Published on February 03, 2026

Bronson Honors Black History Month with Focus on Equity and Community Impact

At Bronson, advancing the health of our communities is at the heart of everything we do. This means delivering high-quality, compassionate care to every patient and family, and building a workplace where every team member feels valued and empowered.

During Black History Month, we are highlighting initiatives and partnerships aimed at reducing disparities in care, strengthening trust in the healthcare system and supporting healthier communities. Over the past year, some of these key efforts include:

Partnering with the Southwest Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (SWMPQIC) to remove barriers to safe, inclusive prenatal and postpartum care.
Supporting Cradle Kalamazoo to reduce Black infant mortality through Fetal Infant Mortality Reviews, Community Baby Showers and other programs.
Hosting summer community events in both Battle Creek and Kalamazoo to provide a variety of free health screenings and education, as well as continued a bi-weekly Health & Wellness Pop-Up program with Sprout BC in Battle Creek where community members could pick up free produce, receive nutrition education and get their blood pressure and blood sugar checked.
Investing in community-led projects, such as the Northside Association for Community Development’s community garden in Kalamazoo County and a Story Stroll with the Covert Branch Library in Van Buren County.
Expanding the Community Health Worker program to improve access, build trust and address social factors that affect health.

See the photos below for a closer look at these initiatives in action.

Bronson clinicians and staff engage with families at a community baby shower event.

Community Baby Showers

Photos of Tracy Anderson, CNM, Dr. Karen Garcia and other Bronson team members participating in Community Baby Showers in partnership with Cradle Kalamazoo.

Health & Wellness Pop-Ups

Three photos from recent pop-up events. 1. A local mom and her children enjoy fresh apples, courtesy of Sprout BC. 2. Volunteers, including two WMed Family Medicine Residents and a Bronson Health Educator, share health information with community members. 3. A WMed Resident provides a free blood pressure check to a community member.

Community members and Bronson staff participate in activities and services at a summer community open house.

Kalamazoo Community Open House

Three photos from Bronson's Community Open House hosted by Bronson Cancer Center in summer 2025. 1. A Bronson Chaplain hosts an event booth, sharing information about chaplain services available to Bronson patients and families. 2. A community member receives a free haircut. 3. A community member holds her young child while enjoying the event.

Families, healthcare providers, and community partners gather for a back-to-school celebration offering supplies, health services, and resources.

Battle Creek Back-to School Community Celebration

Three photos from the summer 2025 Back-to-School celebration hosted by Bronson Battle Creek Hospital and the Southwestern Michigan Urban League. 1. Dr. Elishae Johnson of Bronson Healthcare hands out free backpacks to children. 2. Devon Wilson of Sunlight Gardens and Farmacy distributes free, locally grown produce. 3. A WMed Family Medicine Resident provides a blood pressure check to a Battle Creek community member.

Bronson and community leaders pose together for a group photo at a back-to-school event.

Bronson & Community Leaders at the Battle Creek Back-to-School Celebration

Bronson Healthcare executive team members, staff and leaders from Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, and leaders from Southwestern Michigan Urban League gather for a group photo during the event.

Raised garden beds and greenery at a neighborhood community garden.

Northside Community Garden

The Northside Association of Community Development (NACD) Community Garden, sponsored by Bronson Health Foundation, provides a safe and engaging place for community members to learn healthy habits and connect through growing food.

Community Health Clinics with Southwestern Michigan Urban League

With the goal of making health information and preventive screenings more accessible for all, Bronson is partnering with our local Urban League to host ongoing Community Health Clinics. Starting this Saturday, February 7 from 10 a.m. to noon, clinics will feature:

A presentation on a common health topic, like blood pressure, cancer prevention, vision, nutrition and more
Blood pressure and blood sugar checks
An opportunity to speak one-on-one with Bronson's health experts

View Community Health Clinic details

What Lessons Can Healthcare Take from the Traditional African American Barbershop?

Find out at our upcoming community presentation: Afros, Fades & Razorblades: Lessons from the Chair to the Table – Building a Community-Driven Service Model for Healthcare. Led by Edward Hill, Ed.D., the session will explore how African American barbershops — long trusted community spaces — offer lessons for healthcare organizations in building trust, strengthening relationships and staying rooted in the community.

This free, public event will be held on Wednesday, February 11, from 12:30–2 p.m. at the Bronson Gilmore Center for Health Education on the north campus of Bronson Methodist Hospital.