Encore July 2026

From the Editor

If you crave stories about people doing good things in our community, Encore has you covered this month.

Our cover story is on the Southwest Michigan First Chamber, the new incarnation of the chamber of commerce that existed in Kalamazoo for more than a century but encountered a steep decline in membership in recent years. We look at how its director, Clarence Lloyd, a familiar face in local business circles, is working to rebuild the business advocacy organization. It's an effort that requires breaking down distrust and misperceptions and restoring the chamber's relevance, especially to small businesses.

In this issue, we also highlight Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center, which provides affordable programs for neurodivergent adults and children and their families. The Inclusion Center was created by board-certified behavior analyst Lauren Cavalli, who operates the for-profit Ripple Effects Autism Learning Centers in South Haven, Centreville, Coldwater and Sturgis. Cavalli saw that neurodivergent individuals often don't have welcoming community spaces to go to, and she wanted to "create a safe space for everyone." She uses proceeds from her for-profit centers to fund the Inclusion Center, which offers free clubs, classes and events as well as some Medicaid-reimbursed programs like Community Living Supports.

We meet Twala Lockett-Jones, who also saw a need among a specific group of people and filled it. She founded Girls Build Kalamazoo, an organization dedicated to educating middle school and high school girls on financial literacy, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, real estate and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) while helping its participants build confidence. Among many experiences, the girls get hands-on opportunities in building and construction and the organization recently bought a house to use as a learning lab.

I know I don't ever get tired of knowing about the good that goes on in our community. So many of these efforts go on without a lot of fanfare or attention but are deserving of recognition. One of the best parts of my job as editor is sharing these stories with our readers. It is my hope that shining a light on the people and organizations doing good things in our community will inspire others to do good things too.

Left to right: Morgan Rogalke-Scime, Charles S. Ofstein, Tyler J. Stewart, William B. Millard

Jordan Bradley

Jordan is a big fan of home renovation projects but has very little hands-on experience with them, so she jumped at the chance to speak with Twala LockettJones for this issue’s Back Story. LockettJones is the founder of Girls Build Kalamazoo, a nonprofit organization that, among other things, gives girls hands-on experiences with construction and skilled trades.

“What Twala and the Girls Build Kalamazoo organization are doing for young girls is so cool and valuable!”

Jordan says. “Power tools can be intimidating, and I wouldn’t mind joining GBK for a lesson or two.”

Jordan, a former Encore intern, is now a freelance contributor. When she’s not writing, she can be found at a yoga studio or walking her dog.

At a time when neurodivergent youth and young adults and their families may find it harder and harder to navigate the world, Katie found comfort in writing this month's story about Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center in Portage and its owner, Lauren Cavalli. "At a time when social services and healthcare are challenged, it’s so nice to learn about a warm and welcoming space for everyone,” Katie says.

Katie is a writer and communications consultant specializing in nonprofit marketing.

As a business owner in the greater Kalamazoo community for nearly 15 years, Marie has an interest in how business advocacy organizations like chambers of commerce are faring, which stirred her interest in writing about the Southwest Michigan First Chamber for this month's cover story. "This is a story about reinvention to survive," says Marie, "but it's also a testimony to the fact that face-to-face connection is still strongly desired and has value in our digitally driven world." Marie is the owner and editor of Encore

Publisher encore publications, inc

Editor

marie lee

Art Director alexis stubelt

Photographer brian k powers

Contributing Writers

jordan bradley, lynn houghton, katie houston, marie lee , michelle rounds

Copy Editor margaret deritter

Poetry 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 2026, Encore Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial, circulation and advertising correspondence should be sent to:

www.encorekalamazoo.com 117 W. Cedar St. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Telephone: (269) 383–4433

Email: Publisher@encorekalamazoo.com

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. Current single issue and newsstand $4, $10 by mail. Back issues $6, $12 by mail. Advertising rates on request. Closing date for space is 28 days prior to publication date. Final date for print–ready copy is 21 days prior to publication date.

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

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First Things

Something Unusual Anime & gaming convention welcomes zombies

The ninth annual Dokidokon Convention will offer a weekend of anime and gaming at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, in downtown Kalamazoo.

Calling itself a “convention with heart” and focusing on anime, gaming and Japanese culture, the event has a 2026 theme of "Zombies," but it welcomes cosplay and fandoms outside of anime and gaming — like those in the furry community, the Lolita fashion community, and those who attend Comic Cons.

The event will feature panels, concerts, workshops, team events, cosplay gatherings, dance competitions, karaoke, video and tabletop gaming and a swap meet. Single-day and weekend tickets are available at dokidokon.org.

Something Black & Beautiful Black Arts Festival returns

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Black Arts & Cultural Center's Black Arts Festival, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 11 in Bronson Park. Performances, food, activities and retail booths will be part of the daylong celebration of the contributions of Black artists and culture to the Kalamazoo community.

Preceding the big event will be the festival's Youth Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 10, featuring similar activities targeted to youth and teens: music, dance, games, a bounce house, and retail booths. The location of Youth Day was not available at press time. Both events are free to attend. The website of the BACC is blackartskalamazoo.org.

Something Celebratory

Local USA 250th

celebrations

Our country’s 250th birthday is inspiring special observances in the region this month.

Early in the month, both the Barn Theatre in Augusta and the Hayloft Theatre in Portage will present the lighthearted historical musical 1776 , about the Founding Fathers convening in Philadelphia to draft and sign the Declaration of Independence (see entry in The Arts — Theater on page 24).

The Declaration of Independence will be read aloud at 6 p.m. July 8 at the Parchment Community Library as part of a nationwide, simultaneous public reading event called Sharing the Spirit of America

The exhibition For the People, By the People: America at 250 , featuring works drawn from the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts' permanent collection as well as loaned artworks, will offer a timely meditation on the country’s founding principles of liberty and justice and our current realities. It's on display through Oct. 4 at the KIA, which is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission for non-members is $10 to $15, or free on Thursdays.

The Revolutionary War is the focus of two events at local libraries. Portage District Library will feature reenactments of Revolutionary War encampments from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 11 at First Reformed Church of Portage. The Vicksburg District Library will host Jerry Berg, of the Swordsmanship Museum and Academy, to discuss "Blades of the Revolutionary War" at 6 p.m. July 15.

Something Buggy

Can crunchy cuisine solve world hunger?

It’s going to be a little buggy at the Kalamazoo Nature Center this month as the center offers three chances to enjoy (!!?) crunchy bug cuisine and conversation with Chef Joseph Yoon

Yoon is the founder of Brooklyn Bugs and has spent the past eight years transforming one of food’s greatest taboos into a frontier of possibility.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 23 at the nature center, Chef Yoon will provide buggy snacks and challenge people's knowledge of arthropods during Bug Month Trivia Night. Teams of up to five adult players are welcome. The cost is $15, or $12 for KNC members.

From 7 to 9 p.m. July 24, you can chat with Chef Yoon about ecology, culture and sustainable eating while sampling his insect-forward “bugs d’oeuvres” at an event called Insect Canapés & Conversation at the nature center's Heronwood Field Station, 6378 Hart Drive, Alamo Township. Limited tickets are available for $25, or $20 for KNC members.

At 7 p.m. July 25 at the nature center, Chef Yoon will explore the intersection of sustainable food and world hunger in a lecture titled "Can Eating Insects Save the Planet?" He will discuss his work as chef advocate for the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development and provide a tasting of insect-based dishes. All ages are welcome. Admission is $5. You can register for these events at naturecenter.org.

Something Bluesy

11 bands on tap for Blues Fest

Old Dog Tavern hosts the 2026 Blues Fest July 10 and 11, with 11 bands in the lineup. The event is presented by the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association. Doors open at 4 p.m. July 10, and the first set, by BlueBack, starts at 5 p.m., followed by the Lisa Chilton Band, Blue & the Ravens, and Asamu Johnson and the Associates of the Blues. Headliner JR Clark will take the stage at 10 p.m. On July 11, the music gets started at 1 p.m. with the Resurrection Blues Band, followed by Mandalyn and the Hunters, Out of Favor Boys, Mississippi Heat, and Wayne Baker Brooks. Headliner Carolyn Wonderland will wrap up the fest with a performance at 9:15 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for Friday, $35 for Saturday, $45 for a weekend pass, and free for kids 12 and under. Discounts are available with an advance purchase at kvba.org.

Five Faves Movie theaters that once entertained Kalamazoo

BY LYNN HOUGHTON

Watching a movie today is a very different experience from what it was 20, 10, or even five years ago. Streaming has allowed individuals to view new releases or older ones from the comfort of their homes. For those who still want to see a show on the big screen, they can trek to a commercial theater, but even those theaters have changed significantly since the advent of moving pictures. The ambiance and attention to decor found in movie theaters years ago has been replaced by theaters that, for the most part, have the same plain look.

Fortunately, in Kalamazoo we still have one relic of the days when theaters were as much for show as for seeing a show. It's the State Theatre, which is in the process of beginning a new era with new owners. Here are five other local theaters that once hosted crowds but are no longer in existence:

Uptown Theatre

Southwest corner of North Burdick and Eleanor streets

In August 1938, the Kalamazoo Gazette announced the opening of the Uptown Theatre. The new theater was in a converted building, but one wouldn’t know it, given its beautiful Art Deco enamel stone entrance designed by the local architectural firm Stewart-Kingscott Co. The auditorium could seat 750 people and had a special feature for mothers: a cry room where they could go with their children and continue to see the feature. The exterior doors were automatic, as were the water fountains. The theater closed in 1959, but the building remained, although with a changed entrance, until it came down to make way for the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, which opened in 1996.

