Friends With Disabilities

02/17/2026

Rev. Jesse Jackson
Was an American politician, Minister, and civil rights leader. Rev. Jackson was a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and in the 1980s reshaped Democratic politics with two galvanizing presidential campaigns. He died Tuesday at the age of 84.
What many people did not know is that Reverend Jesse Jackson had Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare, progressive neurological disorder.
The condition had caused severe mobility issues such as; stiff movements, and challenges with swallowing and eye movements. We celebrate his life not just as a great leader but a person with a physical disability and limitations.

02/16/2026

Did you know:
Chairperson of the National Council on Disability Claudia Gordon born March 1972 is The first Deaf Black woman attorney in the United States. Even with a different ability not only can you still work but you can do Great things.

02/06/2026

Did you know Brad Lomax (1950–1984): Had multiple sclerosis and used a wheelchair, a Black Panther who championed independent living and supported the 504 sit-ins.

02/03/2026

Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (May 25, 1849 – June 14, 1908) was a famous pianist in black history. He was the first African-American to give a command performance at the White House before our President James Buchanan. Happy black history month.
FwD

02/01/2026

Did yo know that the same Harriet Tubman (born 1822) who served as a spy in the Civil War and led over 70 slaves to freedom also had the physical disability of epilepsy. Despite the intense headaches, seizures and narcoleptic sleeping episodes she was still able to not only allocate for herself but others. She is not just an inspiration to those of many cultural backgrounds but the disability community. Just as she did Our Hope is that we not just advocate for ourselves but Inspire and advocate for others with disabilities. Happy black history month. FwD

01/27/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B4P1o9YYA/

01/23/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AW5jxY19r/

* 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 *
The Kalamazoo Democratic Party in cooperation with Kalamazoo Coalition for the Unhoused and United for the Unsheltered of Kalamazoo is opening another warming center this coming Friday and Saturday in response to the severe weather predictions. They ask that those who wish to volunteer, please call ahead to the phone number listed on the flyer. The center will have coffee, snacks, sandwiches, hats, gloves, and hand warmers for guests.

01/20/2026

https://wwmt.com/news/local/st-lukes-episocopal-church-opens-its-doors-as-an-emergency-shelter-extreme-cold-unhoused-shelters-homeless-west-michigan-kalamazoo-

As dangerous arctic cold settled into Kalamazoo County Monday, community groups and faith leaders mobilized quickly to help protect people without housing.Insi

12/27/2025

Sunday January 4th at urban Alliance free haircuts for children and Men ages five and up. There must be cleaned first with no product they are also giving out hygiene and love bags. Details in the fire below. For those of you that catch Metro connect schedule your ride tomorrow December 28th for Sunday January 4th.

12/20/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17X6vFB1UX/

Our new calendar of Mobile Food Distributions is now available! 🚛

Distributions from January through June, 2026 at 10 locations. Available on our website in English and Spanish!

🔗 For more information, and to access the printable PDF, go to the link in our bio

12/12/2025

𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗼 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

With temperatures dipping into the single digits this weekend, the City of Kalamazoo and KDPS are sharing warming shelters and centers available for anyone needing relief from the cold. This information comes from a detailed release issued by the City’s Emergency Manager, Sgt. Justin Wolbrink. A full version of that release can be found at the link below.

https://www.kalamazoopublicsafety.org/News-articles/Kalamazoo-Emergency-Management-Announces-Warming-Shelters

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁):
• Ministry with Community – 500 N Edwards St. Open Dec 1–Mar 2026. Adults only, no pets. Register through Housing Resource Inc. at 269-382-0287 x1.

• Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries – 448 N Burdick St. Open now. Adults + children with parents. ID showing Kalamazoo metro residency required. More info: 269-345-2974.

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲):
• Westminster Presbyterian Church – 1515 Helen Ave, Portage. Open now through Mar 31, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Transportation available. Service dogs only.

• Portage District Library – 300 Library Ln. Hours: Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat–Sun 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

• Portage Zhang Senior Center – 203 E Centre Ave. Hours: Mon/Fri 7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tue–Thu 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sun 2–5 p.m.

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁:
• KDPS Community Service Team: 269-488-8911 or CST@kalamazoocity.org

• Street Medicine Kalamazoo (non-emergency cold-related medical concerns): 269-220-0372.

• For emergencies, call 911.

Kalamazoo City Emergency Management

12/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17MsLT9KJ1/

𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗼 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

With temperatures dipping into the single digits this weekend, the City of Kalamazoo and KDPS are sharing warming shelters and centers available for anyone needing relief from the cold. This information comes from a detailed release issued by the City’s Emergency Manager, Sgt. Justin Wolbrink. A full version of that release can be found at the link below.

https://www.kalamazoopublicsafety.org/News-articles/Kalamazoo-Emergency-Management-Announces-Warming-Shelters

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁):
• Ministry with Community – 500 N Edwards St. Open Dec 1–Mar 2026. Adults only, no pets. Register through Housing Resource Inc. at 269-382-0287 x1.

• Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries – 448 N Burdick St. Open now. Adults + children with parents. ID showing Kalamazoo metro residency required. More info: 269-345-2974.

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲):
• Westminster Presbyterian Church – 1515 Helen Ave, Portage. Open now through Mar 31, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Transportation available. Service dogs only.

• Portage District Library – 300 Library Ln. Hours: Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat–Sun 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

• Portage Zhang Senior Center – 203 E Centre Ave. Hours: Mon/Fri 7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tue–Thu 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sun 2–5 p.m.

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁:
• KDPS Community Service Team: 269-488-8911 or CST@kalamazoocity.org

• Street Medicine Kalamazoo (non-emergency cold-related medical concerns): 269-220-0372.

• For emergencies, call 911.

Kalamazoo City Emergency Management