Issue Media Group works with hundreds of independent journalists across its network. Here, meet Fran Dwight, Second Wave photographer and newly named Community Medal of Arts award recipient, who channels her introverted insecurity into a fearless, community-rooted body of work that captures Kalamazoo with honesty, empathy, and decades-deep artistry.
One Michigan community came up with a unique solution to the affordable housing crunch: An online portal for housing projects seeking financial support. Funding for the Kalamazoo County project comes from a county millage and is available to developers and nonprofit organizations.
A program launched in Flint, Michigan, in 2023 helps address gaps in early childhood education and healthcare by providing stipends to pregnant people and infants. Rx Kids has been so successful that it has been expanded to other parts of Michigan.
A recent story in Soapbox Cincinnati, 'We're doing something about it': How an old community plans for a new start in its third century, offers a lesson plan in revitalization for older-ring suburbs.
Flintside has relaunched its On the Ground series amplifying community voices, increasing civic engagement, and bringing greater visibility to neighborhood change-makers.
Soapbox Cincinnati is exploring the series Health Justice in Action, a year-long deep dive into the factors that people and neighborhoods need for long, healthful lives.
Global Detroit, is a national leader in advocating for and executing strategies to drive equitable local, regional and statewide economic growth through immigrant inclusion.
The decline of local media means that too many communities receive only negative coverage, or none at all. IMG publications are platforms for communities to uplift and shape their own stories — stories that, in reality, defy the divisions we’re constantly being told define our society. In Soapbox Cincinnati, our Middletown Partner City series recently featured forthcoming projects that will reinvigorate a struggling mall, provide free tuition for local college students, and modernize the local fire department. These initiatives are driven not by differences but by shared goals: a strong community, opportunities for young people, and public safety. And you’ve probably heard something about Springfield, Ohio, a community that has experienced far more than its share of inaccurate media portrayals. The Hub counters that by illuminating the city’s true narrative, which includes a dynamic arts and culture scene, a welcoming community, and a vibrant ecosystem of parks and green spaces.
IMG publications cover issues from a local, human-centered perspective. Model D recently reported on the evolution of the Springwells neighborhood in Southwest Detroit. The story explores how local nonprofits have helped shepherd redevelopment and community improvements while focused on meeting the needs of residents, including safety, opportunity, education, and trust.
As we reflected on the power of stories to unite, we were struck by the number of stories we had on this very topic. So to get a little meta, here are some stories about, well, storytelling. These pieces plainly reveal how humans rely on stories to understand our world, connect with other people, and find common ground. GR Stories: How community storytelling builds bridges, fosters belonging, & preserves hidden history | Rapid GrowthStudents learn empathy and justice through real stories | The Lakeshore West Michigan
