Connecting Communities: Kalamazoo Earth Day

Seth Chapman of Birds With Seth tells how his life long love of birds has led him to creating guided bird tours that focus on nature and learning how nature can help us be present in our lives.

Meet the three co-founders of Peace House, a free after school program for kids in the Eastside neighborhood, as they share stories along with Jennifer Spicer a current mom with children at Peace House and Pereshieanna Smith one of the first children to come to Peace House and now a supervisor to support the next generation.

Patrick Hershburger shares his new found artist adventure by archiving what is considered dead media; the VHS tape. Gathering used tapes from persons around Kalamazoo and cataloging them on a site, Patrick gives viewers the opportunity to see life as it was through the lens of the original creator whether through television media choices or real life videography.

In our last episode, we heard the stories about modern day fire starters who tend to the land by burning it. This episode provides more context about the history of fire in Michigan, going back to the glaciers, and to the first people who lived here. Michigan Natural Features Inventory Website

Another twist on conservation - helping the ecosystem in unexpected ways. Over the last several years, fires have burned through Canada, California, and Colorado, causing massive destruction. However, burning can be a medicine for our land that prevents disastrous wildfires, and gives native plants a chance against the overwhelming invasives. Our guests from Michigan Prescribed Fire Council have j...

Are you familiar with your local conservation district office? So you know about the initiatives they are leading? Wherever you are in the United States, discovering the work of your local Conversation District will tell you a lot about the issues are priorities in your area. Chandra Kinney, District Manager for the Kalamazoo Conservation District, sat down with us to talk about the local initiati...

When a data center makes plans to build a facility in Pavilion Township, residents nearly shut down the township hall meeting due to the number of interested folks who wanted to join the meeting and share their thoughts about the prospect. Widely, it was found that the residents are against letting the data center come to live in their neighborhood. Two residents, Bill Farmer (a long-time activist...

Mike Weis has been on the show before, discussing Kalamazoo area Wild Ones and his passion for native plants. This time we had Mike on to talk about fall lawn care and how your landscaping can also be a positive contribution for bugs, birds, and bees. www.dropseedgardens.com Follow Wild Ones Kalamazoo events on Facebook. The science behind "Leave the Leafs": https://youtu.be/TPlIDy9u7bo?si=xsb_5Jh...

Connecting Communities joined the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council on their last Kanoe the Kazoo event of the season. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and the team spoke with some attendees and got some footage of attendees enjoying the beautiful Kalamazoo River. To get involved with the Kalamazoo River Watershed, follow them on Instagram or Facebook. You can also find their calendar of events on t...

Josh Keiser from Asylum Lake Preserve Association explains the implications rezoning the adjoining property to the preserve that is a watershed for Kalamazoo and Portage. He tells the history of zoning changes and urges those who want to be heard to go to the City Planning Committee at City Hall on November 6th at 7 pm to share your thoughts on rezoning and preserving the area that feeds into this...

Our Guest Nadine Rios-Rivas from Rank MI Vote explains about the petition ranked voting that is circulating in the state of Michigan. She shares how using a ranked voting system can give voters more choice for candidates across all political parties and can foster a new kind conversation around candidates and ideas that can lower the temperature for voters who hold differing opinions. ***Update Si...

KUDOS brings people together under one belief system - to help your neighbor. Each year when the leaves begin to fall, groups from within Kalamazoo come together to help their neighbors winterize their homes. There may be different reasons between income troubles, to disability or old age preventing them from being able to tackle the job themselves. KUDOS doesn't need a "good reason" beyond the fa...

Listen to Dale Anderson and Jennifer Faketty discuss how their local chocolate shop is creating jobs for community members in need of a second chance, whether through a safe work place for recovery, or those with other barriers to employment. All while demonstrating global ethical product sourcing and delighting their customers with unique and organic offerings.

Sister Ginny, as Sister of St. Joseph shares how she and others created Bow in the Clouds preserve. She talks about the beauty of nature and the lessons she has learned while tending the land

Join this episode of Connecting Communities to hear about how wild adventure can be more accessible that you might think. K College has become a resource for students and community members to learn and experience rock climbing, backpacking, and more. They want to create a community, connect people, and design programs that are of interest to the community. It is a perfect time to get involved with...

EB Precopia shares about her passion for food and how it led to her building her blog and food tours in Kalamazoo.

Mia Breznau is a young climate activist in Kalamazoo. She has been participating and planning service projects, advocating for legislation, and organizing other young people for public demonstrations. In this episode, Mia shares her story and some of the influential mentors and organizations that have guided her journey.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Urban Bird Treaty ( https://www.fws.gov/progr...

Starlite Collective is an artist community led by Erica and Val to support and promote artists in Southwest Michigan. The way they have designed the collective to remove all barriers for their artists, from physical to financial ones. They have applied the same thought and inclusive attitude toward their inaugural Starlite Arts and Music Festival, in Kalamazoo on August 15-17, 2025. Find out more...

The city of Kalamazoo has a calendar full of programs for residents that will help them get out and enjoy nature safely. Destiny Stetina joins us to talk about the programs and the impact such programs have had on her own life. Contact info for Destiny: stetinad@kalamazoocity.org After October 1, contact: gishj@kalamazoocity.org Relevant links: City Sustainability Webpage - City Recycling - Social...

Only a few hundred years ago, our ancestors were just as familiar with the night sky as they were with the daytime sky. Now we are quite separated from it. Steven Crawford, the Planetarium Technician at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, visits the podcast to discuss the night sky, and how to planetarium can help people access the wonder and majesty of it. For information about the Kalamazoo Valley Muse...

Patrick Hershberger visited the June TrashLoveKzoo clean up to document their progress. The volunteers journeyed into the woods near where the Sprinkle Road road crosses over the Kalamazoo River. The images of the garbage have to be seen to be believed! Even faced with that amount of trash, the group completed their goal and then some!

Battle Creek Unlimited is an economic development non-profit that has aquired 10 acres along the Kalamazoo River that runs through downtown. For decades, this area has been a highly industrial one, with the banks of the river reflecting that. A cement channel was created in 1962 to prevent flooding. The buildings along the channel have been removed, and now the property sits behind a chain link fe...

Monoform Cinema is a group that is bringing a curated, non-commercial film experience to Kalamazoo. The team (Gabe Ybarra, Jaycie McGruder, Steve Remenapp, and Carman Goodrich) remember the days when the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was operating and people could go to see movies for more than just the day’s big blockbusters. From the serious to the humorous, Monoform brings people together and shows f...

Residents who follow the page Yes, There Really Is A Kalamazoo Meme Page on Facebook and Instagram frequently comment on the page's original memes saying "This is so true." The page nods to neighborhood inside jokes, winks about local heroes, and waves a big red flag toward nefarious characters. So who are these meme makers? Their names are Joel Crookston and Tyler Dancer - but what is their motiv...

Discover how Kalamazoo Youth Development Network is changing the landscape of youth services in our community. Unlike distant foundations, KYD Net provides hands-on support, valuable assessment tools, and actionable improvement strategies—all at no cost to local programs. What makes their approach so effective? Why do community leaders consider their expertise "priceless"? Join us as three team me...