The Power of Enoughness
Not long ago, a friend shared a post from LinkedIn. Usually, these posts are filled with inspiration and practical wisdom. But this one hit differently. It sent me into a quiet, unexpected spiral. The post celebrated a thriving organization in Los Angeles—one that had just won a national award for the films created by its students and the Hollywood success stories they’ve launched. What caught my breath was this: the organization was founded in the very same year I leaped out on faith to form what was originally called the Merze Tate Travel Club.
In 2008, I put out a call for girls in grades 6–12 to join a new kind of club—one fueled by curiosity, courage, and creativity. As a journalist, I knew the power of exposure: to new places, new people, and the magic that happens when a young girl realizes she can ask anything in the name of a story. With a Canon camera and a handheld camcorder in tow, we set out to cover the world—from Kalamazoo to Motown—capturing stories that mattered through the lens of young explorers.
It was passion. It was purpose. It was a calling.
So when I saw that LinkedIn post, celebrating another organization’s meteoric rise, I couldn’t help but ask myself the question many founders quietly carry: Have I done enough? Sure, we were the world’s only all-girl travel writers organization. We took girls across the globe. We secured exclusive interviews with Oscar winners, astronauts, bestselling authors, and Fortune 500 CEOs. And yet, that whisper of doubt still crept in. Then came a moment that silenced it all.
Just days later, I was finalizing details for an exclusive interview between our Explorers and none other than Olympic legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee. It was a big deal—and I quietly hoped the girls would feel just how big. Oh, did they ever. The excitement buzzed through the room at Portage District Library as they practiced their questions, eyes sparkling with anticipation. Members of a local Girl Scout troop joined us, adding even more electricity to the moment. When Jackie entered the boardroom, the girls lit up. And after a powerful, inspiring interview (see page 20), the girls lined up for photos. Each waited their turn with patience and awe.
Then came Lena Richardson. With eyes shimmering and voice trembling, Lena approached Jackie quietly. “I admire you so much,” she said. “I love gymnastics… What can I do to get stronger for competition?”
That was the moment it hit me.
Enoughness.
It’s a word I first heard artist JooYoung Choi say (see page 14). It means embracing the feeling of being content, whole, and worthy— just as you are.
That moment with Lena wasn’t just sweet—it was proof. Each year, I’ve watched a girl’s light shine brighter because of one powerful experience: the chance to meet someone extraordinary, ask brave questions, and feel seen. Who knows what dreams will be born from that spark? Who knows how the world will shift because one girl dared to find her voice? Only time will tell.
But this I know for sure: what we’ve built is beautiful, bold, and enough. More than enough. It’s ours. And it’s changing the world— one fearless girl at a time.
Onward!
Sonya Hollins
Jackie (seated right) poses with Explorers after an exclusive interview. Left, Explorer Lena Richardson has the honor of getting advice from Jackie regarding her athletic journey in gymnastics.
Photos by Dare’l McMillian
MWANZA, TANZANIA - AFRICA
Deisa Elia models this elegant creation she designed during a fashion show final performance from the Institute of Fashion and Technology (IFT) in Dar es Salaam. Her tuition was a gift from the Merze Tate Explorers who raise funds annually during their gift wrapping fundraiser to provide scholarships for Explorers and girls in Tanzania.
Above: Explorer Sasha Hollins (left) poses with Deisa Elia who created this ensemble for Sasha in just two days during her visit to Mwanza, Tanzania in 2023. Below: Girls from the WoteSawa Domestic Workers Association pose after creating beautiful dresses with Deisa’s instruction.
By Deisa Elia - Mwanza, Tanzania
In 2021, the Merze Tate Explorers began virtual Saturday meetings via Zoom with girls of the WoteSawa Domestic Workers Organization in Mwanza. The partnership began after Sonya Hollins, Explorer founder, met Angela Benedicto, WoteSawa founder, during Angela’s visit to the U.S. through Colleagues International. That relationship grew to create fun video dance collaborations, an auction of items made by WoteSawa students, and more. In 2023, Sasha Hollins represented the Explorers in Tanzania where she visited the girl school and...received a beautiful custom-made ensemble created by Deisa in less than two days!
