2015
KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
COMMUNITY MEETING FEATURING TA-NEHISI COATES
NOVEMBER 3 2015 MILLER AUDITORIUM WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY SPONSORED BY
This event is part of the University Center for the Humanities at Western Michigan University’s 2015/2016 speaker series: Reimagining Communities.
Welcome. For 90 years the Kalamazoo Community Foundation has partnered with hundreds of organizations and thousands of people to make Kalamazoo County a place where every person can reach full potential. Because we love this place, we want to care for it and care for all the people in it. We can only be the community we believe we are when racism, homophobia, sexism and discrimination of all kinds is not a part of anyone’s daily life. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being a part of our work. Thank you for loving where you live.
diversity
inclusion
equity
Counting People
People Counting
Removing Barriers
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full potential
2015
KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
COMMUNITY MEETING WELCOME Katherine Joslin, PhD Director, University Center for the Humanities at WMU
OPENING REMARKS Carrie Pickett-Erway President/CEO, Kalamazoo Community Foundation
KEYNOTE Ta-Nehisi Coates Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of The Beautiful Struggle and Between the World and Me, is a national correspondent for The Atlantic. He was a Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2012 and a journalist-in-residence at the City University of New York School of Journalism in 2014. He is the winner of a 2015 MacArthur Genius Award.
A CONVERSATION WITH TA-NEHISI COATES Carrie Pickett-Erway and Fernando Ospina Organizer/Trainer, ERACCE
CONCLUSION Mr. Coates’ books are available for purchase from Kazoo Books in the lobby before and after this evening’s program.
For our guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, an ASL interpreter is positioned at the front of the auditorium. 2015 COMMUNITY MEETING 3
Get involved. We envision a community where every person can reach full potential. That can’t happen unless all people have opportunities to live positive lives. There are many ways for you to get involved. The following pages include a list of organizations working to advance equity in the greater Kalamazoo area. We know this list is not all encompassing, and that there are many organizations working towards equity for many different groups. Because tonight’s program focuses on race, we’ve chosen to highlight organizations working towards racial equity. There also are a number of upcoming community events that focus on racial equity. For a list, visit the Society for History and Racial Equity’s (SHARE) website: www.sharekazoo.org/events.
This list will be available on our website at www.kalfound.org for a period of time following tonight’s event. If you know of or represent an organization you think should be included in the online version, please contact Sandy Barry-Loken at 269.381.4416 or sbarry-loken@kalfound.org.
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ARCUS CENTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP 205 Monroe Street / Kalamazoo, MI 49006 269 337.7398 / arcus-center@kzoo.edu / https://reason.kzoo.edu/csjl The mission of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College is to develop and sustain leaders in human rights and social justice through education and capacity-building. They envision a campus and world where: every person’s life is equally valued, the inherent dignity of all people is recognized, the opportunity to develop one’s full potential is available to every person, and systematic discrimination and structural inequities have been eradicated.
BLACK LIVES MATTER KALAMAZOO blacklivesmatter.com/find-chapters Black Lives Matter is a chapter-based national organization working for the validity of black life. It was created in response to the anti-black racism that permeates society and also black movements, and works to (re)build the black liberation movement. Black Lives Matters hosts national conference calls focused on issues of critical importance to black people working hard for the liberation of black people, connects people working to end the various forms of injustice impacting black people, and creates space for the celebration and humanization of black lives.
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DOUGLASS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 1000 West Paterson Street / Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269 343.6185 / dcakalamazoo@gmail.com / dcakalamazoo.com Founded in 1919, the Douglass Community Association wants all Kalamazoo youth, adults and families — especially those who live in Kalamazoo’s Northside neighborhood — to have the intellectual, physical, and emotional supports they need to achieve full potential. They seek to be a leader in achieving racial equality and social justice, provide opportunities for positive behavioral health and human development, and identify unmet needs and find resource and services to help meet these needs (within the scope of their mission).
