KALAMAZOO (MICH.) – The Merze Tate Explorers is truly a community youth organization. For more than a decade, the student Explorers have met with hundreds of women who rock in their chosen careers. As Explorer travel writers meet phenomenal women, they enhance their communications skills as journalists. Through article writing, photography, and videography, students learn
Six members of the Merze Tate Explorers held their breath as they awaited the results. The young women in grades 9th-12th, had just competed with nearly 30 other youth in the inaugural virtual True Colors Next Narrative Monologue Competition. Their hard work had paid off as students competed virtually for two spots to perform in
*Header image: From left: Sonya Bernard-Hollins, founder of the Merze Tate Explorers, poses with Explorer Brittany Wright and her mother, Shelly after Brittany earned the Life EMS Social Justice Youth Award from the City of Kalamazoo. As 2022 begins, the Explorers are off to a great start! The Michigan Afterschool Partnership www.miafterschool.org has recognized the
Thanks to our partners at the Crossroads Mall in Portage, Michigan, the Explorers had another successful gift-wrapping fundraiser! Our goal for our 5th year of fundraising was $6,000. While we were a bit short of the goal, we were very close, thanks to the Explorers, their families, and community members who contributed their time, and
*Headline image: Girls in Tanzania read Girls Can! The Explorers and girls of Wotesawa Domestic Workers Organization have partnered to work together to provide scholarships and sisterhood to one another. Image Copyright Protected. Do not use without permission. In 2013 Community Voices partnered with the Merze Tate Explorers to bring youth voices to media. Today,
Western Michigan University Provost Jennifer Bott is inviting the community to celebrate history in the making. Dr. Vernie Merze Tate (1905-1996) was a 1927 graduate of the university (See details of her life in the previous post.) Her dedication to the university during her life and in the bequests she left upon her death will
KALAMAZOO (MICH.) – When 18 young women filed into the Children’s Room of the Kalamazoo Public Library (Central Branch) little did they know they were in for a treat. As they prepared to interview a mystery guest, their task was, as teams, to think of 5 questions to discover her identity (they could not ask
The Merze Tate Explorers and Girls Scout Troop of Bible Baptist Church celebrated graduates and Silver and Gold awardees. While we could not have a public event due to Covid restrictions, our family and friends event allowed us to recognize students for their hard work in education, scouting, and more! See highlights of the program
Explorers who graduated from middle school to college were celebrated for their 2021 accomplishments! The Explorers, in partnership with Girls Scouts Heart of Michigan, also recognized three Explorers who earned Silver and Gold Awards. The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. Maya Daniels, Syann Hollins, and Sierra Ward earned a
In partnership with the Great Michigan Reads, the Merze Tate Explorers interviewed Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, FAAP, during a Zoom call. That call allowed Explorers to add a Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential person to be added to their long list of phenomenal women they have interviewed over the past decade. The interview with