On WestSouthwest, a rebroadcast of an interview about a “phenomenal dude” who lives in Kalamazoo’s Edison Neighborhood.
Mark Wedel wrote the story about Esto Juarez for Southwest Michigan’s Second Wave on the Ground Series in the Edison Neighborhood. They joined WMUK's Gordon Evans. The interview originally aired in June.
Juarez started a street gang in his youth, and struggled with addiction to crack cocaine. But Juarez says his life changed when a friend encouraged him to pray. He’s now Director of Outreach for Urban Alliance.
Wedel has lived in the Edison Neighborhood since 2004 when he and his wife bought a house there. Wedel says when the first meetings were held about the On the Ground project, he met Esto and said “I want that story.”
Southwest Michigan’s Second Wave has continued the On the Ground Project to feature stories about Kalamazoo’s Northside Neighborhood and Battle Creek.
