From the Editor
There's something about the freshness of spring and the longer hours of daylight that seem to give people a sunnier disposition in April. For me, April is a time when I feel grateful for the rest and reflection that winter has provided and revel in the renewed energy I have to enjoy the warmer months ahead.
I feel that energy in the people we feature in this month's magazine. While the subjects of the stories vary, they share a commonality in the energy they each dedicate to their work.
This month's cover story highlights Bianca Nightengale-Lee, the director of the Lewis Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations at Western Michigan University, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary. For more than three decades, the LWI has fostered better understanding of racial and ethnic relations across local, national and international sectors and has engaged with local community and youth to create a more just society. Through writer Robert M.Weir, we learn the whys behind the dynamic new energy Nightengale-Lee is bringing to this very important work.
Community is also at the heart of two other stories in this issue. Our Back Story features Maliha Raza, a native of India who is the director of development and operations for Kalamazoo Housing Advocates. Her life experience and world travels allow Raza to apply a unique perspective to the work of helping the unhoused in our area.
Using items provided by members of the community, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts has created a fascinating exhibition, Sourced from the 'Zoo, that is on display at multiple downtown locations. In our Five Faves feature, Rehema Barber, the KIA's director of curatorial affairs, provides a glimpse of the kinds of things you can expect to find in the exhibition.
We also meet Morgan Pell, who painstakingly handcrafts intricate and beautiful brooms. She is focused not only on the brooms' beauty but on their functionality as well. The story is penned by Sarah Horton, who also is one of the creators of a Public Media Network video about Pell that debuts this month.
We hope you find this month's issue of Encore to be as refreshing and invigorating as the first breezes of spring. Enjoy!
Left to right: Morgan Rogalke-Scime, Charles S. Ofstein, Tyler J. Stewart, Olivia A. Kurajian, William B. Millard
Sarah Horton
Sarah is a new writer for Encore, bringing us a story about Morgan Pell, a maker of handcrafted brooms that are as functional as they are beautiful. Sarah's story coincides with the release this month of a video on Morgan Pell that Sarah collaborated on. "I met Morgan while serving as a media fellow at Public Media Network. I became interested in her daily practice of functional art and collaborated with my mentor, Lem Montero, to create a video story about Morgan’s experience with broom making," Sarah explains. Sarah, who lives in Kalamazoo, is a student journalist completing a bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University.
Katie Houston
Katie is a Michigan-born, Kalamazoo-based writer and marketer, with a focus on helping nonprofits. For this issue's Back Story, she interviewed Maliha Raza, director of development and operations for Kalamazoo Housing Advocates. "You can't live in a city of any size without witnessing people who are unhoused," Katie says, "and I always wonder about the stories of those individuals. It was great to learn the KHA is working to both prevent homelessness and support people after they gain housing."
Robert M. Weir
Robert met Lewis Walker in 2016 when he wrote an article for Encore about the Civil Rights Movement. Walker, a professor at Western Michigan University at the time, was an integral part of that movement locally. He also marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1966 in the March Against Fear, which began in Memphis, Tennessee, and ended in Jackson, Mississippi. Weir and Walker have kept in touch over the years, and Weir says he is honored to write an article about the WMU institute that bears Walker’s name, the Lewis Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations, and to present the story of the new institute director, Bianca Nightengale-Lee.
• Medication reminders
• Delicious assortment
• Meal reminders, or transportation to dining/ activities, if
• Housekeeping – weekly cleaning of resident rooms
• Optional laundry services
• Bathing assistance
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Publisher encore publications, inc
Editor marie lee
Art Director alexis stubelt
Photographers brian k powers lem montero
Contributing Writers
rehema barber , sarah horton, katie houston, marie lee , robert m weir
Copy Editor/Poetry Editor margaret deritter
Advertising Sales janis clark kimberly juwong
Distribution ron kilian robert zedeck
Office Coordinator kelly burcroff
Proofreader hope smith
Encore Magazine is published 12 times yearly. Copyright 2025, Encore Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to:
www.encorekalamazoo.com 117 W. Cedar St. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Telephone: (269) 383–4433
Email: Publisher@encorekalamazoo.com
The staff at Encore welcomes written comments from readers, and articles and poems for submission with no obligation to print or return them. To learn more about us or to comment, visit encorekalamazoo.com. Encore subscription rates: one year $36, two years $70. Current single issue and newsstand $4, $10 by mail. Back issues $6, $12 by mail. Advertising rates on request. Closing date for space is 28 days prior to publication date. Final date for print–ready copy is 21 days prior to publication date.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by those interviewed and published here do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Encore Magazine or the official policies, owners or employees of Encore Publications
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First Things
Something Agricultural Foodways Symposium explores freshwater's role
The role that freshwater plays in the food ecosystem will be explored at the Kalamazoo Foodways Symposium April 4–5 at two locations in downtown Kalamazoo.
The symposium is free to attend and seeks to honor the community's agricultural history and heritage cuisines. It will feature lectures, workshops, demonstrations and food tastings.
Activities for the first day of the symposium will take place at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and begin with a Water Ceremony at 5 p.m., followed by a seed share hosted by the Kalamazoo Seed Collaborative at 6 p.m.
At 7 p.m., Roger LaBine of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and Cortney Collia of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians will give the symposium's keynote address, Manidoo Ogititgann (The Spirit Garden), discussing the role of manoomin (wild rice) in Michigan. After the presentation, appetizers featuring manoomin, prepared by Chef Sam Anglin from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and Chef Joel Boone of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, will be served.
The symposium will continue from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. April 5 at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building and will include presentations, a plant walk, youth activities, tours and a brewery open house.
For more information, visit kalamazoofoodways.org.
Something Scientific Miller hosts Neil deGrasse Tyson
Something Musical May Erlewine to play at Bell's
Michigan singer/songwriter May Erlewine will celebrate the release of her new album, What It Takes, with concerts April 4 and 5 at Bell's Eccentric Cafe.
Erlewine is best known as a folk music artist and has released more than a dozen albums since her 2004 debut, Heart Song. She will be performing at Bell's with a full band featuring Joel Gottschalk, Packy Lundholm, Ben Rose and Charlie Millard. Tickets are $35 and available at events.bellsbeer. com or at Bell's General Store, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave.
Astrophysicist and science celebrity Neil deGrasse Tyson will review the science that some of our favorite movies got wrong or right in a presentation at 7:30 p.m. April 24 at Miller Auditorium.
Neil deGrasse Tyson Goes to the Movies — Part I will look at the ways science has been depicted in popular movies such as Star Wars, Frozen and The Titanic. Tickets are $53.30–$108.30 and available at millerauditorium.com.
Something
Fun
Comic-Con returns to Expo Center
Actor Barry Bostwick, best known for his role as Brad Majors in the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show, will be among the celebrities at the Kalamazoo Comic-Con, being held April 11–13 at Kalamazoo County Expo Center.
The three-day event celebrates comic books and popular arts and includes voice actors, YouTube personalities, bestselling authors, comic creators, cosplayers and more.
The convention will be held from noon–7 p.m. April 11, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. April 12 and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. April 13. Tickets are $22–$30 for those 13 and older and $6 for children ages 5–12. A three-day pass is $55 for those 13 and older and $15 for children ages 5–12.
For tickets or more information, visit grcomiccon.com.
Something Legendary Bob Dylan to perform
S inger/songwriter
Bob Dylan, whose career has spanned more than 60 years, will bring his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour to Miller Auditorium at 8 p.m. April 16.
Dylan, who rose to fame during the early 1960s, has released more than 50 albums and written more than 600 songs, including the wellknown tunes "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Like a Rolling Stone."
His Kalamazoo concert will be a phone-free performance, where guests will be required to secure their phones in provided pouches that will be opened at the end of the concert. Anyone seen using a cell phone during the performance will be escorted out of the auditorium.
Tickets are $74–$600 and available at millerauditorium.com.
Five Faves
Treasured items in a community-sourced exhibition
BY REHEMA BARBER
Sourcedfromthe‘Zoois a community-sourced exhibition that celebrates residents of Kalamazoo.
Community members were invited to submit objects and artworks that are treasured parts of their daily lives or family history or related to regional history. The exhibition features items in 10 categories: climate and the environment, the curious and unconventional, dance and movement, equity and social justice, glass and glassmaking, life in Kalamazoo after the pandemic, music and musical instruments, people and places in Kalamazoo, self-care and well-being and an unclassified category.
The exhibition, which features nearly 170 entries, is on view at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (through June 1) and other downtown venues: the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo (through April 25), the Black Arts & Cultural Center (April 4–25), Glass Art Kalamazoo (through April 21) and Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Arcus Gallery (through April 25).
