KALAMAZOO, MI — It only took Arturo Puckerin a matter of weeks before he began making a difference as executive director of the Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association.
Puckerin, 41, took over as the head of the association on Aug. 1, 2024, after the 2023 retirement of longtime director Pat Taylor and a brief interim stint from James Ayers.
In his first year, he helped launch a pilot program to help low-income workers with vehicle repairs; spearheaded the purchase of three blighted properties with a goal of transforming them into new businesses; and took over running food and diaper distribution programs…