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Interviews with news makers and discussion of topics important to Southwest Michigan. Subscribe to the podcast through Apple itunes and Google. Segments of interview are heard in WestSouthwest Brief during Morning Edition and All Things Considered

WSW: Kalamazoo Community Foundation Focuses on Education, Equity, Engagement

Kalamazoo Community Foundation

The Kalamazoo Community Foundation has launched a new strategic plan for the next two years. It will focus on equity, education and engagement. The foundation's board approved the new vision in September.

Foundation President Carrie Pickett-Erway and Vice President for Community Investment Suprotik Stotz-Ghosh sat down with WMUK's Gordon Evans to discuss how they plan to implement their new strategic plan. 

Pickett-Erway says feedback from focus groups was used to determine what areas should be addressed. Stotz-Ghosh says the Kalamazoo community has a good corps of non-profit groups. He says collaborative efforts will be important in addressing those issues. Stotz-Ghosh says the Learning Network of Kalamazoo is an example of many different groups that have worked together.

kalcommfoundation030415-web.mp3
Interview with Carrie Pickett-Erway and Suprotik Stotz-Ghosh - web version

The three areas, equity, education and engagement are interconnected according to Pickett-Erway. She says education is the best path to prosperity, and to address the issue of equity. But Pickett-Erway says engagement is necessary to work on any of those issues. 

Asked what developments may come next, Stotz-Ghosh says it's important to ask questions, rather than just propose solutions. He says those questions should be about the structural hurdles that prevent people from having economic mobility. 

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
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