Niles Area Residents to Unveil Community Project July 29
Niles Area Residents to Unveil Community Project July 29
A group of Niles area residents will unveil a community improvement project developed over the past few months during a celebration Wednesday, July 29, at Apothica Teas in downtown Niles.
The event runs from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. and marks the completion of the second cohort of the Community Leadership Academy, a program led by Be Healthy Berrien and Corewell Health that equips residents with the skills, knowledge, and resources to create positive change in their neighborhoods.
The project will be unveiled during the event, and attendees will be invited to provide feedback through a community survey and interactive display stations. Niles residents are encouraged to share their perspectives by completing the survey located at BeHealthyBerrien.org.
The evening will also celebrate the accomplishments of the cohort participants, who have spent the last 13 weeks building leadership skills and developing solutions to strengthen their community. Remarks from Be Healthy Berrien, Corewell Health, and United Way of Southwest Michigan will be followed by an awards presentation recognizing each graduate.
"The participants in this cohort already knew what mattered in Niles. They live it," said Dawn Marie Smith, Director of Be Healthy Berrien. "This project gives neighbors more reasons to connect outdoors, spend time in shared community spaces, and feel more connected to one another."
"We wanted this project to help people get outside, take advantage of the city's outdoor amenities, meet their neighbors, and feel like they are part of something together," said Courtney Jordan, cohort participant. "When people have inviting places to gather and spend time together, it strengthens community connections and helps improve quality of life."
The first Community Leadership Academy cohort graduated in Benton Harbor in December 2025 after developing a project focused on youth gun violence awareness. The Academy is funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund through a grant to United Way of Southwest Michigan, and the Niles cohort is part of a broader effort to expand the model across Berrien County.
Apothica Teas, located at 222 E. Main St. in Niles, will host the event. Community members, families, and local leaders are welcome. Attendance is free, but registration is required by clicking the link at BeHealthyBerrien.org.
About Be Healthy Berrien
Be Healthy Berrien, launched in 2010, is a countywide initiative improving community health through policy, systems, and environmental changes. It works to expand access to nutritious food and promote active living across Berrien County. The steering committee includes the Berrien County Health Department, Corewell Health, the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, and the YMCA of Greater Michiana, with United Way of Southwest Michigan serving as the anchor agency and fiduciary. Learn more at BeHealthyBerrien.org.
About United Way of Southwest Michigan
United Way of Southwest Michigan works to create and sustain a united & resilient community where everyone contributes, belongs and thrives. We harness resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners to address our community's most pressing challenges and make lasting change. Join us in giving, advocating, and volunteering by visiting uwsm.org
About Corewell Health ™
People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 65,000+ dedicated people—including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,500 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org
