From the Editor
We all know July is a month for vacations. After dealing with the busyness of our daily lives, constant inundation of information and changes occurring around us right and left, our brains need a break as much as our bodies. And if sitting by yourself on a mountaintop or remote beach somewhere isn't feasible, we offer this month's issue of Encore to give you a bit of a mental vacation.
Since Encore offers stories that uplift, illuminate and celebrate good people doing good things for others in our community, reading it can make you happier. This isn't just speculation; it's backed by research: Those who witness kindness get what's termed "moral elevation," according to University of Michigan research, and the more often we witness acts of kindness, the more likely we are to notice these and other forms of moral beauty.
Take this month's cover story, for instance. It's about Breakfast of Champions, a program that for the past 32 years has mentored adolescent boys and prepared them for life. It's the passion of one man — Jim Hess, its founder — but its impact has rippled out to many, many others.
Another story in this issue looks at Care Collective of Southwest Michigan, an organization fighting what's known as "period poverty" and "diaper poverty." Imagine being a teenage girl who has her period but not the financial resources to buy the needed supplies. Or the parent who needs diapers for their child but can't afford them because the daily cost of living takes everything they make. Providing for these needs can be among the kindest things someone could do for another.
Finally, we also talk with Brenna Pixley, the founder and organizer of the Earthcraft Skillshare gathering. It's a three-day event offering training in ancestral skills such as winemaking, wildlife tracking, home funerals, and foraging. Those who teach and share these skills with others not only provide something of value to the participants but begin the process of spreading these important attributes to others beyond the event.
So, take a mental break by reading this issue, and may you find that it gives you "good vibrations," as that summer-loving band the Beach Boys would say.
Left to right: Morgan Rogalke-Scime, Charles S. Ofstein, Tyler J. Stewart, Olivia A. Kurajian, William B. Millard
Zinta, who wrote this month's cover story on the Breakfast of Champions mentoring program for boys ages 10 to 12, says she thought her first meeting with the boys would be full of the movement and noise you might expect from this age group. But she was surprised. "When they arrived," she says, "the boys were dressed in shirts and ties, surprisingly quiet, and they each shook my hand in greeting. I was impressed, and my respect grew as I watched and listened during the morning session. Breakfast of Champions is now in its 32nd year. Programs don't last that long unless they work. I would soon understand why this one works." Zinta is the creative director of Z Word LLC, a writing and editing service, and host of the weekly radio show Art Beat, on WMUK 102.1 FM.
Katie wrote two stories for this issue — a Good Works story on Care Collective of Southwest Michigan and a Back Story profile on Brenna Pixley of the Earthcraft Skillshare ancestral skills gathering. "The women in these two stories are doing work deeply embedded in helping others — one for those with urgent needs and the other to provide skills building. Each of them is so passionate about their work that I may soon be volunteering with them.” Katie is a writer and communications consultant specializing in nonprofit marketing.
Publisher encore publications, inc
Editor marie lee
Art Director alexis stubelt
Photographer brian k powers
Contributing Writers zinta aistars, katie houston, marie lee, karl lewis, ramona lewis
Copy Editor
margaret deritter
Advertising Sales janis clark kimberly juwong
Distribution ron kilian robert zedeck
Office Coordinator kelly burcroff
Proofreader hope smith
Encore Magazine is published 12 times yearly. Copyright 2025, Encore Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to:
www.encorekalamazoo.com
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The staff at Encore welcomes written comments from readers, and articles and poems for submission with no obligation to print or return them. To learn more about us or to comment, visit encorekalamazoo.com. Encore subscription rates: one year $36, two years $70. Back issues $6, $12 by mail. Advertising rates on request.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by those interviewed and published here do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Encore Magazine or the official policies, owners or employees of Encore Publications
Zinta Aistars
Katie Houston
First Things
Something Delicious Restaurant Week offers special menus
For those needing a reason to get out of the kitchen during the dog days of summer, it's Kalamazoo Restaurant Week to the rescue!
The 10-day event, running July 17–26, provides special opportunities to explore dining and drinking options in the greater Kalamazoo area. Participating restaurants will create fixed-price menus and there will be a cocktail competition, with bartenders vying for their concoctions to be crowned the Best Cocktail.
For information on participating venues and menus, visit kalamazoorestaurantweek.com.
Something Out There Air Zoo hosts space camp for adults
Admit it. You're just a little jealous of all the fun camps for kids in the summer. Well, get ready to entertain your own inner child when the Air Zoo hosts its Adult Space Camp from 6-11 p.m. July 26.
In addition to experiencing the Air Zoo's rides, simulators, activities and exhibits, participants will also be able to partake in dancing, cocktails and food. And for those so inclined, costumes with a sci-fi theme are encouraged.
Tickets are $25 for Air Zoo members and $50 for others and can be purchased online at airzoo.org.
Something Cultural Film highlights Potawatomi language
The efforts of two local tribes to revitalize their rapidly disappearing language is highlighted in a new documentary that will be shown at 6 p.m. July 17 at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.
Bodewadmi Ndaw (I Am Potawatomi) was created by Kalamazoo filmmaker Davis Henderson, a citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians (also known as the Gun Lake Tribe). The film looks at the work by this tribe and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi to preserve their native language, Bodéwadmimwen. Following the screening, Henderson will lead a community conversation about his project.
Admission is free, but registration is required. To register, visit tinyurl. com/potawatomifilm.
Something Gritty
Blues Fest returns to downtown
Blues enthusiasts will have no reason to be blue this month, since the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Festival returns July 18 and 19 to the Arcadia Creek Festival Place, in downtown Kalamazoo.
The festival begins at 5 p.m. July 18, and the first day will feature performances by the Jim Klein Band, Chris Canas, Ivy Ford and harmonica master Brandon Santini. It resumes at 1 p.m. July 19 with a lineup that includes The Lefthanded Rollers, Crossroads Resurrection, Stefan Hillesheim and Vanessa Collier.
Tickets are $15 for July 18, $25 for July 19 and $35 for both days. They can be purchased in advance at kvba.org.
Something Musical
The Wallflowers to rock Bell's
The Wallflowers, with frontman Jakob Dylan, will give an 8 p.m. performance July 8 in Bell's Beer Garden.
The group, a rock radio staple of the postgrunge era, hit the scene with its 1996 album, Bringing Down the Horse, which won two Grammys, including one for Best Rock Song ("One Headlight").
Folk-blues crooner Early James will be the opening act. Tickets are $59.34 and available online at events.bellsbeer.com.
Five Faves Paddleboarding spots for every skill level
BY KARL & RAMONA LEWIS
Living in Michigan, we're blessed with an incredible abundance of lakes, but you don't need to own a boat to enjoy them. Stand-up paddleboarding offers an alternative to boating or kayaking, with the unique advantage of giving you the choice to stand or sit on the board as you explore. After a long day hunched over a desk, it's energizing to stretch your body while soaking up water, nature and scenery. Plus, once you own the board, it's pretty much a free hobby.
We joke that paddleboarding saved our marriage — and while we're kidding, there's more truth to it than you might expect. When friends first invited us to paddle on Lake Michigan, we discovered the perfect compromise between Ramona’s love of swimming and Karl's appreciation for the physics of paddleboarding. Now our obsession with paddleboarding as partners has become well known to our friends and family, and we enjoy meeting folks while out on our boards.
In 2020, we hung a map of the Kalamazoo area on a wall to track all the places we wanted to paddle and were amazed by the variety of excellent paddling opportunities right in our backyard. When we're thinking of our favorite spots, we consider our mood, the weather, the view, and the ease of paddling (sometimes too much boat action can create waves, making balance difficult). Some other considerations are whether you already have a board or need to rent, weather and wind, the amount of shade coverage, boat traffic, and whether you want solitude or are looking for a lively atmosphere and people-watching opportunities. In addition, keep in mind whether the location has entry fees, parking and access to bathrooms.
