What can you do while we are practicing social distancing? Time has been extended for you to give feedback for the Fair Housing, Chapter 18 Housing Equity Ordinance — With input sessions being cancelled, due to the pandemic, we recorded the presentation to keep engagement going during this time. Please watch this YouTube video of […]
Sending a special thank you to our Awesome Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Coordinator Michael Wilder for building our GVI Street Outreach Team, with Phenomenal Community Members, with powerful testimonies. Our new Street Outreach Workers are vital and valued Team Members for Group Violence Reduction and are already working tirelessly for our community. We had a […]
ISAAC would like to send heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Pat Stromsta, VP for Leadership Development, for her facilitation of our Leadership Board’s StrengthsFinder Workshop (this meeting happened pre-covid19 social distancing). This was truly a wonderful opportunity for us to explore our strengths and natural talents together, while better positioning us to use our gifts for […]
In light of ISAAC meeting cancellations and stay-at-home orders, The Gun Violence Task Force is going to keep highlighting awareness of gun violence topics which affect Kalamazoo. In particular, there are currently gun violence prevention issues which intersect with the coronavirus pandemic. Stay-at-home orders for those in domestic violence situations are intensifying the danger that […]
I have been with ISAAC in some capacity for over ten years. My latest assignment is doing data entry work for the office. I have done this on and off for five years. It is easy and fun spending time with Charlae Davis and Sheila Takyi at the office. I change all the addresses and […]
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for!” That saying is especially true right now. We are the ones who can give the Kalamazoo City Commissioners the community support they need in order to pass the Housing Equity ordinance. Would you help by adding your voice to this letter? Click here to download the printable […]
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 […]
ISAAC would like to send a sincere thank you to Rev. Catoya Roberts for facilitating two awesome and powerful trainings for new and veteran ISAAC family members! Participants learned/revisited the principles of organizing, one-on-ones, power analysis and issues planning. A special thank you to Mariam, Dr. Regena and the UUCC Family for their hospitality on Saturday, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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
