Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo (SPK) is a bold and ambitious plan to transform our community into a place where every adult and every child thrives and prospers. Our vision is of a community where no adult and no child is isolated or left behind due to poverty and/or inequality of opportunity. This vision is not limited to only growing financial assets, but all assets. Everyone has assets. Everyone has qualities that are valuable and useful to our community. It is important that all people are given opportunities to grow whatever assets they possess and gain whatever assets they need to be successful. Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo is a campaign to transform the culture of the city so that it truly becomes the City of Promise for everyone. Its fundamental purpose is to create more broadly shared prosperity and eliminate generational poverty in Kalamazoo.
What is Poverty? Why should I care about poverty in my community? pdf Find answers to these and other fequently asked questions here. (148 KB)
You can learn more by reviewing the pdf Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo Action Plan (2.44 MB) , and help raise awareness about SPK and this important work by sharing the pdf SPK Pamphlet (212 KB) with your network.
Other Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo documents are available folder here .
Organizing Committee
The activities of Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo are guided by a steering committee consisting of:
- Mayor Bobby J. Hopewell
- City Commissioner Don Cooney
- Dr. Timothy Ready, Western Michigan University Lewis Walker Institute
- Ben Damerow, Michigan Works! Southwest
- Matt Lynn, United Way of Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Region
- Patrese Griffin, Northside Neighborhood Representative
- Brenda Hughes, Eastside Neighborhood Representative
- Cyekeia Lee, The Kalamazoo Promise
- Sholanna Lewis, Kalamazoo Community Foundation
- Carol McGlinn, Kalamazoo Public School Board
- Kym Hollars, Goodwill Industries, Edison Neighborhood Representative
Contact
If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo, please let us know. You can reach the Shared Prosperity Coordinater at (269) 337-8322 or by completing the form below.