Here are five of our favorite spots for paddleboarding:
Woods Lake
2900
Oakland Drive
Woods Lake holds a special place in our hearts — it's where we did much of our early paddleboarding, including memorable adventures with our single paddleboard (one of us paddled while pulling the other around on an inner tube). We take friends who are new to the sport here, since the lake's lack of motorized boats lets them focus on learning to stand, paddle and gracefully get back on their board after falling. The fishing dock on the lake's south end offers easier water access, though you might need to share space with anglers. The park on the lake's west side has restrooms and parking, and here's a tip: Unload your boards at the bottom of the hill and then park uphill. When you're done paddling, head across the street to Oakwood Plaza for snacks, food or ice cream.
Long Lake/Ramona Park
9488 Sprinkle Road, Portage
Our Kalamazoo paddleboarding journey began here, and it remains our top recommendation for newcomers to the sport. If you don't have your own board, this is the perfect place to start with a rental — the beach crew will help you get the board in the water, and the sandy beach provides for an easy launch. The shallow sandbar on the north end of the lake has become a favorite destination. Pontoon boaters often gather there and are invariably amused by paddlers who glide over to say hello. Don't be surprised to spot kayak anglers working the reedy northwest area, since the fishing there is apparently as good as the paddling. Since Ramona Park is a city park, there's a small entry fee for non-Portage residents, but with that fee comes access to bathrooms, a concession stand, lifeguards and a beachy atmosphere.
Eagle Lake
1468 N. Eagle Lake Drive, Texas Township
This expansive lake between Kalamazoo and Mattawan delivers plenty of space to paddle significant distances and really stretch your limits while getting peeks at backyards with creative lake-life setups. Eagle Lake is popular with the powerboat crowd, so expect to encounter ski boats and jet skis during peak summer months. We've learned to appreciate the energy and activity, but the lake's size also means you can always find quieter corners when you need them. There's free parking and access to a boat launch area with a Porta Potty. And bring along your favorite tunes — paddling to some Yacht Rock or Yacht Soul is the perfect soundtrack to the lake's lively atmosphere.
Sugarloaf Lake
10764 Shaver Road, Portage
While anglers frequent Sugarloaf Lake, it sees fewer recreational boaters, making it ideal for paddleboarders to build confidence — you can focus on learning to stand and maneuver without the distractions of busy water traffic. The real gem here is the small channel that leads to Little Sugarloaf Lake. Paddling this winding waterway is like entering a nature preserve, with birds nesting along the banks and a sense of peaceful isolation that's hard to find so close to town. This is a great lake for throwing in an anchor, having a picnic on your paddleboards and chilling out. Note, however, that a Michigan recreation pass is required for entry to the boat launch/ parking area, and there is no bathroom on the site.
Wolf Lake M-43, Van Buren County, Mattawan
Wolf Lake typically sees only small fishing boats, making it an excellent choice for calm-water paddling. The minimal boat traffic means easier balance and a more peaceful experience, perfect for teaching someone new to paddleboarding or for days when you want to focus on technique without dealing with wakes from larger boats. While the serene environment and the secluded location create an intimate paddling experience, the lake has public access and free parking but does not offer bathroom facilities.
Editor's note: This article was shortened for the print edition but additional locations and tips for paddleboarding can be found at encorekalamazoo.com.
About the Authors
Karl and Ramona Lewis caught the standup paddleboarding bug in 2017 and haven't looked back. From their home waters around Kalamazoo to adventures in Michigan, the U.S. and five other countries, they're always planning their next paddle. When they're not on the water, you'll find them listening to Yacht Soul radio and eyeing every body of water they pass, wondering if they can squeeze their SUPs in.
A Caring Collective Organization helps fight period and diaper poverty
BY KATIE HOUSTON
If you are or have been someone who menstruates or the parent of an infant, then you know how expensive the essential supplies to care for natural bodily functions can be — and how important it is to have them when you need them. Now imagine not being able to afford those supplies.
That’s why Care Collective of Southwest Michigan is helping folks throughout Kalamazoo County who are challenged to pay for those supplies. The organization provided hundreds of thousands of free diapers and period products in 2024.
The work is urgent, but the vibe was chill at the organization’s Eastside office and warehouse when this reporter visited. The team had recently hosted the organization’s first fundraising event, OvaryActing, and was
preparing to volunteer later that day with the Kalamazoo Talking Is Teaching party at Milham Park.
“We partner with Talking Is Teaching year 'round, and we include their info in all our kits, sharing the idea that diaper time is talk time, reminding parents that they are their children’s first teacher,” says Care Collective Founder and Executive Director Sarah Koestler.
Operations Director J Ludeker reports that the OvaryActing party had 70 participants and raised more than $8,000.
In his position, Ludeker is responsible for outreach, communications, and donor and volunteer relationships. “I don’t menstruate, and I don’t have kids, but I’ve educated myself so I can educate others,” he says.
Koestler adds, “He’s also contributing to the stigma busting and eliminating shame.”
Meeting needs
Care Collective distributes products via 25 to 30 partnerships with nonprofits and grassroots organizations, including Communities In Schools, OutFront Kalamazoo, Cares Sexual Wellness Services, El Concilio, the Eastside and Douglass community centers, Rootead, and Fire Arts Collaborative.
“We prioritize partnering with smaller organizations, and specifically BIPOC or LGBTQ-led organizations. They are doing frontline work to reach folks who have higher rates of diaper need and period poverty,” says
Care Collective Program Manager Jordan Taylor.
While there’s no way to be sure how many clients the organization has served, it distributed 573,000 diapers and 139,000 period products in 2024. Both numbers are on track to grow this year.
The need for diapers is great in Kalamazoo, says Koestler. “About half the families with young kids in Kalamazoo do not earn a household income enough to meet their needs,” she says.
Care Collective's product distribution is assisted by nearly 400 volunteers who pack period and diaper kits in the warehouse. Ludeker notes there is "a job for everybody, regardless of ability or age."
"We recently had an event welcoming families with kids to bundle diapers. The only accommodation we had to make was to lower the table height for the kids,” he says.
Koestler adds, “There was something wonderful about seeing kids wearing diapers and (other kids) processing diapers at the same time."
A majority of the organization’s supplies come from steeply discounted bulk buying and community product drives, which also raise awareness about the needs and the services. The organization has benefited from drives by the Junior League of Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo Promise, students from Kalamazoo Central High School and Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers, among others.
With an annual budget of $600,000 funded by grants and donations, Care Collective is a member of the National Diaper Bank Network and the Alliance for Period
Clockwise from top left: Care Collective staff, from left, Jordan Taylor, Sarah Koestler and J Ludeker outside the organization's facility; staff prepare donated products for distribution; Koestler puts together a period supply kit; kits ready for distribution; and packages of donated pads and diapers.
Supplies, which makes the local organization eligible for donations from product manufacturers.
“We just received our first delivery — 60,000 pads from U by Kotex earlier this month,” says Ludeker. “Our landlords, Consort Media, not only loaned us some storage space, but also a forklift and staff volunteers to move the product.”
Given that girls in the U.S. are starting their periods earlier and earlier — some as young as age 9 — the need for period products is widening. Via Communities In Schools, period products are available in all of the Kalamazoo public schools where CIS has a site coordinator.
“This year we worked with CIS to provide period kits for health class presentations to fifth graders, to show them what will be available when they go to middle school next year,” says Taylor. “We will continue to work to streamline age-appropriate accessibility in the schools.”
Launching and growing
The idea of establishing Care Collective of Southwest Michigan was sparked by conversations that began three years ago, according to Koestler.
“A group of us started talking in 2022," she says. "We had different levels of involvement in nonprofits, caregiving and specifically diapers and basic needs distribution. We saw that existing diaper programs were meeting only a small percentage of the need. Our board is primarily made up of those folks still.
"Our first board meeting was in a tattoo studio, which absolutely captures our scrappy vibe. We started working out of J’s garage, and we got our first funding in early 2023 from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Other funders followed, and we were able to start piloting with three diaper partners in March 2023. We added period product distribution that fall.”
Along the way, Care Collective was able to hire staff and purchase a 20-foot cargo van, and twice it outgrew its space. The organization’s
grant funding continues to grow, and it recently secured multi-year funding from the Stryker Johnston Foundation.
“That stability makes a huge difference. It allows us to try things and make changes and get feedback, and have things not go perfectly in a way that we learn from and that benefits everyone in the long run,” says Koestler, for whom that long run is always front and center.