The Regent

East side of South Rose Street, south of what is now Exchange Place

In the early 1880s, a group of local businessmen raised the money needed to build an opera house in the village and to hire the premier Chicago architectural firm Adler & Sullivan, headed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, to build it. Completed in 1881, the lavishly decorated building, called the Academy of Music, offered a wide variety of vaudeville performances, lectures, plays, choirs and musical shows. In 1919, movies were added to the mix. Walter S. Butterfield, owner of many movie theaters across the state, leased the Academy of Music building and renamed it The Regent. Matinees at the theater cost 20 to 30 cents. The building also hosted performances by local schools and organizations. It all ended on June 11, 1930, when the theater burned, leaving only the front facade, which remained until 1967.

Fuller Theatre

East side of South Burdick Street (now South Kalamazoo Mall), north of West South Street

In 1906, a small theater and penny arcade called Wonderland Theatre opened at the above location. Several years later, Horace Fuller, who owned a livery business with his father along Farmers Alley, purchased the Wonderland property to build the Fuller Block, a three-story building that included the 1,600-seat Fuller Theatre. The theater opened in September of 1909 with motion pictures and vaudeville acts. Similar to several other theater buildings in Kalamazoo, it had offices and stores filling its street-front spaces, giving the theater owners additional income. Eventually Walter S. Butterfield purchased the theater, and the exterior was modernized in 1938. The theater came down in 1953, but the front part of the building remains at 223 S. Kalamazoo Mall, housing the retail stores Petals & Postings and K'zoo in the Mitten.

The Orpheum

North side of former East Main Street, east of North Burdick Street

Before it was a theater, this building along what is now East Michigan Avenue housed the Lilienfeld Cigar Co., one of the many cigar manufacturers in the community. A strike in Kalamazoo in 1908 led several firms, including Lilienfeld, to leave for Detroit the next year. Within three years the former cigar company space became The Orpheum. The theater was owned by the Kalamazoo Amusement Co., which also operated three other theaters in the city. The Orpheum opened on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 5, 1911, with seating for 250 to 300 people. A pianist or a three-piece orchestra would accompany the silent films, which were replaced by talking pictures in 1930. The theater closed in May 1949 due to rising operating costs and its relatively small seating capacity. An office supply store moved into the space, remaining there for a number of years.

The New Theatre

North side of former West Main Street, east of South Rose Street

Frank P. D’Arcy, who came to Kalamazoo in 1884, owned the D’Arcy Spring Co. and later opened a jewelry store on the north side of West Main Street (a section that is now West Michigan Avenue), just east of South Rose. In January 1912, the Kalamazoo Gazette announced that the store was being remodeled to become the latest theater in Kalamazoo. The newspaper held a contest to come up with a name for the theater, and “The New Theatre” was the winning entry. In early March 1912, the newspaper provided a description of the auditorium, including its 240 "roomy and comfortable" seats. Films were shown throughout the day for both shoppers and downtown workers, and the theater remained open until 1947. The entrance to the Radisson Plaza Hotel is now on the site of the former theater.

About the Author

Lynn Houghton is the regional history curator at the Western Michigan University Archives and Regional History Collections, located in the Zhang Legacy Collections Center. There, she works with researchers and students of all ages. She is the co-author of Kalamazoo Lost & Found, a book on Kalamazoo history and architecture, and has written numerous Five Faves features for Encore. She also participated in the PBS series10 That Changed America, about the history of architecture and urban planning, and she has led a series of walking tours in Kalamazoo and other parts of Kalamazoo County. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in history from WMU and a master’s in library and information science from Wayne State University.

'A Safe Place for Everyone' Ripple Effects serves neurodivergent

people and their families

BY KATIE HOUSTON

There are a few scribbles on the wall, a couple of toys inching out of their cubbies, and a young man in the kitchen shouts “Hi!” several times to a visitor at the Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center in Portage. Three teens are on swings in the new sensory gym, but things are fairly quiet for the moment —

only because the Wave Break respite program for spring break has concluded for the day.

“When you have a kiddo with special needs, what do you do during spring break?” asks psychologist and Portage resident Jennifer Austin, whose son Caleb, 13, enjoys a range of programs at the nonprofit Inclusion

Center. “What do you do over the summer? Your child isn't necessarily welcome at other places. To be real, sometimes it's a matter of your child being a little much and not a good fit for those environments.”

Austin is one of the parents of more than 100 neurodivergent youth and young adults

who visit the Inclusion Center each month, appreciating the range of programs at the facility, which was launched in 2024 by boardcertified behavior analyst Lauren Cavalli. The center also serves neurodivergent adults of any age.

Cavalli, 38 and a mother of four, has been involved with the area’s neurodivergent community during her nearly 15 years in the field. She opened the for-profit Ripple Effects Autism Learning Center in South Haven in 2019 and a facility of the same name in Centreville in 2020.

“When Covid hit, both of those sites doubled in size,” says Cavalli. “I think people became more aware of the services that we offered and the benefits to their local community.”

Creating a safe space

In 2023, Cavalli added Ripple Effects autism learning centers in Sturgis, Coldwater and Portage. They primarily serve youth ages 1 to 6 who are enrolled in a Michigan Medicaid health plan, and provide Applied Behavior Analysis therapy and caregiver guidance.

But Cavalli also wanted to offer free programs in an open-to-all community space, so she created the Inclusion Center as a nonprofit. The center takes up a 15,000-square-foot facility at 2255 W. Centre Ave., in Portage, that used to be a day center for adults with dementia. Accessibility was built-in, and the facility even included a salon, which now offers sensory-friendly haircuts.

“As I toured the place, before I signed the lease and before I even had a dream of a nonprofit, I thought about all of the families I've met through my work as a behavior analyst and my friendships with other foster and adoptive parents,” says Cavalli. "Sometimes having children with special needs with disruptive behaviors can be isolating. A lot of families don't always feel welcome at community spaces, and some of them have even been asked not to return to certain spaces, even their churches.

“I wanted to fill that gap and create a place where everyone feels like they belong. This is a safe place for everyone,” she says, adding that she uses proceeds from her for-profit autism centers to support the nonprofit, which offers free clubs, classes and events alongside some Medicaid-reimbursed programs and services such as respite care and Community Living Supports, a program that helps neurodivergent clients with independent living skills such as cooking, hygiene, housekeeping and social engagement.

The Ripple Effects centers employ 65 staff members altogether. Among them is billing specialist Angela Hull, whose son Sam, 13, has known Cavalli since he was 2.

Clockwise from far left: Anastasia Williams, left, and Sammy Helner enjoy a swing in Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center's sensory gym; Ripple Effects' founder Lauren Cavalli; and Michelle Rounds, a parent of another of the center's visitors, talks with Seth Fitzgerald, who attends programs at the center.

“He was diagnosed (as neurodivergent) at a year and a half, and Lauren was his first BCBA (board-certified behavior analyst) at another agency,” says Hull. “We fell in love with her and the way she did things. She’s thorough and proactive, and we really appreciated what she did for Samuel.”

Cavalli moved on to another job, and Sam to another service provider, but when Hull learned Cavalli was opening the Inclusion Center, she was “very, very excited.”

“We started with some of their weekend programs and the monthly Family Fun Night and really appreciated their respite services, where we could bring Sam to play for a couple hours and my husband Bill

Michele Helner’s son Sammy, 11, was born with a rare and severe form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome, which has led to cognitive and fine and gross motor skills impairment. A sixth-grader at Portage Central Middle School, Sammy comes to the Inclusion Center every day after school with his service dog, Lasso, for Community Living Supports.

“He loves going there. It's his favorite place,” says Helner, an elementary school music teacher. “He's made some friends there and has certain caregivers he just loves hanging out with. One day I came to pick him up, and he said, ‘We made egg salad today.’ Sam has had some eating issues and sensitivities, so I was surprised. When we came home, he said, ‘Mom, we gotta make egg salad.’ And he taught me how to do it.”

Helner has done some teaching at the center herself, training staff on how to react if Sammy has a seizure. “If something happens, I want to make sure everybody knows exactly what to do in an emergency, and I feel very confident that they will be fine,” says Helner.

Above: Inclusion Center visitor Samuel Hull listens to headphones while enjoying a moment to himself. Right: Anastasia Williams and her mother Lauren Williams in the sensory-friendly salon at the center.

Parenting a Special Needs Child

BY MICHELLE ROUNDS

My youngest child, Jillian, is 16 and was diagnosed with severe autism in the fall of 2014. She was later diagnosed with mood dysregulation disorder, pica, sensory processing disorder, auditory hypersensitivity, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Jillian experiences severe behaviors and has been hospitalized a number of times.

Being a special-needs parent means isolation, sleep deprivation, low-level chronic stress and, often, financial strain. It’s an ongoing battle to find the resources, support, and information to create equity for your child to thrive alongside their peers in the community and out of school.

Lauren Cavalli, the visionary behind Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center, was the first one to help us when Jillian was first diagnosed. When I learned that she had opened the Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center, I stopped in to take the tour and was blown away. The size of the facility was mesmerizing, and the variety of services

had my child, or someone like my child, in mind.

The Inclusion Center has given us a place we can call our own. No one is upset if someone yells or becomes dysregulated. This matters because our society is not designed to accommodate individuals with disabilities. The outside public doesn’t really see us, but the Inclusion Center staff members see us. I stop in with Jillian to bake a cake or to watch a movie with friends, and I can pop in for a cup of coffee and ugly-sob over a challenging week, or I can lead a parent group on public speaking at your local school board meeting.

