Being a Fire youth means...
- Being a catalyst and spark for change through art.
- Radically accepting and caring for yourself and others.
- Finding your authentic voice.
- Healing, growing & sowing.
From The BeginningFor 16 years, Fire has grown as a unique organization for cutting edge artistic expression and individual leadership development, especially for people most marginalized in Kalamazoo. Often, people name Fire as their “safe space,” amidst a world that oppresses people based on marginalized identities of race, gender and sexuality. Fire was cofounded in 2005 by Dr. Michelle Johnson and Denise Miller. Michelle Johnson describes her time at Fire, “...as an extension of my 25-year insistence on space for marginalized people to express their autonomous and authentic selves." Denise Miller is a published poet and has lead public art, poetry and culinary arts programming at Fire.
Fire developed the Creative Justice Model to develop authentic self expression through artistic methods based in communication and geared towards sustainability. Staff, volunteers, artists and community members transformed lives by sustaining space for artists and producing long-standing programs including poetry, theater and youth development, particularly as they connect with the liberatory effects of access to cultural production.
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Where We Are NowWe value radical authenticity and modeling a space where people can be themselves without judgement or shame. We believe art and justice movements are essential to each other’s vision of a more free world. We value artists and justice workers, through compensation, trust, exposure, space, empowerment and community. We believe creating art can be a personal act of liberation, and when done collectively can transform communities.
We believe that young people can create and lead the way to a more free world. We value young people as competent leaders and part of the decision making body at Fire. We believe that it is important for youth to see themselves as part of a larger world within and beyond Kalamazoo. We believe in youth and adult partnerships at all levels; We value intergenerational and intersectional creative spaces to grow empathy and emotional capacity.
We believe in liberation from all forms of oppression. People from marginalized identities belong at Fire because their creativity and skills are seen, amplified and encouraged to grow through risk-taking. We are committed to centering youth who are queer, trans*, people of color, survivors of criminalization, racially profiled and marginalized by discriminatory public policies.
Fire embraces intergenerational leadership by modeling what it looks like to nourish and develop young people expressing themselves authentically and standing up for what they believe in. We do this through readying youth to take positions of leadership as we see that today through Fire's current leadership. |
The Board of Directors
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We accept applications all year round.
To the best of our ability, the Fire Board of Directors shall represent the ethnic and racial makeup of the community. We are currently looking for individuals who possess one or more of the following characteristics:
To the best of our ability, the Fire Board of Directors shall represent the ethnic and racial makeup of the community. We are currently looking for individuals who possess one or more of the following characteristics:
- Passion for a more just world where all can express every facet of their identity without fear of judgement or oppression.
- Financial, Legal and Non-Profit experience.
- Experience in organizational development.
Important Policies
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Strategic Plan
We are currently in a new strategic planning process. See our previous 5-year Strategic Plan, designed in 2016, approved in 2017. We accomplished the plan in 2019. Financials
Check out our 2020 990, 2019 990, 2018 990, 2017 990, 2016 990, 2015 990. Check out: 2020 Annual Report Brochure (2019 Annual Report absent as the organization focused our energy on COVID-19 crisis response) 2018 Annual Report Brochure 2017 Annual Report Brochure 2016 Annual Report Brochure |
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Anti-Discrimination & EEO Policy
Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, immigration or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We appreciate your support of Fire and investment in youth not as constituents to be served, but youth who are valued as competent, resources and providers of valuable experiences that will strengthen not just our organization, but families and our community. Our ENTIRE EEO Policy Statement approved by the Board of Directors can be found here.
Accessibility Policy
Fire is a space that operates in a manner that respects the dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity of persons with disabilities. Fire is committed to communicating with persons with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. Fire spatially designs events in our building to be accessible to people with disabilities. Fire encourages feedback regarding how we provide access and operate in partnership with persons with disabilities.
Created with help from Arcadia (formerly The Arcadia Institute) and Connect Kalamazoo
Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, immigration or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We appreciate your support of Fire and investment in youth not as constituents to be served, but youth who are valued as competent, resources and providers of valuable experiences that will strengthen not just our organization, but families and our community. Our ENTIRE EEO Policy Statement approved by the Board of Directors can be found here.
Accessibility Policy
Fire is a space that operates in a manner that respects the dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity of persons with disabilities. Fire is committed to communicating with persons with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. Fire spatially designs events in our building to be accessible to people with disabilities. Fire encourages feedback regarding how we provide access and operate in partnership with persons with disabilities.
Created with help from Arcadia (formerly The Arcadia Institute) and Connect Kalamazoo
