Encore June 2026

A Century of Change:

How Kalamazoo Community Foundation Continues to Shape the Future

“ We’re

after the kind of community transformation

that changes lives

for

the better,

radically improves outcomes and ensures that we’re finding creative ways to overcome the challenges we face.”

Dr. Grace Lubwama

She/Her/Hers President/CEO

Nestled squarely at the crossroads between striving to be a trusted philanthropic partner for every resident of Kalamazoo County and ensuring that our community becomes the most equitable place to live, is where you’ll find us – Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF).

Since 1925, KZCF has been a champion for changemakers looking to do a world of good for residents throughout our community. What began as a simple idea, creating a local foundation that could meet the needs of a changing community, steadily grew into a much greater reality, a community-driven organization that has awarded over $560 million in grants to hundreds of nonprofits, becoming one of the nation’s largest community foundations in the process. With our centennial celebration well underway this year, we’ve enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on how, from the beginning, our purpose as an institution has been rooted in advancing equity, well before we actually called it that.

“When I think about the tremendous impact Kalamazoo Community Foundation has had on the lives of our community’s residents, it fills me with joy,” said Dr. Lubwama, president/CEO of KZCF. “Many of us know someone whose child has received a scholarship from KZCF. We volunteer or seek services at nonprofits that have received grants from our organization. We ride past housing developments that have been awarded impact investment loans from us. Every day, our team works hard to respond to the needs of our community, and it’s so inspiring to see the impact we’re having in real time.”

Using dollars received from generous donors, corporations and other foundations, KZCF grows these funds strategically to create new income, which is later given as grants to nonprofits addressing the local needs and priorities of our community’s residents. Whether tackling our funding priorities of wealth attainment, housing access, educational advancement or neighborhood vitality, KZCF exists to usher in an era where everyone can thrive. “We’re here to serve and be a trusted pillar our community can lean on. If those two things aren’t being accomplished, our work isn’t being done,” said Dr. Lubwama.

In addition to grantmaking, KZCF pours its efforts into supporting the residents of Kalamazoo County in ways that extend beyond the check. KZCF has devoted considerable time to hosting listening sessions with nonprofit leaders and collecting surveys from funded partners to learn more about their needs beyond funding. Now, we’ve been able to provide technical assistance, planned giving support, succession planning and more to help local nonprofits accomplish some of their larger organizational goals.

For over 100 years, KZCF has been fortunate to nurture relationships with thousands of individuals, families and institutions rooted in Kalamazoo County and beyond, with the sole purpose of channeling every resource we have into this community we love. And, the great news is, we don’t plan on stopping any time soon.

KZCF will continue to stand alongside our community’s nonprofit leaders, generous supporters, innovators and education seekers as we work to advance our mission of creating a thriving community where people, resources and expertise are mobilized to advance racial, social and economic justice in Kalamazoo County. Follow us on social media @kalfound

From the Editor

Many of us fear that as artificial intelligence permeates more and more of our lives we will lose the ability to know what has been created through AI and what has not. That is very true in the world of art and creativity, but, as the stories in this month's issue show, there are no replacements for art created by human hands and minds. Whether it's live music, sculpture, film or poetry, human-created works are still valued by and supported by many people.

Our cover story about the Prairie Ronde Artist Residency is a great example. Since 2018, this program of The Mill at Vicksburg redevelopment project has provided artists from across the globe with a paid six- to eight-week residency and space to create one-of-a-kind works in various mediums. Writer Katie Houston looks at the impact this program has had not only on the artists but also on the community.

Katie also writes in this issue about Friends of Poetry, a group formed 50 years ago to promote poetry in the Kalamazoo community. This volunteer-led group has done so in a variety of ways, from creating bus signs and commissioning poetry murals to publishing poems by local writers and hosting poetry readings. It is no secret that the greater Kalamazoo area is replete with established and renowned poets like Pulitzer Prize winner Diane Seuss but also with emerging poets. Friends of Poetry can be credited with fostering a local environment that embraces poetry and inspires poetry writing.

We also meet Megan Healy, the new executive director of the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra. The KJSO, one of the oldest youth symphonies in the U.S., boasts some of the best young orchestral musicians in our community and is so accomplished that it is embarking on an international tour this summer. This group would not exist, however, without a dedicated cadre of coaches, conductors and staff — people whose contributions could never be replaced by AI.

Finally, we asked our friends at Kazoo Books to give us great summer reads by local writers. From informative nonfiction books about The Kalamazoo Promise and the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald to a beautiful nature-focused children's book and a riveting mystery, their suggestions are just a small sample of the wealth of writing talent and imagination that exists in our own backyard.

I hope that you'll find these stories inspiring and that they'll spark your own desire to imagine and create. Happy reading!

Katie Houston

Katie was prolific for Encore this month, writing our cover story on the Prairie Ronde Artist Residency program of The Mill at Vicksburg and a profile of the volunteer-led Friends of Poetry, which has been plugging poetry in our community for 50 years. "Kalamazoo is such an arts town — and Vicksburg is joining in," notes Katie. "I always love talking to visual artists and wordsmiths.” Katie is a Kalamazoo writer and communications consultant specializing in nonprofit marketing.

Marie Lee

As the mother of a son who played the double bass in school orchestras starting in fourth grade, Marie has an affinity for school music programs and enjoyed talking with Megan Healy, the new executive director of the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra for this month's Back Story. "Megan is a product of publicschool orchestra programs, beginning with the violin in third grade. It's amazing to see how these programs spark musical passion in such young kids," Marie says. "Now Megan is giving back, in a way, for her formative experiences, helping today's players to embrace their musical passions." Marie is the editor of Encore

Publisher encore publications, inc

Editor

marie lee

Art Director alexis stubelt

Photographer brian k powers

Contributing Writers

katie houston, kazoo books staff, marie lee

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

Proud Member of

REALTORS® Are Right By You

Beyond the sale. Beyond the sign. Building community.

On a crisp Saturday morning, volunteers gather on a quiet Kalamazoo street to help a local veteran with fall yard cleanup. Rakes scrape the ground, sweeping leaves into rustling piles. It may look like a small effort, but for the homeowner, it makes all the difference.

Moments like this happen yearround in our community, and the people showing up have something in common: They are members the Greater Kalamazoo Association of REALTORS®

REALTORS® are a steady presence behind many of the efforts that quietly strengthen this community. Since 2015, they have organized fall yard cleanups for fifty-eight local veterans and built accessibility ramps for seniors, helping neighbors stay safe and comfortable in the homes they love. Through Bowl for Kids’ Sake, they have raised more than $180,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan, supporting mentorship opportunities for local youth. And since 2020, they have contributed more than $40,000 to state and local candidates who support policies that protect property rights and expand access to homeownership.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

These REALTORS® are your neighbors. They raise their families here. They build relationships that extend beyond

a real estate transaction. This local perspective shapes how they show up for you, guiding clients through one of life’s biggest decisions with clarity, and a long-term view of what makes a community thrive.

Supporting their clients is only part of what they do. It means investing time, energy, and resources into making greater Kalamazoo a place where people truly put down roots.

Whether it is lending a hand on a Saturday morning, rallying support for

Greater Kalamazoo Association of REALTORS®

6400 West Main Street, Suite B

Kalamazoo, MI 49009

GKAR.com

REALTORS® provide fall yard cleanup for local veterans through GKAR's Day of Service for Veterans.

local kids, or working behind the scenes to protect property rights, REALTORS® are Right By You. They show up, give back, and stay connected to the place they call home.

This message is brought to you by the Greater Kalamazoo Association of REALTORS®. Visit REALTOR.com to find a REALTOR® near you.

Setting the Bar Higher Than Ever.

We’ve had the privilege of watching James Liggins, Jr. lead with integrity on both the State Bar Board of Commissioners and our own Board of Directors. Now, as the recipient of the Michael Franck Award, he is once again being recognized for what we have long admired: an outstanding commitment to improving the legal profession and serving others with excellence. Congratulations, James, on this well-deserved honor.

16 The Art of Placemaking

Mariana Norena Gutierrez

sculpture

Prairie Ronde Artist Residency,

program of The Mill at Vicksburg. Photo by Brian K. Powers.

First Things

Celebration

Something Celebratory

Local events mark Juneteenth

Several local events this month will commemorate the Juneteenth holiday, which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth, generally celebrated on June 19, became a federal holiday in 2021 and marks the liberation of the country’s last slaves, in Texas in 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Among local events celebrating Juneteenth will be:

• Juneteenth Commemoration, featuring art by Black artists and activities,11 a.m.–5 p.m. June 18, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. For more information, visit kiarts.org.

• Black Voices of Dignity, an exhibit representing the Black experience through 3–D recreations, historical photographs and art, 4–9 p.m. June 18–19 and noon–6 p.m. June 20–21, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/blackvoiceskzoo.

• A Movie & Some Music: Juneteenth Edition, with a screening of the 1973 film Wattstax and a musical performance by Yolonda Lavender, 6 p.m. June 18, Kalamazoo Valley Museum.

