KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Generational Poverty is one of those intractable societal problems like healthcare reform, racism and climate change that have so far defied most attempts to solve them.
Kalamazoo is going to try to tackle the poverty issue.
One of the initiatives already in place is the Kalamazoo Promise which offers any Kalamazoo schools graduate the chance to earn a college degree, simply by getting the grades.
Commissioners plan a work meeting this evening. Manager Jim Ritsema will give commissioners a review of the community efforts to date to break the cycle of poverty.
Then they will discuss enhancing and expanding the effort, using funds from the Foundation for Excellence grant. The meeting begins at 6 in the community room at City Hall.
Ritsema has announced that Laura Lam, who has served as the city’s Planning Director, will be promoted to the title of Asst. City Manager and will focus on administering the Foundation for Excellence. Her former assistant, Rebecca Kik will move into Lam’s former position.