There are many interesting objects to discover and activities to participate in during Sourced from the ‘Zoo. Here are just a few of
I love seeing how people continue to share the cultural history of Kalamazoo and help our community to remember some of the important artistic endeavors that have happened here.
SunriseatPortageLittleLeagueField Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo
This color digital photograph by Paul May is a striking image. With the sun’s rays beaming brightly through a slightly cloudy sky, viewers see the peacefulness of dawn and a serene setting that will soon feature the hubbub and youthful excitement surrounding Little League games.
Glass Arts Kalamazoo
I have always loved rainbows. They represent so many different things for people, but for me they represent the promise of the future. This stainedglass piece by Kim Loftus is no different. Although glass can be a static medium, Loftus has made a work that reflects movement and vitality.
MeToo:ATherapist'sJourneytoHeal, FindLiberation,&Joy
Black Arts & Cultural Center
wellness and self-care may seem like recent trends, but they are becoming more visible in our society as pillars of healthy living. This book by Demarra West shows not only how those charged with facilitating the well-being of others need the same kind of care for themselves, but also how it's important to emphasize self-care in the Black community, where mental health care can frequently be looked upon with suspicion. West destigmatizes mental wellbeing with a focus on resilience fostered by the intentionality of healing, and the joy that can result after embarking on that journey of self-care. There will be several copies of her book on hand for visitors to explore.
Various artworks and objects
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
We have several intriguing artworks and objects that will be on view at the KIA, creating a challenge for me to select just one item to highlight. Visitors will have a chance to play the BurgerTime arcade game, generously on loan from Neil Murphy, and experience The Rope Project: A Community Connected and Jack Michael’s coprolite dinosaur fossils, to name just a few items. The Rope Project was a five-year collaborative artistic endeavor between Education for the Arts teaching artists and 15 Kalamazoo high school art students. The artwork that resulted features large metal sculptures that incorporate more than 100 "story ropes" — stories handwritten by community members on strips of cloth.
About the Author
Rehema Barber is the director of curatorial affairs at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Formerly, Barber was the director and chief curator of the Tarble Arts Center at Eastern Illinois University. She also has worked for various other institutions such as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s School of Art + Design, the University of Memphis, the Memphis College of Art, Power House Memphis, and The Amistad Center at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, in Hartford, Connecticut.
Lori Hannemann, Michael Brundage, CFP® & Michelle Eldridge, CFA,CPWA® Wealth Management Partners
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'Move Forward Together
with Humanity' Director of race institute helps people 'use their voices'
BY ROBERT M. WEIR
When it comes to describing what she wants to accomplish as the director of the Lewis Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations at Western Michigan University, Bianca NightengaleLee recalls a moment when she was teaching at a rural Kentucky elementary school in 2008.
She asked the youngsters what they thought about Barack Obama being elected president of the United States. Some, she says, thought it was OK, some thought it was not. Then she asked why they held their disparate views.
One white student named Nicholas said he didn’t like Obama because he was Black. “I asked him, ‘Do you realize I’m Black?’ To which
he replied, ‘But you’re different.’ You see, he thought I was different because he knew me," Nightengale-Lee says. "He had experiences with me, so he didn’t see me as being Black.
"I want to talk to the Nicholases of the world. I want to understand them, and I want them to understand me."
Beating the odds
Nightengale-Lee assumed the helm of the Institute in August. It has sought to promote understanding and action on race, ethnicity and social justice through education, research and community engagement since its creation 35 years ago.
“My work is centered around communities, schools, teachers, students and helping elevate the conversation about humanizing pedagogies and how can we create educational environments that allow students to have a voice for positive change," says Nightengale-Lee.
For her, this topic is both professional and personal.
While in kindergarten in a public school in Detroit, Nightengale-Lee was told she wasn’t a good reader, labeled with a learning disability and held back from advancing to first grade. “By the age of 7, I was stamped as not being a good student,” she recalls. “I was tracked into the lowest reading level possible from kindergarten through grade five. Mediocrity was my middle name through middle school and high school.”
Her parents, Raymond C. Nightengale and Vilanne Eddins (nee Davis), told her that she was smart. “But I didn’t think I was,” she says.
Nightengale-Lee finally found educational self-esteem as a student at Wayne State University, where, in her first semester, she took an introductory writing composition class that challenged many aspects of societal norms. “The professor, Petra Orloff, would have us read urban legends that centered on countering demographic and socio-spatial bias in the Detroit area. She pushed us freshmen to come face-to-face with widely held misconceptions about people of color and disenfranchised communities," she says. "This helped us think more critically about traditional notions and ideologies that are passed down from our parents and society.”
Nightengale-Lee got an A in the class, a grade she seldom saw while in public school. “When I thanked the professor, she said to me, ‘Bianca, you earned it. You are a writer.’ After that interaction, I began to see myself in a different light. Her words changed my trajectory of who I thought I was and how I wanted to contribute my voice to the world.”
Nightengale-Lee transferred to Eastern Michigan University, where she earned an undergraduate teaching degree in reading and science in 2003. She attained a master's degree in reading specialty in 2011
and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction in 2017 from the University of Louisville (Kentucky).
Nightengale-Lee describes herself as “an individual who has beaten the odds,” just as her parents, whom she calls “social justice warriors,” had done.
“My dad had cerebral palsy, but he was one of the first Black car designers at General Motors,” she says. “My mom was part of the Civil Rights struggle in Louisville.”
From teacher to teaching teachers
Nightengale-Lee’s first professional job, from 2004 to 2008, was as a middle school teacher at the “very unique” Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit, a charter school with an Afrocentric curriculum. “We didn’t celebrate Black History Month, because every day was about Black history,” she says.
During her tenure there, she learned classroom management, discipline and “to put on a tough exterior.” “You see how tall I am, 5-1. The students would tower over me. But I told them, ‘Even though I’m short and I look smiley, don’t play me. I will get you.’”
From 2008 to 2018, she taught third grade in a rural school and then an urban school in Louisville Public Schools, where she later became a curriculum coach while studying for her doctorate.
After receiving her Ph.D., Nightengale-Lee became an assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, where she taught courses on education and curriculum design with an emphasis on race, class, gender and multicultural perspectives.
She authored several professional articles on Black boys and literacy development, and why anti-Black male racism is the reason why young Black males are among the most marginalized groups of children in the United States.
Her varied educational experiences have led Nightengale-Lee to become an advocate for racial and ethnic diversity in the educational workforce. “The more teachers of color we have, the better outcomes we have,” she says, “not just for Black and Brown students but for all students.”
Her vision for LWI
She describes her leadership role at the Lewis Walker Institute (LWI) as “a beautiful, beautiful position” and sees fertile ground for her endeavors in Kalamazoo, which she describes as “one of the most synergistic environments where people really come out and do the work.”
“It's absolutely phenomenal the way the institute integrates with the community, the university and local schools,” she says.
In her vision for the Institute, Nightengale-Lee defines community as “the entirety of Kalamazoo, with a focus on areas that are the most disenfranchised and most marginalized.” She is taking steps to partner with the Douglass Community Association, Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. and community-oriented organizations in the Edison neighborhood
“We want to find the most vulnerable pockets, go there, understand their needs, and then do what we can to create programming, education and activities to answer some of the larger issues they may have.”
One way the Institute does this is through its Walker Institute for Race and Ethnic Relations (WIRE) Youth Development Programs.
At left, Bianca Nightengale-Lee, the director of the Lewis Walker Institute. Above, students work on a building project as part of the institute's WIRE program's Saturday Academy for youth. (Courtesy photo)
Since 2008, more than 1,000 young people have engaged in the programs, which help youth envision themselves in college and in careers and provide guidance and instruction to help them get there.
Among those programs is a four-week summer math and science camp for students in third through eighth grade. Past curricula have included chemistry, organic food production, environmental science, music, astronomy, geological sciences, physics, artificial intelligence, algebra, geometry and computer coding for 3D printing.
The concept of the summer program is extended into the academic year through the Institute's Saturday Academy, which introduces students to advanced careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
A third program, Youth Juvenile Justice Fellows, is for youth ages 12 to 19 who want to promote juvenile justice reform and/or who are or have been involved in the juvenile justice system, such as assigned to a detention center for minor legal violations.
“We meet with these young people twice a month on a Sunday and talk about how to advocate for themselves so they don’t get caught up in the system again,” Nightengale-Lee explains.
The Youth Juvenile Justice Fellows program is operated in conjunction with the Kalamazoo Public Safety Department to help youth understand “it’s not us against them. It’s all of us together trying to make the community better” by building positive relationships, educating on the issues, and becoming advocates for change, says Nightengale-Lee.
