Be Healthy Berrien

Working to build healthier places to live, work, learn, and play in Southwest Michigan

Jason West

LEAD WHERE YOU LIVE: Community Leadership Academy Opens Applications

Empowering local leaders to build a healthier Berrien County starts with residents who know their neighborhoods best. Be Healthy Berrien and Corewell Health have opened applications for the second cohort of the Community Leadership Academy—a free 12-week program for residents of Niles, Niles Charter Township, Buchanan, and Buchanan Township. The Academy is designed to build local civic leadership, and residents who have had fewer opportunities to participate in formal leadership roles—including those from underserved and underrepresented neighborhoods are especially encouraged to apply. The program strengthens participants’ skills, confidence, and connections that are essential to community‑driven solutions.

Supported by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund through a grant to United Way of Southwest Michigan, the Academy strengthens community-driven policy and systems change. Through interactive sessions and project-based learning, the Academy helps residents build skills and relationships to turn local priorities into action.

Why the Academy Matters

The Academy was shaped by local voices and modeled after San Diego’s successful Resident Leadership Academy. Community health assessments continue to highlight the need for safer spaces, healthier food options, stronger community connections, and more opportunities for residents to help shape neighborhood solutions. The Academy provides structure, mentorship, and a supportive space for residents to gather, organize, and lead community-driven change.

“We want more residents to get connected, feel empowered, and take action to create lasting community change,” said Ambie Bell, Executive Director of Emerge Innovation Hub in Niles and a Steering Committee member.

Academy Cohort 1 graduation celebration at Corewell Health Center for Wellness in Benton Harbor Mich. 

Accepting Applications: ZIP Codes 49120 and 49107

Interested in making a difference where you live? The Community Leadership Academy is now accepting applications for its second cohort. Residents who are passionate about their community and want to build skills, confidence, and connections to support local solutions are encouraged to apply. The program is free. Participants build practical skills connected to neighborhood well-being, including:

  • Healthy food systems
  • Safety and violence prevention
  • Land use and active transportation
  • Leadership, advocacy, and communication
  • Problem-solving and decision-making

Each cohort completes a Community Improvement Project—such as planting a community garden or launching a tool sharing program, reclaiming an overgrown vacant lot through cleanup, or improving a park or trailhead for safety by addressing lighting needs and trimming vegetation.

Tool Sharing Program | Photo courtesy of Arlington Texas Tool Sharing Program 

From Learning to Leadership

Community members at the Academy Cohort 1 celebration at Corewell Health Center for Wellness in Benton Harbor Mich. 

The first cohort, launched in fall 2025, brought 12 Benton Harbor residents together to address an immediate community need by developing a Community Improvement Project focused on youth gun violence. That work helped shape the Youth Gun Violence Summit scheduled for June 26, 2026.

“This experience gave me the tools and skills to make a real difference. We’re not just talking about change; we’re creating it together,” said Cori Burton, a cohort participant.

Graduates continue working alongside community partners to turn their action plans into meaningful community impact.

Who Should Apply

Adults 18+ living in Niles, Niles Charter Township, Buchanan, and Buchanan Township (ZIP codes 49120 and 49107) are eligible to apply. Residents who have had fewer opportunities to participate in community leadership roles are especially encouraged to apply. 

Program Details

  • 12 weeks of interactive Wednesday evening sessions
  • Location: Niles (details provided to participants)
  • Meals provided; childcare stipends available
  • Free to participants
  • No prior leadership experience is required

Apply: Applications are open through April 1, 2026

Your ideas matter. Your neighborhood matters. Join the Community Leadership Academy and help shape a stronger, more connected Berrien County. Apply at behealthyberrien.org/cla/

Health Happens Here: Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals Supports Community Change with $55,000 Award

Funding Strengthens Local Systems That Make Healthy Living Easier

Saint Joseph, MI — Across Berrien County, residents are finding new ways to live healthier— walking connected trails, shopping at local farmers markets, and participating in programs that strengthen neighborhoods. By improving walkability, expanding food access, and responding to residents’ needs— these community-driven efforts show how everyday life can flourish when health becomes a shared priority. A $55,000 award from community partner, Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals to United Way of Southwest Michigan helps strengthen the systems that make these opportunities possible.

The Be Healthy Berrien initiative serves as a catalyst for change, making nutritious eating and daily physical activity more attainable. Guided by Corewell Health’s Community Health Needs Assessment, the initiative focuses on underserved areas, improving food access and creating environments that support active, healthier, and more connected communities across Berrien County.

How the Work Moves Forward

Be Healthy Berrien doesn’t work alone. Every success is powered by community partnerships, local organizations, health systems, businesses, and residents who share a vision for a healthier county. Together, partners strengthen food systems, connect trails, and enhance systems that make healthy living more accessible.

These improvements are designed to last. By pooling resources, expertise, and community insight, the initiative builds system changes and environmental improvements into the places where people learn, gather, and thrive.

Investing in Health at the Community Level

Corewell Health’s mission to improve health, instill humanity, and inspire hope, guides this award. Because health begins in neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces, this investment helps create conditions where fewer people face preventable health challenges.

“Health is shaped by the environments where we live, work, and play,” said Natalie Baggio, president of Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals. “Through this work, strengthening care, advancing wellness, and creating a healthier future for Southwest Michigan—our investment reflects a commitment to improving access to nutritious food and spaces for physical activity.”

“This support helps us deepen our impact,” said Dawn Marie Smith, Director of Be Healthy Berrien. “Together with community partners and residents, we can create healthier environments that make it easier for people to live well every day.”

Change in Action

  • Community Leadership Academy: Supporting residents to lead health-focused neighborhood improvements.
  • Trail Connectivity Projects: Creating safe, connected routes for walking and biking.
  • Farm Hub Feasibility Study: Exploring a year-round retail hub to expand food access, support local farms, and integrate Food as Medicine strategies.
  • Benton Harbor Farmers Market: Enhancing access to nutritious foods, nutrition education, and local growers.
  • Healthy Corner Stores: Bringing fresh produce into neighborhoods where it’s needed most.

Want to be part of the change? Explore local trails and support local growers, your health and your community thrive together. Learn more at behealthyberrien.org.