• Juneteenth Celebration, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. June 19, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1000 MLK Drive, Portage, featuring a self-led tour and education through the park's Garden of Hope. For more information, visit portagemi.gov/calendar.

• Juneteenth Celebration, 6 p.m. June 19, Dr. Martin Luther King Park, 507 N. Rose St., with an unveiling of the Kalamazoo Junior Girls Organization’s Brickpaver Walkway.

•Rootead’s Juneteenth Celebration, a family-friendly celebration of Black culture, including music, food, performances and local artisans and businesses,1–7 p.m. June 20, Bronson Park. For more information, visit Rootead.org.

Something Extra

See six attractions with one membership

If you’ve been considering becoming a member of one of the area’s attractions, this is a good month to do it. If you're a member or become a member of one of seven Southwest Michigan attractions, you can visit them all in June through the Southwest Michigan Cultural Membership Exchange.

The exchange is a collaborative effort of the Air Zoo, Binder Park Zoo, Gilmore Car Museum, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo Nature Center and the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary and W.K. Kellogg Manor House. It gives members of each institution free admission to all the others for the month with their member card and photo ID.

Something Fun Kick off summer in South Haven

You can't go wrong kicking off the sunny season with a waterfront celebration named Free Fun Fest, hosted by the Michigan Maritime Museum, 260 Dyckman Ave., in South Haven.

From 11 a.m.–3 p.m. June 6, the museum's exhibits will be open for exploration, while its waterfront campus will be a hub of outdoor activity: a ninja obstacle course, robotics demonstrations, and stations celebrating Great Lakes history and science. In addition, attendees can enjoy dockside tours of the historic tall ship Friends Good Will, boat rides, games, book giveaways, and ice cream and root beer.

There will be free off-site parking, with shuttle rides to the event. For more information, visit MichiganMaritimeMuseum.org.

Something Nostalgic

Tribute bands abound

You may not be able to see Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac or The Foo Fighters live in concert, but a swath of shows by tribute bands this month might provide the next best thing.

Offering nostalgic trips down music memory lanes, tribute bands play music by popular bands or musicians that have retired, broken up or stopped touring or whose shows aren't accessible because of high ticket prices. Here are some shows, with music from Southern rock to modern pop, to check out (unless noted, the shows are free):

• Let There Be Rock — AC/DC Tribute, 8 p.m. June 5, Gun Lake Casino and Resort, 1123 129th Ave., Wayland.

• Epic Eagles: The Definitive Tribute to the Eagles, 6 p.m. June 4, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road, Portage.

• Terrapin Flyer: Grateful Dead Tribute, 8 p.m. June 5, Warner Vineyards, 706 S. Kalamazoo St., Paw Paw. Tickets are $19.45–$87.92 and available at warnerwines.com/ concerts-events.

• Kait Rose & Co. Fleetwood Mac Tribute, 6 p.m. June 11, Overlander Bandshell.

• Back & Forth: Foo Fighters Tribute, 8 p.m. June 13, Bells Eccentric Cafe, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. Tickets are $19.57 and available at bellsbeer.com.

• Brooklyn Charmers and Peach Jam: Tributes to Steely Dan and The Allman Brothers, 6:30 p.m. June 14, Warner Vineyards. Tickets are $20.75–$75.99 and available at warnerwines.com/concertsevents.

• Red Not Chili Peppers, 8 p.m. June 26, Gun Lake Casino and Resort.

Something Exotic Caribbean Fest

captures islands' essence

You can soak in the sounds, flavors and spirit of island culture during the Kalamazoo Caribbean Fest, set for June 26 and 27 at Arcadia Creek Festival Place, in downtown Kalamazoo.

The festival will feature music by live bands and DJs, more than 20 food vendors serving up authentic Caribbean flavors, and vendors offering island-inspired goods for sale.

The festival hours are 4 p.m.–midnight June 26 and noon–midnight June 27. Tickets are $10 each day or $18 for a weekend pass. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit kalamazoocaribbeanfestival.com.

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Five Faves Great summer reads by local writers

BY KZOO BOOKS STAFF

There is a lot of local writing talent in our area, and people love to read a local author. And as much as we'd like to, our staff can't read every new title that graces our shelves; instead, we listen to reviews from our customers. There is a constant stream of media from publishers about what’s next, but we pay attention to what our customers are reading and what’s currently "hot" on our shelves. Our store attracts many different readers, and they love to tell us about the last book their book club read or their current favorites. So, we've taken this knowledge to compile a list of great summer reads by Michigan authors that you might want to relax with on your patio or the beach or in a hammock swinging gently in your backyard.

That’sWhatFriendsAreFor

Wade Rouse

Rouse, who lives part of the year in Saugatuck, is the author of the very popular Viola Shipman series of novels, but this new novel is the first he has penned under his own name. Taking a lesson from the television sitcom The Golden Girls, he brings us a picture of family life that is, well, complicated and exceedingly funny if you are looking in from the outside. Through it we meet the aging Golden Gays in Palm Springs. When their lives are interrupted by an estranged sister and her teenage daughter, they realize that old friends are really family in disguise.

GooseEggIsland

Julia Richardson

From the Mattawan author of Little Dandelion Seeds the World comes another children’s picture book about the nature around us. Goose Egg Island is about a paired-for-life goose couple who come home in the spring to their island to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. Beautifully illustrated by Meneka Repka, this book offers an immersive study into miracles of nature.

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.

SeedingHope

Jennifer Clark, with a foreword by Janice M. Brown

Most people in our community know about The Kalamazoo Promise, which gives graduating students from Kalamazoo Public Schools paid tuition to Michigan's public universities as well as many private colleges in the state. The first program of its kind in the U.S., it was a big deal when it was announced in 2005, and it is still a tremendous opportunity. The foreword by Brown, who was KPS superintendent at the time The Promise was created, gives us the story of the program's formation and history, while Clark’s insightful interviews with families and students who have used this scholarship program to build their futures reveal how powerful it is to have this opportunity in our community.

Aviary Maria Dong

TheGalesofNovember:TheUntold StoryoftheEdmund Fitzgerald

John U. Bacon

We met this author at a book show and heard his story of the research and writing he put into this story of the terrible storm that drove the sinking of this ship in 1975. A former Detroit Free Press reporter, Bacon interviewed more than 100 families of former crew members to piece together what happened that night and what has happened since to those affected by this tragic loss. Each story was carefully reviewed by each family before being included in the book. These stories are real and beautiful and heartwrenching. As an award-winning journalist, Bacon has given us "the rest of the story" of the S.S Edmund Fitzgerald.

Dong, who lives in southwestern Michigan, is the author of Liar, Dreamer, Thief and is now back with a new genre-blending speculative novel that begins in Korea and is filled with imagery from Korean folklore and fantasy. The book tells the story of a 19-year-old woman escaping to America with hopes of discovering who or what killed her sister. Part Gothic vibes, part psychological suspense and part mystery, the novel at its core is about a determined woman in search of answers.

About the Authors

Kazoo Books, at 2413 Parkview Ave., is an independent, locally owned bookstore offering a wide selection of quality new and used books and book-ordering services that has served the greater Kalamazoo area since 1988. The store proudly supports local published authors and visiting writers and hosts writing groups for aspiring authors. It is a member of Great Lakes Independent Booksellers and American Booksellers.

Poetry for the Public Kalamazoo group has been plugging poetry for 50 years

BY KATIE HOUSTON

Experiencing poetry can mean reading words on a page, hearing a writer share their art out loud, or even listening to music lyrics. It’s all poetry, and poetry is for everyone, according to the leaders of Friends of Poetry, a local group that's celebrating its 50th anniversary this month.

The group was launched by the late Martha Moffett, who “wasn't a poet or a professor — just a poetry lover on a mission,” says FOP board member and past president Elizabeth Kerlikowske. “She’d visited New York and saw poetry on buses and wanted to do that here.”

Two years later, riders could indeed see, read and enjoy poetry inside Kalamazoo buses, on signage above the windows.

“Roughly 30 poems a year went up for about 10 years, until the cost became prohibitive,” says Kerlikowske. The group later funded public murals combining poetry with the art of Kalamazoo painter Conrad Kaufman, three of which can still be seen around town

Kerlikowske, who met Moffett while working on her bachelor’s degree at Western Michigan University in 1978, had started writing poetry as a teenager.

“I was 14 and had a little corner in the basement near the waders and the wringer washer. And I had a really f—ed up life, so I had a lot to write about,” she says, laughing. “It's the best therapy ever.”

Above: Friends of Poetry board members are, from left, Tom Swartz, Deborah Gang, Kelly Frost, Elizabeth Kerlikowske, Elizabeth Bullmer, Jennifer Clark, Melanie Dunbar and Scott Bade. Top right: Scenes from past Friends of Poetry activities (courtesy of Zhang Legacy Collections Center at WMU).

Her first poem — about her great-greatgrandfather, “who was a checkers champion in the Union Army” — was published when she was 16.