The team expects to move to a larger space when their two-year lease runs out in 2026.
What else is on the horizon?
“We hope to take our volunteer opportunities on the road,” says Ludeker. “We want to bring supplies out to groups who can bundle kits at their site and at their convenience. This would primarily be period products because of the smaller size.”
Koestler adds to the list of what's on the horizon. “Later this year we will be partnering with companies to sell them discounted period supplies with which to stock their bathrooms for staff, employees and public-facing restrooms,” she says. “Other big dreams are to expand outside Kalamazoo County, finding partner agencies who are reaching migrant families, Black families, and queer families.”
T-shirts promoting the fight to end period poverty on the shelves at the Care Collective facility.
Mark Kubas MI 4156A
Matt Stemple NE 6601BT
Breilen Maybee MI 4763A
Trevor Roepcke MI 4254A
Ryan Plunkett WI 0882A
Lou Mitchell MI 4423A
Dominic Fulton MI 4691A
Ben Yost MI 4086A
The Ripple Effect
Lessons boys learn at Breakfast of Champions resonate in their lives and in the community
BY ZINTA AISTARS
A dozen boys ages 10 to 12 mill around the Kalamazoo College buffet, piling scrambled eggs, sausages, biscuits, fruit onto their plates. It is 7:30 a.m., and even the college kids aren’t up this early. The boys carefully bring their full plates through the nearly empty cafeteria into the Stone Room. But it is what comes after breakfast that is the best part of their morning — a chance to learn lessons that could bring success in life.
The boys are dressed in shirts and ties, some in suit jackets. Their hair is carefully combed. Their notebooks are open and ready to be filled, sharpened pencils placed beside them. The names and faces of these boys change every year, but they come from King-Westwood Elementary School. And just like all the groups of boys before them for the past 32 years, these boys come to the Breakfast of Champions twice a month to listen to a chosen inspirational speaker.
Jim Hess, 70, stands tall at one side of the room, watching, smiling. Hess is the mastermind of the program, which has been a heartfelt passion for him since his days as a coach at King-Westwood.
“We had that great principal, Pat Coles-Chalmers, back then,” Hess says. “She was so good to our kids. I had been coaching at Western Michigan University for eight years, and she talked me into coaching the sixth-grade basketball team. I saw mentoring groups out there. Sometimes they were too big, so the focus got lost. What I also saw was that some of these mentoring groups labeled kids. They were either academically talented or they were considered at risk. Our kids, what they all are, are champions.”
Hess credits Coles-Chalmers and Gary Van Stearn, then head of maintenance at Northeastern Elementary School in Kalamazoo, with the inspiration for Breakfast of Champions. Known as the “mayor of Northeastern Elementary,” Van Stearn established a sixth-grade basketball program called Morning Basketball. The boys thrived under his leadership, excelling in both academics and sports.
“The lure for the boys was their love of basketball. but they had to be performing in school and behaving in school, and he taught them about teamwork. I saw the impact he had on the kids, and I wanted to do something like that at Westwood," Hess recalls. "Between Pat and Gary, those were my two motivating factors.”
'No labels'
As Hess and Coles-Chalmers talked about the mentoring program they wanted to establish, they set parameters. The group would be small, just 12 participants. It would be only for boys — Hess says that it seemed that there were more mentoring programs for girls at that age than boys. The group would be intentionally diverse economically, racially and socially. The boys would be chosen by their teachers and principals, those who knew them best.
“No labels on these boys,” Hess says. “Pat and I also decided the kids would have to wear a shirt and tie when they attend the program. The
Bronson Healthcare CEO Bill Manns listens as Breakfast of Champions participants ask questions. Manns was a speaker at one of the organization's meetings in April.
philosophy behind that is to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. They have to take notes and then share them with their parents. If they get their notes signed, they get paid $1. If they forget, they don’t get paid, because that’s the real world. If they get their notes signed every time, they are put into a drawing to win $50.”
The boys are told they must be on time — there is but one chance to make a first impression. Miss a program and that means being out of the program for good. Boys are expected to be at their doors, ready to go, when the driver arrives to pick them up.
“Our motto has been: Get up, dress up, show up,” Hess says. “We tell them they have to be an active participant and an active listener. Always keep your eyes on the speaker. We remind them, 'What if the speaker said one thing that could change your life forever, but you weren’t paying attention?'”
'Try new things'
With breakfast finished, the boys are seated with notebooks open and pencils in hand, their speaker for the day, Kalamazoo College President Jorge Gonzalez, takes the floor. He strolls from one end of the table to the other, smiling and making eye contact with each and every boy.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he says. “This is your home. You are welcome here at Kalamazoo College to attend sports games, theater, whatever interests you, and you can return when you are ready for college. Now, let me tell you what brought me here and how important education has been for my journey.”
Education was a risk, Gonzalez says, because it meant leaving the comfort and security of his home and family in Mexico, but it was a risk that opened doors for him. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Mexico, Gonzalez wanted to improve his English skills and see more of the world so he came to the United States to earn a master’s degree and doctorate in economics.
“So many doors opened to me because of education and because I took some risks,” he says. “Be proud of where you come from, but don’t be afraid to try new things.”
The boys ask Gonzalez about some of the places he has traveled. In turn, he asks the boys if they know what the Kalamazoo Promise is — and they do. A boy pipes up: “It means we can go to any college in Michigan tuition-free!"
“Yes! You are so lucky!” Gonzalez says, nodding. “What college? You decide. There are so many amazing schools out there. But you know … Kalamazoo College is the best.”
He laughs, and the boys grin back at him.
Taking a more serious tone, Gonzalez concludes, “We know what we do here changes people’s lives. Education can change your life.”
Over the years, Breakfast of Champions participants have listened to speakers from all walks of life, such as Jim Heath, retired president of Stryker Instruments; Brady Hoke, former football coach for the University of Michigan; Victor Green, assistant chief of the
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety; Von Washington, executive director of the Kalamazoo Promise; Ed Montgomery, former president of Western Michigan University; Mark Riley, Kalamazoo College tennis coach; and Bill Manns, CEO of Bronson Healthcare. 'Never give up'
Some of the speakers were among the boys themselves when that age. Sebastian Jackson, 38, entrepreneur and founder of The Social Club in Detroit, is one of those.
“I was one of those boys at that table,” Jackson says. “I lived in Kalamazoo from sixth grade through high school. When I first met Coach Hess playing basketball, he taught me it wasn’t all about my scoring as many points as I could. It was about helping my team to be better.”
That and many other lessons — including to never give up on his dreams and to have the flexibility to revise and update his dreams along the way — Jackson learned as a Breakfast of Champions participant.
“We learned to never give up on ourselves or our peers or our family,” he says. “Coach would say, 'Prepare to learn.' And we did.”
Jackson went on to study journalism at Wayne State University. And while he
dreamed of owning a publication of his own, he discovered a second passion.
“I loved the business side of things more than writing,” he says. “When I was a kid, around 15 years old, I started cutting hair with my dad’s clippers in the garage to make some money. I charged $5 for anyone to come to the garage, but $8 if they had me come to them. I cut my own hair first to practice, and it turned out pretty good, so that gave me confidence. The second cut, well, that wasn’t so good, but I remembered that lesson: 'Don’t give up.'”
Cut after cut, Jackson’s skills improved. In college, he put a poster on his dorm room door advertising his barbering skills. When a resident advisor told him he couldn’t run a
business in the dormitory, he bartered free cuts for the advisor in exchange for silence. Deal.
Then another deal popped up.
“A barbershop on campus shut down, so I submitted business plans to the university to take over the space,” Jackson recalls. “On my fourth try, they said yes.”
Jackson and his wife, Gabrielle, now own The Social Club, offering haircuts and hair treatments in an elegant space that
Clockwise from top left: from left, Mark Klepper, Kevan Hess and Jim Hess watch as Bill Manns speaks to the participants; Lincoln Sledge takes notes during the presentation; Haider Rasool listens intently; photos from the organization's past show participants interacting with former U.S. Representative Fred Upton; and Billy Reinholt shakes Manns' hand.
appears, indeed, to be more social club and community meeting place than corner barbershop. They also offer their own line of hair and skincare products, called Saint Martin.