The Kalamazoo area has gained a hidden jewel with Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center.

Top: Sammy Helner, who has a severe form of epilepsy, visits the center every day with his service dog, Lasso. Bottom: The center's founder Lauren Cavalli discusses a project with visitor Seth Fitzgerald.

Parent Michelle Rounds with the center's founder, Lauren Cavalli.

Ripple Effects Community Inclusion and Autism Learning centers have embraced regional workforce development, with apprenticeship programs for direct-care workers, an effort that won Ripple Effects a 2025 Employer of the Year Award from Michigan Works! Southwest for its leadership, partnership and impact on strengthening talent pipelines in Southwest Michigan.

“We are only required to provide 20 hours of training annually by the government (to

Adding to the Skilled Workforce

direct-care workers), but I believe it takes more than that to provide high-quality service," says Ripple Effects founder Lauren Cavalli. "We developed a program with Michigan Works! Southwest and the U.S. Department of Labor to grow that to 144 hours of classroom-based training and another 2,000 hours of on-the-job training.”

Cavalli adds that Ripple Effects has partnered with the Kalamazoo Refugee

August 6-8, 2026

Resource Collaborative to offer the program to refugees who are interested in working in direct care for neurodivergent individuals.

“These are paid employees who are required to find a job within 90 days of their move to the U.S.," says Cavalli. "My heart is really there for serving this community, providing jobs. I hope it’s a real catalyst for a career, for their life and their income. It’s been an incredible experience working with those folks.”

Flexibility is key

Administrative specialist Victoria Erwin, who staffs the center’s front desk, made a point to take Helner’s training, in part because flexibility is key to how the center works.

“We base our care around what parents are looking for. We try to work with families and meet them where they are versus them trying to do things our way,” she says.

Austin’s family has been a beneficiary of that can-do attitude.

“We home-school Caleb, and at first it was stressful combining online and in-person experiences," says Austin. "We mentioned our wish that there was some place for him to be around other home-schooled kids. And then they started the Learning Hub that Caleb goes to twice a week. They help him with his schoolwork and just give him a chance to interact. He just likes being somewhere where he can just hang out and talk to other people. That may seem like such a simple thing, but this is a kid who, I would say, a year ago didn't understand the basic things of how to hang out with people.”

The proud mom says that her family was thrilled to have a 13th birthday party for Caleb.

“That's something that parents with neurotypical kids take for granted. Without the role Ripple Effects has had in his life, I don't think that would have happened,” says Austin, adding that she’s been happy to refer adults to the Inclusion Center’s programs, which include conversation and social skills groups and a weekly Sunday morning coffee meetup called NeuroBlend.

Hull sums up the benefits of the center: “The Inclusion Center definitely provides services that do not exist at other places.”

Reviving theChamber

Once robust, the local business advocacy group is rising from the ashes

BY MARIE LEE

This story is part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development.The SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism.To learn more, visit swmichjournalism.com.

For more than a century, the chamber of commerce supporting the Kalamazoo area has served as a business advocacy organization, boasting companies big and small from around the county as members.

And for most of that time, it was a robust organization. In 2011, the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce was recognized as the Outstanding Chamber of the Year by the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals. It had a staff of nearly 30 and a roster of more than 1,100 members.

But after a 2013 agreement to enter into a partnership with the regional economic development organization Southwest Michigan First and subsequently becoming a division of SMF, the chamber faced a number of challenges including enduring the Covid-19 pandemic and community backlash and withdrawal of support over the hiring of Lee Chatfield as SMF's CEO, and its membership dwindled to less than 250.

Now, however, the renamed Southwest Michigan First Chamber has grown to just over 600 members, according to its director, Clarence Lloyd.

Lloyd, a vice president of SMF who has led the chamber since May 2021, has largely been tasked with rebuilding the organization. At the end of his first year at the helm, the chamber had 246 members, he says, not only because of SMF's struggles but also due to changing cultural and political landscapes.

"I think our chamber here had gone through it and had been less relevant maybe than what it had been in the past. When this transition (into SMF) was happening, the perception outside of the rooms where it was happening was largely that Southwest Michigan First went in and co-opted the chamber. That's not what happened, but nobody came out and said publicly, 'That's not true.'

"It (the transition) was really for a variety of reasons, which all make sense," says Lloyd. "But what I would tell you is that just because that wasn't true doesn't change the fact that that was largely the perception."

Clarence Lloyd, director of the Southwest Michigan First Chamber and Vice President of Southwest Michigan First.

Cultural shifts drive decline

Chambers are primarily supported by membership fees — in the case of the SMF Chamber, these run from $325 to more $2,500 annually, depending on the level of benefits desired. Lloyd says that one of the reasons behind partnering with Southwest Michigan First was that chambers across the country had been seeing declining memberships due to a cultural shift in the way businesspeople connect. Fostering connections between businesspeople and businesses that could be strategic partners had been "the primary currency of most chambers," says Lloyd. But with the advent of free apps and websites like LinkedIn, people found they could easily connect with others through the digital realm.

Another benefit of chamber membership had been that many chambers, including Kalamazoo's, offered group discounts for healthcare insurance for small businesses. But a change in insurance laws in Michigan in 2003 effectively prohibited insurers from offering discounts solely because an employer belonged to a chamber of commerce.

"Chambers were facing this existential crisis. People were like, 'Man, I don't know if the investment makes sense anymore,'" says Lloyd. "Small businesses were like, 'I can connect online for free, and I can't get that discount,' and they're starting to be like, 'Yikes.'"

According to Lloyd, one solution chambers looked to was partnering with other organizations. In the case of Kalamazoo's chamber, that organization was Southwest Michigan First.

"Something had to be done. The decision was made to partner with Southwest Michigan First, an organization already leading regional economic development efforts and working closely with primary employers that have a significant impact on job creation and economic growth," Lloyd says.

By bringing the two groups together, he says, the chamber would have the support of SMF in hosting events and providing small businesses with better access to potential strategic partners. It would also bring smalland medium-sized businesses and larger employers under the same umbrella. The melding of the two entities occurred between 2012 and 2015.

Now "we're one group. We're one company," says Lloyd.

"Based on what I have seen and heard from colleagues around the country, we were early. It is now becoming so commonplace that chambers and economic development companies are partnering.

"In some communities the chamber was the larger entity that brought in an economic development arm. In some it was the other way around, where a larger economic development company brought in a chamber arm. But the end result is the same in that the community is served more comprehensively. Instead of having two organizations that sometimes feel like their programs compete, now those programs work together."

While SMF represents a seven-county region, the SMF Chamber will continue to be "Kalamazoo County-focused," Lloyd says.

The chamber is governed by the same board that oversees SMF, which is made

do outreach in the community; attendees at the Downtown Business Community Townhall, a quarterly series in five communities across the county that brings businesses and municipal leaders together to share information; a ribbon cutting for The Landing Place, a Kalamazoo County transitional shelter for families with children.

up of business and community leaders from those seven counties (Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Calhoun and Branch). The three members of the chamber's leadership team, including Lloyd, are Southwest Michigan First employees.

"We're still governed by the same board. We're still governed by the same team here," Lloyd says. "I'm a part of this team obviously, but the things that we focus on in terms of (chamber) programs are focused closer to home."

However, he says, there are benefits to being under the larger SMF umbrella.

Clockwise from top: Clarence Lloyd, right on bottom row, with the Chamber Ambassadors, a group of members who

(Courtesy photos)

"An organization like ours, we think, is good for small business regionally, and we think it's good for our community as a whole. You know, 47% of all jobs come from small businesses nationally, and what we have seen is that our area largely reflects those national trends. So, having a good, strong small business community is critical, and we can bring some of the success we've been having here (at SMF) to revitalizing the chamber."

'Meaningful connections'

Jeannie Henderson, owner of Jeannie Cleaning, has been a member of the chamber since the 1980s and has served on the organization's board of directors. She and her husband owned several franchise restaurants in the area that they sold in 2015. She started Jeannie Cleaning that same year, and the company now has nearly 50 employees and recently expanded into Grand Rapids. Henderson says that she is "delighted" with the chamber's rebirth.

"We were members when the Kalamazoo chamber went away and Southwest Michigan First Chamber started," she says. "There really

wasn't a chamber, so we were delighted when it was reborn, and it's been such a pleasure working with Clarence (Lloyd) and his team."

Henderson's devotion to the chamber goes deep, she says, since the connections she and her husband made through the organization were pivotal when credit card hackers hit their business in 2009.

"We lost almost everything," she recalls. "The hackers were in Czechoslovakia, and they hit hundreds and hundreds of businesses through a glitch in the software we used. This was before cybersecurity insurance was a thing. They went to jail, but we didn't get anything back.

"When really bad things happen, you need relationships so much. We had really good relationships with our chamber connections. One of our good friends at the chamber was our attorney, and I can't imagine going through that without him. And our landlords and bankers were so good to us. All of these were relationships we built through the chamber before this happened."

Brad DeBoer, director of commercial and industrial sales and business development for Gordon Water Systems, also speaks of the "meaningful connections" that come from his company's participation in the chamber. DeBoer isn't sure how many years the company, which started in 1973, has been a chamber member, but "it's in the double digits," he says. DeBoer himself began to get involved with the chamber in 2023 and admits he found the benefits surprising.

