Category: Blog

Stop AAPI Hate Statement

Stop AAPI Hate Statement We condemn the hate and intolerance towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community that continues to take place in our community and across the United States. We lament the tragic events that took place in Atlanta last week, a mass shooting that killed six Asian women. Since March 2020 the organization Stop AAPI Hate has recorded 3,795 hate incident reports across the United States. Anti-Asian racism has a long history in the United States. And while this is not new, it is reported that hate crimes against Asian Americans in U.S. cities grew by just about 150% in 2020 (PBS). This is horrific, destructive, and has to stop. Below is Access’ continued […]

Reflection and Statement on Antiracism and Recent Events

“… being American is more than a pride we inherit, it’s the past we step into and how we repair it.” -Amanda Gorman, 2021 Inaugural Poet As we begin Black History Month, as well pass the one year mark since Access launched our current antiracism team, we wanted to pause and reflect on our commitment to the work of antiracism as well as the events we’ve witnessed in the past month. In January we watched as our nation celebrated a time-honored tradition of the beginning of a new presidential administration. Amanda Gorman recited her inaugural poem, The Hill We Climb, […]

Juneteenth

Today Access of West Michigan is honoring and celebrating Juneteenth as a paid holiday for all staff. This day is an important day of our history. Juneteenth takes place on June 19 and commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States.   “Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which […]

Black lives matter.

Black lives matter. We believe this, we stand behind this statement, and we are committed to making it true at Access of West Michigan and throughout our community. We stand with the Black community in calling for needed change. We grieve the lives lost unjustly to police brutality throughout our history, most recently Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. We recognize that there are names that have not made into our headlines and that countless lives have been lost to racism. We mourn, we feel pain, sorrow, anger, and we know we must act. As a non-profit that has […]

Affordable Farm Market Highlight: The Green Apple

Over the last six months we have been highlighting an affordable farm market that is a part of the HAELFS Collaborative. HAELFS stands for Health, Access, and Equity in our Local Food System. The Collaborative is finishing its third year and includes five pantry resource centers. Since the collaborative has begun, each partner site has opened an affordable food market in their community. Each market creates access for everyone in their community to acquire nutritious food at a low cost. Produce available is sourced from local small farms, stimulating the local economy. Together, we are working to create a culture […]

When Crisis Mode Becomes the Norm: Interrupting a System of Emergency with a System of Justice

West Michigan is known for its deeply rooted and abundant philanthropy. In the food access sector we have hundreds of non-profits, churches, and agencies working to address hunger and food insecurity via an emergency charity food system that is now over four decades old.   As the global pandemic hit our local community, food access organizations that existed before COVID-19, and those that started due to COVID-19, have worked to respond to the lack of access to food heightened by the virus and its economic impacts. There are many community members struggling as a result of this current crisis, but disparities related to issues such as income, housing, and food existed long […]

Walk for Good Food 2020 Sponsor: The Local Church

The Local Church is a Grower Sponsor for the Walk for Good Food 2020 ($2,500) and a valued partner of Access of West Michigan. Pictured above is the 2019 Local Church Walk team (this year social distancing measures are put in place as we walk in our neighborhoods with our households). Thanks so much for your continued support, Local Church! We asked them to share with us about their mission, how COVID-19 has impacted them, and why they choose to support Access and the Walk for Good Food. We are so thankful for all they do for our community!  AWM: Please describe your […]

Walk for Good Food 2020: SECOM

Walk for Good Food 2020 Blog Series: In celebration of the Walk for Good Food, Access will be posting interviews with the non-profit organizations that are receiving funding from this years Walk. Read below about why Good Food (food that is healthy, fair, affordable, and green) is important to their work. Eight organizations receive funding from the Walk, each with their own important role to play in creating a thriving food system for all. To walk with us or learn more visit accessofwestmichigan.org/walk. AWM: Tell us a little bit about your organization: your mission and the work that you do. SECOM: […]

Walk for Good Food 2020 Lead Sponsor: SpartanNash

SpartanNash is the leading sponsor for the Walk for Good Food 2020 (Harvester Sponsor, $5,000) and a valued partner of Access of West Michigan. We asked SpartanNash to share with us about their mission, services offered to the community, how COVID-19 has impacted them, and why they choose to support Access and the Walk for Good Food. We are so thankful for all they do for our community! Read more about their work below: SpartanNash is committed to building stronger communities where we live, work and serve. We align our corporate giving with four key strategic objectives- workforce development, diversity and […]

Walk for Good Food 2020: North End Wellness Coalition

Walk for Good Food 2020 Blog Series: In celebration of the Walk for Good Food, Access will be posting interviews with the non-profit organizations that are receiving funding from this years Walk. Read below about why Good Food (food that is healthy, fair, affordable, and green) is important to their work. Eight organizations receive funding from the Walk, each with their own important role to play in creating a thriving food system for all. To walk with us or learn more visit accessofwestmichigan.org/walk. AWM: Tell us a little bit about your organization: your mission and the work that you do. NEWC: […]