After earning a master's degree from the University of Colorado, Kerlikowske returned to Michigan and taught writing for 20 years at Kellogg Community College, completing her Ph.D. during that time. She’s been published in various journals and magazines and online. She teaches writing at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and as a volunteer at Gateway Academy in Richland, the community’s alternative high school.

Kalamazoo "is such a poetry town, and I think that Martha and this group has had a lot to do with it,” she says.

Current FOP President Scott Bade (BAYdee) concurs. “You can't turn a corner and not bump into a poet or writer in this town,” says Bade, who came to Kalamazoo in 1997 to study for a Ph.D. at WMU. Although he didn’t start writing poetry until college, Bade began to appreciate it in high school, thanks to “having a cool teacher.”

“I remember reading Robert Herrick's poem, the one that says ‘gather ye rosebuds while ye may,’ about living for the day, and I

remember thinking, ‘I get what this means.’ I was still into sports and girls but realized, ‘Look at what language can do and how it can say these things.’”

At Loyola University, in Chicago, Bade took a poetry class, which convinced him to “not be afraid of it.”

“I got my degree in photography, but I realized I liked language even more. One of my instructors encouraged me to apply to grad school at Western Michigan University. There were several cool poets there — Bill Olson, Nancy Eimers, Herb Scott. I knew that the writing program at WMU was pretty good, and it turned out it was really, really good.”

Bade earned a Master of Fine Arts degree and a Ph.D. in creative writing, specifically focused on poetry. He wrote poetry while working full time as a technical writer, and he currently teaches creative writing and poetry at Kalamazoo College and an ongoing poetry workshop at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. He also taught a poetry workshop this year at the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival office.

In 2012, Bade was drawn into the Friends of Poetry world when he was named a cowinner of the group’s Celery City Chapbook

Contest. (A chapbook is a small book of poetry with its roots in European street literature).

This year’s winners were Gail Martin, Susan Blackwell Ramsey, Joshua Leland Sauvie and Janice Marie Zerfas, who read from their work in March. The 2027 contest is open for submissions through Aug. 15, with categories for Kalamazoo County residents and Michigan residents. Two winners from each category will have chapbooks published next year.

Friends of Poetry also runs a youth poetry contest called Poems That Ate Our Ears, which began in 1987 and is open to Southwest Michigan students ages 4 to 18. FOP publishes a book of the winning poems and will host a reading from the book at the Kalamazoo Public Library’s Van Deusen Room at 1 p.m. Sept. 19. (Submissions have closed for 2026.)

On June 18, Friends of Poetry will host a 50th anniversary celebration at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts as part of the KIA’s free Summer Jams event. FOP will take the stage from 5:30–6 p.m., preceding the KIA’s open mic from 6–8 p.m.

“We will do some readings and have a typewriter for contributing to a communitycreated poem, and a creation station for kids,” says Bade, adding that food and beverages will be available, along with displays featuring past publications and historical photos.

Upcoming Friends of Poetry Events

50th Anniversary Celebration

When: 5:30-6 p.m. June 18

When: 6 p.m. June 11

Where: Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane Registration

visit portagelibrary.info

This fall the group will present its annual reading, Can Poetry Be Funny? — the answer being a resounding yes — when local writers and luminaries read funny poems at the Kalamazoo Public Library.

To those who say they don't care for poetry, Kerlikowski suggests that “they haven't read the right poetry.”

Bade, too, says “poetry has room for everybody."

Where: Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

Followed by an open mic session from 6-8 p.m.

"It doesn't care who you are or what you believe," he adds. "I think in some ways it's at the core of human existence. There's a challenge every human faces in trying to express what they feel as honestly and as clearly as possible, and that's incredibly hard to do. That's what poetry tries to do — to say what literally can't be said. All the times when we feel like, ‘Man, I don't know what to say,’ poetry will. Poetry does.”

Some of

many chapbooks and books by local poets that have been published by Friends of Poetry.

The Art of Place-Making

Paper mill project’s artist residency offers opportunity and community

Prairie Ronde Artists Residency's director John Kern, center, with two of the residency's artists, Xingyu Huang, left, and Mariana Norena Gutierrez, outside The Mill at Vicksburg, which is undergoing renovation.

BY KATIE HOUSTON

On the southern edge of Vicksburg is a place that has been inspiring edgy art-making for the past nine years.

As part of The Mill at Vicksburg, a multi-year, $80-million remediation and renovation of the village’s century-old paper mill complex, The Prairie Ronde Artist Residency is not only helping put the vast space at 300 W. Highway St. to use, but is bringing art to the burg of 4,000 while supporting the careers of a dozen or more visiting artists each year.

Vicksburg native Chris Moore purchased the sprawling property in 2014 with plans to create a host of commercial ventures to make the mill and the village a cultural destination: lodging, dining, event spaces, a brewery and a brewing museum.

While those plans continue to take shape, the project's Prairie Ronde Artist Residency has been up and running since 2017, fostering artists to create works that offer artistic commentary and expression on what has gone before and what might yet be at the 120-acre site. The visiting artists have worked in mediums including film, textiles, music, sculpture and photography, infusing their art with concepts like restoration, revival and the impact humans have on their surroundings.

John Kern is director of the residency program and of creative programming and innovation for The Mill at Vicksburg, the parent company for the site’s restoration.

"We feel a great responsibility to the artists — who are at a range of career stages from late-emerging into more-established — to support them,” says Kern. “It would be presumptuous to say that we have made anybody's career, but we have a number of artists that came to us with chops and have just continued to grow."

In turn, "the artists are increasingly responding to The Mill group's ethos of sustainability, which is a pillar of what's happening here,” notes Kern.

Unrivaled

opportunity

The artist residency concept arose in 2016 as part of the plan to make Vicksburg and its mill a cultural destination. “The first people I talked to about place-making were coming from an art background,” says Kern.

One of these people was accomplished textile artist Karen Hampton, a visiting friend of the family who was doing a teaching residency at Michigan State University, “Honestly," says Kern, "we were in our backyard on a beautiful summer night, drinking a little wine, and she said, ‘To have an opportunity to be in a small-town setting, with financial support? Artists will gobble this up’.”

At the time, Kern’s partner Jackie Koney was chief operations officer for The Mill at Vicksburg, while Kern served as a pro-bono community liaison. A year later, the residency got the go-ahead from Moore.

“I made and presented a business plan to him, and he said, ‘This is great. How big can you get it and how fast?’ so we were off and running.”

A 'phenomenal' opportunity

The residency is arguably among the best opportunities an artist can find: It includes a $2,000 stipend, free housing in a nearby house owned by The Mill at Vicksburg, a $500 travel grant, a career boost and five to seven weeks to create with minimal instructions on what to produce or how. (Applications are open for the fall session through June 15).

Prairie Ronde resident artists don’t use the mill as a studio — the 400,000 square-foot space is an active construction site with no plumbing or heat. Instead, it supplies inspiration and a venue to show their work. The safety constraints of the property don’t allow for public exhibitions, but small gatherings of invited guests get to enjoy the culmination of the artists’ work at their residencies’ end.

“Most artists who come haven’t had the opportunity to explore a space of this size. There's a shock for a lot of them, so upon their arrival, we on-board them, give them safety protocols, then we just let them simmer,” says Kern.

Kalamazoo-based photographer Colleen Woolpert, 54, heard about the residency when it was launched in 2017, but waited to apply until she was inspired by the idea of working with her twin sister, Rani Young, an interdisciplinary artist living in Chicago. The two completed their residency in the summer of 2022 and Woolpert says the program’s financial support was essential.

“You still have to pay your rent back home, right? Your expenses don't stop just because you go away for eight weeks,” she says, noting that some residencies pay nothing or even require the artist to pay tuition.

“It was a phenomenal and unique opportunity, and it really pushed me in my career. I created so much raw material in the form of photographs and digital images that I'm still working with them and so is my sister. It was our first collaboration, and it launched us, in a way, to make more work from that experience.”

This year has already seen four cohorts of artists including Akiko Yamamoto, a “50-something” woman from Brooklyn, New York, and Johanna Paas, 42, from Midland, Michigan, who both finished their residencies in March and worked in the apt medium of paper.

Yamamoto says she explored “connections between my Japanese heritage and the industrial legacy of American papermaking.” She was “struck by the dramatic contrast between the colossal scale of the mill and the intimate, humane atmosphere of the village.”

The mill’s size “felt overwhelming at first,” says Yamamoto, “but I sensed the weight of history in every corner. The way light moved through the vast interior spaces was both beautiful and inspiring. In contrast, the village offered an immediate sense of comfort and grounding. I found a gentle, human rhythm that reminded me of my childhood in Kofu, Japan. This juxtaposition of industrial grandeur and everyday intimacy left a strong impression on me.”

