KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Urban Alliance Executive Director Terra Bautista received the Transformation Through Opportunities Community Impact Award from Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine during its 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Jan. 16.
The award recognizes Bautista’s leadership and lifelong commitment to creating pathways of opportunity for individuals and communities that have historically been overlooked or marginalized.
Bautista has served as the executive director of Urban Alliance for three years, having served on its board of directors for more than five years before that.
She leads an organization grounded in the belief that transformation begins when people are seen, valued, and supported. Under her leadership, Urban Alliance continues to make space for this transformation through community-based outreach, workforce development, violence intervention, and relationship-centered programming.
“Urban Alliance exists because we believe transformation happens through opportunity,” Bautista said. “By meeting people where they are and giving them the space to heal, grow, and find community, lives get transformed.”
Dr. Cheryl A. Dickson, Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Education at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, said, “Urban Alliance’s work reflects the heart of Dr. King’s legacy by meeting people with dignity, compassion, and opportunity. Under Terra Bautista’s leadership, the organization continues to create meaningful pathways for transformation across the Kalamazoo community.”
Urban Alliance’s presence in Kalamazoo is rooted in proximity and community. By intentionally working within marginalized neighborhoods and alongside community partners, the organization continues to foster environments where individuals can pursue safer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. The recognition from WMed underscores the broader impact of that work and its alignment with Dr. King’s vision of justice grounded in compassion and community care.
The MLK Day Celebration is hosted annually by Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and brings together community leaders, educators, students, and partners to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and the ongoing work of justice, equity, and community healing.
Bautista’s honor comes two months after the Campaign For Criminal Justice and Transparency recognized Urban Alliance as its Criminal Justice Advocate of the Year for 2025. That award honored the impact of Urban Alliance’s Change of Status and IGNITE programs in partnership with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office.
Urban Alliance, Inc. was founded in 1999 with the mission of helping to break the cycle of generational poverty within Kalamazoo. Operating out of its 1009 E. Stockbridge Avenue location, Urban Alliance’s motto and purpose is to “unlock potential through radical love and opportunities.”
To learn more about Terra Bautista and the efforts of Urban Alliance, visit urbanalliancekalamazoo.org, connect with the organization on Facebook, or call 269.348.0978.