Her own 'magic'
Nightengale-Lee says the core of the work she leads at the Institute is about teaching others to "use their voices." Linking back to her own early education experiences, she says, “I went through my whole K–12 grades voiceless, so I vowed that when I got into education I would help other teachers, other students and other people understand how we activate voices. The Lord gives each
Lewis Walker at the Heart of the Institute
During the week of Oct. 21, 2024, the Lewis Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations hosted Walker Week in honor of Lewis Walker, who cofounded the institute in 1989 and after whom it has been named since 2000.
The festivities included a surprise party for Walker, who celebrated his 88th birthday Oct. 22.
The event included a proclamation from the city paying tribute to Walker’s birth in a tin-roofed house near Selma, Alabama; his becoming WMU’s first full-time African American Ph.D. faculty member; his devotion to research in race and ethnic relations and social justice; and his servce as a consultant to people of color in South Africa during the apartheid era.
A member of the WMU Sociology Department from 1964 to 1999, Walker served as department chair for his last decade of tenure. During his career, Walker marched in 1966 with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and co-authored three books including Black Eden: The Idlewild Community and African Americans in Michigan
“When I came to town in 1964, I became very involved in the Civil Rights Movement and numerous items on the local table that dealt with race and ethnic relations, which was one of my areas of interest and expertise,” Walker recalls.
The Lewis Walker Institute “was born out of many discussions with social activist Dwayne Roberts, a Kalamazoo mailman and graduate of WMU and Wayne State University” he says, and in 1989, Walker and Roberts successfully lobbied then-WMU President Diether Haenicke to establish the first university-based race relations institute in Michigan.
What is a transfer on death (TOD) agreement?
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TOD agreements allow an account owner to name or designate bene ciaries who will inherit the account’s assets upon the owner’s death. Using a TOD, the transfer of assets may be kept private between the owner and the designated bene ciary. TODs may also help an account owner avoid probate; however, if the primary bene ciary passes, some TOD accounts may not allow you to name a contingent bene ciary. Receiving an asset through a TOD agreement could cause problems for some bene ciaries. TOD agreements do not provide creditor protection for the bene ciaries. In addition, inheriting signi cant assets through a TOD account could have tax implications for bene ciaries. Lastly, disabled bene ciaries of a TOD receiving government bene ts could lose their bene ts by being bene ciaries of a TOD account.
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Please send your questions to Michael J. Willis, J.D., C.P.A.
Willis Law 491 West South Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.492.1040
one of us a vocal box and vocal cords to say something, but our young people, especially today, don’t necessarily know how to use their voices for activism, advocacy and action."
Under Nightengale-Lee’s leadership, the Walker Institute is creating opportunities for university students to better understand life in the local urban community. Last fall the Institute partnered with Brianne Pitts, WMU assistant professor of elementary education, to bring community members together with 27 white university education students at the Douglass Community Association to discuss the future of education for students of color in the Kalamazoo area.
“We had frank conversations about how to develop and encourage students” who might be failing or sleeping or causing trouble in school because of their life circumstances outside of school, says Douglass Executive Director Stacey Randolph-Ledbetter.
Nightengale-Lee says her vision for the Walker Institute is for people “to understand that, regardless of our histories and our color
Lewis Walker Institute's 35th Anniversary Gala Benefit
What: A fundraising event to celebrate the institute's accomplishments, with proceeds going to support its youth programs
When: 6–9 p.m. April 11
Where: WMU Student Center, 170 Arcadia Loop
Tickets: $35–$75, or $560 for a table of eight; available online at tinyurl.com/ LWIgala
and our languages, we are human beings first,” and to help people work together to “move forward together with humanity and love regardless of our value systems or religions. That’s really at the heart of everything I do.”
Moving past discomfort
Whether the conversation is local or global, Nightengale-Lee says “race and ethnicity infiltrate every facet of our social life."
"Yet," she adds, “some people don’t want to talk about these issues because they’re uncomfortable or they don’t understand them.”
She encourages people and organizations to move past discomfort and to seek
understanding from a humanistic standpoint by asking key questions: What does race mean? Why is it important right now? What are the implications of racism? And how do we get past that?
If there is no driver to facilitate these conversations, she says, society will stagnate in racial and ethnic divisiveness.
“We’ve got to open our ears and our hearts and learn how to see and hear people from a humanizing standpoint rather than a political or racial standpoint," she says. "Our diversity is not something we can sweep under the rug. I want the institute to carve out a strategic space for everyone to come together and have authentic conversations so we can collectively strategize and move things forward.
“The word I keep saying is ‘forward, forward, forward.’ Move things forward, because ultimately we’re all the same. We are all the same.”
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Sweeping Beauty The unique method behind Morgan Pell's beautiful brooms
BY SARAH HORTON
Morgan Pell’s life would change course after she moved into a rambling fixer-upper in rural Cooper Township in 2017. The hideaway, with its mossy stairs and sweeping deck, marked the beginning of her journey into the world of functional art.
The listing for the house had no pictures. There was a promise of privacy and acreage, but Pell’s first impression of the house was nothing short of “creepy.”
“It was terrifying driving up here for the first time,” says Pell. “(But) uncovering things and seeing some of the beauty in the original build of the house, I was like, ‘I want to add to that. I want to make it my own.’”
Morgan, 34, grew up in southern Michigan and had a range of work experience, from being a waitress and a dog groomer to, most recently, a real estate agent.
Accompanied by her husband, Mark, Pell embraced her new space. Home projects multiplied. Pell wanted to fill her home with durable and artful goods and looked to the surrounding community for guidance and instruction.
She started with the skill she deemed most challenging — blacksmithing — and took an introductory blacksmithing class at Tillers International, a nonprofit in Scotts that offers courses in homesteading skills. In the years following, Pell expanded her range as a maker, picking up stonemasonry, woodworking, linocut making and broom making, among other skills.
But it was assembling brooms that became an enduring obsession, says Pell. She saw the craft as a puzzle she was determined to solve. Roughly three years ago, her obsession turned into something more. She invented
Broommaker Morgan Pell with one of her custom-crafted "Mergstyle" brooms.
Lem Montero
her own technique of crafting brooms from straw-like strands of broomcorn, a plant native to South Africa that has been used to make brooms for centuries. She dubbed the technique “Mergstyle.”
“Mergstyle brooms are artfully assembled out of dyed (strands of broom) corn so that they depict an image on the cut handle end of the broom,” says Pell.
These intricately crafted images, which depict crisp patterns ranging from rainbows and paw prints to sunset landscapes and moon phases, are created as she builds the broom, as opposed to being painted after assembly. Piece by piece, Pell selects home-
dyed broomcorn of varying shapes and sizes and arranges them into a cohesive picture.
Pell estimates she made a hundred Mergstyle prototypes before creating a broom she was proud of. Her initial effort at a yin-and-yang design turned out to be "hardly more than a few contrasting blobs," she says. Now her home workshop is filled with dozens of successful creations. But the brooms that don’t meet Pell’s standards are still put to functional use.
“There’s one in my truck. There’s one on my husband’s tractor. There’s a few around my shop that haven’t quite made it out yet and probably never will,” says Pell.
Aside from the details of design, the craft of creating each broom is a physically demanding one. For a broom to last, it must be tied tightly with twine. Maintaining the right level of tension on the twine requires significant upper-body strength. Pell wraps twine around a wooden broom winder that she braces with her feet. She lets out slack as needed and then pulls upright with her arms. This physical strain, combined with Pell’s mild allergy to the broomcorn, can make the process particularly arduous.
“When people come to me to learn at a broom-making workshop, that’s usually the biggest hurdle — making them understand
Access to the arts is essential for everyone. The arts enrich our lives, cultivate empathy and understanding, and help shape a vibrant future for all.
Please consider supporting the ACGK, so we can continue to promote, support, and create opportunities for artists and art organizations in our community.
See Morgan Pell's Creative Process
When: Beginning April 1
Where: AmplifyKalamazoo.com
A video about Morgan and the process of creating her unique Mergstyle brooms is featured in Sweeping Statement: The Amazing Brooms of Morgan Pell, a new video produced by Sarah Horton (who authored this story) and Lem Montero as part of Public Media Network’s Frank Jamison Fellowship program.
See more of Morgan Pell's work at mergwerks.com
that this is going to be a very physical task,” says Pell.
Despite its challenges, the work can be therapeutic, Pell says. Keeping her hands busy helps her process her thoughts. Her love of making functional art is tied up in its meditative quality and its practical use.
“I try to make sure that every single one of my Mergstyle brooms is a functional broom, even though most people don’t want to use them,” says Pell. “That’s a big part of
my focus. More so than the images that I’m putting together. … Every broom is functional and is made to last.”
