We believe reaching our potential starts by helping our neighbors reach theirs.

What is the problem?

Those who are underrepresented should feel like there are career opportunities for them right here in Kalamazoo. And right now, many don’t. We are working to ensure historically excluded people in Kalamazoo are connected to sustainable career opportunities in the area.

We’re listening to our Kalamazoo neighbors. Our goal is understanding what they feel, where they experience barriers and how we can make good jobs more accessible.

Two colleagues or students, caucasian girl and hispanic guy, are using a laptop while sitting at workplace discussing about job or education and smiling

Advancing our strategy through action

Leverage our community partners

through developing and strengthening external partnerships and leveraging their work in the community.

Develop processes

by removing barriers and amplifying the power and impact of diverse backgrounds, talents and perspectives.

Connect and network

job seekers with local employers through a series of career fairs, development activities, and Kalamazoo Promise alumni engagement.

Engage and inspire

job seekers to take action by ensuring their basic needs are met and supporting them on their path to employment.

Attract a diverse talent pool

through transparency in our hiring processes and meeting job seekers where they are on their journey.

Community leader accountability

through transparent data and providing a blueprint to advance Diversity Equity & Inclusion in Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo by the numbers

22%

of Kalamazoo residents identify as Black or African American¹

62%

of Kalamazoo Public School students identify as Black, Hispanic, or multi-racial²

28%

of Kalamazoo residents live in poverty³

40%

lower than US median household income for city of Kalamazoo residents⁴

Career Right Here partners

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency

What we’re doing

Connecting leading employers with local talent in partnership with Kalamazoo Promise and workforce readiness organizations such as Urban Alliance.
Creating more transparency and clarity on career paths and hiring processes at our partner companies.
Increasing access to diverse talent pools to support our business and Diversity Equity & Inclusion goals.
Publishing the Kalamazoo Careers of the Future^™ report and partnering with skills providers so they can prepare job seekers for the needs of local employers.

Inclusive Hiring Toolkit
Your organization can take steps in your diversity, equity and inclusion journey with us. Start by downloading our free inclusive hiring toolkit

The impact we’ll have

Increase employment for Kalamazoo residents, particularly with underrepresented race and ethnic groups.
Expand local career pathways for Kalamazoo Promise alumni.
Engage company leaders in community outreach to invest in our future workforce.
Share best practices on increasing diversity in hiring.
Include yearly benchmarks of anticipated success—short-term progress and longer-term impact by 2025.
Create awareness for students, parents, educators and influencers about pathways to a meaningful career in Kalamazoo.
Develop a proof of concept that other U.S. metropolitan areas can replicate for the good of their own community.

Partner company expectations

Commit to fair and non-discriminatory hiring practices.
Assign point of contact from Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Talent Acquisition or Career Readiness to be the liaison for our initiative to ensure your organization is well represented and connected to our workstreams.
Participate in our workstreams—suggested point of contact may
be from these teams.
Share best practices on employment practices, hiring areas and challenges.
Attend quarterly partnership meetings.
Host a quarterly event with job seekers.
Send speakers and volunteers to meetings.