The Explorers continues to support the girls of WoteSawa with their educational endeavors to make their dreams come true.
My name is Deisa Elia, I am (17) years old and I am from Kigoma, Tanzania. I was working as a domestic worker for nine months. I went through sexual violence that left me in a lot of pain and suffering, which led to me being taken to the hospital. With the cooperation of the police and social welfare, they rescued me and took me to a temporary shelter, WoteSawa Domestic Workers Association (founded by Angela Benedicto). I started getting training in sewing, I didn’t know how to use a sewing machine at all, but they helped me, and I started to know a few things. After that, with the sponsorship of my friends in the USA (Merze Tate Explorers), I was able to be sent to the Institute of Fashion and Technology (IFT) sewing college in Dar es Salaam. For three months I learned how to sew and design various styles of clothes. I graduated from the training at the second level, which is the intermediate level.
After graduating from the training, I returned to Mwanza, and now I help and teach the girls at WoteSawa what I learned. I thank my friends for now (being able to) sew well.
May God bless you very much for the kindness you have done for me. I promise to continue to spread the knowledge I had to my fellow girls. I love my (Explorer) friends in the USA very much.
Thank you, Deisa
By Nariyah Reynolds
The Merze Tate Explorers has raised nearly $40,000 in scholarships over the past eight years during its annual Gift Wrapping Fundraiser at the Crossroads Mall in Portage, Michigan. Each year, Explorer families and friends become Santa’s helpers as they wrap thousands of gifts for shoppers during the Christmas season.
Funds from the effort provides scholarships for Explorer college and study abroad as well as to girls of the WoteSawa Domestic Workers Organization in Mwanza, Tanzania.
“How much do you charge to wrap?” one gentleman asked with excitement.
“It’s for donations,” I replied.
“Can you wrap this?” he asked, pulling out fuzzy socks and a robe for his wife.
This is a scene we Explorers have witnessed for eight years. Every year, we go on an enjoyable mission to help the Kalamazoo community enjoy their holidays. In the weeks before Christmas, the we set up tables at the Crossroads Mall in Portage, Michigan on a mission. To wrap gifts for busy, last-minute shoppers. Our tables are filled with colorful gift wrap, bows, scissors, tape, and gift tags to raise money for scholarships.
Volunteers from the community join in to help toward our goal of $5,000 each year. Sometimes we make our goal and some years we don’t. But, we have so much fun because we got to spread joy and holiday cheer.
“This is the best gift wrapping I’ve ever had!” said the happy man when he returned to pick up his gifts.
“Glad you like it—see you again next year!” I told him with a smile.
GROUP REPORT AN
KALAMAZOO (MICH.) — Sparkly dresses and toe-tapping music were what Explorer La’Niya Taylor enjoyed most about the musical tribute to Aretha Franklin, called “RESPECT.” She and her grandmother, and her aunt sang along with the popular hits and danced in their seats. They were among more than 20 Explorers and their families experience theater thanks to Miller Auditorium.
Miller Auditorium tickets are courtesy of the Community Arts Fund. In addition to the musical, students also had the chance to enjoy one of August Wilson’s famous plays, “Two Trains Running.”
“Before attending this play, I had never heard of August Wilson,” said Explorer Gabrielle Mabin. “When I went to the play, I really enjoyed it, but it was also a learning experience. Each character had different issues that connected them. The only woman in the play struggled with cutting herself with a razor. Another character had just gotten out of jail and was trying to get his life back on track. Learning about these characters and how they were connected was a challenge, but it was a fun experience.”
Explorer Cianna Hobson said the music and story of Aretha Franklin’s life were more powerful than she expected.
“The women who sang her songs on stage and told her stories really brought her life to the audience.”
Hobson said both the play and the musical celebrated African American culture. Explorers said their journey to Miller Auditorium gave them a deeper understanding of plays written by playwrights of color.
