Calhoun County Organizations Join Together to Offer New Support Hubs for Albion Families and Communities

Albion College, The Battle Creek Family YMCA, Marshall Public Schools, Summit Pointe, Calhoun Intermediate School District Early Childhood Services and the Albion Health Care Alliance will offer early childhood and youth programming through the Albion Family and Community Collaborative.

July 23, 2021

Albion College, the Battle Creek Family YMCA, Marshall Public Schools (MPS), Summit Pointe, Calhoun Intermediate School District Early Childhood Services and the Albion Health Care Alliance today announced they will work together to create the Albion Family and Community Collaborative. Designed to bridge the gap between local families and existing support networks, the Collaborative will offer holistic education and well-being programming for children, youth and families in and around the City of Albion.

“This initiative builds on our existing partnership with Albion College and expands to include additional partners, which will leverage our collective efforts in new and coordinated ways,” said Jill Hinde, Battle Creek Family YMCA chief executive officer. “The Y is about building better communities for all, and this aligns with that mission.”

“We are excited to partner to build new possibilities for families and the community,” added Becky Jones, interim superintendent of Marshall Public Schools.

The collaborative brings together community organizations across Calhoun County that have a strong interest and track record in providing educational programming and support to local families and communities. The program will have offices at Albion College in the Washington Gardner building where the College, the YMCA, and the MPS District are already partnering on critical community programs. Additional sites around the City of Albion will be added over the coming year.

“As an institution of public purpose, Albion College is committed to working with our local community to meet identified needs and strengthen existing partnerships,” said Dr. Mathew Johnson, president of Albion College. “Our goal in all of our work is to create a seamless community campus that builds a true sense of belonging for our students, faculty, staff and community members.”

The new Albion Family and Community Collaborative will leverage the expertise and resources of the six community organizations involved to offer early childhood and youth programming as well as holistic support for local families, including healthcare, wellness and food security. Collaborating organizations will begin by establishing a community advisory committee in the coming weeks.

About Albion College

Albion College is a private liberal arts college of approximately 1,500 students and is nationally recognized for its academic excellence in the liberal arts tradition, a learning-centered commitment, and a future-oriented perspective. The College is a leader in preparing students to anticipate, solve and prevent problems in order to improve the human and global condition. Albion immerses students in the creation and processing of knowledge and graduates skilled architects of societal change, active citizens, and future leaders. The College is dedicated to the highest quality in undergraduate education and is committed to diversity as a core institutional value.

Albion, Michigan is a culturally diverse community in the south-central part of the state. The College recognizes the value of community, both on- and off-campus, and has invested resources in supporting the revitalization of the greater Albion community. This work offers an increasingly vibrant city around the campus that provides students with a fuller experience as they prepare to become engaged citizens in their own communities. For more information, visit albion.edu.