black lives matter grassroots

kzoo/bc

This grassroots chapter is serving the Black communities of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, MI. Committed to being transparent with contributions, we aim to include the needs of all Black lives in our communities, especially the most marginalized.

Upcoming Events

Our Guiding Principles

Restorative Justice
We are committed to collectively, lovingly, and courageously working vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by extension, all people. As we forge our path, we intentionally build and nurture a beloved community that is bonded together through a beautiful struggle that is restorative, not depleting.Empathy
We are committed to practicing empathy; we engage comrades with the intent to learn about and connect with their contexts.Loving Engagement
We are committed to embodying and practicing justice, liberation, and peace in our engagements with one another.Diversity
We are committed to acknowledging, respecting, and celebrating difference(s) and commonalities.Globalism
We see ourselves as part of the global Black family and we are aware of the different ways we are impacted or privileged as Black folk who exist in different parts of the world.Queer Affirming
We are committed to fostering a queer-affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking or, rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual unless s/he or they disclose otherwise.Trans Affirming
We are committed to embracing and making space for trans siblings to participate and lead. We are committed to being self-reflexive and doing the work required to dismantle cis-gender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence.Collective Value
We are guided by the fact all Black lives matter, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status or location.Intergenerational
We are committed to fostering an intergenerational and communal network free from ageism. We believe that all people, regardless of age, show up with capacity to lead and learn.Black Families
We are committed to making our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We are committed to dismantling the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” that require them to mother in private even as they participate in justice work.Black Villages
We are committed to disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, and especially “our” children to the degree that mothers, parents and children are comfortable.Unapologetically Black
We are unapologetically Black in our positioning. In affirming that Black Lives Matter, we need not qualify our position. To love and desire freedom and justice for ourselves is a necessary prerequisite for wanting the same for others.Black Women
We are committed to building a Black women affirming space free from sexism, misogyny, and male-centeredness.

Our Priorities

Engage

This Black August, Black Lives Matter Grassroots: Kalamazoo/Battle Creek is offering scholarships to celebrate youth and commemorate the stories and lives of political prisoners and Black freedom fighters.Black August started in 1979 by the incarcerated peoples in San Quentin State Prison to honor the deaths of Soledad Brother George Jackson (d. 1971)—a Black activist, author and leader in the Prisoners’ Rights Movement—and his brother, Jonathan P. Jackson (d. 1970), who lost his life demanding the liberation of the Soledad Brothers.By committing ourselves and our community to the study of Black resistance, self-determination, and liberation struggles, we preserve collective memory and strengthen our solidarity with those who’ve sacrificed their freedom for ours.Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on August 21, 2026Scholarship winners will be announced and recognized during our scholarship program event in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on August 26, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Applicants will receive information about the event’s location by email as the date approaches.Awards
Up to $400Eligibility
Residents of Kalamazoo and Battle Creek between the ages of 8 and 19 are eligible to apply for a scholarship.Prompt
Choose one Black activist, past or present, that you look up to. In your response, tell us about the activist and why they inspire you. Lastly, share what “Black lives matter” means to you.Your response to the prompt can be in writing, a video, or another creative medium of your choice. There is no minimum or maximum length requirement for video responses or word count for written responses. For video responses, we recommend a length of 2-4 minutes.How to Apply
Please email your written or video response to [email protected] by 11:59 p.m. on August 21, 2026. In the body of your email, include your full name, age, grade level (if applicable), city, school (if applicable), mailing address, and t-shirt size.If you need assistance accessing technology to record a video, please email us at [email protected], and we will reach out to help facilitate support.