Local Author Releases "Promising" Read

Michelle Miller-Adams was dropping her four-year-old off at preschool when the Kalamazoo Promise was announced on a public radio station. In the days that followed, she grew to understand not only the simple stipulations of the Promise, but also the resulting social and economic complexities. As a mother, educator, social scientist, resident of the Kalamazoo Public Schools district and concerned citizen, Miller-Adams admits she could not have divulged in a more satisfying research subject.

In-depth interviews and community and economic research compile Miller-Adams’ new book, The Power of a Promise. Appealing to audiences of all ages, readers agree that Miller-Adams’ book is a pleasant commentary that addresses the successes and challenges of the Kalamazoo Promise—which is followed by asking important questions regarding the future of the scholarship.

From the W. E. Upjohn Institute's Web site:

“… In the first comprehensive account of the Kalamazoo Promise, Michelle Miller-Adams charts its initial impact as well as its potential to bring about fundamental economic and social change in a community hurt by job loss, depopulation, and racial segregation.

Drawing on cutting-edge research in the fields of education and economic development, Miller-Adams combines insights from these disciplines with an unparalleled understanding of the Kalamazoo Promise based on extensive interviews and observation from the program’s earliest days. Her book tells the fascinating story of why the Kalamazoo Promise came about, how the broader community has responded to its introduction, and its impact—real and anticipated—on Kalamazoo’s students, schools, social fabric, and economic future.

At a time when communities across the nation are striving for greater economic competitiveness and expanded educational opportunities for their youth, Miller-Adams’ firsthand account reveals both the promise and the challenges inherent in place-based universal scholarship programs and offers guidance to all those working to prepare their communities for success in the twenty-first century."

The Power of a Promise is available for purchase from Kazoo Books and the W.E. Upjohn Institute. To read the introductory chapter, click here.