"What I didn't expect with membership were the meaningful connections that come about from the chamber, those introductions and collaboration opportunities that allow you to connect with others," he says. "They do a variety of different events that pull various people together — not just networking but education and events that are able to bring the community together. They do such a great job uniting the community."

Henderson echoes this comment in her observation about the chamber's transition.

"The chamber that I see now just seems to be welcoming to everyone," she says. "The spectrum of the types of businesses involved is so much broader now. When we were members of the Kalamazoo and Portage chambers, we only got to know business owners. Today they (the staff of the SMF Chamber) are thinking layers deep into organizations and really thinking about future development to strengthen business and build up leaders. I would invite any of my people to attend their events."

Reaching the underrepresented

Lloyd says that Henderson's observations are indicative of the chamber's concentrated effort to expand the diversity of its membership — not just in the types and sizes of businesses but in the communities that haven't been well represented in the past, such as the Black, Latinx and LGBTQ communities. To that end, the chamber has started specific groups and events to support those businesses.

The Black and Brown Connect Mixer, for example, is a quarterly event for professionals of color. Lloyd helped create the event when he was working as an office branch manager at Consumers Credit Union and brought it with him to the Southwest Michigan First Chamber. Lloyd, an African American, says that many times in his

Chamber events, like those pictured above, including townhalls, ribbon cuttings and seminars, are some of the benefits members can participate in. (Courtesy photos)

professional life he would often be the only person "who looked like me" at an event or meeting.

"I didn't feel defensive," he says, "but I was aware of people's perceptions and their body language and energy. You're just a little sensitive to it. It's just how it is. I'm sure that there's other people who aren't African American who have felt similar in various rooms in their lives too. So we started a group for professionals of color, whether they be elected officials, nonprofit leaders, community leaders, entrepreneurs, whatever.

"The goal was to bring folks together. We could have both community conversations and business conversations and conversations that feel uniquely built for us. And when you walk into that room, I don't care what you look like, it feels warm, it feels welcoming. I think that is from a sense of almost, like, relief, being able to be in a space here in our community that is both professional in nature but also has that kind of social, familial feel to it.

"The reason why the chamber officially adopted it was because it was important to me but also because it was a part of that mission work of creating these spaces for folks to really feel like they could be plugged into the work we're doing and still bring their whole selves."

The chamber also offers regular lunch meetings for female professionals, partnering with the local group Kalamazoo Women2Women, and it offers a group for military veterans interested in

entrepreneurship that is supported by Kellogg Community Credit Union.

"We've tried to be really intentional both to invite everyone to participate in the things that we host but also recognize that some people are going to feel more connected if they feel a natural affiliation with the people they're gathering with," says Lloyd. Developing businesses

At the same time that the chamber is fostering connectedness, it is also dipping its toes into the waters of business development. The chamber is providing resources and connections for the nine finalists of Cultivate 269, a Shark Tank-like business pitch competition for college students held by Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, a venture capital firm.

The chamber also hosts the Brick & Mortar Retail, Restaurant & Service Storefront Growth Lab, an intensive program for owners of retail stores and restaurants to develop tools to sustain their businesses. The program is underwritten by Kabundant LLC, a private community development organization focusing on empowering local entrepreneurs, which is led by former Kalamazoo mayor Bobby Hopewell.

Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo, an e-commerce platform that lists small businesses, is also a chamber initiative. "It's a platform designed for small, locally owned businesses to be able to help them compete online, encourage discovery, sell stuff," explains Lloyd. The site has 33 businesses

and more than 700 products on it and is searchable by location, type of business and product type. Businesses can be listed free of charge and do not need to be members of the chamber to participate.

Lloyd admits that chamber programs like Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo are often met with a bit of skepticism and distrust.

"When we reach out to business owners to say 'Hey, we want you to list on here. It's free because some cities and community partners are paying for it,' they're like, 'Well, what cut does the chamber get? How much is it going to cost me?' That level of skepticism tells us we have more work to do in clearly communicating the value we provide.

"I think that a lot of the challenges that businesses are feeling and facing are solvable, but it's going to take connecting to strategic partners like us and others. I'm not saying we could solve it all, but we know somebody who could help. A big part of our role is connecting business owners with the resources, expertise, and partners that can help them overcome obstacles and continue to grow."

Henderson agrees.

"They've been there for us," she says. "It is so important as business owners to not try to do it all alone. They will connect you with people to talk to who will come alongside a business owner and share ups and downs and point them in the right direction.

"All they have to do is ask, and this chamber will do that."

TheArts

Outdoor Concerts

Throughout the month

Various venues

The season for the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo's Summertime Live outdoor music performances is in full swing this month with shows across the region. The scheduled concerts, show times and locations are:

• Classic Rock & Roll, 5 p.m. July 1, Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners

• Tony Fields & Doug Decker and DJ No Limit, 5:30 p.m. July 1, Bates Alley, located between Edwards and Portage streets in downtown Kalamazoo

• Patriotic Pops: Stars, Stripes & Symphony , Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. July 1, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road; and 8:30 p.m. July 2, Bronson Park

• Allie Garland, 5 p.m. July 8, Gilmore Car Museum

• Out of Favor Boys and Vineyard Chicks, 5:30 p.m. July 8, downtown Vicksburg

• Andre Jones and Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience, 6 p.m. July 9, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road

• Sophie McIntosh, 11:30 p.m. July 10, Bronson Park

• Cobb Mob Tree, Boogz, P Way Bug and Sherdizzil, 4:30 p.m. July 11, Kalamazoo Land Bank, 1523 Riverview Drive

• Sierra Shame, 6 p.m. July 12, Texas Drive Park, 6603 Texas Drive

• Black Rock Sextet, 6:30 p.m. July 13, Kindleberger Park, 122 N. Riverview Drive

• The Mickeys, 5 p.m. July 15, Gilmore Car Museum

• Root Station and Special Guest, 5:30 p.m. July 15, downtown Vicksburg

• Levi Lumberjack, 11:30 p.m. July 17, Bronson Park

• Dana Scott, Durt and First Aid Spray, 6 p.m. July 17, Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage

• BlueBack, 6:30 p.m. July 19, Flesher Field gazebo, 3664 S. Ninth St., Oshtemo

• Ultrasonik, 6:30 p.m. July 19, Kindleberger Park

• Moonrays, 5 p.m. July 22, Gilmore Car Museum

• Gemini Moon and Lucid Vibe, 5:30 p.m. July 22, downtown Vicksburg

• Broke Joe & Johnny Cashless, 6 p.m.; Mallrats, 7 p.m. July 23, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road

• Shelagh Brown Band, 11:30 p.m. July 24, Bronson Park

• Great Lakes Brass, 4 p.m. July 26, Bronson Park

• Zion Lion, 6:30 p.m. July 26, Kindleberger Park; 5 p.m. July 28, Gilmore Car Museum

• Ellis & M.E., 3 p.m. July 29, Richland Community Center, 9400 E. CD Ave., Richland

• 3 of a Kind and The Stranded Hobos, 5:30 p.m. July 29, downtown Vicksburg

• Big L & Code Blü, 11:30 p.m. July 31, Bronson Park

Several Performances

Throughout the month

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

From the patriotic to the nostalgic, the KSO has an eclectic slate of shows this month.

The full symphony will give two free performances of Patriotic Pops: Stars, Stripes & Symphony . The first will be at 7:30 p.m. July 1 at the Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road in Portage; the second at 8:30 p.m. July 2 in Bronson Park.

On July 9 and 10, KSO musicians will perform with the members of improv troupe Crawlspace Eviction in Improv Meets Symphony at Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, 315 W. Michigan Ave. Showtimes are 6:30 and 8:15 p.m. both nights and tickets are $30.

KSO artists-in-residence will perform pop hits from the 1980s in the cozy ambience of a candlelit room at 7 p.m. July 15 in the Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W. Michigan Ave. Tickets for the show, KSO byCandlelight:80s&More , are $5–$50.

To purchase tickets, visit kalamazoosymphony.com.

Canadian Comedy Night July 25

CanadianaFest

Henry Sir, the Canadian comedian who has appeared on Comedy Central and CBC and whose debut special Chalant hit #1 on iTunes, will perform at 6 p.m. July 25 at City Centre, 125 Kalamazoo Mall.

Bob Fredericks will host the show, which is presented by CanadianaFest. Tickets are $39 for general admission and $69 for VIP, which includes a meet and greet with Sir. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tinyurl.com/henrysirzoo.

5OMA

July 18

CPR Dance: Inhale Movement

In this performance, the Stevensville dance company will explore the theme of connection through movement with one's body, self and collective humanity. The program will include works choreographed by Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers, Sarah Zehnder, Sophie Allen and Kelsey Paschich.

Show time is 7 p.m. in 3rd Floor Studio B of Dalton Center Recital Hall at Western Michigan University. Tickets are $25 and available online at inhalemovement.com.

New Exhibitions

Through Sept. 9

The Carnegie Center for the Arts

Four exhibitions featuring Southwest Michigan artists are on display at the Carnegie Center for the Arts, located at 107 North Main St. in Three Rivers. The exhibitions opened June 26 and run until Sept 9. The exhibitions are:

• Inspiring Connections , works by 24 artists in a variety of mediums;

• A Journey through the Seasons , fabric art by Shannon Dion;

• Goddesses:YouandMeSister , paintings by Susan Teague; and

• The Limitless Sky , paintings by Suzanne B. Siegel.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday. For more information, visit trcarnegie.com.

Art Hop

July 10

Various locations

With the theme "Continuum," this month's Art Hop gives a nod to the United States’ 250th anniversary and the spirit of innovation, imagination and artistic expression that has defined the nation since its founding.

