenda Henry. I’m Cathy Phason. And I’m Parker James. Andrew – We have some celebrating to do!! The Housing Equity Ordinance–that ISAAC proposed at our Public Meeting two years ago—PASSED the Kalamazoo City Commission unanimously! This […]
Good evening, my name is Al Dixon, I am a co-chair of the Anti-Racism Task Force. We are committed to anti-racism and racial healing work because our history impacts our present and we continue to see systemic racism threaded within the practices and policies of our country, our local communities, and our institutions. We believe […]
Good evening my name is Rick Omilian, co-chair of the ISAAC Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. One year ago, we stood before the community at the ISAAC Issues Convention and shared statistics and news headlines about gun violence in Kalamazoo County in 2019. Gun violence within our community has shifted under Covid-19. Through Oct. 13, 2020 […]
We invite you to listen to our Beloved Community Members, Ms. Melody Coleman, Dr. Pat Stromsta and Ms. Gwendolyn Lewis as they share their personal stories of how gun violence has impacted their lives. We want to send heartfelt love and gratitude to these awesome women! Ms. Melody Coleman Dr. Pat Stromsta Ms. Gwendolyn Lewis
Trauma Reducing Informed Practices Our community has unfortunately been experiencing the impacts of gun violence. Many of us are wondering what we can do collectively. Please know you are not alone. We are in this together! We invite you to view this virtual community discussion recording. It’s a T.R.I.P, standing for Trauma Reducing, Informed Practices […]
Our Journey Continues… Dear Beloved Community Members, thank you for your support and for joining us for our 2020 Virtual Journey to DC for Racial Justice! We traveled over 7,000 miles together!!! BUT WE CAN’T STOP MOVING NOW! Our vital work continues!!! Please listen to our ISAAC President, Elder Doug King’s opening inspirational message inviting […]
Changes of “policy and practice infused with love, hope, equity and abundance”! (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words describing the Beloved Community.) At the ISAAC 2020 Public Meeting on Thursday, October 22, at 6:30 pm, public officials, candidates, and community leaders will publicly pledge to work with us on policies and practices that help build […]
How can people “stay home” during the pandemic if they don’t have a home? How can children do school online “from home” if they don’t have a home? Turn your ballot over! Vote YES on the “Kalamazoo County Housing Proposal” at the very end of your ballot! Just 10 cents a day if you have […]
BRAVO to Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin! THANK YOU for bringing Housing Equity to our community! People with housing vouchers, or an eviction or past conviction, can no longer be automatically rejected when they apply for a place to call home. They will now get a fair chance for housing, with consideration for their individual situations. […]
KC Ready 4s is celebrating their 10th anniversary! Their website describes their origin in ISAAC’s social justice organizing process: The goal of Kalamazoo County Ready 4s is to advance fully accessible, high-quality pre-kindergarten education for every 3 and 4-year-old in Kalamazoo County through collaborative leadership with public and private providers. KC Ready 4s is a […]
The Kalamazoo Branch NAACP needs your help in getting this message out! Please watch this video, then share it! The truth is anyone in Michigan with a felony on their record can vote as long as they are not serving a sentence. Yes, they can vote if they are on parole or probation! Click on […]
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
