2025: A year in Review
2025 is a year that has been filled with many challenges for our community and our nation. But please know, so much good is still happening! Let's reflect on what can be accomplished with leadership that is focused on progress for everyone. This year I was elected Chairperson of the Kalamazoo County Commission. It remained a challenging and exciting year of service and I am deeply grateful this community gave me the responsibility to move us forward together.
Throughout this term, with the support of a large team of dedicated professionals in Kalamazoo County government, and a group of fellow Commissioners who work well through our differing opinions by demonstrating that everyone has value, we accomplished quite a bit:
Helping our community recover from and prevent addiction:
Finishing my work as Chair of the Opioid Settlement Fund Taskforce we announced nearly half a million dollars in Opioid remediation grants that will go directly to community-based nonprofits for prevention, treatment, and recovery programs in 2026. People with lived experience meaningfully participated and impacted our process by design.
Addressing the Housing Crisis:
Created the Landing Place, Michigan's largest transitional family shelter - it will serve 80 families in our community. We purchased property, began facility rehabilitation, and selected Family Promise to run full wrap-around services. This will open in early 2026.
Leading our Housing millage allocations committee, we funded - exterior and critical home repairs, an employer-assisted housing program for down payment assistance, eviction diversion and prevention in urban and rural communities, rehab of housing dedicated to people with disabilities, funding to help spur the development 42 new homes in Portage. And so much more, check out the reports if you're wonky (here and here).
We capped the year off with the Keys to Kalamazoo - A draft Housing Framework with a $23 Million infusion of resources to advance a holistic collaboration across the housing eco-system in Kalamazoo.
Fighting Climate Change — and Authoritarians:
We opened with Arthur and Mildred Woolham a Nature Preserve, ensuring 212 acres remain green space for generations. Sharing welcoming remarks that day was a profound occasion, as I hoped to hear the wonder and laughter of children for generations to come.
In 2023, my fellow commissioners and I established a Climate Sustainability Coordinator role, and they secured a substantial $18.9 million grant for 2025. The administration baulked, and we fought back.
Protecting Our Workers — Responsible Bidding Policy:
Refined a Responsible Bidder Policy to strengthen values-driven contracting in Kalamazoo County, ensuring strong wages, secure benefits, and local workers are given preference in contract awards. Vice Chair John Taylor and I brought in staff, community voices, and labor leaders to help us shape the policy direction collaboratively.
Alleviating Medical Debt:
I helped lead the initiative to relieve medical debt for struggling community members, erasing $2.48 million for over 7k residents. Our collaboration with UnDue Medical Debt is ongoing and they still work to relieve more debt for our community members from medical providers.
Community Participation and Art:
Participated in design work on our upcoming large downtown parking structure which will include the largest future public art installation in Kalamazoo County through collaboration with the Arts Council, Public Art Commission, and community voices living and serving in the Northside neighborhood.
Supporting our Youth:
We created an Indoor Youth Sports Facility Authority. This will bring families from around the region to our community, growing our local economy and creating great opportunities for local youth.
Community Support:
We launched our first cycle of Community Grants with $400k to strengthen health, safety, and opportunity across our community funding a variety of municipal and non-profit programs.
Passing an annual budget:
The most important work of the commission is the creation of the annual budget. While the Michigan State budget was held up by the Republican leadership in the House, we moved forward with a budget here at home and finished it on time. You can see the values we are advancing on each page.
These successes are proof that we can work together through differences when we remain rooted firmly in our values of dignity for all.
The start of my third term has been exciting, and I look forward to taking this experience forward for you in Lansing as your next State Representative.