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Michigan
R.I.S.E. Corp., a W.K. Kellogg Foundation grantee based in Battle Creek, will expand its work with youth and families living in high-poverty neighborhoods in the city. The nonprofit will enhance workforce development and mentorship programs, strengthen its violence interruption efforts and deepen its focus on social-emotional learning and community leadership. Founded in 2017, R.I.S.E. is committed to advancing health equity, disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline and providing critical basic needs support through trauma-informed, community-driven solutions.
GenesisHOPE, a WKKF grantee, is leading efforts to establish the Common Ground Community Land Trust in Detroit. The goal is creating permanently affordable housing and preventing displacement in neighborhoods like Islandview and the Villages. With support from the Detroit Justice Center, also a WKKF grantee, community members are being trained to manage and govern the land trust through democratic, resident-led processes. The initiative aims to ensure long-term housing equity and empower residents to shape the future of their neighborhoods.
Haiti
This Haitian Heritage Month, we honor the enduring strength, creativity and unshakable spirit of Haitians. Local leaders, grassroots organizations and everyday citizens are driving bold, community-led efforts to create lasting change for children and families throughout the country. A shining example of these efforts is the Hope on a String initiative, which uses music, arts and storytelling to empower youth and amplify local voices. Another is the transformative work of Fonkoze’s Chemen Lavi Miyò (A Pathway to a Better Life) program, which helps Haitian families rise out of poverty by providing comprehensive support and guidance. Both illustrate how Haitian communities are charting their own paths forward through culture, solidarity and determination. Learn more about the espwa, or hope, in Haiti’s communities in this blog post and discover what’s possible when communities come together to lift up one another.
New Orleans
Everyone deserves to live in a safe, healthy neighborhood. Yet in New Orleans, many longtime communities face repeated flooding due to aging infrastructure and years of underinvestment. Water Wise Gulf South, a WKKF grantee, was recently featured in The New York Times for its innovative, community-led efforts to combat flooding in New Orleans. By installing rain gardens, French drains and permeable pavement in low-lying neighborhoods, Water Wise has helped manage up to 190,000 gallons of stormwater per rainfall. Their approach empowers residents to lead and design solutions — transforming skepticism into stewardship and making climate adaptation tangible at the neighborhood level.
In Episode 4 of Voices of I Am New Orleans, we spotlight Lede New Orleans, a youth-led journalism initiative empowering young storytellers to shape the narrative of their city. Community Reporting Fellowship alumni Freddie and Kennedy share how storytelling fuels their vision for a more just, joyful New Orleans. Joined by Lede’s director, Jennifer Larino, the episode explores how community-rooted journalism drives civic dialogue and lasting change.
Mississippi
In May 2025, WKKF grantee Singing River Health System celebrated the graduation of the Project SEARCH Class of 2025 at its Pascagoula and Ocean Springs hospitals. The celebration recognized young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who completed hands-on job training. That same month, the health system launched a 24/7 Crisis Intervention Program to expand access to urgent mental health support. Together, these efforts reflect Singing River’s commitment to inclusion and comprehensive community care.
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