In December, Pell launched an online shop, mergwerks.com, following her annual appearance at the Buy Local Art and Gift Fair hosted by the Kalamazoo Nature Center. She plans to expand her online storefront to include her blacksmith goods and her husband’s handmade cutting boards, many of which are made using wood sourced from their property.
“I think if I was making something that wasn’t so functional, like a painting, I would probably get bored with it a little bit faster,” she says.
Amid the privacy of her wooded acreage, Pell has become an accomplished full-time interdisciplinary artist. She’s gone from taking broom-making classes at Tillers to working there as a volunteer and an instructor. This summer she will teach a broom-making class as part of the annual Earthcraft Skillshare Gathering hosted by Tillers.
Perhaps even more significant to her, Pell’s days have taken on a new rhythm. “Making has become part of the everyday normal living out here,” says Pell. “Now if I go a day without making, I feel off, like something’s not quite right.”
From top left: A mountain scene depicted on an end of one of Morgan Pell's Mergstyle brooms; Pell wrapping broomcorn with a twining device she holds under her feet; some of the intricate designs Pell incorporates into her brooms. Photos by Lem Montero and courtesy of Morgan Pell.
Lem Montero
TheArts
SmolderingFires
April 11–20
Face Off Theatre
This play resonates with the desire to inspire change as it follows the fates of two best friends, 12-year-olds Dashawn and Corey, who dream of cleaning up their violent, drug-infested neighborhood but end up taking different paths.
Show times for this Face Off Theatre for Young Audiences production are 7:30 p.m. April 11, 12 and 19 and 2 p.m. April 20 at the Jolliffe Theatre in the Epic Center. Tickets are $20 and available at faceofftheatre.com or by calling 250-6984.
Zorroandthe King’sGold
April 26
All Ears Theatre
Zorro in all his swashbuckling glory returns to All Ears Theatre this month for another all-audio adventure.
This radio play was written by Daryl McCullough, who has penned a series of Zorro full-cast audio dramas. The free production will begin at 6 p.m. in the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition Building.
For more information, visit allearstheatre.org.
Rhinoceros
April 25–May 3
Dormouse Theatre
As the inhabitants of a small French town inexplicably transform into rhinoceroses, one man is the sole human resisting the mass metamorphosis in this absurdist comedy by Eugene Ionesco.
Oliverliski Murphy has the lead role as Bérenger in the play, which explores themes of conformity, philosophy and morality.
Show time is 7 p.m. at Dormouse Theatre, and tickets are $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit dormousetheatre.com.
Other New Productions
A Jukebox for the Algonquin , April 3–20, Farmers Alley Theatre, farmersalleytheatre.com
The Queen of Bingo , April 4–12, The New Vic Theatre, thenewvictheatre.org
The Seussification of A Midsummer Night’s Dream , April 25–May 4, Civic Youth Theatre, civic.com
Continuing Productions
Dancing at Lughnasa — April 4–6, Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, kazoocivic.com
Dreamgirls — April 4–13, WMU Theatre, wmich.edu/theatre
VISUAL ARTS
JennyPope:Woodcuts
April 4–May 23
Kalamazoo Book Arts Center
Color-reduction woodcut prints and intricate ceramics created by New York artist Jenny Pope will be showcased in this exhibition.
Pope's work features compelling combinations of species with odd or interesting elements from their natural histories.
A reception for the artist will be held from 5–8 p.m. May 2. The exhibition can otherwise be seen from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday or by appointment. For more information, visit kalbookarts.org.
Ongoing Exhibitions
YoungArtistsofKalamazooCounty , through April 15, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Sourced from the 'Zoo , through May 25, KIA and other downtown venues (see "Five Faves" in this issue)
An Infinite Constellation of Love , through June 15, KIA
Kalamazoo Poetry Festival
April 24–26
Various locations
Poets Denise Miller and Aaron Coleman are featured prominently in this year's festival, as they will be presenting workshops, a craft talk and readings.
Miller won the 2020 Sexton Prize for Poetry for her collection A Ligature for Black Bodies. She is on the English faculty at Kalamazoo College. Coleman is a Kalamazoo College graduate who, among other honors, has received a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship and the Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Award for Poetry for his book Threat Come Close. He is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan.
This three-day celebration of poetry begins with Celebration of Community Poets at 6:30 p.m. April 24 at the Northside Association of Community Development. The event will include selected local poets sharing their work and a performance of the festival's Community Poem.
The next day the festival hosts a Your Turn Open Mic at 7 p.m. April 25 at Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative.
On April 26, Miller and Coleman will be highlighted in a series of activities at Kalamazoo's First Congregational Church:
• Workshop by Coleman,10 a.m.
• Workshop by Miller, 11:30 a.m.
• Craft talk by Coleman and Miller, 3:30 p.m.
• Finale reading and reception featuring Miller and Coleman, 5 p.m.
The festival is free to attend. For more information, visit kalamazoopoetryfestival.com.
Poets in Print
April 5 & 19
Kalamazoo Book Arts Center
The KBAC will offer two poetry readings this month — one in person and one online: Ananda Lima and Taylor Byas will read from their works starting at 7 p.m. April 5. Lima is the author of Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil (2024) and Mother/land (2021). Byas has authored two chapbooks, and a full-lenghth poetry collection, I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times
Kaveh Akbar and Steven Espada Dawson will give virtual readings starting at 7 p.m. April 19.
Akbar's reading will celebrate the publication of his limited-edition book The Palace, which features woodcut illustrations by Jenny Pope, whose work will be on display in the KBAC gallery. Akbar's work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Paris Review, and Best American Poetry. He is also the author of the 2024 novel Martyr! Dawson is the author of Late to the Search Party (2025), and his poems have appeared in journals and anthologized in Best New Poets, Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize. For the Zoom link for the Akbar/Dawson reading, visit kalbookarts.org.
Susie Finkbeiner
April 2
Richland Community Library
This Grand Rapids-based author, whose book All Manner of Things was selected as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, will give a talk at 6:30 p.m. at the library.
Finkbeiner has authored a number of other novels, including The All-American, The Nature of Small Birds, and Stories That Bind Us
Ananda Lima Taylor Byas
Steven Espada Dawson Keveh Akbar
TheArts
WMU School of Music
Throughout
the month
Various venues
The school closes out another academic year this month with a full slate of performances. Unless otherwise noted, the performances will be in the Dalton Center Recital Hall, and tickets are $5–$15:
• University Jazz Lab Band, 7:30 p.m. April 1.
• Carlo De Rosa Jazz Trio, 7:30 p.m. April 2.
• Gold Company II, student vocal jazz group, 7:30 p.m. April 3.
• Student Composers III, recital, 2 p.m. April 4, free.
• Jeremiah Quarles, oboe, 7:30 p.m. April 4.
• University Percussion Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. April 5, free.
• Advanced Jazz Ensemble, 1 p.m. April 6, free.
• Broncos Tuba and Euphonium Choir, 5 p.m. April 6, free.
• Chamber Music Showcase, 7:30 p.m. April 8, free.
• University Wind Symphony, with guests Viet Cuong & All-Star Band, 7:30 p.m. April 10, Miller Auditorium.
• Jazz Combo Showcase, 7:30 p.m. April 10, free.
• Choral Showcase, with Amphion, Anima & University Chorale choirs, 7:30 p.m. April 11.
• University Symphony Orchestra, 3 p.m. April 13.
For tickets or more information, visit wmich.edu/music/ events.
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
April 5, 16 & 27
Various venues
From jazz to rock anthems and dance, the KSO has an eclectic slate of concerts this month:
• RhapsodyinBlue , a performance of George Gershwin's original 1924 jazz score that will feature vocalist Mikaela Bennett, 7:30 p.m. April 5 at Chenery Auditorium. Tickets are $73.
• Anthems—Rock,Pop&More , a performance by the KSO's Artists in Residence that's part of the KSO Craft Music series, 7 p.m. April 16 at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe. Tickets are $5–$30.
• Sound in Motion , a collaboration of a KSO string quartet and Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers that will feature family-fun activities before the performance. The performance is at 3 p.m. April 27 at Western Michigan University's Dalton Center Recital Hall. Tickets are $5–$15.
To purchase tickets, visit kalamazoosymphony.org.
Lyyra
April 12
Fontana Chamber Arts
Lyyra, the only professional six-voice female a cappella group in the U.S., will perform at 7:30 pm. in WMU’s Dalton Center Recital Hall.
The group is working as part of the VOCES 8 Foundation’s global mission to deliver world-beat concerts alongside integrated learning. Tickets are $15–$30 and are available by calling the Community Box Office at 250-6984 or online at fontanamusic.org.
