iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 13h

Couldn’t make it to our 2026 Community Meeting? We are pleased to share that the full conversation is now available online! Laura Leenhouts, our visual notetaker for the event, also captured the entire evening. 💙💚 Watch the recording at kzcf.info/KZCF2026CM!

A graphic recording of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation's 2026 Community Meeting. It includes colorful illustrations and text summarizing the event. There's a large banner at the top with "2026 Community Meeting" and smaller sections titled "Good Evening," "Fireside Chat," and more. Icons and symbols, including a building and a globe, are featured. Key points are highlighted with speech bubbles and diagrams. Logos for KZCF, Community Meeting, and a house symbol are at the bottom.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2026 Community Meeting! We're grateful to Stephanie Land for her moving keynote address on the realities of housing instability and her openness in the fireside chat. Our gratitude extends to Phil Lewis, who guided that conversation with warmth.

A person with long brown hair and glasses speaking at a podium with a sign that reads "Keynote Speaker Stephanie Land." There is a microphone, and the background is a blend of dark and light tones.

Kalamazoo Choral Arts and the Kalamazoo College Singers performance takes place on stage in a large auditorium. The stage is brightly lit and decorated with colorful geometric panels. Two large screens flank the stage. The audience is seated in front of the stage in a dimly lit area.

Four people stand together against a black background. Two individuals are holding copies of the book "Maid" by Stephanie Land.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Our Community Meeting is going live! Watch as Stephanie Land, author of the NYT bestseller and inspiration behind the Netflix series "Maid", explores barriers to housing access and what solutions could look like in Kalamazoo County. Tune in this evening at 6 p.m. at kzcf.info/YouTube.

kzcf.info

Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Mobilizing people, resources and expertise to advance racial, social and economic justice. #lovewhereyoulive

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Tickets for our Community Meeting are almost gone! Join us for a community conversation about barriers to housing access and what solutions look like in Kalamazoo County. 📅 Tuesday, Oct. 6 | 6 to 7:30 p.m. 📍 Radisson Plaza Kalamazoo Center Get free tickets at kzcfcommunitymeeting.ludus.com.

Poster for the Kalamazoo Community Foundation Community Meeting on affordable housing access. Scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 2026. It features Stephanie Land, author of "Maid," with her photo and book cover displayed on top of an illustrated background with green hills and teal house silhouettes. A note says, "Tickets almost gone!" on a bright red background.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We recently celebrated Dr. Arthur James, a longtime Kalamazoo physician and health equity champion dedicated to reducing infant mortality and racial disparities impacting Black babies. The evening launched the Jericho Road for Maternal Health Equity Fund, created in his honor to continue this work.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

25 years ago, Lucinda Mosquera and Jesús Grillo started Nueva Opinión, Southwest Michigan’s newspaper written entirely in Spanish for people to access resources in the area, including educational stories that connect residents to current events, local organizations and each other.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

We had a beautiful time at Kalamazoo Country Club convening members of our W.E. Upjohn Society last week for an evening of celebration. Members include individual donors who have established a fund, helped to grow our unrestricted resources or made a commitment to include KZCF in their estate plan.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

We’re wearing green to show our support for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan’s Paint the Town Green initiative! 💚 You can help bring awareness and get involved as a mentor today with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan! Visit thinkbigtoday.org to get started. #PTTG2026

A group of eleven people on the Kalamazoo Community Foundation team are posing together in front of lush green foliage. They are dressed in a variety of green business casual outfits. All are smiling and standing.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

He’s deputy editor at HuffPost, president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists and he’s coming to Kalamazoo this October! We’re excited to announce @phillewis.bsky.social as the moderator for our 2026 Community Meeting. Get free tickets today at kzcfcommunitymeeting.ludus.com.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina to fly into space! Hear from Dr. Ochoa herself as she shares her story of becoming an astronaut, a leader at NASA and a trailblazing advocate. RSVP for this FREE event by scanning the code or visiting bit.ly/dr-ellen-ochoa

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

We’re excited to share the digital experience of our 2025 annual report! 🎉 KZCF has been our community's foundation for 100 years. Click below to read our year in review and see how we’re pushing boundaries to discover what’s possible for the next 100! 💙💚 kzcf.org/2025-annual-report

A colorful illustrated poster celebrating 100 years of Kalamazoo Community Foundation. It features playful drawings of a house, a rainbow, a dog, a large smiling figure, trees, and people engaged in various activities. The text reads "100 Years of Impact" and "For the Next 100."

