The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo is pleased to announce that our very own Corey Clark, Association Out-of-School Time Director, and Erik Anderson, Association Program Operations Director, have been awarded the RISING STAR award by the State Alliance of Michigan YMCAs. Created to honor exemplary and selfless members of the Y staff, this prestigious award is only given to three people a year, across all 60+ Michigan YMCAs.
Additionally, we are honored to have recieved the INNOVATION AWARD for our Northside Early Learning Program—given to YMCAs that create or implement innovative programs, practices, partnerships, policies, and activities that improve the YMCAs ability to serve their community.
Read from the awarding committee about the Innovation Award:
"This year's Innovation Award honors the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo for the work they are doing in their community serving families who need it most. The Kalamazoo Northside Early Learning Center is a tangible example of innovation at its best. The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo joined with an affordable housing developer to create Zone 32 on the city's north side. An area that sorely lacked housing and childcare options.
"When the doors opened last spring, one of their first guests was Governor Whitmer who stated: 'Thanks to projects like this one and so many others that are being built across the state, we're reimagining our cities and our small towns to make them better places to live, to work, and to invest in.'
"The YMCA Northside Early Learning Program gives enrollment priority to residents so the community can have a great place to live and know that their children have a great educational opportunity. As you can imagine, the Early Learning Program was an immediate success. Congratulations to everyone involved in this important project and thank you to Dave Morgan and his team for walking the talk of the YMCA."
To learn more about Early Learning at Northside, click here.
Local news coverage of our program:
- YMCA holds open house celebrating grand opening of Northside Learning Center — 10/18/2023
- Former WMU athlete opens affordable housing, learning center in Kalamazoo's northside — 4/2/2024
Pictured (left to right): VP of Youth Services and Grants Bobby Ludwick, Northside Early Learning Coordinator Kelechi Cunningham, and CEO and President Dave Morgan.
Our Rising Stars:
Corey Clark was nominated because of his continual advocacy for "his program, his families, and his staff, while finding time to grow and share his knowledge of the field." Additionally, the State Alliance of Michigan YMCAs, the awarding body, lauded the growth of the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo's Out-of-School Time program under his leadership. To learn more about our Out-of-School Time Programming and Corey's work, click here.
The State Alliance of Michigan YMCAs noted Erik Anderson's "phenomenal" ability to listen and learn with each program department, and highlighted his skill in providing insight, guidance, advice, and direction so that the Y's program offerings are of the highest quality for our members.
As an Assocation, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Corey, Erik, and the Northside Early Learning team for their hard work, and we congratulate them for the impacts they have made and doubtless, will continue to make in our community.
Pictured (left to right): Association Program Operations Director Erik Anderson, Association Out-of-School Time Director Corey Clark, and CEO and President Dave Morgan.
