Kalamazoo Eastside Block Party a Hit

Last Sunday, I was able to join community residents and leaders for a block party on the Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood called "Changing the Face of the Neighborhood." Hosted by the Bilal Islamic Center, the event featured free food and drinks, as well as guest speakers from the Bilal Islamic Center, ISAAC, the Eastside Neighborhood Association, and the Poverty Reduction Initiative.

The speakers expressed their views about building leadership in the community, reaching out to residents, and bringing more resources to the neighborhood. The party will ideally be the first of many upcoming events to be highlighted on the Eastside Neighborhood.

The leaders have many ideas for improving the neighborhood and are looking to engage other empathetic community residents who would like to see more prosperity throughout the community.

The food was delicious and the guests were exceptionally kind, smart and knowledgeable. To summarize, it was great to be a part of this event and I look forward to enjoying similar ones in the future.

Here are some of the pictures from the event thanks to Holly Lantz of ISAAC:

Upcoming Community Events in Kalamazoo

This week features two community events that are certain to impact the residents of Kalamazoo:

Changing the Face of the Neighborhood

Sunday, August 9th, 2009 from 11am - 6pm

Hosted by the Balil Islamic Center
Block Party at East Main/Tremble Intersection (Fish Dock)

Join the Islamic center for a block party on Tremble. There will be food, prayer, and speakers from various organizations talking about issues on the Eastside and their organizations.

Event Schedule:

• 11am-Noon Breakfast
• 12pm-2pm Dawah: Door to Door invitations to Community Residents
• 2pm Dhur salat (noon prayer)
• 2:15pm - 3:00pm Tour of the Peace House and Balil Islamic Center
  
• 3pm - 3:30pm Speakers from various organizations
• 3:30pm - 4pm Keynote address
• 4pm - 6pm Food and Fellowship
• 6pm - 6:30pm Asr salat (Evening prayer)

Kalamazoo Neighborhood Public Meeting
Thursday, August 13th 7pm-8:30pm
The River Church on Bronson Park
302 Academy St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Hosted by ISAAC

The success of the Eastside, Northside & Edison is vital to the prosperity of Kalamazoo. Discuss concerns, desires, winnable solutions and commit to improving the neighborhoods.

More counties to follow PRI's lead after Region 3 meeting in Grand Rapids

The meeting last Friday in Grand Rapids determined one certainty in the ongoing regional campaign to reduce poverty in Michigan: It assured that the leadership of the Poverty Reduction Initiative and WMU's Lewis Walker Institute will continue to assist region 3 in a their efforts to reduce poverty in their 11 county district.

What started out as a 9 county coalition in Southwest Michigan is now a 20 county effort that extends from Berrien County in the Southwest corner, all the way to Osceola on the Northeast border. Though the two regions will have different leadership, objectives, and resources, they now will have a greater advantage to share information and work cohesively to reduce poverty on a greater scale.

On Friday, the PRI and Lewis Walker presented to the regions a framework of how to successful organize and implement a strategy for poverty reduction on a large scale. Lewis Walker Director Tim Ready gave a presentation on the poverty issues in West Michigan and presented a model of how to better analyze, combat and eventually reduce poverty in a way that works across county bounders. PRI's Jeff Brown gave the region a vision of how bring together major organizations and use their resources to press for resources towards improving the lives of the impoverished.

Leaders from close to thirty organizations who represented the region voted unanimously to continue working with the PRI and Lewis Walker by using their framework as a model to adapt to their region. Additionally, 4 participants volunteered to be regional leaders and will be responsible for directing the region towards fulfilling its objectives.

Region 3 identified these objectives as the highest priorities in reducing poverty for their counties:

• Expand access to early childhood education
• Increase Jobs
  
• Reduce homelessness and increase housing security

Region 3 is faced with a similar challenge as region 6 because it must navigate across a diverse collection of counties with very distinct and unique problems. Counties such as Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon are heavily urban, while others such as Lake and Osceola are undeniably rural.
In the past, these differences would have been so polarizing that it would have been a rarity for a church in Lake County to open dialogue with the Kent County Department of Human Services. The regional poverty reduction work is changing all of that - it is bringing together organizations that wouldn't normally communicate and creating a "big picture" summary of poverty in the region.