Paas, a printmaker and art professor at Central Michigan University, was wowed by the scope of the mill’s revitalization plans and created mixed-media works responding to the visual remains of the mill’s decades of use. She says she was “drawn to the scrapes, worn textures, color variations, and scars … the visual evidence of layers of experience and time.” Her work involved mixed-media collages of rubbings of the walls’ brick and wood surfaces paired with photographs and cyanotypes (images made with special paper that’s responsive to sunlight).

“This residency is a unique privilege of time and space to focus on creating,” says Paas. “I am grateful for the warm welcome I received, and my hope is to serve the community and support the evolution of the mill’s legacy.”

While the residency program asks that each artist leave something for the organization’s permanent collection, it also provides photography and videography services for the artists to use professionally. Sometimes the artists — like those working

in film, digital art or music — do not produce a physical artwork at the end of their tenure, so documentation of the artists at work may be what is shared with the public, says Kern.

“Especially if they’re a new media artist, we’ll record them while making their work,” he says. That documentation is done by Daniel Stahl, content creator for The Mill at Vicksburg.

“I also feel that we are serving an important function by chronicling the process and progress of the mill’s rehabilitation as we document the artists’ work," Kern says.

Adding even more art for Vicksburg residents and visitors, a new collaboration with Western Michigan University’s Gwen Frostic School of Art will unveil an augmented

reality art walk this summer. Under the tutelage of WMU Assistant Professor Micah Alhadeff, a group of 10 kinetic imaging students — a field that fuels video game design — have created artwork that will be digitally overlaid at various village locations for walkers to interact with via a posted QR code. The experience is akin to the Pokémon Go® phenomenon where digital characters show up on your device when your camera is open and you are at the right geographical spot.

Alhadeff recently took the students for a site visit to Vicksburg. “They got to see their art in place, which made it much more real for them,” he says. “It has created a lot of excitement with the students to bring what

depicts aspects

history;

paints a canvas on the floor in one of the complex's buildings; artist Madeline Corbin in a wildflower field next to her hand-tufted topographic rug map of Vicksburg; an orange inflatable ripstop cloth sculpture created by Rosalyn Gingerich; and Erik Vasilauskas with his completed oil paintings in the Prairie Ronde Gallery. (Photos courtesy of The Mill at Vicksburg.)

they do out into the community. You don't always get to experience digital art in a public art setting.”

The augmented reality walk will launch this summer, possibly in collaboration with the weekly ‘Burg Days of Summer. That weekly summer gathering begins June 10 and runs 5:30–8:30 every Wednesday through August, with food, vendors and music.

“We showed a preview of this recently to a Southwest Michigan First gathering here in Vicksburg. The enthusiasm for the idea was palpable,” says Kern.

A new life for the mill

Built in 1903 by the Lee Paper Company, the mill turned cotton rags into fine writing

Left to right, from top: John Kern in front of a mural on a wall inside the mill complex that was created by May Hong and

of the mill's

artist Hannah Elless

paper and, at one time, employed thousands of workers. Having passed through the hands of many owners, the mill closed in 2001, leaving an industrial brownfield site behind. After the mill’s purchase by Moore in 2014, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2019, Kalamazoo County and the state approved a Transformational Brownfield Plan for the property — a designation for major projects created to have a significant impact on a local economy. Early phases of work on the mill focused on building stabilization, environmental remediation and site improvements.

“The mill is an industrial space,” points out Kern, “so everything that goes into the building has to be modified to suit those future purposes, so the process is very slow and very costly.”

But Village Manager Jim Mallery notes the progress being made. “The mill is moving forward after being vacant for 20-plus years,” he says. “There’s work out there weekly and all the environmentals have been cleaned up, from lead-based paint removal to stuff in the ground.”

Moore, the mill's owner, is a Seattle-based entrepreneur, but his family has lived in Vicksburg since the 1830s. His grandfather was a chief engineer at the mill, his father a purchasing manager, and Moore and his brother worked there in high school. The Mill at Vicksburg has also purchased several historic buildings in the village’s center, some

Mariana Norena Gutierrez

Chicago-based artist Mariana Norena Gutierrez, 34, explored what was left behind by the mill’s papermaking processes before making her sculptural installation. She worked to connect the daily life of the mill — past and present — with the natural world around it.

Her installation reflected on what glaciers left behind 12,000 years ago in Vicksburg: the shape of the landscape and the deposits of natural materials carried across long distances. Sixty metal pedestals held a sphere of ice containing samples of stone, gravel, sand and sediment from around the mill.

As the ice melted, the spheres revealed what was inside, says Gutierrez of the very brief reenactment of the ancient geological process.

“The eye-level placement of what is usually underfoot invites a look at the softened edges and rounded forms that reveal traces of movement, friction, pressure and time.”

Xingyu Huang

Los Angeles resident Xingyu Huang, 27, who has a master's degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and trained as an architect, was inspired by the mill’s monumental spaces to make a short film that connects the mill’s infrastructure with the area's ecological processes.

Huang’s film explores the idea that while information delivery systems have transformed over time — from paper to the internet to artificial intelligence — they all leave an unfortunate environmental legacy.

“I learned the mill’s primary pollutants were chemical residues from papermaking that infiltrated building and water systems, and arsenic produced by coal combustion," Huang says. "The mill’s black clouds of carbon that once filled the sky then settled into the soil. This led me to consider today’s AI data centers. Like paper mills, they consume enormous amounts of water and electricity and produce familiar pollutants and massive carbon emissions from semiconductor manufacturing.”

Lori Hannemann, Michael Brundage, CFP® & Michelle Eldridge, CFA,CPWA® Wealth Management Partners

of which are renovated and back in use, along with an 80-acre parcel adjacent to the mill. Today, the development’s 120 acres includes wetlands, streams and arable farmland.

Long-time Vicksburg resident Deborah Harsha says she is grateful for the work going into the mill project.

“It’s such a blessing to the village ,” Harsha says of the mill rehab project. “The size, the ambition, the commitment to restorative practices and the care that they’re putting into it — it's hard to imagine the village without it.”

Harsha was admittedly an early fan of and volunteers for the artist residency. “When my friend and I learned there were artists coming in to do all these cool things, we wanted to get involved, so we became the unofficial hospitality crew, along with my husband Steve,” she says. “We introduce them around so they can call if they are in need. Some of them have never lived in a small town or are from a different country. Maybe they have unusual clothing or hairstyles that are not

typical for our little village. We want them to know they have friends here.”

In addition to the small gatherings at the mill to see their work at the end of their residencies, the artists can also exhibit at Prairie Ronde Gallery, located inside Mackenzie’s Bakery at 103 Prairie St. in a building also owned by The Mill at Vicksburg. In addition, opportunities for the public to meet and hear from residency artists and other artists have expanded with the Prairie Ronde’s “Come As You Art” speaker series, which was launched in 2024 in collaboration with Vicksburg Arts and has featured not only visual artists but authors, curators and filmmakers.

Village Manager Mallery, who says he “can’t draw a stick figure, play an instrument or sing a note,” is a big fan of the artist residency and its growing programming, which includes the Come As You Art speakers series and art exhibitions at Prairie Ronde Gallery.

“It’s incredible to have this to attract people to our town and be exposed to the retail, the

restaurants, pubs, you name it. That is unique for a town our size,” he says.

Kern says the residency program has succeeded beyond expectations and is gratified that the community has shown up to fill gallery events and welcome the artists.

“We never imagined that we would actually have this kind of role in the community,” he says. “We've worked really hard to build a core community in Vicksburg with important community partners, like Vicksburg Arts and the village government. We know that small towns will flourish who make the decision to put a stake in the ground around arts and culture and placemaking.”

“We hope that the village continues to become more open to creative expression and creative people,” says Harsha. "You know, we're a small farming community, and not exactly the most integrated little village. We really have to lean into establishing more things like this.”

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 shows, times and locations are:

• Gemini Moon, 5 p.m. June 3; Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners.

• DJ No Limit with bar crawl, 5:30 p.m. June 3, Bates Alley, located between Edwards and Portage streets in downtown Kalamazoo.

• Yolonda and Epic Eagles: The Definitive Tribute to the Eagles, 6 p.m. June 4, Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road, Portage.

• Kalamazoo Concert Band, 4 p.m. June 7, Bronson Park.

• The Mickeys, 6 p.m. June 7, Texas Drive Park, 6603 Texas Drive.

• Seritas Black Rose, 5 p.m. June 10; Gilmore Car Museum.

• Da’Veonce & Da Funk Band and DJ Conscious, 5:30 p.m. June 10, Bates Alley.

• Alli Garland & Awesome Sauce and Universal Xpression, 5:30 p.m. June 10, downtown Vicksburg.

• Feel Frieda and Kait Rose & Co. Fleetwood Mac Tribute, 6 p.m. June 11, Overlander Bandshell.

• SnöShü, 11:30 a.m. June 12, Bronson Park.

• Blacq Cattt, Money Boy Laflore and Shaw Jones, 4:30 p.m. June 13, Kalamazoo Land Bank, 1523 Riverview Drive.

• Root Station, 5 p.m. June 17, Gilmore Car Museum

• Kzoo Kittens and DJ B Wes, 5:30 p.m. June 17, Bates Alley.

