Kalamazoo hip-hop artist, educator excited to share her passion with youth as leader of literacy nonprofit
Posted May 15, 2021
Kandace Lavender was recently named the new executive director of Read and Write Kalamazoo, also known as RAWK. Lavender is a poet, hip hop artist and a longtime educator. (Photo by Walker Leigh Photography and provided by RAWK)Walker Leigh Photography
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KALAMAZOO, MI Kandace Lavender is a poet, hip hop artist and an educator.
Known to many across the Kalamazoo arts and music community as “DC,” Lavender now has another hat to try on as the recently-named executive director of Read and Write Kalamazoo. The local nonprofit focuses on celebrating and amplifying youth voices through cultivating reading and writing skills, “via joy, creativity, equity and access.”
Jazmonique Strickland. (Photo courtesy Kalamazoo County Jail).
KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) Jazmonique Strickland, the wife of former pastor Stricjavvar âStrickâ Strickland, has had all charges of criminal sexual conduct involving minors dropped against her, according to a report from MLive Wednesday.
Strick Strickland, (courtesy Kalamazoo County Jail).
That comes after a warrant for her arrest was issued earlier this year on several alleged sex crimes, and after her husband was arrested last year.
Jazmonique Strickland was previously charged with felony counts related to child sexual assault and human trafficking of a minor.
She and her husband are alleged to have paid teenage boys for sexual acts and photographs between the years of 2015 and 2018.
Most of the teachers and staff in Kalamazoo Public Schools have received their COVID-19 shots according to the district, and they have also been working to get students inoculated too.
Superintendent Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri says because of their efforts with local health officials, Kalamazoo County has one of the best teen vaccination rates in Southwest Michigan.
“32% of 16 to 19-year-olds residing in Kalamazoo County have been vaccinated as a result of our collaborative efforts.”
She says that news could have parents rethinking whether or not to opt for virtual learning this fall. Parents have until June 6th to let the district know if they have changed their minds about it…
Kalamazoo County voters approve special education tax that supports nine school districts
Updated May 05, 2021;
Posted May 05, 2021
Kalamazoo County voters approved a request from the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency to renew the county’s 1.5-mill special education tax on Tuesday, May 4. (MLive File Photo)
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KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI Voters in Kalamazoo County Tuesday approved the millage that supports special education at nine area districts.
The Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency returned to voters on Tuesday, May 4, to request the renewal of the county’s 1.5-mill special education tax, first approved by voters in 2015.
The millage passed with 18,670 votes in favor of renewal to 10,645 opposed, according to the complete unofficial results from the Kalamazoo Count Clerk’s Office.