Connecting Communities: Kalamazoo Earth Day
Connecting Communities, is a podcast for stories of individuals and groups who are taking action on environmental issues. We will to show you how you can begin urban gardening, native planting, and exploring sustainable energy. Connecting Communities is a part of the Kalamazoo Earth Day Festival.
You can watch the video recording of the show on one of PMN’s cable outlets or on-demand at publicmedianet.org.
Opinions shared in the show may not reflect the opinions or beliefs of the Kalamazoo Earth Day Committee as a whole or each individual involved.
- Update frequency
- every 11 days
- Average duration
- 41 minutes
- Episodes
- 79
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
TrashLoveKzoo - From Frustration to Action
Ian Stewart joins us on the pod to talk about his trash picking project. This guy went from zero experience to being "passionate about picking up trash." He has accomplished some amazing projects and…
2025 Earth Day Shorts: Kalamazoo River Restoration with Michigan Waterway Stewards
We joined Michigan Waterway Stewards to tackle invasive brush and cleanup trash at two of Kalamazoo's parks along the river, Mayor Riverfront and Verburg Parks. Volunteers were lead by team leads to …
2025 Earth Day Shorts: Building Blocks Neighborhood Clean Ups
The Connecting Communities pod spoke with Building Blocks representatives and neighbors as they worked together on neighborhood cleanups across the city.
2025 Earth Day Shorts: TrashLoveKzoo Clean Up
Kicking off the Earth Day festivities was a clean up at a lot behind Aldi, on Gull Road. The lot had been used by individuals who were living behind the building. When they left, they were unable to …
Jerico: Creating a Place
Jerico is more than just a collection of buildings or businesses in the Edison neighborhood. Jerico is an idea and a way of being. Jerico is an invitation for innovators to create together. When an e…
It's all happening at the Portage District Library
With dozens of programs, there is something for everyone at the Portage District Library! Three librarians join us to share a FEW of the ways you can get involved. It's hard to even write a synopsis …
Bill Farmer - Changing the Way We Pay for Healthcare in Michigan
How can changing the way we pay for healthcare improve our communities? Bill Farmer is a longtime organizer and activist for workers’s rights. In this episode, he speaks to the overwhelming burden th…
Rain Gardens at Kalamazoo Valley Museum
The rain gardens in the middle of downtown Kalamazoo provide an important service to residents in Kalamazoo County. Tyler Sweet and Megan Osetek, staff at the museum, have joined us to talk about the…
KVCC Food Innovations Center & ValleyHUB - Hristina Petrovska and Rachel Bair
Hristina Petrovska and Rachel Bair explain the community classes offered at the VallyHUB, including the esteemed Honorable Harvest Lecture Series. This education center is accessible for lifelong lea…
A look back at the best of 50 shows!
Some of the members of the Connecting Communities podcast get together to reflect on their favorite guests and conversations from the first 50 episodes of the show.
Kalamazoo River Youth Experience
Kalamazoo River Watershed Council joins us to reflect on their Kalamazoo River Youth Experience Program that took place over the summer. Representatives from two participating organizations - El Conc…
Time with Littles has a Big Impact - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan
Tyler Walker, Outreach and Engagement Specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan, joins us to discuss the impact of intergenerational relationships in our community. With Big Broth…
Power to the People: Democratic Socialists of America
CoHosts David Beans & Joe Byars
Guest: Ryan Smith
Power to the People! Worker’s rights! Is that too idealistic? Does it sound too good to be true? The Southwest Michigan Democratic Socialists of Amer…
A Mobile Vet's Compassionate Journey: Dr. Turnera Croom
Dr. Turnera Croom is a mobile veterinarian with a heart as big as her medical bag. She goes where her patients need her most, breaking down barriers between pet care and community healing. From provi…
Students combining research and service. KAMSC Earthlings - Kate Risley and Sophia Barnard
Students combining research and service
KAMSC Earthlings - Kate Risley and Sophia Barnard
Hosts: Patrick Hershberger and Joe Byars
When Kate Risley and Sophia Barnard were juniors at the Kalamazoo A…
Making waste less wasteful: A city government inside look
Chris Broadbent and Justin Gish spend most of their days considering the potential treasure to be unlocked from people's trash. During this episode they will explain the process of waste when it is r…
The Case for Supporting Small Businesses
During this episode we will hear from some small businesses who have been impacted by heavy construction in Kalamazoo. They offer their perspectives for you to consider the importance of small busine…
Painting the Albert White Literacy Trail - Maya James
Dive into this riveting episode where we recorded on-site with Maya James, a Kalamazoo artist who has been designing and leading the installation of a literacy lane in downtown Kalamazoo's Edison Nei…
KUDOS (Kalamazoo United Day of Service) Christina Dorett
Christina Dorett joins Connecting Communities to discuss the work of the service group KUDOS. They are seeking volunteers to join them to bridge the gap between neighborhoods that have been impacted …
Open Roads
Meet Issac, Ian, and Payton, team members at Open Roads in Kalamazoo (www.openroadsbike.org).
At Open Roads we engage and empower youth through bicycles to learn practical life skills for their futur…