About a decade ago Jackson shared his success story at Breakfast of Champions.
“That was in 2014 or 2015, and I hope to come back again soon,” he says. “I talked to the boys about the school experience and the importance of excelling academically. I told them to choose something and become an expert in it, own your job experience. I talked to them about becoming an entrepreneur.”
In his next talk, Jackson says, there may be some revised lessons to pass along.
“That first time I was very optimistic,” he says. “Now I am more realistic. Entrepreneurship is very risky, but I want to tell the boys that for every success story, there are a great many failures that come first. You learn along the way. Learn, and while you are learning save as much as possible to get through the tough times while you reach for success.”
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Like father, like son
Breakfast of Champions has been Jim Hess's baby from the beginning. He lines up the speakers and, with a volunteer driver or two, arranges transportation to get the kids to Kalamazoo College for the meetings.
Attending the meetings alongside Jim Hess is his son Kevan Hess, 37, who, like his father, is an associate broker at Jaqua Realtors. Kevan, who was a Breakfast of Champions participant, has not only followed in his father’s career footsteps but plans to take over running the Breakfast of Champions.
“My current career relies on me having a broad network and meeting new clients on a constant basis, so this program taught me how to make a memorable first impression and what it means to be a professional,” the younger Hess says. “It also taught me to connect with a diverse group of acquaintances and find our similarities.
“The value of this program can be found in a few different parts. The first lies within its wide variety of speakers. These speakers come from all different backgrounds, and
it's fun for me to watch different students connect with different speakers based on their message. The second portion of value in this program is that it gets the students on a college campus, and for many of them it's their first time. This exposes them to college life and helps them realize that it's definitely within reach, especially with the Kalamazoo Promise in place.”
The elder Hess nods in agreement. “Another part of this program is to show the kids how big this world is, not how small it is,” he says. “All those possibilities are there for them. It opens the door up for those kinds of things when they hear these speakers and talk to them. And you have to earn that. That’s the other thing. That’s why they have to be on time and clean up their own messes here after breakfast and say please and thank you and be kind to people. So many of the speakers we have talk about kindness.”
That has been one lesson Billy Reinholt, 11, has garnered from the program this year.
Billy, who aspires to go to Michigan State and to be a professional NBA basketball player or maybe a teacher, is also looking ahead for his 4-year-old brother.
"I hope my little brother gets in this program someday too," he says. "It's a lot of fun. Another of my goals, whether I become a famous basketball player or not, is to give back to my community."
Looking ahead
Kevan Hess, too, is looking to the future. As he thinks about what he would like to take forward for the Breakfast of Champions, he reflects on what the program taught him.
“My favorite memories as a participant were the feelings of responsibility and accountability that came with being part of an exclusive and diverse group of young men. That age group is such a critical time in development, so having a sense of confidence brought on by dressing up and building a network of important community members made that transition to adolescence much easier. You never quite knew which speaker
you might resonate with the most, so it was fun to hear what each speaker had to share and what path they took to get their current position. Additionally, sharing this experience with classmates and friends made it all the more enjoyable.”
But Jim Hess isn’t quite ready to give up the reins of Breakfast of Champions. It is apparent that he enjoys working with the boys way too much to walk away at this point. He says he hopes to stay with the program until Kevan’s son Charlie can participate, about four years from now. For Hess, it is all about the ripple effect the program has in the community, and he hopes to keep tossing that stone into the water. He also hopes similar programs will spring up for boys from other schools.
“If we can inspire other people to change a small portion of where they are, that is what we hope to have ripple out from us,” he says. “Do all you can with what you have in the time you have and in the place you are. For me, this is what I can do. It’s where I live, it’s the time I have, and it’s the place I am.”
TheArts OutdoorConcerts
Throughout the month
Various venues
The outdoor concert season really heats up this month, with shows across the region, from Allegan to Vicksburg. The scheduled shows, show times and locations are:
• Pinter Whitnick, 5 p.m. July 2, Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners
• Tony Fields and Doug Decker, 5:30 p.m. July 2, Bates Alley, located between Edwards and Portage streets in downtown Kalamazoo
• KSO Pops, 4 p.m. July 3, Bronson Park
• His Boy Elroy, 7 p.m. July 5, Mahan Park, 101 Brady St., Allegan
• Glad All Over, 5 p.m. July 9, Gilmore Car Museum
• Par-llo Connection and The Most Incredible DJ Chuck, 5:30 p.m. July 9, Bates Alley
• Dirty Boots and Out of Favor Boys, 5:30 p.m. July 9, Village of Vicksburg
• Old Days and Chet Allen, 6 p.m. July 10, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road, Portage
• The Dirty Rain Revelers, 11:30 a.m. July 11, Bronson Park
• Megan Dooley Trio, 6 p.m., and The Mickeys, 8 p.m., July 11, Arcadia Creek Festival Place, 145 E. Water St., downtown Kalamazoo
• DJ Playhouse, P Way Bug, A LaFaye and Brandon Fitzpatrick & the Element, 6:30 p.m., July 12, Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St.
• The Business Brothers Band, 7 p.m. July 12, Mahan Park
• The Rebel Eves, 4 p.m. July 13, Bronson Park
• Otsego Jazz Ensemble, 6 p.m. July 13, Texas Drive Park, 6603 Texas Drive, Texas Township
SoundsoftheCinema
July 17
KSO String Quartet
The ballroom of the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo will be transformed into a candlelit concert venue for this performance, in which a quartet of Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra string musicians will play music from movies. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5–$25 and available at kalamazoosymphony.com.
MUSIC
• Kalamazoo Concert Band, 6:30 p.m. July 14, Kindleberger Park,122 N. Riverview Drive, Parchment
• Michigan Mafia String Band, 5 p.m. July 16, Gilmore Car Museum
• BlueBack and DJ Ron E Roc, 5:30 p.m. July 16, Bates Alley
• Special Guest and Greg Cordes, 5:30 p.m. July 16, Village of Vicksburg
• Kanola Band, 11:30 a.m. July 18, Bronson Park
• Clarke, Reed and Meadows, 7 p.m. July 19, Mahan Park
• The Rebel Eves, 6:30 p.m. July 20, Kindleberger Park
• Moon Shot, 5 p.m. July 23, Gilmore Car Museum
• The Chris Canas Band and DJ Mel V, 5:30 p.m. July 23, Bates Alley
• JR Clark Band and Lucid Vibe, 5:30 p.m. July 23, Village of Vicksburg
• Dylan Tolbert, 11:30 a.m. July 25, Bronson Park
• Broke Joe & Johnny Cashless and J. Michael & The Heavy Burden, 6:30 p.m., July 25, Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage
• Cold Leather Seats, 7 p.m. July 26, Mahan Park
• Tomas Esparz Blues Band, 6 p.m. July 27, Flesher Field gazebo, 3664 S. Ninth St., Oshtemo Township
• Denise Davis and the Motor City Sensations, 6:30 p.m. July 27, Kindleberger Park
• LaJoye Quartet, 5 p.m. July 30, Gilmore Car Museum
• Sophia McIntosh and The Sages and DJ Ron E Roc, 5:30 p.m. July 30, Bates Alley
• Kennedy Affair and The Skeletones, 5:30 p.m. July 30, Village of Vicksburg
• Eliminator and Gemini Moon, 6 p.m. July 31, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road, Portage.
For a complete schedule, visit kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.
Black Arts Festival
July 11 & 12
Two locations
The annual Black Arts Festival returns this month with art, music and retail, food and information vendors.
The festival spotlights the community's Black arts and culture and history. It will kick off with Black Arts Festival Youth Day from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. July 11 at Rockwell Park, 1106 Trimble Ave. Activities will include African art and dance, spray painting, virtual reality and free food.
On July 12, the festival moves to Bronson Park, where it runs from 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Among the performers that day will be DJ Playhouse and P Way Bug, A LaFaye, and Brandon Fitzpatrick & The Element.
For more information, visit blackartskalamazoo.org.