The Kelly Green Trio
April 17
Crawlspace Comedy Theatre
Pianist, vocalist and composer Kelly Green leads this jazz trio that will perform at 7:30 p.m.
Green, who has been touted by NYC Jazz Record as a new artist “well worth discovering,” will be joined by Evan Hyde on drums and Luca Soul Rosenfeld on upright bass. Tickets are $10–$25 and available at crawlspacecomedy.com.
is published in partnership and funding provided by
50th Anniversary Gala
April 19
Stulberg International String Competition
The Stulberg celebrates its 50-year legacy of recognizing talented young string musicians from around the globe with this event beginning at 6:30 p.m. at The Desenberg event venue in downtown Kalamazoo.
The event will include a cocktail hour featuring live music by violinist Barry Ross and pianist Terry Lower, dinner, and a preview by composer Lucas Richman and violinist Mitchell Newman of a newly commissioned concerto composed in honor of the Stulberg Competition.
Tickets are $125 and available at stulberg.org.
ANightat theOpera
April 26
Kalamazoo Concert Band
The band concludes its season with this free performance featuring oboist Leo Egen, winner of the 2025 Youth Solo Competition, and tenor Timothy Stoddard at 7:30 p.m. in Chenery Auditorium.
The program will include well-known selections by Wagner, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rossini, and Gilbert and Sullivan.
Visit kalamazooconcertband.org for more information.
The Gilmore Concerts
April 13 & 23
Chenery Auditorium
The Gilmore offers two performances this month.
Grammy-winning jazz artists Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Marcus Gilmore will bring their collective talents to a concert at 7:30 p.m. April 13.
As a pianist, Mehldau has worked with performers including Pat Metheny, Renée Fleming and Joshua Redman and garnered awards for his own compositions and reworkings of songs by artists such as The Beatles, Cole Porter and Radiohead.
Bassist McBride heads the ensembles Inside Straight and The Christian McBride Big Band and hosts National Public Radio’s Jazz Night in America
Drummer Gilmore has worked with Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Jill Scott, Norah Jones and Terrace Martin. Tickets are $10–$55.
French pianist Hélène Grimaud will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 23. Known for her unique interpretations of classical works, Grimaud will perform masterworks by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. A concert preview by Sophié van der Westhuizen will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10–$50.
To purchase tickets for each concert, visit thegilmore.org.
Captivating Passion, Exhilarating Energy
Carmen & Boléro
SAT | MAY 3
With Kalamazoo Choral Arts and Ballet Arts Ensemble
TICKETS STARTING AT $25
269.250.6984
KalamazooSymphony.com Get Your Tickets Today!
Photo: Gerard Collett
Ben Gulley, Tenor
Rihab Chaieb, Mezzo-soprano
PERFORMING ARTS
THEATER
Plays
A Jukebox for the Algonquin — A comedy about life in a senior living community, 7:30 p.m. April 3–5, 10–12, 17–19, 2 p.m. April 6, 13 & 20, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343-2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.
Dancing at Lughnasa — Five Irish sisters struggle to adapt to their changing world, 7:30 p.m. April 4 & 5, 2 p.m. April 6, Carver Studio, 426 S. Park St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com.
Smoldering Fires — Two boys grapple with their dreams & the harsh realities of their environment, 7:30 p.m. April 11, 12 & 19, 2 p.m. April 20, Face Off Theatre Company, Jolliffe Theatre, Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, faceofftheatre.com.
Rhinoceros — As the inhabitants of a small French town inexplicably transform into rhinoceroses, one manresists the mass metamorphosis, 7 p.m. April 25, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
Musicals
Hadestown — Intertwines the mythic tales of Orpheus, Eurydice, Hades & Persephone, 7:30 p.m. April 1 & 2, Miller Auditorium, WMU, millerauditorium.com.
Dreamgirls — A Motown girl group rises to superstardom, 7:30 p.m. April 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12, 2 p.m. April 6 & 13, Shaw Theatre, WMU, 387-6222, wmich.edu/theatre.
The Seussification of A Midsummer Night’s Dream — A Civic Youth Theatre presentation, 7:30 p.m. April 25 & May 2, 2 p.m. April 26 & 27, May 3 & 4, 10 a.m. April 30 & May 1, Parish Theatre, 405 S. Lovell St., 343-1313, kazoocivic.com.
Other
Zorro & the King’s Gold — An all-audio theater production about one of Zorro’s swashbuckling adventures, 6 p.m. April 26, Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan Ave., allearstheatre.org.
DANCE
Western Dance Project Final Showing — 7:30 p.m. April 18, Dance Studio B, Dalton Center, WMU, wmich.edu/dance/events.
Riverdance 30: The New Generation — Irish dancing, 7:30 p.m. April 29, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
MUSIC
Bands & Solo Artists
Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — All shows at 8 p.m. unless noted otherwise: Molly & Kait Rose, April 3; May Erlewine, April 4 & 5; ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience, April 10; Dogs in a Pile, April 12; The Weather Station, April 13; KSO Craft Music, 7 p.m. April 16; The New Mastersounds,
April 17; Desmond Jones w/Flexadecibel, April 18; Big Richard w/Caleb Cadle, April 19; Robbie Fulks, April 27; Love with Johnny Echols w/Baby Lemonade, April 29; 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 3822332, bellsbeer.com.
Glen Phillips — Lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket, 8 p.m. April 5, Franke Center for the Arts, 214 E. Mansion St., Marshall, thefranke.org.
Dormouse Disco — Silent disco with Tarrow, Soular Spice, Business Socks & Lumani, 9 p.m. April 5, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
Juicy J — Hip-hop artist, 7:30 p.m. April 12, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Bob Dylan — 8 p.m. April 16, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More
University Jazz Lab Band — 7:30 p.m. April 1, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/ music/events.
Carlo De Rosa Jazz Trio — 7:30 p.m. April 2, Dalton Center Recital Hall; pre-concert talk, 7 p.m., wmich.edu/music/events.
Gold Company II — Student vocal jazz group, 7:30 p.m. April 3, Dalton Center Recital Hall, 387-4678, wmich.edu/music/events.
Student Composers III — Studio recital, 2 p.m. April 4, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/ music/events.
Jeremiah Quarles — Oboe, 7:30 p.m. April 4, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.
Saturdays with Stulberg — A virtual YouTube recital by 2023 Gold Medalist Amelia Zitoun, 10:30 a.m. April 5, stulberg.org.
University Percussion Ensemble — 7:30 p.m. April 5, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/ events.
Rhapsody in Blue — The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra performs the original 1924 jazz score, with vocalist Mikaela Bennett, 7:30 p.m. April 5, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., kalamazoosymphony.org.
Advanced Jazz Ensemble — 1 p.m. April 6, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.
Broncos Tuba and Euphonium Choir — 5 p.m. April 6, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/ music/events.
Chamber Music Showcase — Chamber Music Competition winners perform, 7:30 p.m. April 8, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/ events.
Spring Conference for Wind & Percussion Music — University Wind Symphony, with guest composer Viet Cuong & All-Star Band, 7:30 p.m. April 10, Miller Auditorium, wmich.edu/music/ events.
Jazz Combo Showcase — 7:30 p.m. April 10, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.
Choral Showcase — Featuring Amphion, Anima & University Chorale, 7:30 p.m. April 11, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/events.
Lyyra — A cappella group, 7:30 p.m. April 12, Dalton Center Recital Hall, fontanamusic.org.
Crescendo Academy of Music Student Recital — 2 p.m. April 13, First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St., 345-6664, crescendoacademy.com.
University Symphony Orchestra — 3 p.m. April 13, Dalton Center Recital Hall, wmich.edu/music/ events.
Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Marcus Gilmore — Grammy-winning jazz artists, 7:30 p.m. April 13, Chenery Auditorium, thegilmore.org.
Anthems — Rock, Pop & More — A KSO Craft Music performance , 7 p.m. April 16, Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, 382–2332, kalamazoosymphony.org.
The Kelly Green Trio — Jazz performance, 7:30 p.m. April 17, Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, 315 W. Michigan Ave., crawlspacecomedy.com.
Stulberg 50th Anniversary Gala — Cocktails, live music & dinner, 6:30 p.m. April 19, The Desenberg, 251 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 108, stulberg.org.
Hélène Grimaud — French pianist, 7:30 p.m. April 23, Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave., thegilmore.org.
Candlelight: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More — Performed by Listeso String Quartet, 6:30 p.m. April 24, KNAC Building, 315 W. Michigan Ave., feverup.com.
A Night at the Opera — Kalamazoo Concert Band with youth soloist competition winner, oboist Leo Egen, 7:30 p.m. April 26, Chenery Auditorium, kalamazooconcertband.org.
