Category — Press

The Kalamazoo Promise has sparked a grassroots movement with “huge potential” to revitalize local economies across America and transform the nation’s work force, according to participants in a national conference that concluded here Friday.But with the movement still in its infancy, questions remain about the best way to implement Promise scholarship programs and about their long-term effectiveness, said participants of PromiseNet 2008.

The conference drew people from 80 communities in 22 states to talk about scholarship programs tied to economic development. The event was held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites in Kalamazoo and was organized by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.

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People working on the [Muskegon] Opportunity effort have joined together to get local students who qualified and weren’t aware of the state program signed up. They did so by working through lists of juniors and seniors at the 12 traditional public high schools in Muskegon County.Leaders of the Muskegon Opportunity described the TIP work as a prime example of pulling together community resources to benefit children.

“It’s starting to show people in the county where the Muskegon Opportunity is going,” said Curt Babcock, a Muskegon Opportunity co-chairman and White Lake Area Community Education director. “We’re starting to show kids that, yeah, they can go on to college. We’re making them see that college is a viable option.”

Click Here to read the entire Muskegon Chronicle article on MLive.com

More than 200 people showed up for a Creating a Graduation Generation! conference earlier this month that included brainstorming sessions on how to prevent students from dropping out.  The consensus was that a community-wide effort that draws on the resources and expertise of agencies, churches and individuals, is needed.    

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Click Here to visit the Graduation Generation website.

Brian Barber of the Muskegon Opportunity was featured in an episode of the ”Inside Muskegon” weekly podcast. 

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The Muskegon Opportunity was highlighted as one of ten major developments happening in Muskegon in 2008.

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“A proposed Muskegon County college scholarship program, patterned after The Kalamazoo Promise, is building a strong financial foundation.”

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The Muskegon Chronicle recently published an article about Governor Granholm’s visit to Muskegon and her meeting with the Muskegon Opportunity. 

“Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposed Promise Zones initiative may have found its perfect pilot program — the proposed Muskegon Opportunity.

Granholm and 30 community leaders who are working to implement a Kalamazoo Promise-inspired college tuition guarantee in Muskegon County shared notes on their respective education concepts Monday afternoon at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center. It was part of the governor’s visit to the area . . . ”

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