ERACCE / ELIMINATING RACISM & CLAIMING/ CELEBRATING EQUALITY 525 East Kalamazoo Avenue / Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269 459.9156 / eracce@eracce.org / eracce.org ERACCE provides organizing, training, consulting, and technical assistance to institutions interested in dismantling racism and building accountable, just, and authentic multicultural diversity. A key strategy for institutional change is creating internal antiracism teams that have the capacity to analyze internal policies and procedures and help create an intervention strategy to dismantle oppressive systems and practices. Through this work ERACCE strives to create and strengthen structures of accountability to antiracist communities of color and other socially oppressed groups, both within the institution and in the wider Southwest Michigan community.
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FAIR HOUSING CENTER OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN 405 West Michigan Avenue / Kalamazoo, MI 49007 866 637.0733 / info@fhcswm.org / fhcswm.org The Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan believes all people should be empowered to claim their right to equal treatment in housing choice. They work to promote inclusive communities; eliminate limitations created by discrimination; and ensure equal housing opportunities for residents regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, familial status, religion, age or marital status. They promote integration and work to eliminate housing discrimination through education, advocacy and enforcement of the fair housing law.
HISPANIC AMERICAN COUNCIL 930 Lake Street, Suite A / Kalamazoo, MI 49001 269 385.6279 / hispanicamericancouncil.org The Hispanic American Council is a nonprofit community organization established to advocate for the well-being of the Hispanic population in Southwest Michigan. As a liaison between potential clients and service agencies, the Council seeks to meet the needs of a special population often hindered by language barriers, cultural differences, and unfamiliarity with service agencies and institutions. Through the programs and services offered, the goal of the Council is to assist Hispanics in attaining self-sufficiency and a higher level of social and economic well-being. The Council also strives to nourish and encourage the diverse cultural heritage of the Hispanic population.
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ISAAC / INTERFAITH STRATEGY FOR ADVOCACY & ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY 247 West Lovell Street / Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269 341.4213 / isaackalamazoo@gmail.com / isaackalamazoo.org ISAAC is a faith-based community organizing group made up of congregations and organizations united to accomplish what they believe cannot be done as individuals or single congregations. ISAAC focuses its collective people-power on the most pressing issues of injustice in Kalamazoo County, and through task forces and engagement with public officials, works to identify root causes of and possible solutions for those injustices.
KALAMAZOO 4 JUSTICE kalamazoo4justice@gmail.com / facebook.com/kalamazoo4justice Kalamazoo 4 Justice seeks to change the social and political landscape through community engagement, public dialogue, and direct action regarding all forms of oppression, exploitation, and injustice, as they intersect with racism, both locally and nationally.
KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 269 488.4400
/ kvcc.edu Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s mission is to enrich the lives of its students and communities through quality educational programs and services, and maintains a learning environment built upon the inclusivity of ideas of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
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METROPOLITAN KALAMAZOO BRANCH NAACP 1000 West Paterson Street / Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269 343.4105 / info@naacpkalamazoo.org / naacpkalamazoo.org As advocates for underrepresented people in the greater Kalamazoo area, the men and women of the Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch support equality, civil rights, voter mobilization and monitor equal opportunities for all people in the public and private sector in the greater Kalamazoo area. ​They are committed to serving the community with justice and compassion, and work independently and together with other organizations to effectively ensure all residents regardless of race, creed, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or religion live in a community free of discrimination in Kalamazoo and throughout Southwest Michigan.
MICHIGAN UNITED 1009 East Stockbridge / Kalamazoo, MI 49001 877 507.7774 / miunited.org Michigan United is a statewide organization of churches, labor and community groups that works to ensure that our economy works for the many, our civil rights are protected and our democracy is strong. Together, along with its member institutions and individuals, Michigan United seeks to affirm the fundamental dignity of working families, shape our political future, and achieve an economically and racially just society for our communities.
MOTHERS OF HOPE 1000 West Paterson Street / Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269 348.7754 / mothersofhope1@gmail.com / mothers-of-hope.org Mothers of Hope empowers and strengthens women, families and communities to rise above the effects of substance use disorders,
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poverty, violence and systemic inequities. The organization offers culturally sensitive programs that are designed to restore individuals, families and communities impacted by substance use disorders, poverty, violence and systemic inequities.