Sound in Motion — KSO string quartet & Wellspring/Cori Terry Dancers, 3 p.m. April 27, Dalton Center Recital Hall, kalamazoosymphony.org.
FILM
Family Movie Night — Showing of Piece by Piece, 5:30 p.m. April 1, Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St., kpl.gov/ event.
Double Film Screening — American Movie (documentary about the making of Coven) & Coven (short horror film), 7:30 p.m. April 10, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.
Neil deGrasse Tyson: An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies — Part I — The celebrity scientist reviews the science in popular movies, , 7:30 p.m. April 24, Miller Auditorium, millerauditorium.com.
VISUAL ARTS
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
314 S. Park St., 349-7775, kiarts.org
Exhibitions
Young Artists of Kalamazoo County — Artwork by students from kindergarten–8th grade, through April 15.
Sourced from the 'Zoo — Art, objects & stories celebrating Kalamazoo displayed in downtown locations, through May 25.
An Infinite Constellation of Love — Videos, sculptures & paintings by JooYoung Choi, through June 15.
Events
Art Bridges Access for All — Free general admission on Thursdays, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Gallery Gathering: Sourced from the ‘Zoo — Highlighting some pieces the community contributed to the exhibition, 5:30 p.m. April 3; register online.
Sunday Drop-In Conversation — Docents discuss artwork, 1:30–2:30 p.m. Sundays.
Mary Brodbeck: Woodblock Printmaker Influences and Evolution — Discussion by the artist, followed by reception, 10 a.m. April 9.
ARTbreak — Program about art, artists & exhibitions: Modern Dance in Rehearsal, April 9, Cori Terry Theatre, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall; Sourced from the ‘Zoo: Epic Explorations, April 16, Black Arts & Cultural Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall; sessions begin at noon; registration requested.
The Great KIA Book Swap — Free book swap with music & refreshments, 6–8 p.m. April 10.
Centennial: Remix — Cocktails & light bites with a sound & art experience celebrating the KIA's 100th anniversary, 7 p.m. April 11; registration required.
Book Discussion — TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, 2 p.m. April 16; registration requested.
Wellness & Personal Enrichment Sampler — Learn about Kirk Newman Art School enrichment programs, 6 p.m. April 17.
KIA Tiny Art Show — Create a 3"-by-3" painting using materials provided at this family-friendly event, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. April 19.
Richmond Center for Visual Arts Western Michigan University, 387-2436, wmich.edu/art
Spring 2025 Lectures — Kristina Scheufelt, 5:30 p.m. April 3; Paul Briggs, 5:30 p.m. April 10; Room 2008, wmich.edu/art.
Spring 2025 Exhibitions — Works by students in the DeVries Student Gallery: Finn Zeihammel, print media, April 8–11; Morgan Lutz, paintings, & Sydney Thompson, metals & jewelry, April 15–26; noon–6 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday, wmich.edu/art.
Other Venues
Jenny Pope: Woodcuts — Color-reduction woodcut prints & intricate ceramics, April 4–May 23, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A; reception, 5–8 p.m. May 2 during Art Hop, 373–4938, kalbookarts.org.
Northside Art Experience — Monthly showcase of local musicians & artists hosted by Ed Genesis, 7:30–9:30 p.m. April 12, Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St. LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS
Comstock Township Library 6130 King Highway, 345-0136, comstocklibrary.org
Buck-a-Bag Book Sale — Fill a bag with books for $1, March 31–April 12.
CTL Writers — Group writing discussion, 10 a.m. Fridays.
Gone with the Wind — Showing of the original 1939 film; Part I, 5:30 p.m. April 9; Part II, 5:30 p.m. April 16; registration required.
Adult Book Club — 1:30 p.m. April 10.
State Rep. Matt Hall Listening Hour — Converse with the representative’s staff, noon April 16.
Pride Book Club — Discuss Armistead Maupin's Logical Family: A Memoir, 6 p.m. April 23, in person & online; registration required.
Adult Book Club — Discuss Ursula Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness, 5:30 p.m. April 30; registration required.
Kalamazoo Public Library 553-7800, kpl.gov
Family Adventure Escape Room — Use clues to open the locks & solve puzzles, during open hours, April 1–5, Oshtemo Branch; registration required.
KPL Tech Days — Personal session to learn technology & the internet, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. April 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26 & 29, Central Library; sessions are first-come, first-served.
Kalamazoo Writers Disorganization — For those interested in all forms of writing, 4–6 p.m. April 1, Central Library.
Comics & Manga Workshop — Introduction to comic & manga creation, 4:30 p.m. April 1, Eastwood Branch; registration required.
Using AI for Research & Instruction — Various uses of AI in the research process, 5:30 p.m. April 1, online event; registration required.
No Shelf Control: A Graphic Novel Book Club
— Discuss Kurtis J. Wiebe's Rat Queens Vol. 1, 6 p.m. April 1, Central Library.
Virtual Reality — Experience VR in a 20-minute session, 1–2 p.m. April 2, 10, 17 & 22, Central Library; children 12 & younger must have a parent or guardian signature.
Dad Café — Hosted by The Fatherhood Network, 6 p.m. April 2, Alma Powell Branch; 6 p.m. April 16, Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St.
KPL Mobile Library — 2 p.m. April 3, Leisure Pointe Condominiums, 4814 Weston Ave.; 3 p.m. April 7, Douglass Apartments, 1211 Douglas Ave.; 3 p.m. April 8, Maple Grove Village, 735 Summit Ave.; 4 p.m. April 16, Oakwood Neighborhood Association, 3320 Laird Ave.; 3:30 p.m. April 21, New Village Park/Heather Gardens, 2400 Albans Way; 10 a.m. April 22, Lodge House, 1211 S. Westnedge Ave.; 3:30 p.m. April 22, Interfaith Homes, 1037 Interfaith Blvd.; stops are about 1 hour.
Air Zoo Family Engineering Event — Hands-on engineering challenges for all ages, 2 p.m. April 4, Eastwood Branch; registration required.
First Saturday at the Kalamazoo Public Library — Community organizations, crafts & activities, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. April 5, behind Alma Powell Branch, weather permitting, or at Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St.
AI Overview & Use in Public Libraries — How AI can enhance productivity, 5:30 p.m. April 8, online event; registration required.
E-File Your Taxes (with Guidance) — Free e-filing program with IRS-certified volunteers, 9:30–11:30 a.m. April 9, Central Library; registration required; bring your own device or use one of the library’s Chromebooks.
Tech Basics: Troubleshooting — Tips & tricks using your device or one from the library, 1 p.m. April 9, Central Library.
Seed Stewardship with the Kalamazoo Seed Collaborative — Introduction to seed saving, 1 p.m. April 12, Central Library.
Page Turners Book Club — Discuss Carl Sciacchitano’s The Heart that Fed: A Father, A Son, & the Long Shadow of War, 6:30–7:30 p.m. April 14, Oshtemo Branch & online; registration required.
Tech Basics: All About Apps — What they are & using one, 10 a.m. April 15, Central Library.
Dungeons & Dragons Game Night — Beginner to experienced levels, for adults, 5:30 p.m. April 16, Central Library; registration required.
Living, Learning & Becoming Literate with AI — Productive, responsible use of AI tools, 7 p.m. April 16, online event; registration required.
Classics Revisited — Discuss George Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss, 2:30 p.m. April 17, Boardroom, Central Library.
Coffee & Connections — Meet with library staff, 2 p.m. April 19 & 9 a.m. April 21, Central Library.
Music & Memories — Songs & discussion on how music brings up memories, 11 a.m.–noon April 21, Oshtemo Branch.
Tech Basics: Cybersecurity — Common tactics used by scammers & hackers, noon April 21, Central Library.
Smartphone Photography — Workshop on taking photos with a smartphone, 6 p.m. April 21, Oshtemo Branch; registration required.
Romance Roundtable — Discuss Jasmine Guillory’s The Wedding Date, 6:30 p.m. April 21, Central Library.
Compassion & Choices — The end-of-life medical landscape in Michigan, 6 p.m. April 24, Central Library.
Senior Citizens’ Breakfast — Ask health care questions, 10:30 a.m. April 25, Eastwood Branch.
A Glimpse into Deep Space: Discovering Black Holes, Exoplanets & a New Frontier — On the latest equipment to see deeper into space, 6 p.m. April 29, Oshtemo Branch.
Parchment Community Library
401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org
Free for All: The Public Library – Celebrate National Library Week with a screening of Free for All: The Public Library, about the creation of this civic institution, followed by a community discussion, 6:30 p.m. April 7.