“A lot of media isn’t for ‘us’,” Hobson said. “These performances were.”
Taylor added, “These plays taught us something new about our culture.”
Note: Miller Auditorium’s community voucher program is designed to put ticket vouchers toward Miller Auditorium shows into the hands of organizations within Kalamazoo County that serve children and youth who normally would not have access to them. The Explorers have benefited from this program for nearly 20 years.
Tara Mabin dances out of her seat during a tribute to Aretha Franklin. Explorers enjoy the play, Two Trains Running (back from left): La’Niya Taylor, Nya Smith, Cianna Hobson, Skylar Brown; (seated from left): Kaylee Hampton and Madison Moore.
MEDIA AND GEOGRAPHY
To become a travel journalist, you have to not only know about media, but the world. Thanks to the leadership of our Explorer Guides, students learned to create media and geography through hands-on technology and interactive games.
A big THANK YOU to our leaders:
Dare’l McMillian, Director of Videography
Alaq Zhhayer, Geography Instructor
Sasha Hollins, Media Assistant
Healing Around the World
By Zariyah Pratt
In this world there’s so much to see, A traveling doctor is what I aspire to be, With hands that heal with dreams and hope, I roam the globe with a stethoscope, This dream is not for fame or gold, But for the lives my hands can hold, This journey I walk is no easy task, Mental fatigue and loads of stress, I put my faith in God, and he hears my prayers, Through him he provides rest, For my grandma’s voice so calm and wise, who saw the world through her steady eyes, For my sisters strong and fearless flame, Who was there for me when no one came, No matter my challenges big or small, My mother encourages that I can do it all, I’m the apple of my grandpa’s eye, The beat of his heart, A love so deep from the very start. As I travel this world with so much to see, I know they will all be proud of me.
Lessons Learned Through Travel
By Madison Moore
I am passionate about making a difference in the world by helping people in need and through a career in the medical field. What will help me in life is having new perspectives. I learn this when I talk to new people, travel to new environments, and shift my mindset from focusing on problems to finding solutions.
During the summer of 2024, I went to Costa Rica with some of my classmates from Maple Street Magnet School. I was excited to be in a new, unfamiliar place. We tried many different things like zip lining, tasting new foods, learning the dances, and seeing exotic animals. While water rafting, I felt so alive and excited. Every single moment in Costa Rica felt like a dream that I didn’t want to end. I was stepping out of comfort zones and learning how to adapt and have open minds.
During the trip, I was beginning to view obstacles as opportunities for me to learn and grow. One day, a friend told me that they heard someone talking negatively about them behind their back. I helped her by telling her to become a bigger person. I realized the importance of solving problems instead of sinking into them, and building my confidence in my ability to handle different situations.
There are many ways that can change your perspective of life. But for me it was talking to new people, traveling, and experiencing new environments that helped me open my mind and step out of my comfort zone. By opening your mind more and stepping out of your comfort zones you could change your perspective of life and experience new things.
No Dream Yet
By Kendall Baxter
I’m 12 years old with no dream...yet. But, when I get older maybe I would want to be a zoologist, photographer,artist or a vet. I have not decided yet.
But I know that I will be willing To try.
But when I get older you can rely On me to decide.
But for now I will allow others to dream And maybe I will have A dream of My own.
BOUND
By Cianna Hobson
Salty seas, Palm trees, fresh shell meat from the ocean, and drinking sweet refreshing juice straight from an open coconut chopped straight from the tallest trees. This was only part of the unique eyeopening adventure that I experienced on my trip to Nassau and Coco Cay Bahamas.
There was a feeling of anxiousness that stuck in the pit of my stomach as Dad woke me up at 3 a.m. to begin our journey on a Royal Carribean cruise to the Bahamas. I had never been on a plane and butterflies seemed to wrap themselves around my stomach lining. We had a long day of two flights ahead of us before we reached our destination. As I looked out the window clouds floated around. The world below seemed so small.
