What has a decade of the Promise meant for Kalamazoo? That was the topic of discussion during a special recording on Monday at the Epic Theater in Kalamazoo.
The first panel included Von Washington Jr. the Executive Director of Community Relations for the Kalamazoo Promise, Upjohn Institute Research Fellow and Grand Valley State University Political Science Professor Michelle Miller-Adams. She has written two books about the Promise. The first panel also included Martha Warfield, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Western Michigan University and a trustee on the Kalamazoo School Board.
Washington says the Promise impacts every corner of the community. He was the principal of Kalamazoo Central High School when the Promise was announced. Washington says it meant greater expectations for students. But he says it doesn’t address all of the problems that students face, especially those in poverty.
Warfield says the Promise meant “changing the way we do business in a lot of ways.” She says the school district has been working on programs like early childhood reading to help create a “college going culture.”
Miller-Adams says the Promise is also a “giant social experiment” to determine what universal scholarship programs can do for their community. She says that includes the effects on education, but also on things like the economy and housing.
The second segment featured two people who work with Promise recipients at Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. And a student who was part of the 2006 graduating class, the first one to benefit from the Promise.
KVCC Promise Coach Monteze Morales says she works with many students who are the first generation in their family to attend college. She says those students don’t have the knowledge to navigate things like financial aid. Morales says she tries to find additional aid for expenses like books or transportation.
The director of Western Michigan University’s Kalamazoo Promise program Ron Dillard says his background is in education and financial aid. He works with students to make sure “they get the most bang from the buck” for their scholarship. Dillard says the students who are the first generation in their family to attend college don’t “have the luxury of calling mom and dad” for advice.
Amy Olivares used her Promise scholarship to attend Western Michigan University. She has both her bachelor’s and master’s degree from WMU. Olivares also had a scholarship for bi-lingual students. She was able to graduate from college debt free and now teaches Spanish at Grand Valley State University. Olivares says in that role she now sometimes teaches students who are receiving the Kalamazoo Promise.
Morales, Dillard and Olivares are all the first generation in their family to attend college.
Michelle Miller-Adams and Von Washington Jr. came back on stage for the final segment. They were joined by Upjohn Institute Economist Brad Hershbein. They discussed the future of the Promise and other scholarship programs.
Hershbein is the co-author of recent research showing that the Promise has boosted college enrollment and degree completion for students in Kalamazoo. He says other another study shows that universal scholarship programs are worth their investment in terms of future earnings for the recipients. Miller-Adams’ most recent book Promise Nation examines the spread of scholarship programs throughout the nation. She says “no two programs are exactly alike.”
Miller-Adams says she expects more communities to continue establishing programs to help pay for college. Also states are acting on making community college free for students. But Miller-Adams says the Kalamazoo Promise remains unique because it’s universal – offered to all students in the district – and very generous.
Washington says he often hears from people in other communities who want to launch their own version of the Promise. He says the challenge for the next ten years is to ensure that students are successful. Washington says that should include working with organizations in the Kalamazoo area that focus on poverty, health care and other issues.