This free event in downtown Kalamazoo runs from 5–8 p.m. and features a variety of artists’ works as well as live music and the chance to visit businesses. For a brochure showing Art Hop sites and information about participating artists, visit kalamazooarts.org.

TheArts

VISUAL ARTS

Ongoing Exhibitions

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts:

• From Cobalt to Indigo: The Power of Blue in East Asia , through July 12

• WestMichiganAreaShow , through Sept. 27

• For the People, By the People: America at 250 , through Oct. 4

KalamazooPoetryFestivalEkphrastic Art Event , through July 28, reception 5–8 p.m. July 10, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center is published in partnership and funding provided by

TheArts

1776

July 2–5

Multiple venues

A musical highlighting the events that led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence establishing the United States as a sovereign nation will be performed at two venues over the July 4 weekend.

The Barn Theatre, 13351 M-96, Augusta, will stage its performances at 8 p.m. July 2 and 3; 5 p.m. July 4 and 5; and 8:30 p.m. July 4. Tickets are $50–$58 and available online at barntheatreschool.org.

Echo Point Performing Arts, a Portagebased theater company, will stage their production of 1776 in the Hayloft Theatre at Celery Flats, 7335 Garden Lane, at 6 p.m. July 3, and 1 and 6 p.m. July 4. Tickets are $25 per seat and can be purchased online at mypark.portagemi.gov.

•Disney’sFrozen: TheBroadway Musical

•Rent

The Barn Theatre

In addition to its production of 1776 (see entry above), The Barn Theatre, located at 13351 M-96 in Augusta, will stage two other productions this month.

Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical, a production based on the animated film, will be performed July 9–19. Showtimes are 8 p.m. July 9–10 and 16–17, 5 p.m. July 11–12 and 18–19, and 8:30 p.m. July 11 and 18. Tickets are $30–$58 and available online at barntheatreschool.org. Rent , which examines a year in the life of a group of young artists and musicians living in New York's Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDs, will be performed July 23–Aug. 2. For showtimes and ticket costs, visit barntheatreschool.org.

THEATER

•Disney’sHighSchool MusicalJr.

• Footloose

TheMusical

July 8–13

Kindleberger Festival

The Kindleberger Festival of the Performing Arts will offer two stage productions during its annual event at the Kindleberger Park Stage in Parchment.

The students of East High will sing about the trials of being teens in the festival's youth production of Disney’s High School Musical Jr. at 5 p.m. July 8–10 and 3 p.m. July 11–12.

Meanwhile, Footloose The Musical , focusing on a teen's move from Chicago to a small farming community, will be staged at 7 p.m. July 8–10 and 5 p.m. July 11–12. For more information, visit kindlebergerarts.org.

ShrekTheMusical

July 11–19

Center Stage Theatre

This musical adventure about a grumpy green ogre’s swamp being invaded by exiled fairytale creatures will be performed at Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St.

Showtimes for this community theater production are 7 p.m. July 10–11 and 17–18 and 2 p.m. July 12, 18 and 19. Tickets are $12–$15 and available online at kzoocst.com.

DearEvanHansen

July 9–26

Farmers Alley Theatre

Equity actor Keegan Sells has the title role in this musical about a high schooler who invents a role for himself in a classmate's tragedy.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. July 9–11, 16–18 and 23–25; and 2 p.m. July 12, 19 and 26. Tickets are $22–$59 and available online at farmersalleytheatre.com or at Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley.

July 7

Dormouse Theatre

Described as one-part Lynchian suburban nightmare and one-part nostalgic love letter to monster-of-the-week millennial-core TV shows, this coming-of-age horror story will be screened at 9 p.m. A pre-show party will be held at 7 p.m.

Dormouse Theatre is located at 1030 Portage St. Tickets are on a pay-as-you-will basis beginning at $5 and can be purchased online at dormousetheatre.com.

Author Talks Throughout the month

Various venues

From graphic novels to nature at night, three authors will discuss their work this month.

Rose Mary Wood, the author of Chronicles of Cass County, Michigan, will discuss the county's history at 6 p.m. July 7 at Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane. Registration to attend is required and can be done by calling 329-4544 or online at portagelibrary.info.

Zoe Perisco, author and illustrator of the middle-grade graphic novel How to Talk to Your Succulent will speak at 2 p.m. July 9 at the Comstock Township Library, 6130 King Highway.

Leigh Ann Henion, New York Times bestselling author of Night Magic, which explores nocturnal life in nature, will speak at noon July 11 at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave. She will also lead a night hike at 9 p.m. Admission to KNC is $4–$7 and the cost to participate in the night hike is $12 for KNC members and $15 for non-members. To register for Henion's events, visit naturecenter.org.

PERFORMING ARTS

THEATER

Musicals

1776 — Follows the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence, 8 p.m. July 2 & 3; 5 p.m. July 4 & 5; 8:30 p.m. July 4, The Barn Theatre, 13351 M-96, Augusta, 250-6984, barntheatreschool.org.

1776 — America’s founding fathers convene in Philadelphia, 6 p.m. July 3 & 4; 1 p.m. July 4, Hayloft Theatre at Celery Flats, 7335 Garden Lane, mypark.portagemi.gov.

Disney’sHighSchoolMusicalJr. — Kindleberger Festival youth production, 5 p.m. July 8–10, 3 p.m. July 11 & 12, Kindleberger Park Stage, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.

Footloose The Musical — Teenage Ren moves from Chicago to a small farming community, 7 p.m. July 8–10, 5 p.m. July 11 & 12, Kindleberger Park Stage, kindlebergerarts.org.

Dear Evan Hansen — A high schooler invents a role for himself in a classmate's tragedy, 7:30 p.m. July 9–11, 16–18 & 23–25; 2 p.m. July 12, 19 & 26, Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343–2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.

Disney’sFrozen:TheBroadwayMusical— Based on the animated film, 8 p.m. July 9, 10, 16, 17; 5 p.m. July 11, 12, 18, 19; 8:30 p.m. July 11 & 18, The Barn Theatre, 250-6984, barntheatreschool.org.

Shrek The Musical — An ogre’s swamp is invaded by exiled fairytale creatures, 7 p.m. July 10, 11, 17 (sensory friendly), 18; 2 p.m. July 12, 18 (sensory friendly), 19, Center Stage Theatre, Comstock Community Auditorium, 2107 N. 26th St., kzoocst.com.

Rent — A year in the life of young artists & musicians under the shadow of HIV/AIDS, July 23–Aug. 2, The Barn Theatre, 250-6984, barntheatreschool.org.

DANCE

5OMA — CPR Dance: Inhale Movement performs, 7 p.m. July 18, 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. Wednesdays: Tony Fields & Doug Decker, DJ No Limit, July 1; Rock Rx, DJ Mel V, July 8; Asamu Johnson & The Associates, DJ Playhouse, July 15; The ParLlo Connection, DJ Chuck, July 22; Kalamazoo Academy of Rock, DJ Straka Flakka, July 29; Bates Alley, downtown Kalamazoo, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — St. Paul & The Broken Bones w/Nathan Graham, July 2; The Heavy Heavy w/Mt. Jones, July 8; John R. Miller, July 11; An Evening with Zoso, July 17; Dope Lemon, July

18; Noise Pollution: The AC/DC Experience, July 19; Here Come the Mummies, July 24; Pecos & the Rooftops, July 25; all shows begin at 8 p.m., 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382–2332, bellsbeer.com.

Burg Days of Summer — Live music & food trucks, 5:30–8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, downtown Vicksburg: Out of Favor Boys & Vineyard Chicks, July 8; Root Station & Special Guest, July 15; Gemini Moon & Lucid Vibe, July 22; 3 of a Kind & The Stranded Hobos, July 29; vicksburgmi.org.

Portage Summer Concert Series — Free outdoor concerts, 6–9 p.m., Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road: Andre Jones & Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience, July 9; Broke Joe & Johnny Cashless & Mallrats, July 23; bring a blanket or chair, mypark.portagemi.gov.

Lunchtime Live — Live music & food trucks, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Bronson Park: Sophia McIntosh, July 10; Levi Lumberjack, July 17; Shelagh Brown Band, July 24; Big L & Code Blü, July 31.

Community Jam @The Landbank — Cobb Mob Tree, Boogz, P Way Bug, Sherdizzil, 4:30–6:30 p.m. July 11, Kalamazoo Land Bank, 1523 Riverview Drive, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

Sierra Shame — Concert in the Corners performance, 6–7:30 p.m. July 12, Texas Drive Park, 6603 Texas Drive, kalamazooarts.org/summertimelive.

Kindleberger Park Summer Concert Series — Live music, 6:30–8 p.m., Kindleberger Park, Parchment: Black Rock Sextet, July 13; Ultrasonik, July 19; Zion Lion, July 26; kindlebergerarts.org/ concert-series.

The Geezer Happy Hour — Music by Duke & the Loose Cannons, 5–7 p.m. July 13 & 27, Shakespeare’s Pub, 241 E. Kalamazoo Ave., shakespearespub.com/happenings.

Yacht Rocket — Live outdoor music & after party with DJ Tribewalker presented by Sounds of the Zoo, 7–11 p.m. July 18, Old Dog Tavern, 402 E. Kalamazoo Ave., soundsofthezoo.com.

BlueBack — Concert with the Kona Ice truck, 6:30–8 p.m. July 19, Flesher Field gazebo, 3664 S. Ninth St., Oshtemo Twp., oshtemo.org/events.