Parchment Book Group – Discuss Meg Shaffer’s The Wishing Game, 6 p.m. April 14.
Mystery Book Club – Discuss Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, 6:30 p.m. April 15.
Portage District Library
300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info
Combat of the Vikings — Discussion of Viking weapons & shields, 6 p.m. April 1; registration required.
Audiobook Alternatives — How to access audiobooks, 2 p.m. April 2; bring your device.
Mindful Meditation — 6 p.m. April 2; registration required.
Muffins & the Market — Stock market trends & resources, 9 a.m. April 3 & 17.
Friends of the Library Book Sale — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 5; members shop early, 4–5:30 p.m. April 4.
Yoga with Apral — An hour of movement, 4 p.m. April 7 & 21; registration required.
Kalamazoo County Historical Society — Speakers & discussion about local history, 7 p.m. April 7.
International Mystery Book Club — Discuss Joël Dicker’s The Enigma of Room 622, 7 p.m. April 10.
Documentary & Donuts — Viewing of It’s Basic (2023), 10 a.m. April 11.
Plumbing Basics — Home plumbing basics, 6 p.m. April 15; registration required.
Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group — Help with Macintosh programs & accessories, 9 a.m. April 19.
FOR ALL
The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo is here every day to ensure that every person in our community has an opportunity to work towards their healthy living goals. Join us at the YMCA—where good happens.
Join the Y Movement: Make a di erence with a gift today.
Saturday Sound Immersion — A relaxation & a well-being experience, 10:30 a.m. April 19; registration required.
Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society — For those interested in genealogy, 7 p.m. April 21.
Light Lunch & Literature — Discuss Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street, noon April 28; registration required.
Richland Community Library 8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org
Bridge Club — Noon–3 p.m. Tuesdays.
Susie Finkbeiner — The Grand Rapids-based author discusses her books, 6 p.m. April 2.
Cookbook Club — Discuss Christine Chitnis’ Little Bites, 6 p.m. April 8.
Foster Care Info Night — Hosted by Heart for Home & the Kalamazoo Department of Health & Human Services, 6 p.m. April 9.
Adult Dungeons & Dragons Bravo Team — Play a new crusade each month, 3 p.m. April 10, 5 p.m. April 16; registration required.
Inclusive Insight Series: Mental Health Through a Disability Lens — Presentation by Disability Network of Southwest Michigan, 7 p.m. April 10.
Richland Area Writer’s Group — Open to new members, noon April 11 & 25, in person & online.
Richland Genealogy Group — Open to new members, 10 a.m. April 17, in person & via Zoom.
RCL Book Club — Discuss Nate DiMeo’s The Mind Palace, 6 p.m. April 17.
Between the Pages: Romance Book Club — Discuss Emily Henry’s Book Lovers, 6 p.m. April 23; registration required.
Team Trivia Night — 6:30 p.m. April 30; registration required.
Vicksburg District Library 215 S. Michigan Ave., 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org
Bridge Club — 9:30 a.m.–noon Tuesdays. Book Club for Adults — 9:30 a.m. April 3.
Writer’s Motivational Group — Set goals & report progress, 4 p.m. April 10.
Robert Weir: India Himalayan Adventures — Presentation on life & culture in India, 3 p.m. April 23.
Other Venues
Poets in Print — Readings by Ananda Lima & Taylor Byas, 7 p.m. April 5, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A, kalbookarts.org.
Poets in Print — Virtual readings by Kaveh Akbar & Steven Espada Dawson, 7 p.m. April 19, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, kalbookarts.org.
Tournament of Writers Book Release
Celebration — Announcement of winners & readings, 5:30 p.m. April 24, Wind + James Event Center, 555 Eliza St., Schoolcraft, vicksburgarts.org/ calendar.
Kalamazoo Poetry Festival — Celebration of Community Poets, 6:30 p.m. April 24, Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St.; Your Turn Open Mic event, 7 p.m. April 25, Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative, 1249 Portage St.; Denise Miller & Aaron Coleman workshop, 10 a.m.; craft talk, 3:30 p.m.; finale & reception, 5 p.m. April 26, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., kalamazoopoetryfestival.com.
MUSEUMS
Gilmore Car Museum 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671-5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org
2025 Lecture Series — Grand Hotel Mackinac, Robert Tagatz, April 6; Diners, Richard Gutman, April 13; DeLorean, Chris Duvall, April 27; all sessions begin at 2 p.m.
Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N. Rose St., 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org
Exhibitions
Ray Harryhausen: Miniature Models of the Silver Screen — Artifacts from the animation filmmaker’s collection, through April 27.
The Art of Advertising — Nostalgic signs & ads from local businesses, through Aug. 31.
Colorful Collections — Items in a rainbow of hues from the museum's collection, through Aug. 31.
Events
Harryhausen Film Screenings & Panel Discussion
— Jason & the Argonauts (1963), April 6; Clash of the Titans (1981), April 13; panel discussion & documentary on Harryhausen’s legacy, April 27; all events begin at 1 p.m.; tickets required.
Statewide Astronomy Night (SWAN) — Free astronomy-related activities for all ages, 5–8 p.m. April 12.
Earth Day Rain Garden Tours 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. & 3 p.m. April 26.
NATURE
Kalamazoo Nature Center 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574, naturecenter.org
Public Sky Observing Sessions — The Moon, Mars & Jupiter, April 5; Galaxies of the Virgo Cluster, April 19; both sessions 8–11 p.m., hosted by Kalamazoo Astronomy Society, kasonline.org; check website for cancellation due to clouds.
Exploring the Edible Wilderness — Foraging basics along KNC trails, 5 p.m. April 17 & 26; registration required.
First Day of National Park Week — Free admission, April 19.
Garlic Mustard Games — Pull invasive species with staff, April 25 & 26; registration required. KNC’s Earth Day Celebration — Free admission, April 26.
Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu
Sustaining the Vision Open House — Free admission to the sanctuary & Kellogg Manor House; trail hours 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; manor house open 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 3700 E. Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners.
Birds & Coffee Chat Online — Discuss birding hotspots, 10 a.m. April 9; registration required.
Earth Day Free Admission — 9 a.m.–5 p.m. April 19.
Other Venues
Honorable Harvest Lecture Series — Community Seed Packing with the Kalamazoo Seed Collaborative, April 1; The Power of Healthy Soil: Two Farmers' Stories of Falling in Love with Regenerative Agriculture, April 8; Why Do We Garden? April 15; Writing Workshop: What is Your Water Story? April 22; all lectures 6:30 p.m., Room 223, KVCC’s Schlack Culinary & Allied Health Building, 418 E. Walnut St.; valleyhub.kvcc.edu.
Kalamazoo Astronomy Society Meeting — Presentation of To the Moon! What We Know & Why We’re Going Back, by Dr. Nicolle Zellner, Albion College professor of physics, 7–9:15 p.m. April 4, Kalamazoo Math & Science Center, 600 W. Vine St., kasonline.org; online option available.
Beginning Birding Walk — 9–11 a.m. April 5; meet at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery's second parking lot, 34270 County Road 652, Mattawan, kalamazooaudubon.org.
Woodcock Walk — Join a Michigan DNR scientist to observe the American woodcock courtship dance, 6:30 p.m. April 11, Gourdneck State Game Area, off Centre Avenue, portagemi.gov/calendar.
Garlic Mustard Pull Orientation — Required class to participate in annual Garlic Mustard Pull event, 11 a.m. April 18 or 5:30 p.m. April 25, West Lake Nature Preserve, 9001 S. Westnedge Ave.; portagemi.gov/calendar; registration required.
Audubon Society of Kalamazoo — Oak Savanna Restoration at Gourdneck & Allegan State Game Areas, 7:30 p.m. April 28, People’s Church, 1758 N. 10th St., kalamazooaudubon.org.
MISCELLANEOUS
Taps on Tuesdays — Sample student-made beer & food pairings, 5–7 p.m. Tuesdays, through April 22, KVCC’s Schlack Culinary & Allied Health Building, 418 E. Walnut St.
Southwest Michigan Spectacular Card Show — Trading cards, collectibles & more, 6–10 p.m. April 4, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 5, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., 348-6643.
Kalamazoo Foodways Symposium: Freshwater Foodways — Lectures, workshops, demonstrations & food tastings, April 4–5, Kalamazoo Valley
Museum, Schlack Culinary & Allied Health Building & KVCC’s Food Innovation Center, kalamazoofoodways.org.
Kalamazoo Winter Market — Produce & artisan wares, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays, through April 30, St. Joseph Catholic Church gymnasium, 936 Lake St., facebook.com/@KalamazooWinterMarket.
Kalamazoo Numismatic Club Coin Show — Coins, paper money & memorabilia, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 5, North Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 491-0962.
