PRI History

The concept of the Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative began after the conclusion of the November 2001 Kalamazoo city elections.  This election included a heated debate about a proposed living wage ordinance.  Although the proposed ordinance was defeated, the campaign raised community awareness about the prevalence of poverty and the need to address this issue in a comprehensive and focused manner with clear lines of accountability.

A group of concerned individuals and 14 organizations, including the Community Task Force on Poverty and the Coalition for a Living Wage, came together with the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of taking measures to address the issue of poverty.  The resultant joint effort raised significant questions about:

  1. What should be done short-term and long- term?
  2. How should an effort be organized?
  3. Who is accountable?
  4. How can the effort be sustained?
  5. How can impact be assured and measured?

Over the next two years, partners met with various community stakeholders, conducted a needs assessment, and researched best practices to develop a poverty reduction framework.  In 2003, partners obtained seed money from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation to hire a full-time staff person, who would help with strategy implementation.

The PRI has broad community support.  Currently, 12 community organizational partners are working together as catalysts to comprehensively decrease poverty.