Ellis & M.E. — 3 p.m. July 29, Richland Community Center, 9400 E. CD Ave., Richland, kalamazooarts. org/summertime-live.

Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More Patriotic Pops: Stars, Stripes & Symphony!

— Performance by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. July 1, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road; 8:30 p.m. July 2, Bronson Park, kalamazoosymphony.com.

Improv Meets Symphony — KSO musicians perform with improv troupe Crawlspace Eviction, 6:30 & 8:15 p.m. July 9 & 10, Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan Ave., kalamazoosymphony.com.

KSObyCandlelight:80s&More!— Performance by the KSO artists-in-residence, 7 p.m. July 15, Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W. Michigan Ave., kalamazoosymphony.com.

Great Lakes Brass — Free Concerts in the Park performance, 4–5 p.m. July 26, Bronson Park, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

COMEDY

Canadian Comedy Night — Featuring Henry Sir, 6 p.m. July 25, City Centre, 125 Kalamazoo Mall, kalamazooarts.org.

FILM

ISawtheTVGlow — Coming-of-age horror story, 9 p.m. July 7; pre-show party, 7 p.m.; Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com. Monsters, Inc. — With trick or treating, 8:30 p.m.; movie, 9:30 p.m. July 17, Vicksburg Pavilion, 300 N. Richardson, vicksburgmi.org.; bring a blanket or chair.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial — Drive-in movie experience, 9 p.m. July 25, Ramona Park, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road, mypark.portagemi.gov; precise time depends on sunset & weather.

VISUAL ARTS

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park St., 349-7775, kiarts.org

Exhibitions

From Cobalt to Indigo: The Power of Blue in East Asia — Exploring the use of the prized pigment, through July 12.

West Michigan Area Show — Works by area visual artists, through Sept. 27.

ForthePeople,BythePeople:Americaat250 — Reflecting America’s enduring ties to liberty, justice & identity, through Oct. 4.

Events

Free Thursdays — Free admission on Thursdays, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Gallery Gathering — Meet local artists included in the West Michigan Area Show, 5:30 p.m. July 9; registration requested.

Book Discussion — Elise Hooper’s Learning to See: A Novel of Dorothea Lange, The Woman Who Revealed The Real America, 2 p.m. July 15; registration requested.

Singing Citizenship: The Origins & Role of America’s Anthem — Hybrid event, 6 p.m. July 16; registration requested.

Community Day — Family-oriented activities, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. July 18.

Summer Jams — Open mic night for music, poetry & creative expression, 6 p.m. July 23.

The People Speak: A Living Exhibition — Face Off Theatre Company performers deliver selected excerpts from prominent Black American playwrights, 6 p.m. July 30.

Other Venues

Kalamazoo Poetry Festival Ekphrastic Art Event — Art on the theme “Beyond Resilience,” through July 28, reception 5–8 p.m. July 10, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Michigan Ave., kalbookarts.org.

Art Hop — Art on the theme of “Continuum,” celebrating the U.S.A.'s 250th anniversary, 5–8 p.m. July 10, downtown Kalamazoo, 342-5059, kalamazooarts.org.

New Exhibitions — Four exhibitions running through Sept. 9: Inspiring Connections, various artists; A Journey through the Seasons, Shannon Dion; Goddesses: You and Me Sister, Susan Teague; & The Limitless Sky, Suzanne B. Siegel, The Carnegie Center for the Arts, 107 North Main St., Three Rivers, 273-8882, trcarnegie.com.

LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS

Comstock Township Library 6130 King Highway, 345-0136, comstocklibrary.org

Great Michigan Read Book Club — 1:30 p.m. July 9.

Zoe Perisco — Meet the author of the graphic novel, How to Talk to Your Succulent, 2 p.m. July 9.

Pride Book Club — Becky Chambers’ To Be Taught If Fortunate, 6 p.m. July 15, registration required.

CTL Writers — Group writing discussion, 4 p.m. July 24 & 31.

Book Club — Sara Dykman’s Bicycling with Butterflies, 5:30 p.m. July 30, registration required. Kalamazoo Public Library 553-7800, kpl.gov

KPL Tech Days — One-on-one sessions to learn technology & the internet, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. July 4, 11, 18 & 25; 2–6 p.m. July 7, 14, 21 & 28, Central Library, 315 S. Rose St.; sessions are first-come, first-served.

No Shelf Control: A Graphic Novel Book Club — Adult group discussing Deena Mohamet’s Shubeik Lubeik, 6 p.m. July 7, Central Library.

KPL Mobile Library — 10 a.m. July 8, Kalamazoo Literacy Council, 420 E. Alcott St.; 3 p.m. July 8, Parkview Hills Clubhouse, 3707 Greenleaf Circle; 4 p.m. July 8, Oakwood Neighborhood Association, 3320 Laird Ave.; 3:30 p.m. July 13, New Village Park/Heather Gardens, 2400 Albans Way; 10 a.m. July 14, Lodge House, 1211 S. Westnedge Ave.; 3:30 p.m. July 14, Interfaith Homes, 1037 Interfaith Blvd.; 3 p.m. July 15, Douglass Community Association, 1000 W. Paterson St.; 3:30 p.m. July 20, Milwood Commons, 2031 East Cork St.; 11:30 a.m. July 23, Leisure Time Condominiums, Green Meadow Rd.; 2 p.m. July 23, Leisure Pointe Condominiums, 4814 Weston Ave.; 3 p.m. July 28, Maple Grove Village, 735 Summit Ave.; stops are about one hour unless noted otherwise.

Yoga on the Lawn — All skill levels welcome, bring a mat, 6 p.m. July 8, 4 p.m. July 22, Bronson Park, 200 W. South St.

Euchre, Anyone? — All experience levels, 4:30 p.m. July 9, Eastwood Branch, 1112 Gayle Ave.

Petting Zoo — 10 a.m.–noon July 10, Washington Square Branch, 1244 Portage St.; 10 a.m.–noon July 11, Powell Branch, 308 W. North St.; 2–4 p.m. July 11, Oshtemo Branch, 7265 W. Main St..

Relax & Meditate with Tai Chi — Learn basic moves, 11 a.m. July 11, Oshtemo Branch; registration required.

Cold Brew Coffee Tasting — Overview & tasting, 11 a.m. July 11, Central Library; registration required.

Beautifully Wrapped — Traveling exhibition on the global art of head-wrapping, noon July 11, Eastwood Branch.

Music & Memories — Music engaging older adults & those with memory loss, 11 a.m. July 13, Oshtemo Branch.

Family Movie Mondays — Movie, snack & crafts, 2–3:30 p.m. July 13, 20 & 27, Eastwood Branch.

Natural Skincare: Salve Workshop — Making moisturizing salves, 5:30 p.m. July 13, Eastwood Branch; registration required.

Family Puzzle Race — Teams of 4-6 race to finish a 500-piece puzzle, 6 p.m. July 13, Central Library; 6 p.m. July 21, Oshtemo Branch; registration required.

Page Turners Book Club — Boum’s The Jellyfish, 6:30 p.m. July 13, Oshtemo Branch.

Reading Race Group — Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez’s For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts, 6:30 p.m. July 14, SHARE Garden Atrium, 471 W. South St.

Dungeons & Dragons Game Night — Beginner to experienced level adults, 5:30 p.m. July 16, Central Library; registration required.

Game Night — Tabletop & card games, 5:30 p.m. July 20, Central Library.

Herbal Tea Blending Workshop — Making herbal tea & infused honey, 5:30 p.m. July 21, Central Library; registration required.

Community Cafe — Movie, board games, coloring, puzzles & more, 10 a.m.–noon July 22, Central Library.

Chair Yoga — 2 p.m. July 22, Central Library.

Unsettled: Seeking Refuge in America — Documentary on LGBTQ+ refugees in the U.S., 5:30 p.m. July 22, Central Library.

Silent Book Club — Read in companionable silence, 5 p.m. July 23, Central Library.

Senior Citizen Breakfast — 10:30 a.m. July 24, Eastwood Branch.

Bujo & Chill for Teens & Adults — Lo-fi hiphop music & bullet journaling, 10:30 a.m. July 25, Oshtemo Branch.

International Coffee Tasting – 11 a.m. July 25, Central Library; registration required.

Tea Talk with Tony — History & medicinal uses of tea, 5 p.m. July 27, Eastwood Branch.

Elderberry Syrup Workshop — Recipe & uses, 5:30 p.m. July 27, Oshtemo Branch; registration required.

Gentle Yoga with Apral — 5 p.m. July 28, Eastwood Branch.

Parchment Community Library 401 S. Riverview Drive, 343-7747, parchmentlibrary.org

Sharing the Spirit of America — Public reading of the Declaration of Independence, 6 p.m. July 8.

Friends of the Library Book Sale — 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; early admission, 8–9 a.m. July 11.

Parchment Book Group — Diane Jacobs’ The Intimate Lives and Revolutionary Ideas of Abigail Adams and her Two Remarkable Sisters, 6 p.m. July 13.

Chair Yoga — For adults of all levels, 11 a.m. July 18.

Kalamazoo County Mobile ID Unit — Get a Kalamazoo County photo identification card, 3–6 p.m. July 20.

Open Roads Bike Repair Workshop — Mechanics perform & offer advice on bicycle maintenance, 4–6 p.m. July 20.

Mystery Book Club – Paige Shelton’s To Helvetica and Back, 6:30 p.m. July 21.