• Iconix and Tom Askey, 5:30 p.m. June 17, downtown Vicksburg.

• Trapped on Mars, 5 p.m. June 24, Gilmore Car Museum.

• Zion Lion and Ron E Roc, 5:30 p.m. June 24; Bates Alley.

• J.P. Energy and Tony Fields & Doug Decker, 5:30 p.m. June 24, downtown Vicksburg.

• The Kennedy Affair, 11:30 a.m. June 26, Bronson Park.

• Mike Talbot, 6 p.m., Dennis Martin, 7:15 p.m. and Gemini Moon, 7:45 p.m., June 26, Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage.

• Lake Effect Jazz, 4 p.m. June 28, Bronson Park.

• In the Grey, 6:30 p.m. June 28, Flesher Field, 3664 S. Ninth St., Oshtemo.

BeatlesintheBeerGarden

June 17

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

A pint-sized version of the KSO will bring some of the most beloved music by pop icons The Beatles to Bell's Beer Garden, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave.

Part of the KSO Craft Music Series, the music will be performed by the symphony's Artists in Residence, eight musicians from the larger ensemble.

Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets are $37–$40 and available online at kalamazoosymphony.com.

BonVoyage

June 26 KJSO

Audiences will have the chance to say "so long and good luck" to the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra at this 7:30 p.m. concert at Dalton Theatre, Light Fine Arts Building, on the Kalamazoo College campus.

This will be the youth symphony's last local performance before it departs for an international tour of the Balkans this summer. There is no admission cost; however, freewill offerings will be accepted. For more information, visit kjso.org. (See our Back Story on page 31 to meet Megan Healy, the KJSO's new leader.)

Comedy performances

Throughout the month

Various venues

Those needing a little laugh in their lives will find ample opportunity this month.

Crawlspace Comedy Theatre, 315 W. Michigan Ave., will feature the following performances which all begin at 7:30 p.m.:

• Theatre Sketch Review, June 5, 6, 12 and 13, will spotlight the best sketches of the past year created by Crawlspace Comedy Theatre as well as some new ones. Tickets are $2–$20.

• Kalamazoo improv troupe Crawlspace Eviction will perform June 19 and 20. Tickets are $2–$15.

• The Trial Improvised Courtroom Comedy, June 26, will feature improv comedians in the roles of legal professionals with the audience offering scenarios and case details. Tickets are $2–$15.

Local improv troupe Canned Champagne will perform shortform games based on audience suggestions at 7:30 p.m. June 6 at Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St. Special guest will be Jackson, Michigan, comedy group Monster Box. Tickets are $15.

THEATER

FiveLesbiansEating aQuiche

June 19–27

Dormouse Theatre

This comedy set in 1956 explores how five women at the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein's annual quiche breakfast react when atomic bomb sirens sound.

Winner of the 2012 NYC International Fringe Festival as Best Overall Production, the show offers a recipe of hysterical laughs, sexual innuendoes, repressions and discoveries.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. June 19, 20, 26 and 27 at the theater at 1030 Portage St. Tickets are $20 and available online at dormousetheatre.com.

ContinuingProductions:

Into the Woods , Farmers Alley Theatre, June 4–7

•Moonlight •Henry

June 11 & 12

Dormouse Theatre

FILM

A new movie by a West Michigan filmmaker and classic film on being Black and gay in America will be featured this month at Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St.

Barry Jenkins' 2016 film Moonlight , which portrays three defining chapters in the life of a quiet, bullied boy as he grapples with questions of identity, family and sexuality, will be screened at 8:45 p.m. June 11. A pre-show discussion of the film begins at 7:45 p.m.

Henry , Grand Rapids filmmaker Westley Northrup's follow-up to Montana (2025), will be shown at 8 p.m. June 12. The movie shows what happens when a queer couple, who have broken up, reconnect.

Tickets for both screenings are on a pay-what-you-will basis with a starting price of $5 and can be purchased online at dormousetheatre.com.

TheArts VISUAL ARTS

EkphrasticArtEvent

June 23–July 28

Kalamazoo Poetry Festival

Works created by the community and inspired by the 2026 Kalamazoo Poetry Festival's theme, “Beyond Resilience,” and past festival themes, will be on display at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Michigan Ave. A reception for the artists will be held from 5–8 p.m. July 10 at the KBAC.

These art works were created in February and provided inspiration to the Friends of Poetry to write the 2026 Community Poem, a collective work performed at the KFP's 2026 Celebration of Community Poets in April.

StereoSynthesis

Through June 27

Richmond Center for Visual

Arts, WMU

Works involving animation, sound, typography and bookmaking created by Ryan Lewis will be on display in the Netzorg-Kerr Gallery.

Lewis is an associate professor of graphic design at Western Michigan University. The exhibition, which opened May 26, explores polarities — concepts at either end of a spectrum that are simultaneously valued, necessary and in conflict.

Gallery hours are noon–6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. A reception for the artist will be held at the gallery from 5–8 p.m. June 5.

Arts Fair & Art on the Mall

June 5–6

Downtown Kalamazoo

These simultaneous outdoor art shows provide ample opportunity to see art produced by local and national artists in a variety of mediums.

This will be the 75th anniversary of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair, a juried art show that features 145 artists and takes up the entirety of Bronson Park. There will also be live entertainment, kids' activities, demonstrations and free admission to KIA galleries. Hours are 3–8 p.m. June 5 and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. June 6.

A few steps away, Art on the Mall, located on the Kalamazoo Mall and South Street, will feature works from 60 regional artists as well as live demonstrations and entertainment. Hours are noon–8 p.m. June 5 and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. June 6.

ForthePeople,Bythe People: Americaat250

June 27–Oct. 4

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

This exhibition looks to the nation’s semiquincentennial and reflects on America’s enduring ties to liberty, justice and identity. With photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture and installation-based works, the exhibition combines works from the KIA’s collection and loans to examine the symbols, struggles and aspirations that shaped and continue to inform American life.

The KIA is open 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 $10–$15 and free for children ages 6 and younger.

PERFORMING ARTS

THEATER

Plays

Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche — Comedy set in 1956 at an annual breakfast when atomic bomb sirens sound, 7:30 p.m. June 19, 20, 26 & 27, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.

Musicals

Into the Woods — Storybook characters break a witch’s curse, 7:30 p.m. June 4–6, 11–13; 2 p.m. June 6–7, 13–14; 7 p.m. June 7 & 14; Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, 343–2727, farmersalleytheatre.com.

Other

AnEveningwithSteveBurns(FromBlue’sClues)

— Stories, insights & reflections, 7:30 p.m. June 3, Miller Auditorium, WMU, millerauditorium.com.

80th Anniversary Gala — The Barn Theatre celebrates 80 years, 8 p.m. June 6, The Barn Theatre, 13351 M-96, Augusta, 250-6984, barntheatreschool.org.

MUSIC

Bands & Solo Artists

The Geezer Happy Hour — Jazz, rock & soul by Duke & the Loose Cannons, 4–7 p.m. June 1, 15 & 29, Shakespeare’s Pub, 241 E. Kalamazoo Ave., shakespearespub.com/happenings.

Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Concerts — Mekons, June 2; Gimme Gimme Disco, June 5; North Mississippi All Stars, June 11; Tank & the Bangas w/Ariel J., June 12; The Foo Fighters Tribute, June 13; Keller Williams w/ Kyle Tuttle, June 14; Deadhead Disco, 7:30 p.m. June 20; Julie Doiron w/Carson Mchone, June 23; Folk Bitch Trio, June 24; Pepper & the Movement w/Kash’d Out, 6:45 p.m. June 28; Of Montreal w/Cormae, June 29; Black Country New Road w/Horsegirl, June 30; shows at 8 p.m. unless noted, 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382-2332, bellsbeer.com.

Beats on Bates — Live outdoor music 5:30–8:30 p.m. Wednesdays: DJ No Limit with bar crawl, June 3; Da’Veonce & Da Funk Band & DJ Conscious, June 10; Kzoo Kittens & DJ B Wes, June 17; Zion Lion & Ron E Roc, June 24; Bates Alley, downtown Kalamazoo.

Portage Summer Concert Series — Free outdoor concerts, 6 p.m., Overlander Bandshell, 7810 Shaver Road: Yolonda & Epic Eagles: The Definitive Tribute to the Eagles, June 4; Feel Frieda & Kait Rose & Co. Fleetwood Mac Tribute, June 11; bring a blanket or chair, portagemi.gov/calendar.