After a nap on the plane, my dad woke me up. We were in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and on our way to board the cruise ship. The first day was filled with sleeping off jet lag, eating, and exploring. But the next day, the adventure began as the ship made its first stop in Nassau, Bahamas. The air was hot and sticky, the ship was moving slowly back and forth by the waves, and the halls were scattered with different families hustling to their excursions.
My dad and me had one goal in mind, we were excited for an island tour. As we made our way through a dock cramped with travelers all excited to venture Nassau, we looked for our tour guide. A woman no older than 30, with brown hair in a ponytail contrasting with her bright pink shirt and brown bucket hat, brought realized that we were her customers. And, we were the only two!
Once in the jeep, we bumped along the roads filled with beautiful scenery, bright skies and colorful buildings as the tour guide told us the history of the island. When shopping, we noticed that the local currency had the image of Queen Elizabeth. We learned of the three-day Junkanoo festival, which included dancing and music festivals where people wore extravagant outfits.
The food was its own adventure. I ate the most delicious dish she had ever tried. Conch is a large shell found in Caribbean seas. Conch fritters are fried conch served in the Bahamas that is a fried crispy brown ball with a sweet and sour tangy yet flavourful filling inside consisting of sea snail meat with peppers and onions inside.
After a long, hot and sticky day, we retired back to the ship with frizzy hair and aching legs. As I relaxed, I sipped on coconut juice and admired the galaxy art on her hand that was created with henna.
The cruise would include another port stop at CoCo Cay, Bahamas where we walked along the streets of vendors and foods as bright as the clothing worn by the locals.
Travel lets you see new things, new people, and open your mind to the world. For me, it was a trip with my dad that allowed us both to make memories that would stay with us forever.
Huggable Art
Explorers sit down for an exclusive interview with artist JooYoung Choi during her exhibition at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.
Clockwise: Explorers pose with JooYoung Choi in her Cosmic Womb exhibition at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts; Explorers look for the mystery image in Choi’s painting as part of her exhibit scavenger hunt; girls relax on the beanbags as they watch Choi’s music video; Cianna Hobson and Juliana Liggins interviews Choi to learn more about her life as an artist. Photos by Sasha Hollins
By Cianna Hobson and Juliana Liggins
KALAMAZOO (MICH) – As JooYoung Choi (pronounced shay) walked into the art room, the Explorers smiled at her eyecatching look—short black bangs accented with cardinal red hair that flowed over her shoulders. She looked like a high school girl. Her beautiful red and orange eyeshadow matched her Cobra Kai shirt, and her black Converse were neatly laced beneath her cuffed jeans.
When the Explorers entered the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, they had no idea they were about to meet the coolest, most vibrant artist ever.
Choi was the KIA’s featured artist and the creator of the exhibition entitled The Cosmic Womb. Before sitting down for an interview, the Explorers gathered their notebooks and pencils and followed Choi into the lower-level gallery for an exclusive tour of her Infinite Constellation of Love. It was a world brought to life through irresistibly cute puppets, video art, and paintings. She was especially excited to share the Jones Family—her newest additions to The Cosmic Womb—making their debut right here in Kalamazoo.
The students smiled at the brightly colored room filled with joy. The first piece they saw was Pound Cake Man and Emma Pound Cake Girl, created in 2019. Choi explained with excitement how the structure was based on her relationship with her birth father.
For example, when she traveled to Korea to find her birth parents, she gave her father a tie. That same tie pattern later showed up in her art, featured in a painting with Albeir, the miracle bear.
“I like how she shared that her dad wears that tie every time she visits him in Korea. It shows how much he cares and appreciates her,” said Kennedy Baxtor, a 7th grader at Parchment Middle School.
Choi was born in Seoul, Korea, and adopted by a family in New Hampshire. Later, she discovered she had siblings in Korea. After meeting them, she promised to one day bring her sister to America for a visit. Choi expresses her creativity through paintings, sculptures, puppets, and media. She often reflects on her life experiences through her art, incorporating real people and moments from her journey.