TheArts
BeenLovin’You
July 11-20
Face Off Theatre
Audiences can expect bit of dancing and lots of drama in this original production that features scenes from August Wilson's American Century Cycle (also called the Pittsburgh Cycle), a 10-play series capturing the Black experience in Pittsburgh throughout the 20th century.
The show will include scenes from The Piano Lesson, Jitney, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone and Fences
Show times are 7:30 p.m. July 11, 12 and 19 and 2 p.m. July 20 at the Jolliffe Theatre, in the Epic Center. Tickets are $20 and available online at faceofftheatre.com.
Betty’s Summer Vacation
July 18
Dormouse Theatre
•Seussical •KenLudwig’s TheGame’sAfoot
Throughout the month
The Barn Theatre
With Whos and a whodunit, the Barn Theatre's two productions in July are very who-focused.
Seussical , a musical featuring characters from Dr. Seuss books, including, yes, Horton and the Who he hears, will be staged from July 8–20.
Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot , a murder mystery in which a stage actor who plays Sherlock Holmes takes on the role of detective in real life, will be performed July 22–Aug. 3.
Show times are 8 p.m. Tuesday–Friday and 5 p.m. Sunday at the Augusta theater. Tickets are $43–$51 and available at barntheatreschool.org or by calling 250-6984.
Betty and her friend Trudy rent a seaside cottage that they have to share with a group of unsavory characters in this dark comedy about the media’s obsession with sensationalizing notorious behavior.
The play looks at how people respond to horrific acts in disturbingly funny, astonishing and unabashedly truthful ways.
Show time is 7 p.m. Tickets are @$5 and available at dormousetheatre.com.
Beautiful:The CaroleKing Musical
July 10–20
Farmers Alley Theatre
Rachel Dudt, an actress and singer who has headlined shows in Las Vegas, has the title role of Carole King in this musical following the singer/songwriter's rise to fame.
Among King's songs featured in the show are "You've Got a Friend," "One Fine Day," "So Far Away,” "Take Good Care of My Baby," "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and "Natural Woman."
Show times are 7:30 p.m. July 10–12 and 16–19 and 2 p.m. July 13 and 20. Tickets are $15–$51 and available at farmersalleytheatre. com or by calling 343–2727.
Seussical
July 11–20
Center Stage Theatre
•Annie:Kids •GuysandDolls
July 9–13
Kindleberger Festival
Two beloved Broadway musicals will take center stage in Parchment's Kindleberger Park during the annual Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Arts.
Annie: Kids will feature performers 16 and younger singing and dancing selections from the musical Annie. Show times are 5:30 p.m. July 9–11 and 3:30 p.m. July 12–13.
Guys and Dolls , which features gamblers, gangsters and romance against the backdrop of 1950s New York, will be performed at 7 p.m. July 9–11 and 5 p.m. July 12–13.
The performances are free and outdoors, so audiences should bring chairs or blankets to sit on. For more information, visit kindlebergerarts.org.
The Barn isn't the only area venue hosting the musical Seussical this month. You can also hang out with Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat and Gertrude McFuzz at Comstock Community Auditorium.
The show will have a large cast, since Center Stage Theatre invites everyone who auditions to perform in their shows.
Show times for Seussical are 7 p.m. July 11–12 and 18–19 and 2 p.m. July 13 and 20. Tickets are $12–$15 and available at kzoocst.com.
TheArts
InkRhapsody:TheArtofLingnan MastersinHongKong
July 12–Oct. 26
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Chinese ink paintings that showcase the Lingnan School, a regional artists group that had a profound impact on the history of modern China, will be featured in this new exhibition opening at the KIA this month.
The Ink Rhapsody exhibition is a collaboration between the KIA and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and is divided into two sections. The first explores the art of Yang Shanshen and his teacher Gao Jianfu, while the second shows the subjects and styles of other Lingnan artists and highlights the influence of Hong Kong in the development of Chinese painting in the 20th century.
Hours for the KIA are 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Thursday; and noon–4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5–$10, or free for members.
Continuing Exhibitions
• Twenty, through Aug. 22, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center
• West Michigan Area Show , through Sept. 14, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
• LeoVillareal:Interstellar , through Sept. 21, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
schedule online
VISUAL ARTS
Richland Art Fair
July 19
Gull Meadow Farms
The Richland Art Fair, running from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., will feature more than 110 artists.
It's presented by the Gull Lake Area Community Volunteers, and proceeds are used for educational, medical, dental and emergency funds to aid those in need who reside in the Gull Lake school district.
Entrance to the fair and parking are free of charge. For more information, visit glacv.org.
Voice
July 11
Art Hop
Artistic endeavors that embody the concept of voice will be the focus of the July Art Hop in downtown Kalamazoo.
This free event, organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, runs from 5–8 p.m. and features a variety of artists’ works as well as live music and the chance to visit downtown businesses.
For a brochure showing Art Hop sites and information about participating artists, visit kalamazooarts.org.
PERFORMING ARTS
THEATER
Plays
Been Lovin’ You: The Works of August Wilson — Face Off Theatre Company presents a drama combining scenes from Wilson's 10-play Pittsburgh Cycle, 7:30 p.m. July 11, 12 & 19, 2 p.m. July 20, Jolliffe Theatre, Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, faceofftheatre.com.
Betty’s Summer Vacation — A spoof on the media’s obsession with sensationalizing notorious behavior, 7 p.m. July 18, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., faceofftheatre.com.
Musicals
Seussical— A musical adventure featuring characters from Dr. Seuss books, July 8–20, Barn Theatre, 13351 W. M-96, Augusta, 731-4121, barntheatreschool.org.
Annie: Kids — Selections from the Broadway show performed by kids 16 & under, 5:30 p.m. July 9–11, 3:30 p.m. July 12 & 13, Kindleberger Park Stage, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.
GuysandDolls — Romance set against the backdrop of 1950s New York, 7 p.m. July 9–11, 5 p.m. July 12 & 13, Kindleberger Park Stage, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical — Showcases the singer-songwriter’s career journey, July 10–20, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343–2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.
Seussical — A musical adventure featuring characters from Dr. Seuss books, 7 p.m. July 11–12 & 18–19, 2 p.m. July 13, 20, Center Stage Theatre, Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St., kzoocst.com.
Ken Ludwig’s The Game's Afoot — A whodunit about an actor who takes on the role of detective in real life, July 22–Aug. 3, Barn Theatre, 731-4121, barntheatreschool.org.
DANCE
Resonance — Stevensville-based CPR Dance: Inhale Movement performs, 7 p.m. July 19, Studio B, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, inhalemovement.com/ upcoming.
MUSIC
Bands & Solo Artists
Beats on Bates — Live outdoor music, 5:30–8:30 p.m., Bates Alley (downtown Kalamazoo): Tony Fields & Doug Decker, July 2; Par-llo Connection & The Most Incredible DJ Chuck, July 9; BlueBack & DJ Ron E Roc, July 16; The Chris Canas Band & DJ Mel V, July 23; Sophia McIntosh and The Sages & DJ Ron E Roc, July 30, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Shows — East X West 2025: Global Asian Music Festival, 6 p.m. July 4; Rock ‘N’ Rum, 6:45 p.m. July 12; Def Leppard w/ Collective Soul, 8 p.m. July 18; Foreigner w/Loverboy & Night Ranger, 7 p.m. July 26, 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, soaringeaglecasino.com/shows/.
Gun Lake Casino Shows — PS Dump Your BF, July 4; Family Tradition Band, July 5; Electric Flower Company, July 11; Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, July 12; Nightsnake, July 18; Global Village, July 25; Chronic Flannel, July 26; all shows at 10 p.m., 1123 129th Ave., Wayland, gunlakecasino.com.
Music at the Mahan — Free outdoor concerts: His Boy Elroy, July 5; The Business Brothers Band, July 12; Clarke, Reed and Meadows, July 19; Cold Leather Seats, July 26; all shows 7 p.m., Mahan Park, 101 Brady St., Allegan, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.
Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — The Wallflowers w/ Early James, July 8; Todd Rundgren, July 9; Elephant Revival, July 10; Trevor Hall w/Daniel Rodriguez, July 11; The Flying Leaps w/The Plural Nouns & Yellowhouse, July 18; Shakey Graves w/Hovvdy, July 21; Drive-By Truckers & Deer Tick w/Thelma & the Sleaze, 7 p.m. July 22; White Denim w/Tagua Tagua, July 23; Dean Johnson & Erin Rae, July 24; Ducks Ltd. w/Good Flying Birds, July 30; all shows at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 3822332, bellsbeer.com.
Burg Days of Summer — Live music, 5:30–8:30 p.m., downtown Vicksburg: Dirty Boots & Out of Favor Boys, July 9; Greg Cordes & Special Guest, July 16; JR Clark Band & Lucid Vibe, July 23; Kennedy Affair & The Skeletones, July 30; kalamazooarts.org/summertimelive.
Wagging Through the Summer Concerts — The Brothers, July 10; Megan Dooley, July 31; both shows 6–8:30 p.m., Kalamazoo Humane Society, 2272 River St., kazoohumane.org/waggingthroughthesummer.
Portage Summer Concert Series — Free outdoor concerts, 7 p.m., Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road: Old Days: A Chicago Tribute Band w/Chet Allen, July 10; Eliminator: A Tribute to ZZ Top w/Gemini Moon; portagemi.gov/calendar.
Lunchtime Live! — Free weekly event with live music, games & food, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Fridays, Bronson Park: The Dirty Rain Revelers, July 11; Kanola Band, July 18; Dylan Tolbert, July 25; kzooparks.org.
Festival Friday — Live music, vendors & food trucks, July 11, Arcadia Creek Festival Place, 145 E. Water St.: Megan Dooley Trio, 6–7:30 p.m.; The Mickeys, 8–9:30 p.m.; kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live/.
The Rebel Eves — Free outdoor concert, 4 p.m. July 13, Bronson Park, kalamazooarts.org/summertimelive.
Kindleberger Park Summer Concert Series — Live music & food trucks, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Kindleberger Park, Parchment: Kalamazoo Concert Band, July 14; The Rebel Eves, July 20; Denise Davis & The Motor City Sensations, July 27; kindlebergerarts.org/concertseries.
Kalamazoo Blues Fest — Live music, food & vendor booths, 5–11 p.m. July 18 & 19, Arcadia Creek Festival Place, 145 E. Water St., downtown Kalamazoo, kvba. org/kalamazoo-blues-fest-2025.
Frederik Meijer Gardens Concert Series — Leftover Salmon + The Infamous Stringdusters, 6 p.m. July 18; An Evening with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, 7 p.m. July 21; Dinosaur Jr. + Snail Mail, 6:15 p.m. July 27; The Australian Pink Floyd Show, 6:45 p.m. July 31; 1000 E. Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, meijergardens.org/ calendar/concerts.
Friday at the Flats — Food trucks, live music & vendors, 5–8 p.m. July 25, with Broke Joe & Johnny Cashless at 5 p.m. & J. Michael & The Heavy Burden
at 6:30 p.m., Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, portagemi.gov/calendar.
Tomás Esparza Blues Band — Oshtemo Music in the Park concert, 6–7:30 p.m. July 27, Flesher Field gazebo, 3664 S. Ninth St., kalamazooarts.org/summertimelive.
Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More
KSO Pops — Free outdoor concert by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. July 3, Bronson Park, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.
Otsego Jazz Ensemble — 6–7:30 p.m. July 13, Texas Drive Park, 6603 Texas Drive, Texas Township, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.
Sounds of the Cinema — Movie music favorites performed by a KSO string quartet, 7 p.m. July 17, Arcadia Ballroom, Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W. Michigan Ave., kalamazoosymphony.com.
Olde Thyme Harmony Quartet — Barbershop music, 3 p.m. July 24, Marshall United Methodist Church, 721 U.S. Hwy. 27 North, Marshall; free tickets for those ages 60+, thefranke.org.
Gold Company & Western Jazz Collective — Free Jazz Camp kickoff concert, 7:30 p.m. July 28, Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, wmich.edu/music/events.
FILM
Frozen — 8:30–10:30 p.m. July 11, Vicksburg Pavilion, 300 N. Richardson St.; vicksburglibrary.org.
Kzoo Parks Summer Cinema — Free outdoor movies with face painting & snacks: U-Pick the Flick, July 25, Crane Park, 2001 S. Westnedge Ave.; activities at 6 p.m., movie at 7 p.m., kzooparks.org.
CaptainAmerica:BraveNewWorld — Begins after sunset (approximately 9 p.m.) July 25, Celery Flats Historical Area, 7335 Garden Lane; portagemi.gov/ calendar.
VISUAL ARTS
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
314 S. Park St., 349-7775, kiarts.org Exhibitions
West Michigan Area Show — Juried exhibition of works by area visual artists, through Sept. 14.
Leo Villareal: Interstellar — Immersive digital worlds where code & celestial bodies fuse, through Sept. 21.
Ink Rhapsody: The Art of Lingnan Masters in HongKong— Artwork from the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, July 12–Oct. 26.
Events
Art Bridges Access for All — Free general admission on Thursdays, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Sunday Drop-In Conversation — Docents discuss artwork, 1:30–2:30 p.m. Sundays.
Gallery Gathering: Leo Villareal: Interstellar — A moderated conversation about the exhibition, 5:30 p.m. July 10; registration encouraged.
People's Choice Award Announcement — For West Michigan Area Show, 5-8 p.m. July 11; votes taken through July 6.
Book Discussion — On Nell Painter’s Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over, 2 p.m. July 16; registration encouraged.
Bodewadmi Ndaw & Potawatomi Language Workshop — A screening of the documentary followed by conversation about the project, 6 p.m. July 17; advance registration is encouraged.
Centennial Community Day — Activities, exhibits & games, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. July 19.
Summer Jam — Share your music, poetry or spoken word, 6–8 p.m. July 24; advance sign-up required.
Other Venues
Twenty — Southwest Michigan Printmakers exhibition, through Aug. 22, 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 103A, 373-4938, kalbookarts.org.
Art Hop — Art with the theme “Voice," 5–8 p.m. July 11, downtown Kalamazoo, 342–5059, kalamazooarts.org.
Richland Art Fair — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 19, Gull Meadow Farms, 8544 Gull Road, glacv.org.
LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS
Comstock Township Library 6130 King Highway, 345-0136, comstocklibrary.org
Puzzle Night — Do jigsaw puzzles while enjoying mocktails & sweet treats, 6 p.m. July 2; registration required.
Blandford Nature Center Birds of Prey — Learn about Michigan’s birds of prey, with visiting feathered friends, 11 a.m. July 7; due to the sensitive nature of the birds, no children under 6.
CTL Writers — Group writing discussion, 10 a.m. Fridays; no meeting July 4.
State Rep. Matt Hall Listening Hour — Talk with the representative’s staff, 1–2 p.m. July 16.
Pride Book Club — Discuss Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, 6 p.m. July 16, in person & online; registration required.
Open Arms Petting Zoo — Meet donkeys, pigs, chickens & rabbits, 4 p.m. July 29.
Adult Book Club — Discuss Ye Chun’s Straw Dogs of the Universe, 6 p.m. July 31; registration required. Kalamazoo Public Library 553-7800, kpl.gov
KPL Mobile Library — 3 p.m. July 1 & 3 p.m. July 29, Maple Grove Village, 735 Summit Ave.; 4 p.m. July 3; 3:30 p.m. July 15 & 4 p.m. July 31, Interfaith Homes, 1037 Interfaith Blvd.; 10 a.m. July 8, Lodge House, 1211 S. Westnedge Ave.; 4 p.m. July 9, Oakwood Neighborhood Association, 3320 Laird Ave.; 3:30 p.m. July 14, New Village Park/Heather Gardens, 2400 Albans Way; 4 p.m. July 16, Douglass Community Association, 1000 W. Paterson St.; 2 p.m. July 24, Leisure Pointe Condominiums, 4814 Weston Ave.; stops are about one hour.
Carl Winters: Kalimba King — Music & demonstration of African thumb pianos, 4 p.m. July 1, Eastwood Branch, 1112 Gayle Ave.
No Shelf Control: A Graphic Novel Book Club — An adult group discussion of Ram V's The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, 6–7:30 p.m. July 1, Central Library, 315 S. Rose St.