Gun Lake Casino Shows — Live music at three venues; June 5: Ben Erhart, 6 p.m., Let There Be Rock, 8 p.m., Lepolion, 9 p.m.; June 6: Mike Talbot, 6 p.m., K-Tel All-Star Band, 8 p.m., Louder Now, 9 p.m.; June 7: MI Drag Brunch, 11 a.m.; June 12: Mike McIntosh, 6 p.m., Macy Krew, 8 p.m., Funkle Jesse, 9 p.m.; June 13: Eric Wendlandt, 6 p.m., DJ Pool Party, 8 p.m., The Soul Syndicate, 9 p.m.; June 14: UFC White House, 9 p.m., Sushi Roll, 9 p.m.; June 20: The Rock Show, 9 p.m., Great White, 9 p.m.; June 26: Blue, 6 p.m., Red Not Chili Peppers, 8 p.m., Dafunk Gang, 9 p.m.; June 27: Twice the Action, 9 p.m.; 1123 129th Ave., Wayland, gunlakecasino.com.

Concerts in the Park — Free outdoor concerts, 4–5 p.m. Bronson Park: Kalamazoo Concert Band, June 7; Lake Effect Jazz, June 28, kalamazooarts.org/ summertime-live.

The Mickeys — 6–7:30 p.m. June 7, Texas Drive Park, 6603 Texas Drive, kalamazooarts.org/ summertime-live

Burg Days of Summer — Live music & food trucks, 5:30–8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, downtown Vicksburg: Alli Garland & Awesome Sauce and Universal Xpression, June 10; Iconix and Tom Askey, June 17; J.P. Energy, Tony Fields & Doug Decker, June 17; vicksburgmi.org.

Lunchtime Live! — Free concerts, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. June 26, Bronson Park: SnöShü, June 12; The Kennedy Affair, kzooparks.org.

Community Jam @ The Landbank — Live music by Blacq Cattt, Money Boy Laflore & Shaw Jones, 4:30–6:30 p.m. June 13, Kalamazoo Land Bank, 1523 Riverview Drive, kalamazooarts.org/summertime-live.

Enda Reilly — Songs & stories of Ireland, noon June 24, Portage Library parking lot, 300 Library Lane, portagelibrary.info; bring a chair or blanket.

Friday at the Flats — Food trucks, live music & vendors, 6–8 p.m. June 26; Mike Talbot, 6 p.m.; Dennis Martin, 7:15 p.m.; Gemini Moon, 7:45 p.m.; Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, Portage, portagemi. gov/calendar.

In the Grey — Rock cover band, 6:30 p.m. June 28, Flesher Field, 3664 S. Ninth St., oshtemo.org/events. Orchestra, Chamber, Jazz, Vocal & More International Percussion — Taiko drumming, 7 p.m. June 3, Dalton Portico, Light Fine Arts Building; rain location Dalton Theatre, Kalamazoo College, music. kzoo.edu/events.

Crescendo Community Voices — Teens & adults with intellectual disabilities perform, 4 p.m. June 11, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., crescendoacademy.com.

BeatlesintheBeerGarden— Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra musicians perform, 7 p.m. June 17, Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, 382–2332, kalamazoosymphony.com.

Bon Voyage — Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra performs, 7:30 p.m. June 26, Dalton Theatre, Light Fine Arts Building, kjso.org. COMEDY

Crawlspace Comedy Theatre — Theatre Sketch Review, June 5, 6, 12 & 13; Crawlspace Eviction, June 19 & 20; The Trial Improvised Courtroom Comedy, June 26; all shows at 7:30 p.m., Crawlspace Theatre, 315 W. Michigan Ave., crawlspacecomedy.com. FILM

Vicksburg Movie Night in the Park Familyfriendly events, 8 p.m.; movie, 9:30 p.m. June 5, Vicksburg Pavilion, 300 N. Richardson, vicksburgmi. org.; bring a blanket or chair.

Moonlight — Screening of the 2016 film with discussion, 8:45 p.m.; pre-show 7:45 p.m., June 11, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.

Henry — Screening of the 2025 rom-com by Grand Rapids filmmaker Westley Northrup, 8 p.m. June 12, Dormouse Theatre, 1030 Portage St., dormousetheatre.com.

Luca — Family-friendly movie, bring a blanket or chair, begins at dusk, June 20, Ramona Park, 8600 S. Sprinkle Road, portagemi.gov/calendar.

Kzoo Parks Summer Cinema — Free outdoor movie on a large LCD screen, June 28, Frays Park, 4400

Canterbury Ave.; activities, 6 p.m.; movie, 7 p.m., kzooparks.org.

VISUAL ARTS

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

Exhibitions

Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks — Footwear blending fashion, new materials & technology, through June 7.

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 — Juried exhibition of works by area visual artists, through Sept. 27.

For the People, By the People: America at 250 — Reflecting America’s enduring ties to liberty, justice & identity, June 27–Oct. 4.

Events

Art Bridges Access for All — Free admission on Thursdays, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair — Juried art show, 3–8 p.m. June 5 & 9 a.m.–5 p.m. June 6, Bronson Park, kiarts.org/arts-fair.

Manierre Dawson’s Mother and Child & Henry Ossawa Tanner’s The Visitation — 20th century religious scenes, 5:30 p.m. June 11; registration encouraged.

Book Discussion — Natalie Dykstra's Chasing Beauty: The Life of Isabella Stewart Gardner, 2 p.m. June 17; registration encouraged.

Juneteenth Commemoration — Artworks by Black artists & art activities, 11 a.m. June 18.

Summer Jams — Open mic night for music, poetry & creative expression, 6 p.m. June 18.

Botanical Art of Julia Whitney Barnes — Presentation on the artist’s Planting Utopia series, 6 p.m. June 25; registration encouraged.

Other Venues

Stereo Synthesis — Works by Ryan Lewis, through June 27, reception 5 p.m. June 5, Netzorg-Kerr Gallery, Richmond Center for Visual Arts, Western Michigan University, wmich.edu/art.

Art on the Mall — Works by 60 artists, art demonstrations & live entertainment, noon–8 p.m. June 5 & 9 a.m.–5 p.m. June 6, Kalamazoo Mall, kalamazooarts.org/art-on-the-mall.

Northside Art Experience — Showcase of local musicians & artists hosted by Ed Genesis, 7:30 p.m. June 13, Northside Association for Community Development, 612 N. Park St.

Black Voices of Dignity — Re-creations, historical photos, art & sculptures, 4–9 p.m. June 18–19, noon–6 p.m. June 20–21, First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave., kalamazooarts.org.

Toru Sugita: Prints — Wood engraving prints, through June 19, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, 326 W. Michigan Ave., kalbookarts.org.

Kalamazoo Poetry Festival Ekphrastic Art Event — Art inspired by the theme, “Beyond Resilience,” June 23–July 28, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, kalbookarts.org.

LIBRARY & LITERARY EVENTS

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

Seed Saving — Learn techniques of saving seeds for future use, 6 p.m. June 3.

Summer at Kalamazoo Public Library

Plan your summer with Kalamazoo Public Library. Events, activities, and programs for all ages at library locations and throughout Kalamazoo.

Featured Activities

Summer Reading Challenge for kids ages birth to grade 12.

Three Book Battle - Teens compete in three rounds of questions from three books for the championship and prizes.

Adult Reading Challenge - Read your way through Summer. Complete several prompts from our quarterly list and earn a prize.

MORE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES: kpl.gov/events/tag/summer

Great Michigan Read Book Club — Discussion of Curtis Chi’s Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, 11 a.m. June 6; registration required.

Jurassic Park — Screening of the 1993 film, 5 p.m. June 10.

The Little Things that Run the World — Documentary film on the decline of insects & programs helping them to survive, 10:30 a.m. June 13; registration required.

Pride Book Club — Discuss Rebecca Burgess’ How to Be Ace: A Memoir of Growing Up Asexual, 6 p.m. June 17, registration required.

CTL Writers — Group writing discussion, 10 a.m. June 19 & 26.

Shelf Assured Book Club: LGBTQ+ — Share a book with the group, 5:30 p.m. May 30; registration required.

Kalamazoo Public Library 553-7800, kpl.gov

Common Threads — Group discussing yarn crafts, 6 p.m. June 1, Central Branch.

Bujo & Chill for Teens & Adults — Lo-fi hip-hop music & bullet journaling, 10:30 a.m.–noon June 20, Oshtemo Branch.

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

Unearth a Story: Summer Reading Kickoff — Activities & program registration, 10 a.m. June 6.

Parchment Book Group — Discuss Virginia Evans’s The Correspondent, 6 p.m. June 8.

Vinyasa Yoga — All levels welcome, 5:15 p.m. June 10.

Digging Up Your Family Story — Genealogy for beginners, 10:30 a.m. June 13.

Mystery Book Club — Discuss Anna Lee Huber’s A Grave Matter, 6:30 p.m. June 16.

Senior Readers Theater — Performances of short plays, 2 p.m. June 17.

Chair Yoga — All levels welcome, 11 a.m. June 20.

Portage District Library

300 Library Lane, 329-4544, portagelibrary.info

How Money Works: Taking the Myth Out of Becoming Debt Free — Reduce debt & save money, 6 p.m. June 2; registration required.

Understanding Cryptocurrency — Learn the basics, 6 p.m. June 3; registration required.

Friends of the Library Book Sale — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. June 6; members shop early, 4 p.m. June 5.