Antique Bottle & Glass Show — 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. April 5, Room A, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, kzooantiquebottleclub@gmail.com.
Model Railroad Swap Meet — Model railroad items, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. April 5, South Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 344-0906.
Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo — Reptiles, amphibians & exotic pets, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. April 6, South Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 779-9851.
Kalamazoo Comic-Con — Comic book & popular arts, noon–7 p.m. April 11, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. April 12, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. April 13, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, grcomiccon.com.
Pinball at the Zoo — Pinball games & machines, 2–10 p.m. April 17, 1–10 p.m. April 18, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. April 19, South Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, pinballatthezoo.com.
Thunderbirds RC Club Swap Meet — Radiocontrolled vehicles, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. April 19, North Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 823-4044.
Kalamazoo Indoor Flea Market — New & used items, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 19, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 383-8778.
Hometown Card Show — Presented by Southwest Michigan Collectibles, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 19, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, wingseventcenter.com/events.
Olde Tyme Plow & Swap Meet — Plowing with horses, antique tractors & steam engines, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. April 19, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 20, Scotts Mill County Park, 8451 S. 35th St., Scotts, 579-4627.
Annual Egg Hunt — Family activities & prizes, 2–4 p.m. April 19, Mayors' Riverfront Park, 251 Mills St., kzooparks.org/events.
Spring Craft Show — 200+ vendors, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. April 26, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. April 27, South & Main Rooms, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 903-5820.
Kalamazoo Record & CD Show — New & used records & CDs, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. April 27, Room A, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 734-604-2540.
Together We Sing — Kalamazoo Community Chorale & Kalamazoo Male Chorus, 3 p.m. April 27, First Presbyterian Church, 321 South St., kalamazoocommunitychorale.com.
Maliha Raza (continued from page 30)
Advocates (KHA, founded in 2022), Raza seeks to help others find their home in this community.
“As I work with the most vulnerable members of our community, I see people who have so much hope and resilience even when they’re going through the darkest phases of their lives, and that keeps me going, along with just the small wins. Seeing that client move into stable housing is a joy that’s indescribable. That joy is enough to carry me through the hard times. You always keep hoping that maybe just one person is breathing easier because now they have a place for their kids. I can’t help everybody, but I can help one person for that one day.”
How did you get to where you are today?
Early on in my life I knew I wanted a purpose-driven life as opposed to a careerdriven life. I could never answer the question "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" because I wanted to go where my mission takes me. I am a practicing Muslim, and I’m going to adhere to the requirements of my faith to serve God and humanity, so it was more about "Who needs me? Where do I need to serve at this moment?" I have always been drawn to work that was centered on justice, human dignity and human rights.
I have consulted for the corporate world and for the United Nations, both taking me to places across the world. My heart was always in nonprofit work, though, and when I came to the U.S., I decided once and for all I wanted to be in the nonprofit world full time. How are unhoused people doing here?
Kalamazoo County’s homelessness crisis is at a five-year peak. A lot of funders ask, "Why is it on the rise with so many agencies (that are working on the issue)?" I feel that we’re not consolidating efforts as much as we should. No single agency can fight this alone, and KHA wants to collaborate with other agencies to share information and resources. We’re all understaffed and overworked, and the need is so much more than the resources that are available. Homelessness is always going to be an issue, but if we consolidate our efforts and share and collaborate, we can make a dent in it.
The KHA has shown that our model and approach of long-term, consistent support
works. A lot of agencies don’t provide that post-housing support or the early support that we do to prevent homelessness. We intervene before a crisis can knock (someone) off course. Because we collaborate with housing providers, we get to our clients faster, before they get that eviction notice. We will accompany a client to a court appointment. We will help when a car breaks down. That can seem like a small thing, but without intervention someone can’t get to work, doesn’t get paid, can’t pay the rent. That car breakdown is not something most agencies will pay for, but we know it can snowball and put that family out on the street. We are keeping people in their home, keeping families together, by having the funds and support they need to break the cycle of homelessness. What are you proudest of in your role with the organization?
I’m very proud that I’ve been able to help stabilize the organization, to build a financial foundation so we can keep doing our vital work. When I started, the organization was in the red. I had to hit the ground running, to do what I could to bring the organization back into stability. With the grace of God and the goodwill of our donors, I was able to raise the entire budget and more. I’m proud not just for our clients, but for our staff, for our vendors, our partners, our donors. All of these people are part of the KHA family.
I am also proud of helping shape the culture of this organization. We treat people experiencing homelessness with love, dignity, respect, empathy, compassion — values which are very dear to my heart. My organization
April 27, 2025 at 3 pm First Presbyterian Church 321 W. South St. Kalamazoo, MI
What keeps you up at night?
In the daytime I think about who’s in front of me and how I can make a difference to that person right now, but at night I think about all the work I did not or could not support. I think about all the people that we haven’t yet been able to serve at KHA. That keeps me awake.
What keeps you going every day?
Many things, but primarily my faith of Islam. It has always told me what to do, how to do it, where to go — all the big questions. That keeps me going because there are many dark things in this world, many dangers, many hardships. Even if you have all the money in the world, it’s a hard place for everybody.
Also, I would say my son Nufais. He’s my hero, my warrior. He’s stood by me through the hardest times and has always been my support. He talks about the issues that are dear to my heart and has said to me, "Mom, we will keep fighting. We will push for a world that is a better place for everybody." I am also grateful to the organization. Being at KHA has gotten me through some troubled times in my life. I have faced some things our unhoused clients face, and I am able to empathize. I know what it feels like not to have a house.
— Interview by Katie Houston, edited for length and clarity
This story is part of the Equitable Community Development Reporting Project of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative. SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. Visit
Presented by the Kalamazoo Community Chorale & Kalamazoo Male Chorus
Maliha Raza
Director of Development and Operations
Kalamazoo Housing Advocates
A world traveler who has found a home in Southwest Michigan, Maliha Raza is devoted to Kalamazoo, her family, her faith and her work as an activist and servant to others — not necessarily in that order but passionately on all fronts.
Born and raised in India, Raza arrived in Kalamazoo in 2008 and has worked throughout the community in fields including refugee resettlement, foster care, nonprofit strategic planning and grant writing, often as a volunteer.
“I have found Kalamazoo to be such a wonderful community that has always welcomed me, a perfect place to raise my child. Before I came, a lot of people scared me about coming to the U.S. I didn’t even wear the hijab for the first few years I was here, but I found when I put it on, people welcomed me even more,” she says. “There are so many wonderful people here who value diversity and equity. It’s more than lip service — people here really demonstrate that.”
Now completing her first year as director of development and operations for Kalamazoo Housing
(continued on page 29)
When a Community Has an Airport...
W
hen a community has an airport, everyone benefits. That’s the value proposition for the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport. The Airport is happy to partner with Encore to showcase our region’s vital asset.
An airport’s value to the community comes in many ways — and sometimes indirectly through surprising ways. The most visual way is through the airline service provided by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. A more surprising way is that there are over 300 people that work at the Kalamazoo Airport and only 17 are airport employees.
Over time, this column will showcase these contributions and keep the
Encore readership informed about your local airport. The Airport plays a key role in supporting the region’s success. In fact, our Mission Statement reflects this in saying:
We complement economic growth and quality of life by safely, conveniently, and efficiently fulfilling the air travel and transportation needs of southwest Michigan.
The success of the Airport is dependent upon its use. Its use is dependent on the region knowing what is offered and educating it on why using the Airport is key to the Airport’s (and, therefore, the region’s) growth.
This column will work to dispel myths about the Kalamazoo Airport, such as 'It’s too expensive' or 'My flight is always late or cancelled.' We will also answer commonly asked questions such as two of the most heard: “Can we get a flight to (a particular Florida city)?" or “Will the runway extension attract more flights?”
Because when a community is knowledgeable about the vital assets already located within the community, only then can the community fully understand and appreciate the possibilities When a Community Has an Airport.
Lewis Reed & Allen P.C. attorneys
Front row, center: Richard D. Reed
Middle Row (L-R): Wesley J. Todd, James M. Marquardt, Michael A. Dombos, Stephen M. Denenfeld, Lana M. Escamilla, Jennifer Wu, Owen D. Ramey, Kimberly L. Swinehart, Vernon Bennett III
Back Row (L-R): Christopher D. Morris, Jonathan J. Vander Horst, Joseph W. Vander Horst, David A. Lewis, Ronald W. Ryan, Michael A. Shields, Thomas C. Richardson
136 east michigan avenue suite 800 | kalamazoo | michigan | 49007-3947 phone: 269.388.7600 | fax: 269.349.3831 www.lewisreedallen.com