If the leaders from region 3 are willing to put their time and effort into the cause, if they lend their ears to other positive work, they will discover a variety of ideas aimed at improving the lives of all Michigan residents.

The message of One Community has expanded. Now 20 counties will echo this message:

That we are one people and our prosperity and quality of life depend on all residents contributing fully to the economic, social and cultural life of our communities and our state.

We will not stand for anything less.

84 Reasons Not to Stereotype Poor People

As a volunteer preparing income taxes for low income people, serving lunches a few times a year at the Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen, or helping elderly folks carry a bag of groceries upstairs from my church's basement food bank in Benton Township, I have had my eyes opened wide as to the variety of poor people. There are young or old, men and women, veterans, hard working (some work more than one part time, low paying jobs.) Some are disabled.

I have met highly intelligent poor people. One of my favorite tax clients at the EITC Coalition is a fellow who is writing a book while working as a janitor at a church. Other folks are learning disabled, receive SSI, and may work menial jobs because it provides them dignity and respect.

On occasion, one of my fellow volunteers will wonder out loud: Do some of these people "scam" the system? Are they simply here to "get a hand out?" Are they just "lazy?" (That is like asking: "Do all rich people cheat on their taxes?" In my estimation, these stereotypes pigeon hole people. It seems to me, the truth is much more varied.)

Please allow me to introduce you to a young African American man who I met about a year ago at my church's food bank. In a brief conversation, the young man told me he drives several times a week to a truck driving job in the Chicago area. He was one of 84 families present that day:

84

Nearly end of the month
the benefit and other funds are running low
so 84 families wait in pews
to be called by number
to the church basement
for a meager bag of groceries
to help them be less hungry
for the next week or so.

(Don't they have names?
Or do we have to give them numbers?)

84 families,
different stories each.
Some old and finding it difficult to maneuver the stairs.
Some with little babies strapped to their breasts.

A dad with his three year old
waiting patiently just as he waits
for a truck driving job with benefits to open locally
so that he can spend more time with a little girl
and less time commuting six hours daily,
four times a week.

(Me screaming inside,
Don't tell me that all poor people are lazy!)

His little girl's smile
is all the blessing I need today.
But then I look up and see
83 more.

Another region to meet and discuss strategies for poverty reduction

After a successfully beginning to regional planning efforts by the Poverty Reduction Initiative and Lewis Walker Institute, they will now be asked to provide organizational and technical assistant to another Michigan region. Today Region 3 will convene in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the first time, bringing together over 30 representatives to discuss poverty reduction methods.

Region 3 includes the counties of >Kent, Lake, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa, Montcalm, Ionia, Mecosta, and Osceol. Over 30 organization representatives have RSVPed to become engaged in poverty reduction efforts originally initiated by the Voices for Action Poverty Summit in November, 2008.

As they accomplished in Region 6 (SW Michigan), the PRI will create an organizational structure so that participants from this region can communicate effectively and create common goals for poverty reduction they can address as a larger whole.

Region 3 is led by Beverly Drake, Community Action Director, and James McCormick, the Director of the Newaygo DHS. Stayed tuned to learn more about developments in the area.

Youth continue to struggle in Calhoun County

According the Battle Creek Enquirer yesterday;

"Poverty has put more children at risk than any other factor recently, according to a national survey on children's health and well-being, whose results were released Tuesday.

The annual Kids Count state-by-state survey by the Annie E. Casey Foundation says 26 percent of children in Calhoun County lived in poverty between 2005 and 2007. The rate of children countywide eating government-subsidized lunches nearly doubled from 25.7 percent in 1990 to 45.3 percent in 2007."

Calhoun's youth are going through a lot of pain right now, with high risk statistics in several categories including:

• Teen pregnancies
• Teen Drop-outs
• Unemployment among dropouts

"Calhoun County had the highest percentage of high school dropouts between 2005 and 2007 -- 11 percent annually -- with the next closest counties reporting 8 percent of students ages 16 to 19 dropping out."