Birthing Options — Learn about Flow State Labor Prep, 6 p.m. June 9; registration required.

Eating the Healthy Way — The 2025–2030 US Dietary Guidelines, 6 p.m. June 10; registration required.

Yoga — An hour of movement, 4 p.m. June 11 & 16; registration required.

Poetry Carnival! — Poetry activities with Kalamazoo Friends of Poetry, 6 p.m. June 11; registration required.

Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society — For those interested in genealogy, 7 p.m. June 15.

Drop-In Genealogy Help — 10 a.m.–noon June 18.

Kalamazoo Macintosh Users Group — Mac computers, programs & accessories, 9 a.m.–noon June 20.

Recognizing Scams & Fraud — Presented by Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s office, 6 p.m. June 24.

Cooking Demo with Chef Gandia! — 6 p.m. June 25; registration required.

Kalamazoo Plant It Forward Swap — Trade indoor & outdoor plants, 10 a.m. June 27.

Richland Community Library 8951 Park St., 629-9085, richlandlibrary.org

Bridge Club — Noon Tuesdays.

Richland Area Writer’s Group — Open to new members, noon June 12 & 26, in person & online.

Richland Genealogy Group — Discussion group, 10 a.m. June 18, in person & online.

Romance Book Club — Discuss Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry, 6 p.m. June 24, Ned’s on Gull Lake, 15450 M-43, Hickory Corners; registration required.

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

Bridge Club — 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays.

Scrabble Club for Adults — All skill levels, 1 p.m. June 2.

Book Club for Adults — Selection at circulation desk, 9:30 a.m. June 4.

Writer’s Motivational Group — Set goals & report progress, 4 p.m. June 11.

Book Sale — 10 a.m.–5 p.m. June 12 & 13, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. June 15.

Audubon Variety Bird Show — Presentation by Audubon Society of Kalamazoo, 4 p.m. June 18. MUSEUMS

Southwest Michigan Cultural Membership Exchange — Shared membership benefits during June at 6 Southwest Michigan institutions (Air Zoo, Binder Park Zoo, Gilmore Car Museum, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo Nature Center, W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary & Kellogg Manor House), swmimemberexchange.com.

Air Zoo

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

Fly-In of Visiting Helicopter & Rides — UH-1 Huey Greyhound available for ticketed rides, June 6 & 7; purchase tickets in advance.

Air Zoo Movie Night — Movie title TBA, 6–8 p.m. June 6.

Sensory-Friendly Sunday — A quiet environment before opening, 10 a.m. June 21.

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, with collector cars, music & food: Gemini Moon, June 3; Seritas Black Rose, June 10; Root Station, June 17; Trapped on Mars, June 24.

The Experience Full Classic Car Show — The Classic Car Club of America Museum’s annual show & driving tour, June 5–7.

Diamonds in the Rust — Unapologetically imperfect cars, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. June 6.

The Euro — European vehicles and activities, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. June 13.

Ride the Franklins — H.H. Franklin Collection display, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. June 19.

Air-Cooled Gathering — Rare air-cooled cars, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. June 20.

Saab & Volvos Meet-Up — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. June 20.

Micro/Mini Car World Meet — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. June 20.

RPM! Real Performance Meet-Up — Highperformance cars, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. June 27.

Kalamazoo Valley Museum

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

BlackCowboys — 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.

Saddle Up! Black Cowboy Culture Comes to Life — Roping, line dancing & more, June 13 & 14.

Black Cowboys: The Current Living Tradition — Panel discussion, June 14, visit website for time.

A Movie & Some Music: Juneteenth Edition — Screening of Wattstax (1973) & musical performance by Yolonda Lavender, 6 p.m. June 18.

NATURE

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

Turtle Graduation Party — Release of rescued baby turtles, 9 a.m.–noon June 6; registration recommended.

Nature Journaling — For teens & adults, 10 a.m. June 6; registration required.

Prairie Wildflower Walk — Michigan’s natural prairie flowers, 2 p.m. June 6.

Silver Maples: Welcome to DeLano Farm — Presentation for those 50+, but all are welcome, 11 a.m. June 11; registration required.

Commercial Fishing on the Great Lakes — Lecture by Michigan Maritime Museum staff, 6:30 p.m. June 11.

Yoga — 10 a.m. June 13; registration required.

Summer Solstice Drumming — Celebrating the celestial turn of the seasons, 11:30 a.m. June 13; registration required.

Discover KNC Guided Hike — The Bluebird Trail, 2–4 p.m. June 13.

Golf Cart Tours — View nature through binoculars, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. June 18; registration required.

Habitat Walk — Encouraging healthy habitats, 2 p.m. June 20.

Linocut Workshop — Printmaking with stamps 10 a.m. June 20, registration required.

Queer Theatre Kalamazoo — Performances of short, nature-themed plays, 8 p.m. June 20, tickets required.

Jigsaw Puzzle Night — Teams complete a 550-piece puzzle in 2 hours, 6 p.m. June 25; registration required. Firefly Night Hike — 8 p.m. June 26; registration required.

Fish of Michigan Guided Hike — 10 a.m. June 27. Cyanotype Workshop — Create art using the sun, noon June 27.

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

A Walk in Nature — Guided 90-minute walk, 6 p.m. June 4.

Birds & Coffee Chat Online — 5 “must-do” Kalamazoo birding experiences, 10 a.m. June 10.

BioBlitz 2026 — 11:30 a.m. & 12:30–3 p.m. June 13; registration required.

Fishing for the Eagles — Fishing to feed eagles, 6 p.m. June 18.

Behind the Scenes: Raptors — Caring for raptors, 10 a.m. June 20.

Father’s Day — Dads get in free, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. June 21.

Other Venues

Self-Guided Storybook Hike — See David Harrison's And the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle Begins along the North Country Trail, May 29–June 7; hike begins at Noonan Road & Sheffield Road in Hickory Corners, northcountrytrail.org/events.

Chief Noonday Chapter Hike-Every-Mile Hike — Sign up to hike segments of the chapter’s 120mile trail section, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. June 1–6; meet up afterwards at Ned's on Gull Lake, 4:40 p.m. June 6, 15450 M-43, Hickory Corners, northcountrytrail.org/ events.

Kalamazoo Astronomical Society Meeting — Discussion of helpful devices for astronomy, 7 p.m. June 5, Kalamazoo Math & Science Center, 600 W. Vine St., kasonline.org.

Beginning Birding Walk — 9 a.m. June 6; Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery's 2nd parking lot, 34270 County Road 652, Mattawan, kalamazooaudubon.org.

Kalamazoo Astronomical Society Public Observing Session — Spring Star Clusters, June 6; Great Globular Clusters, June 20; 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.

Oak Savanna Hike — Guided walk of the Chipman Preserve’s oak savanna & presentation, 10 a.m. June 20, Chipman Preserve, 8395 E. Main, Galesburg, swmlc.org.

MISCELLANEOUS

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

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, June 27; 300 N. Richardson St., vicksburgfarmersmarket.com.

Kalamazoo Pride Festival — Live entertainment & information booths, 6 p.m.–midnight June 5, 2 p.m.–midnight June 6, Arcadia Creek Festival Place, 145 E. Water St., outfrontkzoo.org/pride.

Kalamazoo Farmers Market — 7 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays; Night Market, 5–10 p.m. June 18, 1204 Bank St.; fcmarkets.com.

Do-Dah Parade — Whimsical costume parade on the theme Disney & Pixar Movies, 11 a.m. June 6, downtown Kalamazoo; dodahkzoo.com.

Portage Farmers Market — 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 11, Portage City Hall, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/607/Farmers-Market.

UKC Premier Nationals Dog Show — 8 a.m.–2 p.m. June 10–14, Kalamazoo County Expo Center, 2900 Lake St., ukcdogs.com.

Festival Fridays — Live music, vendors & food trucks, 5–8:30 p.m. June 12, Bridge St., Downtown Plainwell, foodtruckrallykz.com.

Sound ‘Scapes — Wind Willow Consortium members play, 6:30 p.m. June 12, Portage Parks & Recreation Building, 320 Library Lane, mypark.portagemi.gov; registration required.

Vicksburg Old Car Festival — 9 a.m.–4 p.m. June 13, downtown Vicksburg, vicksburghistory.org.

Portage Arts & Crafts Market — 11 a.m.–3 p.m. June 13, South Westnedge Park, 9010 S. Westnedge Ave., portagemi.gov/calendar.

Kids in the Zoo — Kid-focused activities & fun, noon–4 p.m. June 13, Kalamazoo Mall, downtownkalamazooshops.com.

Vintage in the Zoo —Vintage & handmade goods with live music, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. June 14, Kalamazoo Farmers Market, 1204 Bank St., vintageinthezoo.com.

Vicksburg Historical Society Speaker Series — Discussion of long-gone places in Portage & Kalamazoo, 2 p.m. June 14, Vicksburg Historic Village Township Hall, downtown Vicksburg, vicksburghistory.org.