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

What's standing between our neighbors and a safe place to call home? We're exploring that with Stephanie Land, author of the bestseller and inspiration behind the series "Maid." 🗓️ Tuesday, Oct. 6 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Radisson Plaza Kalamazoo Center Get FREE tickets: kzcfcommunitymeeting.ludus.com

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

We loved every moment of celebrating our centennial year with our neighbors across Kalamazoo County! We're incredibly grateful for the new memories we made together. Today, we turn 101 and we can't wait to see what's ahead for the next 100. 💙💚

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Kay Polzin celebrated her 100th birthday alongside our own 100 years of impact, and she's spent the last 35 showing up for this community with her support of KZCF. As we close out our centennial year, we're want to know: what does giving back look like in your life? 💙💚

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Thank you to the Air Zoo for hosting our 2026 Board Retreat! During the retreat, our president/CEO, Dr. Lubwama presented a $10,000 check to support their Community Access Program, which provides free memberships to residents who currently receive SNAP or EBT benefits.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Mark your calendar! 🗓️ Our 2026 Community Meeting is returning! Join us as we discuss the importance of expanding affordable housing access to ensure every resident of Kalamazoo County can thrive. Stay tuned for ticket details!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Backpacks are packed! 🎒 Our Strategy & Communications team volunteered at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan this morning, filling them with supplies so students can start the school year ready. 💚💙

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Another successful #LoveWhereYouLive Community Partners' Lunch is in the books! 🎉 Yesterday, Kalamazoo County nonprofit leaders came together to talk grantmaking and community impact. We want to thank Plante Moran and Warner Norcross + Judd for sponsoring the event!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Our Community Impact team recently brought Kalamazoo County nonprofit leaders together for our Love Where You Live Community Partners’ Lunch to reflect on our recent grantmaking efforts and KZCF's support beyond the check efforts. Thank you to Rose Street Advisors for sponsoring the event!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

With Rx Kids, neighbors in the City of Kalamazoo, City of Galesburg, Oshtemo Township and Wakeshma Township can receive no-strings-attached cash prescriptions of $1,500 during pregnancy and ongoing monthly support for the first year of their infant's life. Visit rxkids.org/michigan to learn more!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

KZCF recently hosted a special reception which brought together our 2026 scholarship recipients, scholarship reviewers and donors. It was a wonderful event and we want to extend our gratitude to Miller Johnson for sponsoring the reception. Congrats to all of our 2026 scholarship recipients! 🎓 🎉

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Were you unable to attend our Centennial Celebration last Friday? Well we hope you check out the 150-foot Love Where You Live mural, painted by Patrick Hershberger and filled in by our community during the event next time you're passing by Pitcher St. in downtown Kalamazoo. 💙💚

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Happy National Mac & Cheese Day! 😋 From 4 to 10 p.m. today, the first 100 customers to order a side of mac and cheese at Brick + Brine will get one on us in celebration of KZCF’s 100 years of impact in Kalamazoo County. Still deciding on dinner? We hope to see you there!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Our Centennial Celebration brought out neighbors from across our community to help paint our Love Where You Live mural, grab a bite from local food trucks and take part in activities for everyone to enjoy. A century of impact deserved a celebration just as big. Here’s to the next 100!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

That's a wrap! We are excited to share that our Love Where You Live street mural is officially complete! 💚 🎨 🎉 💙 We hope you’ll stop by to check out the mural for yourself the next time you're in downtown Kalamazoo. #LoveWhereYouLive 📍Pitcher St. between Lovell and South

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Good morning Kalamazoo County! It's a beautiful day to celebrate a centennial and paint a community street mural! 🌞🎨 We're looking forward to seeing everyone later this afternoon for food, activities, painting and a whole lot of fun! 💙💚

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

In case you missed it, our big day is TOMORROW! Please join us in celebrating with our neighbors 💙 💚

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Today's forecast: rain, with a chance of mural outlining. ☔️🎨 Artist Patrick Hershberger is prepping the site for the Love Where You Live community mural painting at our Centennial Celebration tomorrow! Bring your friends and make your mark on our community. We'll provide the brushes and rollers.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

What’s better than Brick and Brine mac & cheese? FREE Brick + Brine mac & cheese! 😋 This July 14 on National Mac & Cheese Day, the first 100 people get one on us to celebrate 100 years of KZCF’s impact in Kalamazoo County. Bring a friend, grab a bite and dig in!

The image is a promotional flyer featuring Kalamazoo Community Foundation's 100th anniversary. It announces a "100 Free Mac & Cheeses" event on July 14, in partnership with Brick + Brine, celebrating National Mac & Cheese Day. Illustrations include a person holding bowls of macaroni and cheese, alongside scattered noodles in the background.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Celebrate KZCF's Centennial with: 🎨 A community street mural 🎉 Family-friendly activities 🌮 FREE items (burgers, tacos and snow cones!) from local food trucks for the first 100 customers at each truck Join us on July 10 and help make this a celebration to remember!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

All month long, we've shared stories from five LGBTQIA+ community members about what living authentically in Kalamazoo County means to them. In this final chapter of our Love Out Loud series, we learn more about their tips on meaningful allyship and how you can show up for your neighbors. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🩷🩵

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

The KZCF team is taking a week of restoration to keep showing up for Kalamazoo County. To support our team, our office will be closed Monday, June 29, through Friday, July 3. We'll see you in July! 💙💚

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

This week, we sit down with Demetrias Wolverton to hear their perspective on why it matters to see neighbors with intersectional identities in spaces of influence. Because while Demetrias knows what it's like to be “the first” in the room, they do not want to be the “only” or “the last.”