SHARE / SOCIETY FOR HISTORY AND RACIAL EQUITY 471 West South Street, Suite 42A / Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269 381.9775 / sharekazoo.org Formerly known as the Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society, SHARE is emerging with an expanded mission and vision. SHARE has several initiatives that educate the community on the importance of our region’s African American heritage, and acts as a clearing house for information on activities and services in our region that center on racial equity. In addition, SHARE continues to research and document the history of African Americans in Southwest Michigan. SHARE also fosters connections and conversations on race and works to provide awareness of racism and the broad societal benefits of its elimination.
WALKER INSTITUTE 1104 Welborn Hall / Western Michigan University 269 387.2141 / wmich.edu/walkerinstitute The mission of the Walker Institute is to engage in research, teaching and service to promote: Understanding of race and ethnic relations, with a special emphasis on the causes of disparities and the contexts in which conflicts as well as shared purposes and perspectives arise; appreciation of the diverse peoples and cultures of the United States, with special emphasis on the people and cultures of Michigan; and more equitable and inclusive communities and institutions, especially in this region of the state and throughout Michigan.
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WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY / OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 1003 Adrian Trimpe Building / Western Michigan University 269 387.6313 / wmich.edu/diversity Diversity at Western Michigan University encompasses inclusion, acceptance, respect and empowerment. This means understanding that each individual is unique and that our commonalities and differences make the contributions we have to offer all the more valuable. To ensure equitable access for all, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion provides online resources; hosts events; and works collaboratively with the university community to identify and overcome institutional barriers and affirm the dignity, value, and uniqueness of each member of the university community.
YWCA OF KALAMAZOO 353 East Michigan Avenue / Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269 345.5595 / info@ywcakalamazoo.org / ywcakalamazoo.org The YWCA has actively worked to eliminate racism and empower women since 1858. It is on the leading edge, willing to act and move forward when it comes to what is important for the well-being of women and families in communities, both in the nation and in the world. To advance racial equity in Kalamazoo, the YWCA provides online resources, presents the People Who Think film series, hosts racial justice events and gatherings, and facilitates other community racial justice and diversity programs.
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Thanks. To help us get ready for the 2015 Community Meeting, we worked with a variety of community partners who are advancing equity in Kalamazoo County. We are grateful for their expertise, counsel and partnership. Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
City of Kalamazoo
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
Douglass Community Association
Mothers of Hope
ERACCE
Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch NAACP
Gryphon Place ISAAC Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center
Northside Ministerial Alliance SHARE University Center for the Humanities at Western Michigan University Walker Institute YWCA of Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Public Library / Reading Together
Special thanks to our lead sponsor:
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Kalamazoo Summit on Racism NOVEMBER 19 2015 7:30 A.M. TO NOON / FOLLOWED BY NETWORKING LUNCH LAWRENCE EDUCATION CENTER / BORGESS MEDICAL CENTER 1521 GULL ROAD, KALAMAZOO THREE TRACKS AVAILABLE TRACK ONE / UNDERSTANDING THE JOURNEY • What is racism? • What is its history in our community? • Where are we today? TRACK TWO / TAKING ACTION • I “get” racism and its history. • What can I do about it? TRACK THREE / COLLABORATING • I’m already doing anti-racism work. • How can I build capacity, collective vision and effective collaboration?
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED www.sharekazoo.org / 269.381.9775 FUNDING FOR THE SUMMIT IS PROVIDED BY BORGESS MEDICAL CENTER BRONSON HEALTHCARE KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 2015 COMMUNITY MEETING 13
Be a part of our work. Here at the Community Foundation, we envision a community where every person can reach full potential. We believe one of the strategies that can make that happen is equity. Equity doesn’t mean everyone gets the same thing. Equity means everyone gets what they need to be successful. Unrestricted gifts are a powerful way for you to be a part of our work. They provide the most flexibility and ensure there will be resources tomorrow for needs we can’t even imagine today. We use them to: • Address current community needs, and • Invest in the work of nonprofits that are collaborating with others to make long-term, transformative change.
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Here’s how. 8 Give online at www.kalfound.org/give. *
Use the enclosed envelope.
equality
equity 2015 COMMUNITY MEETING 15
Our mission To make life better for all through leadership and stewardship of resources that last forever.
Our vision A community where every person can reach full potential.
Our core values Diversity, Equity and Inclusion / Excellence / Integrity
Connect with us. ( 269.381.4416 : www.kalfound.org