During the interview, the Explorers learned that Choi was once a concert pianist before becoming an artist. She originally went to college to study music but realized that art was her true calling. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and her Master of Fine Arts from Lesley University in Massachusetts. Through her artistic journey, she has gained a deeper understanding of
family and belonging, which has become a central theme in her work. Starting as a painter, she soon found other creative ways to express herself through media and puppets.
The visit to the KIA gave the Explorers a new appreciation for the artist behind the art—and a fresh perspective they’ll cherish.
“She inspired me to learn about art and sculpture. One day I want to create sculptures too,” said Akiela Taylor, a 6th grader at Portage North Middle School.
“What stuck out to me the most was that even though she didn’t grow up with her birth parents, she still reconnects with them through her art,” said Nya Smith, a 5th grader at Paramount Academy.
Getting to know Choi and the meaning behind her playful but powerful works helped the Explorers understand new ways to express themselves.
“Her art expressed her life and her experiences,” said Korie Thomas-Pritchett, a 5th grader at Arcadia Elementary School. “She actually knows how to get her feelings out—she talks through her art.”
To learn more visit: jooyoungchoi.com.
Watch the full interview with the Explorers on our Merze Tate Explorers YouTube Channel!
Curating Life
By Madison Moore and Lena
Rehema Barber zipped around the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) and gave the Explorers an exclusive tour of JooYoung Choi’s beautiful artwork. She introduced us to the characters in the exhibit called The Cosmic Womb.
Barber has been a curator for more than 20 years, with the last six at the KIA. A museum curator is someone who helps collect and organize artwork to show to the public.
Akiela Taylor, a visually impaired Explorer, said she wished more of the artwork had parts she could touch. “Because that’s how I see things,” she explained.
Barber gets art for the museum by identifying pieces, doing research, and deciding if the artwork fits the museum’s collection. One of her proudest moments as a curator in Kalamazoo was opening a show called Source from the Zoo. She created it to help build community and help people connect through art.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Barber spent a lot of time in both Pennsylvania and Chicago because her parents were from those areas. As an only child, her parents encouraged her to entertain herself. She read a lot and was always involved in different activities growing up.
As a kid, she often wondered what she wanted to be when she got older. In high school, she tried a bunch of things. She wanted to be a journalist and even worked for her school newspaper. She also did mock trials and researched cases because she thought she might become a lawyer. At first, she wanted to follow in the footsteps of some family members who had chosen law as their careers.
But in the end, she became a curator because she enjoys art and bringing people together. Her parents supported whatever path she chose, and that helped shape who she is today.
Her favorite quote is: “If you don’t at first succeed, try, try, try again.”
Kennedy Baxter had never been to the KIA before. “I wasn’t expecting there to be so much interactive art,” she said.
“I liked it because they had different art and a wall with a high school art show,” said Nya Smith. “You could see other kids’ art and get an idea that you could make your own art.”
“When I first visited KIA, I thought it was a store,” said Korie Thomas-Pritchett. “But it was more than that. It was fun, and I saw a lot of art pieces that people worked really hard on. I was surprised. I can’t imagine how long that would have taken.”
Fun Facts about Rhema Barber
• Chief curator of Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
• Formerly chief curator of the Table of Arts Center at Eastern Illinois
• Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Roosevelt University
• Master of Arts from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts curator shares how she found her path in life
WRONG PLACE. WRONG TIME.
Richard Phillips and the Wrongful Incarceration
By Nya Smith
Richard Phillips was 27 years old when he was convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. After more than 46 years in prison, he has one regret. He regrets that his children lost the connection to their father that they needed.
Phillips talked to Explorers about his life, art, and how, regardless of life circumstances, we all should continue to follow our dreams.
He was incarcerated in 1971 after being arrested for murder. He was innocent, but it wasn’t until an innocence project did their research and helped prove he was not at the scene of the crime, that he was released in 2018. He is one of the longest-serving innocent prisosners in Michigan history.