The Community Indicator System in development by PRI and the Lewis Walker Institute will give a better mapping of the services in the county, as well as the areas where teens are struggling most. It is important that we understand the areas in which they needs are highest before we begin trying to fix them.

Programs like the Kalamazoo Promise won't be able to succeed unless we give families the sufficient support they need to support youth education. Only then will we see a reduction in poverty substantial enough to affect the community as a whole.

Despite Postponement, Eastside Stands Strong Makes Steady Progress

Eastside Stands Strong had the promise to be an event which raised awareness, inspired leadership, and brought resources to the Eastside Neighborhood Community.

It will just have to wait another year until that promise is realized.

Choosing to coordinate their efforts with the campaign for a youth/community center on the Eastside, the walk leaders decided best to postpone the event until next fall, when it is likely the center will be in a full push for a capital campaign.

What the event planners accomplished, however, was no small task. Though a year is a long time to wait, the meetings established a sense of cohesiveness and leadership that will develop positive changes in the neighborhood in the future. The meetings also established a name, logo, and planned a route of which to center the event.

When it is time to reconvene for the event next fall, our committee will be substantially more prepared to create a momentous event. We can the support of the community center developers, as they will look to garner support throughout the greater community of Kalamazoo.

We can look forward to seeing a substantial event next year which surely will raise awareness and bring resources to the Eastside Neighborhood of Kalamazoo

Fixing Michigan's budget deficit means starting with the tax structure

There's been a lot of talk lately about cutting services to compensate for the state budget deficit facing Michigan in the near future. Cutting services would not only worsen the economic problem, but increase the plight of many already struggling.

The problem is that there is a stigma on the word "tax"; the word "tax" has been weaponized by politicians to push their self-serving agendas. In truth, there are multiple ways that we can increase tax revenues without really affecting our state's prosperity.

• Increase the amount of services that are taxed - Michigan taxes only 26 of the 168 types of services in the state. The argument that it would make investing in Michigan less appealing doesn't really make sense: Michigan currently ranks 40th out of the 50 states in how many services they tax. It's not like we would doing something that no other states employ.
• Reduce Prison Spending - Michigan is one of only four states that spends more on prisons than higher education. Eliminating jail time for some of the lower level crimes would help ease the burden for the prison system.
• Higher Scrutiny on Tax Expenditures - Tax expenditures reduce or eliminate taxes that would otherwise have been paid by individuals and entities, thereby reducing tax revenues. Studies have shown that these expenditures do not stimulate economic development or create jobs. We need to review these expenditures to determine which are worthwhile and which are not.
• Adopt a Estate or Inheritance Tax - 22 states levy an estate or inheritance tax, and Michigan could stand to collect $250 million a year by adopting one. Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and Minnesota currently have one, making Michigan not the odd one out in the Great Lakes.
• Increase the Beer Tax - An increase of 4 cents, from 2 cents to 6 cents, would generate approximately $100 million in additional revenue for state services.
• Limit Senior Tax Preferences - Michigan tax breaks for seniors are the highest in the country, and three times the national average. Michigan could free up $200 million a year and STILL offer generous breaks.
• Change from a flat income tax to a graduated scale - In the United States, only seven states have a flat tax. A graduated tax could help up to 90 percent of filers because the burden would be reduced in middle and low income earners. Here's how a graduated income tax could work:
  
  3.9 % rate, $0-20k (single) , $0-40k (married)
  4.35%, $20-60k (single), $40-120k (married)
  6.9%, $60k + (single), 120k + (married)
  This tax structure alone could raise up to $600 million in revenue.

Facing a $1.8 billion state deficit in 2011, we need to find ways to balance our budget. No business, organization, or government has ever benefited from cutting services. In fact, success usually means doing the opposite. The problem with Michigan is we have a structural deficit, a deficit that exists regardless if the times are bad or good.

There are easy ways to balance the budget through taxes increases and reducing exemptions that won't break the backs of anyone. It is important that we do not feel the pressures to cut services, and maintain our support system while the economy is at its worst.

