Milwood Neighborhood Association Board of Directors Election

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 all neighbors, businesses and employees, anyone else who lives, works, or has an interest in the Milwood community are invited to attend a General Membership meeting with the purpose to elect a Board of Directors for the Milwood Neighborhood Association. We will introduce the candidates for the board and vote to elect them as a group. Anyone who is interested in being on the Board of Directors, can email admin@milwood-mi.org

Here is a list of candidates and as they send it in, a paragraph about each one.

Sarah Abbott

I have lived in Milwood my whole life, with the exception of college at MSU. When I was young, my mom helped start the original Milwood Neighborhood Watch, and I would love to be part of its rebirth. I have been involved in several non-profits, including local school's PTOs, board member of the Kalamazoo Husky Club, fundraising committee for Hairy Houdini Siberian Husky Club, and I also help with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. I would love to take my experience with these organizations and utilize my skills to help create a better sense of community within the neighborhood and ensure that it stays the safe, welcoming, well kept, vibrant neighborhood I have always known it to be. 

Jax Anger-Pipe

Jax Anger-Pipe has lived in Milwood for the better part of a decade. You may know her best as the "Iron-fisted dictator,"- also known as the admin- of the "Milwood Neighborhood Hangout," Facebook group. Jax has four kids, all of whom have gone, are going to, or plan to go through KPS the schools within the Milwood Neighborhood. Her husband currently is a teacher with KPS. Jax moved to Kalamazoo over 10 years ago for college and graduated from WMU in 2015 with degrees in Global and International Studies and Legal Studies. She also speaks several languages including French, Spanish, Anishinaabemowin, some Swedish and some Japanese. Jax is an eclectic individual and jokes about being the "Jax of all trades," because she has a plethora of knowledge and experiences which she uses for her job in the technology industry with a strong history of working blue-collar jobs in food service, retail, electrical, and home improvement before college. You may see her walking her dog or most likely online using social media to boost neighborhood engagement and events. 

Dave Buskirk

I have been a resident of Milwood for 50 years this year.

I was on the local officers compensation committee for the  city of Kalamazoo. I served on the Airport advisory board previously and am currently serving on the Airport Authority Board of Directors. I was an elected Kalamazoo County Commissioner from the Milwood Neighborhood for 20 years.

I am very interested in reorganizing the Milwood  Neighborhood Association to insure our Safety and Quality of life for future generations. 

Amber Gille

I’m Amber. Milwood has been my home for six years. I love this community and am excited to be a part of its growth and development. I feel lucky to be connected to the community from many angles. As a Realtor, I’ve helped my neighbors buy and sell homes. As a mother, I’m very involved in the Milwood school system. (I currently have a child in Milwood El and one in Loy Norrix). I was fortunate enough to work at the Kalamazoo airport for several years and have unique insight and knowledge into that piece of our community. I also own a small food truck called The Donut Cart. Many members of our community were crucial in getting The Donut Cart up and running. From the donut texture to the first donut sold, this community literally helped build my business. I guess you could say I live, work, and breathe Milwood!

It’s going to take work and time to rebuild our neighborhood association. My first focus will be making sure we are doing things properly and carefully in the rebuilding so we can have a thriving association for years to come. My future goals are traffic calming and equitable business development. I’m also looking forward to being a liaison for our community to the city for funding, businesses, and housing.

Megan Meier

For those who have not met me prior, my name is Megan Meier! I’ve been a Milwood resident for almost 8 years now and have worked Downtown Kalamazoo the last almost 15 years. I have a couple of fur babies and absolutely love being able to walk my two dogs in a neighborhood like Milwood. It not only has  charm, but it holds some amazing people that create a wonderful dynamic. It's become my home and a place I want to continue to see grow, develop and prosper! 

Plainwell is my hometown, but spent a lot of time as a youth in the Kalamazoo area. Several family members were involved in various organizations through the years, that allowed me to experience various aspects of what it means to be involved. I moved away for college to attended Adrian College where I received my Bachelors in Interior Design/Architectural Design as well as an minor in Business Management. After college, I moved to Florida for a short stint and ended up finding myself back in Kalamazoo, where I ultimately bought my home. Kalamazoo stole my heart! 

I would love the opportunity to represent the Milwood neighborhood through the Milwood Neighborhood Association as one of the board members. Some of my goals would be reconnecting old relationships and also building new relationships within our community and city. While also create opportunities that will allow all individuals to get involved on the level they feel comfortable with. No job is to small! I would also like to work on improving the general safety of the neighborhood. We all deserve a clean and safe environment to live in, which will be another strong focus of mine. 

Michele Momotiuk

I moved to Milwood in July of 2022 and the greater Kalamazoo area in March of 2005. I love the neighborhood and have been a huge fan of several of the neighborhood businesses since I moved here. I have always been involved in my community from being in Adopt-A-Grandparent at the Boys and Girls Club in elementary school to being a Junior League of Kalamazoo member (sustainer now) and working at The Arcadia Institute (community building non-profit supporting people who experience disability) until it closed. I have two sons in high school and two dogs that love to bark at everyone they meet.