How to Use Your iPhone — Learn basic functions, 2 p.m. July 8, Oshtemo Branch, 7265 W. Main St. Songbridge: Connecting Generations — Intergenerational music program for toddlers & preschoolers with their grownups & seniors, 10 a.m. July 22, Children’s Room, Central Library.
Parchment Community Library
401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org
Friends of the Library Book Sale – Inside the library, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. July 12.
Parchment Book Group – Discuss Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures, 6 p.m. July 14.
Mystery Book Club — Discuss Ann Cleeves’ Dead Water, 6:30 p.m. July 15.
Silent Book Club — Read in companionable silence, 10:15 a.m. & 1:15 p.m. July 22 & 1:15 p.m. July 28.
Portage District Library
300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info
The Beauty Biz: Beyond the Chair — Part 2 of series on the beauty industry, 2 p.m. July 9; registration required.
Speed Gaming — Discover & play new games, 6 p.m. July 9; registration required.
Recognizing Scams & Fraud — Recognizing & preventing fraud & scam attempts, 6:30 p.m. July 14; registration required.
Craftapalooza — Crafting open house with materials available, 2–4 p.m. July 16.
Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group — Help with Macintosh programs & accessories, 9 a.m.–noon July 19.
Home Staging — Staging tips & tricks, 3:30 p.m. July 22; registration required.
Mindful Meditation — Learn the benefits & practice of mindful meditation, 6 p.m. July 23; registration required.
Family Book Club Trivia — Families compete, 6 p.m. July 24; registration required.
Charcuterie Tips & Tricks — Preparing a delicious charcuterie board, 6 p.m. July 24; registration required.
Richland Community Library
8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org
Bridge Club — Noon Tuesdays.
Family Movie Matinee The Wild Robot, 3 p.m. July 2, First Presbyterian Church of Richland (next door to the library).
Adult Dungeons & Dragons Bravo Team — A new crusade each month, 3–6 p.m. July 9 & 5–8 p.m. July 16; registration required.
Richland Area Writer’s Group — Noon July 11.
The Art Heist Escape Room — For groups of up to 5 people, ages 12+ with at least one adult present, all day July 15 & 29; registration required.
Van Buren District Library: Antwerp Sunshine Branch
24283 Front St., Mattawan, 668-2534, vbdl.org
Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary Visit — Live reptiles, 10 a.m. July 9.
Mr. Jim’s Juggling & Magic — Juggling at 10:30 a.m. July 23; magic at 10:30 a.m. July 30.
Vicksburg District Library
215 S. Michigan Ave. 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org
Bridge Club — 9:30 a.m.–noon Tuesdays. Book Club for Adults — 9:30 a.m. July 3.
Writer’s Motivational Group — Set goals & report progress, 4 p.m. July 10.
MUSEUMS
Air Zoo
6151 Portage Road, Portage, 382-6555, airzoo.org
Air Zoo After Dark: Adult Space Camp — Event for adults, with activities, simulators, crafts, snacks & adult beverages, 6–11 p.m. July 26; tickets available on the Air Zoo’s website.
Gilmore Car Museum
6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671-5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org
Wednesday Night Cruise-Ins — 5–8 p.m. Wednesdays on good-weather nights, food & live music: Pinter Whitnick, July 2; Glad All Over, July 9; Michigan Mafia String Band, July 16; Moon Shot, July 23; LaJoye Quartet, July 30.
Deutsche Marques — German autos, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. July 12.
Mad Dogs & Englishmen — British-made vehicles, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 13.
Celebration of Brass — Presented by The Museum of the Horseless Carriage, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 18–19.
Corvette & Camaro Show — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 20.
Vintage Truck & Tractor Rally — Farm machinery displays & demonstrations; music by Schlitz Creek Bluegrass Band, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 26.
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
230 N. Rose St., 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org
Exhibitions
TheArtofAdvertising— Nostalgic signs & ads from local businesses, through Aug. 31.
Colorful Collections — Items in a rainbow of hues from the museum's collection, through Aug. 31.
kalamazoocountyparks.com kalamazoocountyparks.com
Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep: Shear Genius — Exhibit exploring the characters’ contraptions, antics & play, through Aug. 31.
Events
Rain Garden Tours — Explore the museum’s rain garden with a guided tour, 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays & Saturdays; no tours July 5. NATURE
Kalamazoo Nature Center 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574, naturecenter.org
Guided Butterfly Walk — Monarch tagging, 1 p.m. July 20; registration required.
Foraging the Edible Wilderness — Foraging basics, 5 p.m. July 24 & 10 a.m. July 26, DeLano Homestead, 555 West E Ave.; registration required.
Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu
Online Birds & Coffee Chat — Learn about wading birds, 10 a.m. July 9; registration required.
Behind the Scenes: Raptors — Caring for raptors, 10 a.m. July 12.
Now & Then: An Artist’s Reflection on a Century of Research— An exhibition of works by KBS resident artist Erica Bradshaw, 5–9 p.m. July 18, Overlook Gallery; registration required.
Other Venues
Geo Mystery Tour: Session 2, History Hunt — A geocaching adventure in the Portage Parks system, July 1–31; register at portagemi.gov.
Beginning Birding Walk — 9–11 a.m. July 5; meet at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery's 2nd parking lot, 34270 County Road 652, Mattawan, kalamazooaudubon.org.
Kalamazoo Astronomical Society Public Observing Session — “The Moon & Double Stars of Summer,” July 5; “The Summer Triangle,” July 19; both sessions 9:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m., Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave.; register at kasonline.org; sessions canceled for mostly cloudy or overcast skies; check website for updates.
Ranger Hike: Reptilian Rhapsodies — Snakes, salamanders, lizards, turtles & more, 5:30 p.m. July 9, West Lake Nature Preserve, 9001 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/calendar; registration required.
Forest Bathing — Learn the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, 6:30 p.m. July 11, Schrier Park, 850 W. Osterhout Ave., portagemi.gov/calendar; registration required.
MISCELLANEOUS
Kalamazoo Farmers Market — 7 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays; Mini Markets, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays; Night Market, 5–10 p.m. July 17; 1204 Bank St., pfcmarkets.com.
Texas Township Farmers Market — 8 a.m.–noon Saturdays & 4–7 p.m. Tuesdays, 7110 West Q Ave., texastownship.org/168/farmers-market.
Kalamazoo Food Truck Rallies — 5–7:30 p.m. July 1, Midtown Fresh, 1693 S. Westnedge Ave.; 5–7:30 p.m. July 8, Woods Lake Elementary, 3215 Oakland Drive; 5–7:30 p.m. July 15, Fannie Pell Park, 211 N. Main St., Plainwell; 5–7:30 p.m. July 22, 118 N. Main St., Lawton; foodtruckrallykz.com.
Richland Farmers’ Market — 3–6 p.m. Wednesdays, Richland Community Center, 9400 East CD Ave., richlandareacc.org/richland-farmers-market.
Vicksburg Farmers Market — 2–6 p.m. Fridays & Historic Village Market on July 25, with local food, artisan products & music, 300 N. Richardson St., vicksburgfarmersmarket.com.
Portage Farmers Market — 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sundays, outside Portage City Hall, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/643/markets.
Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts — Live concerts, theater performances, book sale, vendors & more, July 9–14, Kindleberger Park, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.
Truck & Vehicle Expo — Kids can explore a police car, fire truck, ambulance & more, 10–11 a.m. toddler hour, 11 a.m.–noon elementary ages, July 11, Vicksburg Historic Village, Vicksburg, vicksburglibrary.org/ calendar.
Black Arts Festival Youth Day — African art & dance, spray painting & virtual reality, with free food, 11
a.m.–4 p.m. July 11, Rockwell Park, 1106 Trimble Ave., Kalamazoo, blackartskalamazoo.org.
Black Arts Festival — Celebrating Black culture & arts in our community, music by DJ Playhouse and P Way Bug, A LaFaye, Brandon Fitzpatrick & The Element, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. July 12, Bronson Park, downtown Kalamazoo, blackartskalamazoo.org.