Juneteenth Celebration — Self-led meditation & education, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. June 19, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1000 MLK Drive, Portage, portagemi.gov/ calendar.

Juneteenth Celebration — Unveiling of the Kalamazoo Junior Girls Organization’s Brickpaver Walkway, 6 p.m. June 19, Dr. Martin Luther King Park, 507 N. Rose St., 344-2330.

Hometown Card Show — Presented by Southwest Michigan Collectibles, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. June 20, Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Drive, wingseventcenter. com/events.

Smokey Hill Pop-Up Shop — Laser designs & materials, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. June 20, Kalamazoo County Expo Center North, 2900 Lake St., smokeyhilldesigns.com.

Bavarian Fest — Traditional German beer, food, music & dance, noon June 20, Steinspark Biergarten & Food Court, 2603 E. Milham Ave., steinspark.com.

Rootead’s Juneteenth Celebration — Celebrating Black culture, with food, music & performances, 1–7 p.m. June 20, Bronson Park, rootead.org.

Kalamazoo Caribbean Fest — Food, entertainment & music, June 26 & 27, Arcadia Creek Festival Place, 145 E. Water St., facebook.com/kzooislandfest.

Friday at the Flats — Food trucks, music & vendors, 6–9 p.m. June 26, Celery Flats Pavilion, 7335 Garden Lane, portagemi.gov/calendar.

Cheetah Chase — 5K run through Binder Park Zoo, 8 a.m. June 27, 7400 Division Dr., Battle Creek, binderparkzoo.com.

Megan Healy (continued from page 30)

give three performances with Igor Cetkovic, principal cellist for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and a Serbian native. The location for the tour was chosen by the group's Youth Arts Council.

"The students came up with the idea, and I can't help but wonder if it was inspired by (the HBO drama) Game of Thrones, because the first place we'll be going is King's Landing (Dubrovnik, Croatia, the filming location for the fictional King's Landing in the show)," she says. "It looks absolutely beautiful, and it's really exciting to have someone from Serbia coming to perform with us. We'll also be playing in Belgrade, which is Igor's hometown. "

How did you get where you are today?

What originally brought me to Kalamazoo was Renata Knific (professor of violin at Western Michigan University). I was a student at the University of Iowa, and my teacher, Scott Conklin, had studied with Renata. He set us up with a trial lesson, and I came to Western to do my master's in violin performance. While I was here, I built a large studio for teaching and did a lot of orchestral playing and just really loved the arts community in Kalamazoo.

I left for a couple years to do my doctorate in Colorado. But when Covid hit, we could really be anywhere, because work was virtual. My husband (Tim Cuffman, a violinist and violist) and I knew Kalamazoo was such a great arts town, and we said, "Let's head back to Kalamazoo."

Over the last couple years, I've worked as the string department chair at Kalamazoo Kids in Tune, which was my first step into arts administration. I built my own studio of 45 private students playing violin and viola and am part of KalHaven Strings, a string quartet that plays for weddings, concerts and events, which has given me a lot of arts entrepreneurship experience. When the KJSO position came available, I knew that the Junior Symphony has been a great organization for my students and wanted to become a bigger part of the arts community because it can be pretty lonely in the self-employed space.

What do you do as KJSO's executive director?

I wear all the hats. I do a lot of promotion for the concerts, reaching out to folks through social media and email. I do a lot of fundraising, meeting with donors and writing grants, and make sure that all the logistics between our staff and our students are going well. I make sure that all the checks get written and everyone is happy and paid. I also think about the future of the organization and what it means for us to be a healthy and successful junior symphony. How many staff do you oversee?

I am the one full-time employee at the organization, and there are two part-time employees: our administrative coordinator and our operations coordinator. The rest are contractors that I manage. Andrew Koehler is our conductor and music director, while Audrey Lipsey is the conductor of our prep strings orchestras, of which there are three. We have two KJSO preparatory winds programs, run by Jesse Williams and Jordan DeWester. In addition, we have many talented coaches who come in and work with our students for sectionals and chamber music. We have more than 200 students involved in KJSO's symphony and preparatory programs. Ninety of those are in the KJSO itself. Our kids come from more than 50 different schools from all over Southwest Michigan, from Kalamazoo and Portage to Battle Creek, Three Rivers and Mattawan. You're also an arts entrepreneur. Tell me about those endeavors.

One, of course, is my studio, Megan Healy Music. My doctoral research was in teaching

adult beginners. I built a large studio with a lot of adult learners, but now I'm kind of 50/50 between children and adults playing the violin and the viola out of my home.

I also manage and play in a string quartet, KalHaven Strings, with my husband and (with) violist Kennedy Taylor Dixon and cellist Jordan Hamilton, and we've been playing up to 60 events a year. We're the resident quartet for the Candlelight Concerts series of performances in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Those concerts are run by a corporation called Fever that hires string quartets for venues in 90 cities around the world. They book the performances and send us the music. It's our job to learn and perform it and speak about the pieces, which has been good public-speaking experience to prepare me for my KJSO role.

What gives you the most satisfaction?

Recently, when I was sitting at one of our concerts, I was thinking about my experience in my youth orchestra, how formative that was for me and how it feels really good to hear kids making music and feel their joy. It feels good making that happen.

But at my core I'm really a teacher, and I've tried to bring that into this role as well, connecting with the students so that the executive director isn't just someone in the office that they have no clue about but someone who is creating a nurturing environment so they have room to grow.

— Interview by Marie

Lee,

edited for length and clarity

Megan Healy

A love for strings and teaching brings her to the KJSO

Megan Healy was in third grade in a new school and didn't know anyone, when her school's orchestra teacher suggested the youngster join the ensemble, saying, "Maybe you'll make some friends."

The young Healy did more than just make friends. She found her life's vocation. Now 33, she has bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in violin performance and not only performs and teaches but oversees the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, one of the oldest and most prestigious youth orchestras in the country. Healy says she relishes this role because of her own experiences.

"Playing in my youth orchestra was huge," says the St. Charles, Illinois, native. "I played in youth orchestra from sixth grade through 12th grade, and it was a huge part of my upbringing. One of my best friends to this day was my stand partner in sixth-grade orchestra, and she did youth orchestra with me. My youth symphony just really helped keep me going."

Healy has had the title of executive director of the KJSO since January and is looking forward to the group's international tour this summer in the Balkans. The young musicians will

(continued on page 29)

It’s a Hub and Spoke that Gets Us There

By Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport Staff

If you’ve ever taken a flight with a connection through a larger airport, you’ve experienced the aviation industry’s “hub-and-spoke” system in action. While it may feel like an inconvenience to stop along the way, this system is what makes modern air travel, especially from smaller communities, both possible and efficient.

Think of the hub-and-spoke network working much like a bicycle wheel. Large airports serve as “hubs,” where flights from many smaller “spoke” cities converge. From those hubs, passengers can connect to hundreds of destinations. Airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines rely heavily on this model to move travelers across the country and around the globe.

To understand its value, it helps to compare the system to something more familiar: the Interstate Highway System. Not every town sits directly on a major interstate, but access to an on-ramp nearby is essential. That onramp connects local drivers to a vast national network, enabling travel in nearly any direction. Airports like AZO function much the same way. They are the aviation equivalent of that onramp, linking the community to major hubs such as Delta’s hub in Detroit or American's and United’s hubs in Chicago.

Historically, air travel didn’t always work this way. In the early days of commercial aviation, airlines often operated more point-to-point routes, flying directly between cities whether demand justified it or not. Some flyers will remember North Central Airlines flying from Detroit-Jackson-Battle Creek-Kalamazoo-South Bend-Chicago.

This approach proved inefficient and costly.

Following airline deregulation in 1978, carriers began restructuring their networks to maximize efficiency, consolidating flights into hubs where passengers could easily transfer. Over time, this allowed airlines to serve more cities while offering far more destination options.

For communities like Kalamazoo, being part of this network as a “spoke” is critical. Without it, residents and businesses would face significantly longer travel times, sometimes requiring hours of driving just to reach a hub airport. More importantly, the local economy would be less connected to national and international markets.

That’s why the addition of a new flight or airline isn’t just about where that plane goes nonstop. It’s about what that connection unlocks. A single daily flight to a hub can open access to hundreds of destinations worldwide. United’s new

service, which begins on October 25th, unlocks 48 new one-stop connections.

For example, a traveler departing Kalamazoo on a short flight to Detroit isn’t just heading to southeast Michigan. From there, they can seamlessly connect to cities across Europe, Asia, or the East Coast — all on coordinated schedules designed to minimize wait times. For a local business, that could mean same-day access to global partners. For a family, it might mean reaching a faraway vacation destination with just one connection.

In that sense, the value of a spoke airport isn’t measured by the number of nonstop destinations it offers, but by the strength of its connections to the broader system. Just like a wellplaced highway on-ramp, it ensures that even smaller communities remain fully connected to the opportunities of a much larger world. For more information on flying to and from Kalamazoo visit www.flyazo.com.

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