2023
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Beyond Bullets – Exploring the root causes, consequences, and solutions for gun violence.
Beyond Bullets Exploring the root causes, consequences, and solutions for gun violence. Two childhood friends notice a grim pattern in their text thread. Their messages to each other have become death notices. The victims are their friends and classmates – shot and killed before their lives could even really begin. At first, our messages came…
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Camp teaches kids ‘Hands are Meant to Heal, Not Kill’ amid youth crime increases
Kalamazoo nonprofit Urban Alliance is throwing a summer camp for kids to get bullets to stop flying. Kalamazoo Public Safety says youth crime is getting alarming and even more alarming is how often guns are being used to commit those crimes. Organizers created Life Camp to change the narrative, steering kids away from using guns…
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Kalamazoo’s Life Camp to help young people find a path away from gun violence
When you’re talking to young people about gun violence, you never know who’s in the audience, says James Harris. Those involved in shootings in Kalamazoo and other cities have included youths who were already headed down a path to violence and crime, as well as those who seemed to be on a path to a…
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Summer day camps aim to help teens ‘reframe’ gun violence
Kalamazoo nonprofit Urban Alliance is bringing back a series of youth day camps this summer aimed at changing the narrative surrounding gun violence. James Harris, who is the outreach manager for Urban Alliance, said the life camps, now in their second year, help kids and young adults reshape how they think about guns and their…
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Urban Alliance looks to redirect youth from gun violence with ‘Life Camp’ events
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Urban Alliance is scheduled to have its second annual Life Camp offerings on June 13. The day camps were designed to help area youth change the narrative of gun violence in Kalamazoo and separate recklessness from recreation and lethal from legal gun usage, according to Urban Alliance. The events are scheduled in…
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The latest news from Urban Alliance
We invite you review the latest update from Urban Alliance, including a welcome to new Executive Director Terra Bautista, updates from our Outreach, Supports and Recovery, and Connections teams, an invite to Life Camps, and much more. Read the full update here.
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New executive director takes over at Urban Alliance
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Urban Alliance has selected Terra Bautista to fill its Executive Director role. Bautista is well-versed in the operations and mission of Urban Alliance, having served on the organization’s Board of Directors since 2017. She served as Board Secretary in 2018 and as Board Chair from 2020 until transitioning into her new role. Former Executive…
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Why public safety officials say gun violence is decreasing in Kalamazoo
Gun violence decreased in Kalamazoo in 2022, down drastically from a spike in 2020 and 2021. Why? According to Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety leadership, a stepped-up outreach to youth in the community and a new intervention program have contributed to the decline. “If you look at our stats, lately, since August, it’s been just…