Vinyasa Yoga — Bring a mat & blocks, 5:15 p.m. July 22.

Digging Deeper into Your Family Story — Genealogical Society members share techniques, 10:30 a.m. July 25.

Portage District Library

300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info

Chronicles of Cass County — Author Rose Mary Wood traces the county's history, 6 p.m. July 7, registration required.

Historical City Center Walking Tours — With Steve Rossio, 10 a.m., noon & 2 p.m. July 11, registration required.

Revolutionary Encampments at Portage — Reenactments of the Revolutionary War, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. July 11, First Reformed Church of Portage, 7905 S. Westnedge, access from Portage Library. Yoga with Apral — 4 p.m. July 14 & 29; registration required.

Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group — Mac computers, programs & accessories, 9 a.m.–noon July 18.

Tea Service & Yoga — 6 p.m. July 20; registration required.

Eating the Healthy Way — The Mediterranean diet, 6 p.m. July 22; registration required.

Friends of the Library Book Sale — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Aug. 1; members shop early, 4–5:30 p.m. July 31.

Richland Community Library

8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org

Adult Summer Camp Series — Weekly events for adults, see library website for details & registration, 7 p.m. Thursdays.

Bridge Club — Noon Tuesdays.

Richland Area Writer’s Group — Open to new members, noon July 10 & 24, hybrid event.

Richland Genealogy Group — Discussion group, 10 a.m. July 16, in person & online.

Adult Dungeons&Dragons Bravo Team — New crusade each month, 5–8 p.m. July 16; registration required.

Patron-led Book Club — Ben Montgomery’s Grandma Gatewood’s Walk, 6 p.m. July 16.

Vicksburg District Library 215 S. Michigan Ave., 649-1648, vicksburglibrary.org

Bridge Club — 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays.

Book Club for Adults — Selection at circulation desk, 9:30 a.m. July 2.

Red, White & Blue Snack Tasting — Rate your favorite, noon July 3.

Medicare Planning 101 — How to enroll & strategies, 6 p.m. July 8.

Scrabble Club for Adults — All skill levels, 1 p.m. July 14.

Sigma Wild Soil — Soil basics & making a seed dirt bomb, 3 p.m. July 14.

Blades of the Revolutionary War — Presented by Jerry Berg of the Swordsmanship Museum, 6 p.m. July 15.

Family Board Game Night — With light refreshments, 4–6 p.m. July 28.

Other Venues

Roots & Branches — Genealogy resources & assistance, 6:30–8:30 p.m. July 28, Vicksburg Depot Museum, 300 N. Richardson St., vicksburghistory.org.

The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, along with the cities of Parchment, Portage, Richland, Oshtemo Township, Texas Township, Vicksburg and Kalamazoo, as well as numerous venues, artists and the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation are thrilled to bring you the 2026 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.

MUSEUMS

Air Zoo

6151 Portage Road, Portage, 382-6555, airzoo.org

Sensory Friendly Sunday — 10 a.m.–noon July 12.

Super Summer STEAM Fest! — Free, all-ages event with hands-on activities, 10 a.m.–noon July 18.

Fly-In: C-47 Hairless Joe— Available for ticketed rides, July 25.

Gilmore Car Museum

6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, 671-5089, gilmorecarmuseum.org

Wednesday Night Cruise-Ins — Collector cars, food & live music: Classic Rock & Roll, July 1; Allie Garland, July 8; The Mickeys, July 15; Moonrays, July 22; Zion Lion, July 29, 5–8 p.m. Wednesdays through September.

Deutsche Marques — German autos, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. July 11.

Mad Dogs & Englishmen — British autos, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. July 12.

Celebration of Brass VI & Pre-WWII Swap

Meet — Presented by The Museum of the Horseless Carriage, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. July 17–18.

Corvette & Camaro Show — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. July 19.

MOPARs at the Red Barns — Chrysler show, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. July 25.

60th Anniversary Cruise-In — Special evening celebrating 60 years, 5–8 p.m. July 29.

Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N. Rose St., 373-7990, kalamazoomuseum.org Exhibitions

Black Cowboys — Black laborers on ranches & cattle drives, through July 26.

Dinosaur Explorer — Animatronics, fossils & current dinosaur science, through Sept 6. Events

Rain Garden Tours — 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Saturdays (no tours July 4).

Illustrated Muse(ings) — Artists creating in real time, 1:30 p.m. July 17.

NATURE

Kalamazoo Nature Center 7000 N. Westnedge Ave., 381-1574, naturecenter.org

Insect Pinning Workshop — Learn techniques, 11 a.m. July 11; registration required.

Leigh Ann Henion — The author of Night Magic discusses her studies of nature after dark, noon July 11.

Night Magic Hike — See nature after dark, 9 p.m. July 11; registration required.

Golf Cart Tours — View nature through binoculars, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. July 23; registration required.

Bug Month Trivia Night — Arthropods trivia, 6:30 p.m. July 23; registration required.

Insect Canapés & Conversation with Chef Yoon — Conversation & cricket or cicada canapes, 7 p.m. July 24, Heronwood Field Station, 6378 Hart Dr.; registration required.

Can Eating Insects Save the Planet? — Chef Yoon on why edible insects could solve hunger, 7 p.m. July 25; registration required.

Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 12685 East C Ave., Augusta, 671-2510, birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu

Birds & Coffee Chat Online — Bug-eating birds, 10 a.m. July 8.

Behind the Scenes: Raptors — Caring for raptors, 10 a.m. July 18.

Guided Birding Hike — Guided morning hike, 9 a.m. July 23. Other Venues

Beginning Birding Walk — 9 a.m. July 4; Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery's 2nd parking lot, 34270 County Road 652, Mattawan, kalamazooaudubon.org.

Kalamazoo Astronomical Society Public Observing Session — Super Summer Nebular, July 11; The Moon & Double Stars of Summer, July 25; both sessions 9:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m., Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Ave.; register at kasonline.org; check website for weather updates. World Ranger Day — Learn about park rangers & hike, 9 a.m. July 31, Eliason Nature Reserve, 1614 W. Osterhout Ave., mypark.portagemi.gov.

MISCELLANEOUS

Richland Farmers’ Market — 3–6 p.m. Wednesdays, Richland Community Center, 9400 East CD Ave., richlandareacc.org/richland-farmersmarket.

Kalamazoo Farmers Market — 7 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays; Night Market, 5–10 p.m. July 16, 1204 Bank St.; kzoofarmmarket.com.

Vicksburg Farmers Market — 2–6 p.m. Fridays; Historic Village Market, July 24; 300 N. Richardson St., vicksburgfarmersmarket.com.

Schoolcraft 4th of July Celebration — Pancake breakfast, run/walk, live band, vendors, parade, July 4, fireworks on July 5, downtown Schoolcraft, see full schedule at schoolcraft4thofjuly.org.

Richland Independence Day Parade — 11 a.m. July 4, begins at Gull Lake High School, 7753 N. 34th St. & ends at Gracespring Bible Church, 8643 Gull Rd.

Texas Township Farmers Market — 4–7 p.m. Tuesdays & 8 a.m.–noon Saturdays, 7110 West Q Ave., texastownship.org/168/farmers-market.

Portage Farmers Market — 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 11, Portage City Hall, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., mypark.portagemi.gov.

Black Arts Festival Youth Day — Youth performances, games, bounce house & booths, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. July 10, Location TBA, Kalamazoo, blackartskalamazoo.org.

Kindleberger Festival of the Performing Arts — Live concerts, theater performances, 5K run/walk,

vendors & more, July 8–13; arts & crafts, July 11; Kindleberger Park, Parchment, kindlebergerarts.org.

Earthcraft Ancestral Skillshare — Family-friendly event on traditional crafts & sustainable living, July 9–12, Tillers International, 10515 OP Ave. E, Scotts, tillersinternational.org.

Kalamazoo Blues Fest — Live music by 11 bands, 5–11 p.m. July 10; 1–10:45 p.m. July 11, Old Dog Tavern, 402 E. Kalamazoo Ave., kvba.org/bluesfest.

Centennial Celebration — Kalamazoo Community Foundation celebrates 100 years with street mural painting (tools provided), food trucks, activities & games, 4–7 p.m. July 10, 402 E. Kalamazoo Ave., kzcf.org/upcoming-events. Tentative rain date Aug. 14.

Black Arts Festival — Celebrating Black culture & arts with performances, food & retail booths, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. July 11, Bronson Park, downtown Kalamazoo, blackartskalamazoo.org.

Summer Heritage Show — Demonstrations, antique tractors, activities & flea market, July 17–18, Scotts Mill County Park, 8451 S. 35th St., Scotts, 579-4627, scottstractorshow.org.

Sizzlin’ Summer Flower Show — Horticulture, floral artistry & education, 3:30–6 p.m. July 17; 9 a.m.–3 p.m. July 18, Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane, kalamazoogardencouncil.org.

Dokidokon 2026: Zombies — Anime & gaming convention, July 17–19, Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W. Michigan Ave., dokidokon.org.

Friday at the Flats: Block Party — Food trucks, music by Dana Scott, Durt & First Aid Spray, vendors, 6–9 p.m. July 17, Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, mypark.portagemi.gov.

Corks & Kegs at the Zoo — Beer, wine, live music & food, 6–10 p.m. July 18, Binder Park Zoo, 7400 Division Drive, Battle Creek, 9791351, binderparkzoo.org.

Ramona Beach Bonfire — Live music & s’mores materials provided, 8 p.m. July 18, Ramona Park, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road, mypark.portagemi.gov.

