KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A special back-to-school bash was held Saturday in Kalamazoo.
Organizers with the Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative hosted the event, called “How We Heal from Gun Violence Back to School Bash,” on Portage Street.
The event featured free school supplies, food, a raffle, as well as barbering, hairstyling and nailcare service for students.
Organizers said Saturday’s back-to-school bash wasn’t just about returning to the classroom, but it also served as a moment to uplift, connect, and celebrate the community’s youth.
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“I know we get a lot of youth that are like, ‘this is the only place that I feel in Kalamazoo that adults really hear me, adults don’t make me feel like a kid, adults actually listen to me,'” Destine Willis, executive director of Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative, said. “We’re just excited to serve our our community and be able to share space.”…