It was good to interview him and hear about the trouble he went through and his life in prison and how he became an artist
A Meeting with a Cupcake Millionaire
there. He could only keep a few of his paintings in prison, so he sent them to a friend who kept them for him. When he came out of prison, he didn’t have money, but he was able to sell those paintings to survive. Now, he talks to kids about life choices and shares his art with the world.
La’Niya Taylor was one of dozens of Battle Creek-area students to meet Mignon Francios, the founder of the Cupcake Collection based in Nashville, Tenn. The entreprenuer shared her story of taking $5 and turning it into a million-dollar company. Francois was the keynote speaker at the 43rd annual Prayer Breakfast. Hundreds of community members and students were inspired by her words of faith through her journey.
After the community event, Explorer Founder Sonya Hollins facitated the student session where they had the opportunity to ask questions about her journey and even inspire youth to dream BIG.
Richard Phillips shares his art and inspiration with (from left) Nya Smith, Sasha Hollins, and Kaylee Hampton.
LaNiya and Mignon Francios
Sonya Listens to Mignon Francios
Why We Give
Explorers sit down with a few of our most dedicated donors to ask why they give to the Merze Tate Explorers. Watch their interview on the Merze Tate Explorers YouTube Channel.
Russ Schipper and members of the Kalamazoo Audubon Society hosted a bird-watching day for Explorers at Kalamazoo’s Nature Center. Today, Schipper is our Exploring National Parks Sponsor.
Watch the full interview with the Explorers on our Merze Tate Explorers YouTube Channel!
Bette Boulding
Hammond Family Fund
Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Diane Lang
Janene Pirbhai
Russ Schipper PNC Bank
Warner, Norcross & Judd Ladies’ Library Association
Dr. David Ohmart
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
“You have the power to make your dreams a reality.” Jackie Joyner Kersee
PORTAGE (MICH.) - Over the years, Explorers have interviewed Oscar winners, astronauts, bestselling authors, and CEOs. They’ve always remained cool and composed. However, when Jackie Joyner-Kersee walked into the conference room at the Portage District Library for an Explorer interview, students and parents were starstruck!
Explorers, along with members of a local Girl Scouts troop, asked thoughtful questions to the Olympic legend they all admired.
A BIG thank you goes to the City of Portage for sponsoring this inspiring community talk, and to M2 McMillian Media for their media support.
Explorers and their families celebrated another amazing season of media exploration during the Merze Tate Explorers’ 18th Annual Spring Celebration. The event was held at the historic Ladies’ Library Association in Kalamazoo. Parents, friends, and community members voted on exhibits based on the life of Merze Tate, honored community donors, and unveiled the mystery trip location—Nashville, Tennessee!
Thanks to the generous donation from Russ Schipper, the trip will include a visit to a national park in Tennessee, as well as stops at colleges, corporations, and more. Stay tuned for those stories!
KALAMAZOO (MICH.) - Malcolm Jolly couldn’t wait to share what he liked most about Upjohn Park. “The hot dog slide!” the 5-year-old said as he rushed to climb up the ladder to slide down. When asked what other attractions he would like added to Upjohn Park, he told reporter Aliah Ward, “More slides!”
Children like Malcolm and their parents participated in an investigative report by Community Voices youth reporters. The reporters, members of the Merze Tate Explorers, researched which of the 59 parks managed by the City of Kalamazoo should be ranked in the Top 10. The project is a collaboration between NowKalamazoo and the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative (SWMJC). The collaborative members share their articles with other SWMJC members’ print and broadcast outlets for an opportunity to share media on various platforms.
The Community Voices youth reporters created an investigation of local parks and in the community, which are vital to physical and mental health, particularly for youth.
Why the Park Investigation?
Senior reporters Sasha Hollins and Aliah Ward searched the web for facts to support why parks are important to the physical and mental health of kids.
Here’s what they found: According to a report on ScienceDirect, 49,146 American youth (24%) lacked access to a neighborhood park.
