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Michigan
Over the course of a decade, WKKF has supported a dramatic increase in kindergarten readiness rates in Battle Creek, Michigan. We’ve done this by empowering the development of a more cohesive early childhood education system in the city, coordinated by our grantee Pulse. To help foster collaboration among partners working in the early childhood space, WKKF commissioned independent evaluators to rigorously track data. Then we funded a series of investments in programs that provide services like home visits, extended child care and pre-K educational programming. The approach has resulted in an increase in the kindergarten readiness rate of 39.4 percentage points among children in Battle Creek Public Schools, also a grantee.
Battle Creek based grantee, Washington Heights United Methodist Church & Community (WHUMCC), led by pastor Monique French, is deploying a project called “Recover Our Neighborhood.” The project aims to provide more housing options for the city while revitalizing the Washington Heights neighborhood. Through funding for homeowner repair programs, infill development and homeownership classes, WHUMCC is helping the neighborhood eliminate blight and expand housing opportunities. As new homes are built and existing homes are restored, the initiative is fostering community pride and economic growth.
Haiti
WKKF grantee Le Centre Haitien du Leadership et de l’Excellence (CLE) trains and connects leaders to collectively build toward a prosperous, self-reliant, equitable and well-governed Haiti. As part of that vision, they recently announced winners of their fifth Chanpyon Lakay youth leadership and social entrepreneurship competition. Participants from CLE’s Angaje Program, which provides young entrepreneurs with personal development and business growth tools, showcase their work for the chance to win grants to scale and strengthen their businesses. Learn more about the five winning social entrepreneurs and their vision for growth and impact in Haiti’s agricultural sector in CLE’s winner presentation video.
New Mexico
New Mexico is advancing a “Baby Bonds” initiative aimed at reducing wealth disparities and promoting economic mobility among its residents. The proposed program would establish publicly funded trust accounts for children born in the state after July 1, 2025. These accounts would accrue interest over time, becoming accessible when the child reaches adulthood, and could be used for approved expenses such as education, starting a business or purchasing a home. In August 2024, WKKF grantee Partnership for Community Action (PCA) launched a pilot program in collaboration with Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors, MoneyByrd and Prosperity Works (also a current WKKF grantee). This pilot provided $6,000 trust accounts to 15 children from birth to five years old, with projections estimating that these funds could grow to approximately $20,000 by the time the children turn 18.
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