Ice Cream in the Zoo — Ice cream social hosted by Downtown Kalamazoo Collective & The Spirit of Kalamazoo, 6–8 p.m. July 12, Kalamazoo Mall.
National Day of Summer Learning Celebration — Activities, games, talent show & music, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. July 17, Bronson Park, kydnet.org.
Kalamazoo Restaurant Week — Special menus at participating restaurants across the greater Kalamazoo area, July 17–26, kalamazoorestaurantweek.com.
Southwest Michigan Postcard Club Show — Postcards, photographs, & postal history items, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. July 18, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 19, North Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 517-230-0734.
Chinese Tea Ceremony — An introduction to Chinese tea culture, 9 a.m. July 18, Portage Parks & Recreation Building, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave.; portagemi.gov/ calendar.
Dokidokon — Anime & gaming convention, July 18–20, Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W. Michigan Ave., dokidokon.org.
Kalamazoo Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo — Reptiles, amphibians, small mammals & exotic pets, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. July 19, South Room, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, kalamazooreptileexpo.com.
Vicksburg Beer & Brats Festival — Food, family events, cornhole games & more, July 24–26, downtown Vicksburg, e-clubhouse.org/sites/vicksburgmi.
Downtown Kalamazoo Sidewalk Sales — With live music & food, July 24–26, downtown Kalamazoo.
Ramona Beach Bonfire — With live music & s’mores ingredients, 8 p.m. July 26, Ramona Park, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road, portagemi.gov/calendar.
Grilled Cheese Festival — Local food vendors & entertainment, 3–8 p.m. July 26, Homer Stryker Field, 251 Mills St., thegrilledcheesefest.com.
The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, along with the cities of Parchment, Portage, Allegan, Oshtemo Township, Vicksburg and Kalamazoo, as well as numerous venues, artists and the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation are thrilled to bring you the 2025 Summertime Live concert series! All types of musical genres are represented, so there’s truly something for everyone! Best of all, each concert is FREE of charge so bring your family and friends.
For Full List of Concerts, visit
Brenna Pixley (continued from page 30)
How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been into being outside. My dad was an artist and outdoorsman, so I spent time morel hunting and fishing with him and his brothers. My grandma was from Appalachia, and she had a garden and did preserving, so I learned a lot from her as well.
I attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College for a while, then went to California and attended Long Beach College, where I studied anthropology and the arts. I returned to Michigan to study plants in this bio-region. I worked at Butternut Sustainable Farms, in Sturgis, picking flowers and foraging for fresh ingredients for fancy restaurants in Chicago. Getting back into this community I realized how much I loved being here.
Kalamazoo is the coolest place — the gift economy here is like nothing I’ve experienced. It’s a very traditional way of using people and resources. "Oh, you have a down comforter you don’t need? I have these plant starts you can have." I started teaching for Tillers International and for KVCC’s food innovations campus. I still teach at both places in the areas of foraging, plant identification, home herbalism — everything to do with plants.
I attended my first Earth-based gathering after my first child was born, and I was hooked. I used to go to a lot of music festivals, but after my first Skillshare gathering, I realized I never needed to go to another music festival.
What: An ancestral skills gathering When: July 10–13
Where: Tillers International, 10515 East OP Ave., Scotts
Cost: Day passes: $20–$100, weekend passes $25–$275, weekend meal plan
$75 (purchase by July 5)
Info and tickets: earthcraftskillshare. com. Use the code ENCORE15 for 15% off tickets (excludes meal plan)
I’ve taken my kids all over the country to these events, from tiny ones to gigantic ones with 600 people. I worked at some, attended some, and the more I attended the more I wanted to bring one to Michigan. I was ready to go, but then Covid hit. In late 2023, we got $10,000 in grants from United Way and the City of Kalamazoo. The event wouldn’t have been possible without that seed money. Tell us more about ancestral skills. These aren’t lost skills — they are still in use in cultures all over the world. In North America we are blessed to learn some of these traditions through indigenous teachers, Native elders and folks from right around here. We’ll have practitioners from all over teaching fiber arts, foraging, butchering, archery, wildlife tracking, shelter building,
flint knapping, paper marbling, basketry, winemaking, bundle dyeing, shelter building, wild medicine, and more.
This year we’re going to do a deep dive on death, with help from the Michigan Death Coalition. We will be building a coffin, weaving a willow burial tray, making a shroud and having a home funeral class. It’s not going to be dark or morbid — it’s a deeply human part of life.
Does anything keep you up at night?
It’s quite intense to be the maestro of this kind of experience. And with a whole beautiful spectrum of people — nonbinary, super-queer, liberal, punk radicalists, fundamentalist Christians, blue collar, white collar, doctors, physicians — I work to sort of be Switzerland, making a safe space for everybody to be copacetic together. I just hope this is something that’s going to last. Some of these gatherings are just a blip and they’re over, and some are multiple decades long. I want it to be like a homecoming, a family reunion.
What keeps you going every day?
I’m proud that people keep coming back. I was losing a little steam earlier this year, but people were telling me how excited they were to return. That web of volunteers and instructors — the community that continues outside of the event — that keeps me going.
— Interview by Katie Houston, edited for length and clarity
Brenna Pixley
Founder & director, Earthcraft Skillshare
A Vine neighborhood resident who raises bees, chickens and children — not necessarily in that order — educator Brenna Pixley might be hard to reach at the moment, as she is deep into final preparations for the second annual Earthcraft Skillshare ancestral skills gathering, which begins July 10.
The family-friendly "Earth-based event" will take over the grounds of Tillers International in Scotts through July 13 and will offer workshops led by more than three dozen artisans and practitioners, including wildlife tracking, winemaking, home funerals and foraging.
“I’m feeling a little sophomore anxiety since last year went so well,” Pixley says, reporting that 300 people participated in the inaugural three-day event in 2024. “I was so moved by the feedback from people, a lot of whom had never been to anything like this.”
Having studied or worked in anthropology, herbalism, jewelry, coffee, the arts and sustainable farming, Pixley says, “I have a pretty broad spectrum of interests, and Earthcraft is the pinnacle of everything I like to do distilled into one activity.”
Earthcraft Skillshare is open to all ages, for a day or the weekend, with camping and meals available. The event will include a Native American blessing ceremony to open the weekend, a Friday evening swordsmanship battle highlighting different weapons and tactics through the ages, and a kids’ camp.
“We invite people to slow down and explore ways to live more intentionally and in harmony with nature and to carry forward traditions that have sustained generations. These skills are not based on one culture — everyone’s ancestors did these things throughout time, on every continent. I think it’s more important than ever to take a step back from daily life and to work with your hands, to make food and eat things from the wild.”
(continued on page 29)
W
When a Community Has an Airport, Tourism Becomes a Two-Way Street
e all know the joy of flying out of Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport — skipping the long drive, avoiding big-city chaos and starting a trip the easy way. This is probably what most of us think of when it comes to our local airport; it’s a convenient way to get out of town. But when a community has an airport, the facility serves as much more than just a launching pad — it is also a welcoming gateway, inviting visitors in. Did you know that nearly 40% of the users of the Airport come from areas that are not in Southwest Michigan?
Having an airport right here in our community means visitors — whether they're here to meet with area businesses, in town for a weekend festival, a campus
tour or even a Lake Michigan getaway — can touch down with ease. And when they do, they stay in our hotels, dine in our restaurants, explore our downtowns and fall in love with all the things that make Southwest Michigan special.
From out-of-town families attending weddings or graduations to business travelers discovering our charm between meetings, the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport acts as a gateway — not just for us to see the world, but also for the world to see us.
These visitors do a lot more than just see our community, they experience it. Local tourism boosts our small businesses, cultural institutions and regional pride. Every ticket booked into
AZO brings opportunity with it, whether it’s someone discovering our craft beer scene, exploring the Air Zoo, checking out our impressive collegiate sports teams or simply spending a weekend downtown. The dollars they spend and the stories they take home ripple outward.
So, the next time you hear a plane overhead, think of the travelers arriving here. They’re helping fuel our economy, fill our event spaces and spread the word that Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and all of Southwest Michigan are destinations worth visiting. Because when a community has an airport, it’s not just about where we can go — it’s also about who can come here.