Children without parks were more likely to be overweight, have ADHD, and get inadequate sleep.
Children living near parks with playgrounds had better mental health than those living near parks without playgrounds. Source: ScienceDirect
With the facts at hand, the young reporters went to work.
“We first looked at all of the parks in the city and broke them down to which ones we would visit,” said Cianna Hobson, a 10th-grade Explorer who attends Loy Norrix High School. “There were so many parks, but we decided to visit parks in neighborhoods only. We felt these were the ones kids could walk to from their neighborhood.”
The reporters then learned more
about the history of the parks, their features, and any local history.
“I didn’t know that LaCrone Park was named after William LaCrone, who was the local parks superintendent in the 1930s,” Ward said. “Many of the parks are named for people we never learned about.” Learn more about the origins of Kalamazoo parks here.
Once the students decided on the 15 parks they would visit to get their top 10, they created grading criteria and used Canva to create a scorecard for each park. Their scorecards included neighborhood safety, entrances, parking, seating for parents, bathroom quality, playground equipment, and more.
Then, they were off! The reporters spoke with kids, parents, and grandparents about what they liked most and least about the parks.
After hours of park visits, the young reporters felt they had enough information to complete their investigation. In celebration of a job well done, they, like Isabella, ran through the cool sprinklers of the Splash Pad at LaCrone Park.
Reporter Korie said she had her reservations about visiting the park, but was surprised to see it rank high on their list.
“I heard this is a ‘bad’ park,” she said. “I heard someone was shot here not too long ago. But this isn’t a bad park. I might come back.”
The Results
The results were shared with the reporters of NowKalamazoo to present to the Kalamazoo City Parks and Recreation Department.
The young reporters hoped their surveys would help the department address issues such as lighting, parking, signage, dog waste bag refills, and other concerns they noted that could improve the parks.
“Yeah, some of the parks were a bit sketchy,” said reporter Sasha Hollins. “I don’t know if I would feel like they would help my mental health. But there were other parks, like Milham Park and Frays Park, that I could see myself going to for a break.”
Hobson agreed. “Some of these parks need a lot of work if they want families to enjoy them.”
Check out their scores and the full story at https://www.merzetate.org/explorers-investigate-kalamazoo-parks/
See NowKalamazoo’s partner collaboration at https://nowkalamazoo.org/2025/05/theparks-that-kids-like-the-best-and-least/
Girls Can! Reporters: Kaylee Hampton
Cianna Hobson
Sasha Hollins
Korie Thomas-Pritchett
Aliah Ward
L andmarks Matching G ame
Petra
Mayan Pyramid s
Taj Mahal
Christ the Red eemer
Mecca
Mexico
Jordan
Saud i A rabia
Ind ia
Brazil
Merze Tate has been all around the world! This word search includes some of the many places she has been. How many you can find?
Puzzles created by Nariyah Reynolds & La’Niya Taylor
of Dr. Merze Tate at the Taj Mahal in 1950 courtesy of the Zhang Legacy Collection Center: Archives, Regional History and Special Collections of Western Michigan University.
Photo
Answers to puzzles on pages 24 and 25.
L andmarks Matching G ame
Christ the Redeemer Brazil
Mecca Jordan
Mayan Pyramids Mexico
Petra Saudi Arabia
Taj Mahal India
Answers on page 26
Merze Tate has been all around the world! This word search includes some of the many places she has been. How many you can find?
What Olympic legend used a potato chip bag to practice her long jump? (page 20)
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
This bird-watching donor has helped girls Explore National Parks.
(page 8)
The Jones Family puppets were the creation of what nationallyknown artist? (page 14)
Explorers bring in holiday cheer and provide what service to shoppers as an annual fundraiser? (page 8)
Explorers provide scholarship funds to girls in what African country? (page 6)
Photo of Dr Merze Tate at the Taj Mahal in 1950 courtesy of the Zhang Legacy Collections Center: Archives, Regional History and Special Collections of Western Michigan University
