KConnect

10/21/2026

Introducing the KConnect Bill Tracker!

Our new Bill Tracker offers a way for our Network to follow legislation connected to KConnect’s Shared Policy Agenda and stay informed on policies shaping children and families in Kent County and across Michigan.

We’ve also created a video walkthrough, available on our website, to help you navigate the tracker.

Explore the Bill Tracker: https://hubs.la/Q04BR6rD0

10/20/2026

Last week, KConnect partnered with the Michigan League for Public Policy and Michigan's Children to bring Kent County youth and local candidates together for a Youth-Led Candidate Roundtable.

Guided by youth survey responses, young people led conversations on education, health, systemic inequities, and youth voice, bringing their perspectives directly into election conversations.

Thank you to candidate Rachel Gross (House District 78), Rep. Stephen Wooden (House District 81), and Rep. Kristian Grant (House District 82) for joining us, and to the young leaders who shaped the roundtable with lived experience, expertise, and commitment to their communities!

All candidates across parties from US House Districts 2 & 3 and Michigan House Districts 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, & 90 were invited.

10/16/2026

This week, KConnect Backbone team members Salvador López and Dr. Shayla Young, alongside Board member Michelle Van D**e (Heart of West Michigan United Way), presented at the Council of Michigan Foundations’ annual conference!

Their session, Driving Systems Change: Policy, Equity and People in Action, explored how funders and community partners can advance equitable policy, build trust with residents, and recognize the value of lived experience. The takeaway: Lasting systems change requires more than traditional grantmaking. It calls for investing in community expertise and working alongside residents to address systemic challenges.

Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation and to CMF for creating space for changemakers across Michigan to learn and share ideas!

10/14/2026

“Families don’t fall through the cracks within a single system: they fall through the space between systems, and nobody owns that space. The Common Agenda and Roadmap 2.0 is helping us be creative about how our partners can jointly own the work in these spaces.”

In a recent feature from the Steelcase Foundation, KConnect President & CEO Salvador López shares how our Common Agenda and Roadmap 2.0 helps partners work together to address gaps between systems and create better outcomes for children and families across Kent County.

The Steelcase Foundation is a valued partner of KConnect and our collective impact work, helping make progress toward our shared goals possible. We’re grateful for their continued support and for the opportunity to share more about the importance of working together to create lasting systems change.

Read the full feature:

In 2025, the Steelcase Foundation provided KConnect a three-year $300,000 grant to support its Common Agenda Road map 2.0, which provides a shared vision and goals for Kent County's collective impact work. Hear from President and CEO Salvador López as he shares insights into this work.

10/09/2026

Join us in celebrating Stephanie Salamone! Our Director of Operations recently earned her master’s degree in Accounting and Data Analytics from Michigan State University.

Stephanie is the person who keeps everything moving behind the scenes at KConnect, bringing organization and care to the work that helps our team stay on track. She’s continued to show up for us and our community while balancing her role at KConnect and earning her degree.

We’re grateful for everything Stephanie brings to our team and excited to celebrate her well-deserved accomplishment. Congratulations, Stephanie! 👏

10/08/2026

Calling all Kent County Youth! You're invited to join the conversation this election season.

On Thursday, Oct. 15, youth ages 15-24 can join a virtual Youth-Led Candidate Roundtable featuring candidates from across Kent County (hosted in partnership with Michigan League for Public Policy and Michigan's Children).

This is an opportunity to hear directly from candidates, ask questions, and have an open dialogue about issues that matter to young people. Topics and questions will be informed by responses to our youth survey.

📌 Register for the roundtable (Thursday, Oct. 15 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.): https://hubs.la/Q04zC_VT0
📌 Take the youth survey: https://hubs.la/Q04zC_VV0

10/05/2026

Youth voice is essential to understanding the issues that matter most to children and families. On the latest PACE Forward podcast episode, Kent County youth Harini Manikandan and Eli Hajjar share their perspectives on engaging with elected officials, amplifying youth-identified issues, and creating opportunities for young people to become informed voters.

This episode was recorded to help prepare listeners and youth for the upcoming candidate event. Since then, the event has evolved from a youth-led candidate forum into a candidate roundtable. The Youth Survey discussed in the episode is an important part of the process and will help inform the conversation.

If you want to learn more about the upcoming Youth-Led Candidate Roundtable, comment below and we’ll reach out with more information.

Know a young person ages 15-24? Share the Youth Survey and podcast episode with them!

🔗 Podcast episode: https://hubs.la/Q04zcmCl0
🔗 Youth survey: https://hubs.la/Q04zcmSR0

09/29/2026

Kent County youth, your voice belongs at the table!

What issues matter most to you this election season? Take our youth survey and help shape the questions candidates will be asked at an upcoming virtual Youth-Led Candidate Roundtable.

Youth ages 15-24 who live in Kent County are invited to share the issues they care about and what they want to know about policies affecting young people. They’ll also have the opportunity to attend the virtual conversation and hear directly from candidates.

Take the youth survey: https://hubs.la/Q04yzWV00

09/28/2026

Join the ELO Network for the Lights On Afterschool Pre-Bash as we celebrate the impact of afterschool and out-of-school-time programs, but most importantly, the inspiring young people they support across our community.

The evening will bring together youth, families, and community partners for a Youth Talent Showcase featuring K-12 students sharing their talents through art, music, dance, poetry, STEAM, creative writing, and more. Youth showcase submissions are due by October 9.

🗓️ Wednesday, October 21
⏰ 4:30-7:30 p.m.
📍 MLK Community Center

Come celebrate the people and programs helping young people find their voice and thrive beyond the school day. Register and learn more below!

💡 Join The ELO Network on Wednesday, October 21, for the Lights On Afterschool Pre-Bash as we celebrate our youth and the programs that help them learn, grow, and thrive beyond the traditional school day!

We invite families, students, and community members to come out and celebrate with us.

🎨🎤 We’re also encouraging students in grades K–12 to participate in our Talent Showcase! Please use the registration form to RSVP. If your student would like to participate in the showcase, be sure to include their talent submission information on the form.

We can’t wait to see you there! ✨

09/25/2026

The KConnect team is excited to welcome Thomas Beck as our latest fellow through TeachMichigan – Michigan Education Policy Fellowship!

Thomas will work closely on our Policy, Advocacy & Community Engagement (PACE) initiatives, where he’ll contribute to work focused on eighth-grade math achievement, a strong predictor of postsecondary success and workforce readiness.

Thomas has more than 10 years of experience in education, with a background in various teaching and coaching settings. He currently serves as a middle school math teacher and Restorative Practices lead at Kentwood Public Schools, where he's passionate about creating classrooms where students feel respected, confident, and capable.

A graduate of Dordt University, Thomas has taught social studies, English and math, and has also worked at a therapeutic boarding school in the Dominican Republic. Outside of the classroom, Thomas enjoys sports, spending time outdoors, and cooking.

We’re excited to have Thomas bring his classroom experience and perspective to our work along the cradle-to-career continuum. Welcome, Thomas!