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Faces change over time, and KZCF’s certainly has over the last couple years! From 2024 to 2025, we engaged in a nine-month long rebrand guided by the voices of Kalamazoo County. As we celebrate 100 years of impact, we're proud of a rebrand that more of our neighbors can see themselves in. 💚💙

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

This week on Love Out Loud, we sit down with Eric to hear about his experience mentoring LGBTQIA+ youth, how he's leading with generosity through his fund at KZCF and what it means to be met with acceptance in Kalamazoo County. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🩷🩵

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

A time was had as KZCF's Black Affinity Group (BAG) brought the 90s back for our annual Juneteenth celebration! Our staff enjoyed a delicious lunch, an assortment of games and a 90s playlist. We thank the BAG for facilitating such wonderful Juneteenth celebrations filled with good times!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Last week, the KZCF team joined donors and community members for our second annual Love Where You Live Bus Tour, where we visited five organizations working to make Kalamazoo County a place everyone can call home. 💙💚 The Love Where You Live tour was made possible thanks to PNC Bank! 🚌

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Stacey and Sara know the LGBTQIA+ community is navigating a lot: from funding cuts to affirming organizations, to targeted legislation and hateful rhetoric. Hear how Stacey and Sara approach the current moment, support the community and continue to Love Out Loud in Kalamazoo County. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🩷🩵

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

We had an absolutely wonderful time last week celebrating Dr. Cathy Kothari, associate professor emerita in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at @wmed.edu, and announcing the opening of the Dr. Cathy Kothari Fund for a Healthier Tomorrow in her honor!💙💚

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

To celebrate 100 years of serving our Kalamazoo County neighbors, we've commissioned a street mural and we need your help. 🎨 Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of food, fun and painting on July 10 at KZCF. Don’t worry: if it rains or pours, we’ll try again on Aug. 14.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Every person at Kalamazoo Pride showed up as exactly who they are: authentic, bold and radiant. 🌈 We loved getting to reflect that back at the KZCF booth — literally, through our selfie mirror. Thank you to our neighbors for saying hello, sharing smiles and making memories. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🩷🩵

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Shout out to KZCF's Pride committee for curating a community playlist of affirming anthems! Listen to all the songs at kzcf.info/pride-playlist and add the collection to your rotation this Pride month. Anything you’d add? Drop your go-to Pride track in the comments. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🩷🩵

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

KZCF and several community partners enjoyed a wonderful morning of celebration as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo hosted a donor reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Portage Street location! Be sure to check out their Community Open House this evening from 5 to 7 p.m.

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Meet Jonathan Richardson: a retired chemical engineer, a partner to David, and someone putting his legacy behind a more equitable Kalamazoo County. This Pride Month, hear his perspective on community, meaningful allyship, and what it means to build something that lasts. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🩷🩵

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

For our annual Pride celebration brunch, we served looks and bingo cards with Queens Donatella and Mia Cole 🌈✨ A big thank you to KZCF's Pride Committee and Michigan Drag Bunch & Events for bringing the most fabulous energy to our celebration this week!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Rx Kids has come to the City of Galesburg and Wakeshma and Oshtemo Townships and recently local leaders attended a press conference to celebrate! As the local fiduciary of the program, we’re excited to continuing to partner with Community Champion, Cradle Kalamazoo, and GiveDirectly!

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

What does it mean to Love Out Loud in a moment where so many have gone quiet? This Pride Month, hear from five of your LGBTQIA+ neighbors as they share what living authentically in Kalamazoo County means to them and how they’re meeting the current moment through their philanthropy. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🩷🩵

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

We were proud to support YWCA Kalamazoo’s annual Women of Achievement Awards last week. During the event, our very own Demetrias Wolverton, presented the Dorothy I. Height Award, sponsored by KZCF, to Stacey Randolph Ledbetter. Congratulations Stacey! 📸 Photo Credit: YWCA Kalamazoo

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

At KZCF, we love where we live, and we love what we do! What do both things have in common? They come from the heart, which was the focus of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2026 Kalamazoo Heart Walk Executive Leadership Breakfast last week. ❤️

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Kalamazoo Community Foundation @kalfound.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

At KZCF, we understand that advancing one’s education begins during childhood. That's why we were excited to support the Kalamazoo Public Library’s 29th Party in the Park reading event last week! 📖 📚🍎✨ 📸 Photo Credit: Kalamazoo Public Library

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