We need to set up a budget that works for both next years budget and decades to come. Fixing Michigan's tax structure is the first step in stabilizing our government.

Kalamazoo's Master Plan: 2030

Would do you want Kalamazoo to look like in 2030?

I read this article from the Gazette today and came up with some ideas of my own, which are not exclusive , but the starting point of many ideas to come.

• The redevelopment of brownfields, blighted and vacant properties and lots into business on the Eastside Neighborhood
• The continued development of downtown Kalamazoo, offering arts, entertainment, & nightlife to the city
  
• The development of Rockwell park in the Eastside Neighborhood into a Community Center for residents
• The creation of an Educare center in Kalamazoo, a pre-school service for the most at-risk children in the community
• Increased supports around the Kalamazoo Promise to increase graduation rates and send more KERESA students to college, universities, and job training
• More living-wage jobs and technical training for those not entering into college fields
• The development and creation of a "green jobs" industry to focuses on weatherization, solar & wind power as well as conversational technology
• Increased job training programs for low-income and minorities to enter them into technical careers
• The re-establishment of WMU as a dominate and competitive university in the Midwest
• More entry level jobs and opportunities to attract young and college-level professionals to live in the city
  
• Improved health care access and resources for all citizens
• Improvement of the public transportation to connect more residential areas to commercial spots
• Increased banking and financial options for the low-income and poor credit residents
• More city parks that offer recreation and aesthetic escapes for residents
• Development of Kalamazoo as a major player and leader in Southwest Michigan poverty reduction
• A high speed train depot that connects Kalamazoo to Chicago, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, Ann Arbor and Detroit
• A decrease in violence through the combination of more opportunities for youth and adequate public safety
• The reduction of poverty by 50% in the city of Kalamazoo!

What would you add to the list? Where are our biggest needs? Best opportunities?

Could an arena in Kalamazoo improve our community?

Yesterday, residents and community leaders raised questions about the proposed construction of a new arena in downtown Kalamazoo during informational sessions Monday at Kalamazoo Valley Community College's downtown campus.

As the Gazette reported, some included:

"Could drivers navigate the one-way streets or find a place to park if an arena brought thousands of people to downtown Kalamazoo?"

"Would the local arts community suffer from the competition?"

"Would the new facility's attendance suffer if Western Michigan University students were unwilling to leave campus to attend events?"

It is a discussion that many of us have had as we debate the impact. What it really comes down to is, will economic force of this arena benefit the community enough to warrant its proposed construction, and taxation on the county's residents?

For one, I am skeptical of the perceived benefits this area will bring. It has been reported that it would be able to support up to 8,000 participants, a number strangely in between small venue and large venue events. K-Wings games and Broncos events, which only average about 3,000 in attendance, would not be able to fill all the seats planned.

I know the Van Andel Arena has done marvels for Grand Rapids in terms of downtown development, but in creating this arena we will essentially be competing against it and others of similar size. If you are a major host trying to fill a venue, would you rather pick smaller Kalamazoo which hosts 8,000, or Grand Rapids with its 12,000 spaces? Could the arena bring in enough events to fill that medium range?

Maybe in a heighted economy, yes, but let's face it: the music and convention industries aren't exactly hitting a crescendo right now. It would be difficult to bring in events with our market alone, not even considering competing against larger arenas in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Chicago and Detroit.

We have 36% of Kalamazoo residents in poverty, and we are considering taxing our citizens for an arena in downtown that may or may not stimulate the economy. Maybe there are a few aces up the sleeves of Kalamazoo planners Bill Johnson & co. I haven't considered, but I just don't see the benefits of this arena in improving the city.

Would we give those jobs to the residents who are at the highest risk? Probably not, I'm guessing WMU, KVCC and K College students would gobble up a significant portion. And that's not a bad thing. But if we really want to improve our community, and reduce poverty, we need to consider our priorities.

I would love to see an arena in the Kalamazoo someday in the future. However, taxing the community for an arena, which seemingly will underwhelm the local economy, just doesn't appear to be worth the trouble right now.