Vicksburg Historical Society Speaker Series — Michigan railroads & agriculture, 2–4 p.m. July 19, Vicksburg Historic Village Township Hall, downtown Vicksburg, vicksburghistory.org.

The Great Waldo Celebration 2026 — Dress like Waldo for the culmination of the village scavenger hunt, 5:30–7:30 p.m. July 22, downtown Vicksburg; discoverkalamazoo.com.

Downtown Kalamazoo Sidewalk Sales — With live music & food, July 23–25, downtown Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo Valley Antique Engine Club Show — Tractor parade, saw & shingle mill demonstrations, kiddie pedal pull, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. July 24 & 25; 9 a.m.–noon July 26, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., 779-2283, kalvalleyclub.org.

ARC Community Advocates’ Journey of Hope — Games, food & inclusion, 4–6 p.m. July 25, Milham Park, 607 E. Kilgore, communityadvocates.org.

The Vine Barn Local Markets — Curated lineup of local makers, noon–4 p.m. July 26, The Vine Barn, 311 Wall Street, thevinebarnkzoo.com.

Twala Lockett-Jones (continued from page 30)

confidence building and public speaking to help them find and use their voices. If you're working in a male-dominated industry, you ought to know how to speak up for yourself.”

How did you get to where you are today? I grew up here on the Northside, right behind Lincoln International Studies School. My dad still lives there today. I have 10 brothers and sisters. My dad was a jack-ofall-trades. He worked in concrete at Precast Structures (now Nucon Schokbeton). I have been interested in construction, architecture and houses ever since kindergarten. My mom and I would go to open houses, and my parents owned a few rental houses, so I was around construction and real estate.

My fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Tom Hansen, taught us so much. We took field trips everywhere. I remember walking downtown to the Ladies Library, walking through that front door, and as a little kid, everything looks big, right? I saw that staircase, the way it went up, and then that huge chandelier that hung down. He pointed out the character of the building, the gargoyles on the front, the brickwork — I fell in love with that building that moment.

I graduated from Loy Norrix High School in 1987 and began working at Pierson Real Estate, where my sister was a Realtor. Willie Mae Pierson was the first African-American real estate broker in Kalamazoo, which was huge back in 1967. I was a receptionist in her office and got so much satisfaction out of helping first-time homebuyers, predominantly African Americans, achieve home ownership when a lot of times they didn't know that they could do it. I noticed certain barriers and hurdles that AfricanAmerican homebuyers faced that caused them to need a little bit more hand holding. Some of these were due to the effects of redlining, systemic things with lending and practices that were not legal, but some of it too was education and not knowing what to do. I saw how homeownership is the cornerstone of building generational wealth, so that felt like a calling for me.

I gave birth to my son Marcus in 1989 and was a single mom living at home. I told my parents, “I'm never going to pay anybody

rent.” I was only 19 and bought a cute little two-bedroom house on the east side of Kalamazoo. That was one of my big brag moments.

In 1996 I became a licensed real estate salesperson. I stayed with Pierson Real Estate. I felt like I needed the mentorship of a Black woman who really cared about community. She also needed me — a younger Black woman who she could pass the baton to — and I felt it's where I needed to be. Eventually I established Lockett-Jones Realty Group, in June of 2019.

What inspired you to establish Girls Build Kalamazoo?

It was a culmination of all the different experiences I’ve had. I was around tools and construction growing up but was still intimidated by power tools. This event, Property Krawl, started in late 2016, and once a month people — novice and seasoned investors, tradespeople, electricians, guys that did mold remediation, plumbers, the general public — would meet at a restaurant, have a discussion and then visit three or four fixer-upper houses or houses under renovation. We would discuss the house, ask questions and learn from these experts. I loved that concept and always wanted to do something with girls. My friend Danielle Blakely and I talked about starting an organization to expose girls to construction, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, real estate and STEM careers. We weren’t ready to start — we didn’t have a place to meet — but established a 501(c)(3) in 2020. I feel like the Holy Spirit was whispering to me, “Just start.” I stepped out on faith, called a couple girlfriends, and it started with four women.

Our first summer session, in 2023, was nine weeks and had 12 girls signed up. The first day, the girls built their dream houses out of sticks and glue. I put pictures of them on Facebook, and people started reaching out to me. Crystal Haydo, with Allen Edwin Homes, donated our hard hats and chartered a bus for the girls to tour Allen Edwin Homes' Design Studio in Byron Center. There, the girls learned about what it takes to get ready to build a house. After that, Crystal set up a tour of an Allen Edwin community, and the girls were able to see every stage of construction. After launching Girls Build Kalamazoo, all kinds of doors opened and continue to open. We’ve gone to different events like a leadership summit at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and every year we go to the Parade of Homes. Seelye Ford opened up their service department to allow our girls to learn how to do basic vehicle maintenance. And last year we bought a home on Woodward Avenue to renovate and use as a learning lab.

Why was it important for you to write your children's book, Princess Mackie BuysaHouse?

To educate people about home ownership — not just getting the house but buying what you can afford, making good decisions within your means, and how to keep and maintain it. There's a 30% gap between Black and white homeownership, and that's a lot of the reason why white households have 10 times greater net worth than Black households. If you look at where their wealth is, it's the equity in their homes. That's how important homeownership is in America.

Interview by Jordan Bradley, edited for length and clarity

Twala Lockett-Jones

Teaching Kalamazoo girls to fill their toolbelts

Twala Lockett-Jones, the founder of LockettJones Realty Group and Girls Build Kalamazoo and a children's book author, has been enthralled with real estate, architecture and building houses for as long as she can remember.

When her parents re-sided their home in the Northside neighborhood of Kalamazoo, LockettJones was in elementary school and the building materials left behind were full of potential.

“I built a clubhouse out of the spare materials and would have all the neighborhood kids come,” Lockett-Jones says. “I’d collect money from the kids, go to the neighborhood candy store and buy snacks for us to enjoy in the clubhouse. We would have little talent shows and variety shows.”

This love of creating homes eventually led Lockett-Jones to establish Girls Build Kalamazoo, a nonprofit dedicated to educating middle school and high school girls on financial literacy, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, real estate and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) while helping its participants build confidence.

“We have a focus on the skilled trades and STEM, but we also want to help the whole girl in all areas,” Lockett-Jones says, “so we've been doing

(continued on page 29)

A Partnership That Inspires Flight: The Air Zoo and AZO

By Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport Staff

At Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO), we take pride in serving as Southwest Michigan’s gateway to the world. While our primary mission is connecting travelers, businesses, and communities through air service, we are equally proud to share our campus with the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum — one of the region’s most recognizable and celebrated destinations.

The relationship between AZO and the Air Zoo represents a unique partnership where aviation history, education, innovation, and transportation come together to create an experience unlike any other airport community in the country.

Located adjacent to the airfield, the Air Zoo has become a defining feature of the Kalamazoo aviation landscape. For many visitors coming to Kalamazoo, the museum serves as both a first impression and a memorable destination. Its world-class collection of historic aircraft, immersive exhibits, and hands-on learning opportunities complement the airport’s role as an active center of aviation activity. The Air Zoo’s mission is to “ignite curiosity, celebrate innovation, and connect history and science through past, present, and future dreams of flight,” a mission that closely aligns with our own commitment to connecting people and communities through aviation.

Together, the airport and the Air Zoo showcase aviation’s complete story — from the pioneering aircraft that shaped history to the modern airliners that connect our region to destinations across the country. The unique co-location allows visitors to spend the morning exploring iconic aircraft such as the SR-71B Blackbird and the afternoon watching commercial flights depart from AZO. Few communities offer such a seamless connection between aviation heritage and modern air transportation.

One of the aspects of this partnership that makes us especially proud is the opportunity to welcome and showcase visiting historic aircraft that arrive at AZO in support of the Air Zoo’s mission. Throughout the year, unique military and historic aircraft fly into our airport to participate in Air Zoo programming, exhibitions, restoration efforts, and public events.

This summer the AirZoo will host the historic C-47 “Hairless Joe” and the B-25 “Rosie’s Reply”. These special arrivals create excitement throughout the community and offer residents and visitors a rare chance to experience living aviation history up close. Knowing they’re on our runways and taxiways deepens our connection.

Beyond tourism and special events, this partnership also play an important role in workforce development and education. Each year, thousands of students visit the Air Zoo to participate in STEM-focused programs that introduce concepts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The museum’s location next to a functioning commercial airport provides a powerful real-world backdrop, allowing students to see aviation in action while learning about the technologies and careers that make flight possible.

This educational connection is increasingly important as the aviation industry faces growing demand for pilots, engineers, technicians, air traffic professionals, and other skilled workers. By inspiring curiosity and providing exposure to aviation careers, the Air Zoo helps cultivate the next generation of aerospace and transportation leaders.

Perhaps most importantly, this partnership reflects the spirit of our community. Both organizations share a commitment to education, innovation, and public service. Together, we celebrate the achievements of aviation’s past while helping shape its future.

As Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport continues to grow and evolve, we remain proud to stand alongside the Air Zoo as ambassadors for aviation in Southwest Michigan. Together, we are more than neighboring facilities — we are partners in inspiring curiosity, preserving history, supporting education, and connecting future generations to the wonder of flight.

The smartest decisions don’t limit your life. They expand your options. We’re currently planning a smarter 55+ community for Texas Township. We call it The Halstead. You’ll just call it home. Backed by Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, you will have unprecedented access to higher levels of care, along with your higher standard of living. Be among the first to learn more about The Halstead.