I want to be involved in the Milwood Neighborhood Association Board of Directors to help the neighborhood get a Neighborhood Plan with the City of Kalamazoo so that we can start getting more of the improvements and support that other neighborhoods with a plan are getting. I also would like to work on ways to build a stronger sense of community in the neighborhood. I would love to know more names of the people I wave to when I drive down the street and be able to say hello by name to neighbors when out taking a walk. There are many ways to approach this and I look forward to working with other neighbors on ways to build a stronger sense of community for everyone who lives here.

Jennifer Nardi

Hello! I’m Jennifer (she/her) and my partner and I have lived in Milwood since 2005. I am a friendly, motivated, curious, and creative leader dedicated to positive change. I have two children born and raised in Milwood, both attending Kalamazoo Public Schools, and I am an active volunteer in both of their schools and serve on the PTOs and several KPS committees. My career experience includes non-profit leadership, mission advancement, and fund development, which I believe will be helpful in reviving the Milwood Neighborhood Association.

With Kalamazoo’s neighborhood master planning process underway it’s important for Milwood to have the representation of a strong neighborhood association. I’m interested in collaborating with neighborhood and city resources to build a thriving Milwood neighborhood for all. I would love to hear your feedback on what you think are the most pressing challenges for Milwood and what you would be excited about seeing in the neighborhood.

Kate Paull

My family chose Milwood when we purchased our first home in May 2021. Previously, I had been a renter in various Kalamazoo neighborhoods for nearly a decade.

I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve Milwood as a Board of Directors member, and I believe my experience would make me a valuable addition to the organization. As a child I was taught to “think global, act local.” My parents were always involved in local government in our small town and my first job was at a Chamber of Commerce. I finished my education at WMU as a History major and am deeply passionate about historic preservation. Professionally, I serve on the executive leadership team at PMV Custom Finishes where I have learned organizational, project management, and leadership skills that I believe would benefit the organization. I am passionate about community and the incredible impact that local service can have.

I envision the Milwood Neighborhood Association as serving three primary functions. It should act as an advocate and liaison for the community to access resources through city and state government, non profit organizations, and so on. It should also act as a platform to raise the voices of its constituents through established communication channels to ensure that all interested parties have access to leadership and support. And finally, I believe this body should be a resource to build and strengthen community relationships by supporting initiatives to enhance communication and connection in meaningful ways.

I am very much looking forward to seeing this organization become re-established and thank you for your consideration.

Ethan Seguin

I have lived in Kalamazoo for over 6 years and have lived in the wonderful Milwood area since 2023. Over this time, I have grown to know a lot about the city and its history as well as the direction citizens want to see it head towards.

I am a graduate of Western Michigan University with a focus on Criminal Justice and Political Science. I have been very interested in all levels of community engagement from volunteering to attending local events to help support the people of this city.

With recently purchasing my forever home in the Milwood neighborhood, I am very invested to see the area thrive and look forward to becoming as involved and helpful as I can be to everyone in the neighborhood. 

Austin Slater

I’m Austin Slater, and I’m excited to be a part of the Milwood community! I have previously lived in Grand Rapids and Holland, but recently made Milwood and Kalamazoo my home.

I have been involved with several nonprofits and community organizations over the last few years, most notably at the Immigrant Assistance Center of West MI, SELAH Empowers and The Dock Urban Youth Ministries. The highlight of my volunteer work involved securing a $50,000 dollar grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation to help low-income immigrant families get access to critical legal, mental and physical resources as they navigate the immigration process.

I’m a huge believer in the power of everyday people doing good work for the community, and cannot wait to be involved in strengthening our neighborly ties, beautifying our area and being a part of a just, equitable and thriving community. 

Scott Stokes

Greetings! My name is Scott Stokes and I have lived in the Milwood Community with my family for the past five years. I am interested in contributing my range of experiences to serve our Milwood Neighborhood Association of Kalamazoo as a board member. Please allow me to share some of my qualifications:

• I worked as an Intelligence Officer with the United States Air Force for 30 years before retiring.

• In my civilian capacity, I owned and ran a small business for 25 years that employed over 20 employees.

• Currently, I work as a Director at Grand Circle Travel, helping guests travel and explore diverse cultures throughout the world.

• I serve as an instructor at Kalamazoo Community College and as a member of the Milwood Elementary School PTSO.

• Additionally, I am a member of the Kalamazoo Garden Council and possess expertise in public affairs, including media relations and other communication areas.

I am enthusiastic about recognizing and enhancing the status of our neighborhood, and my interests in serving on the Milwood Community Association Board are as follows:

1.  Identify, procure, and provide additional resources from our city, county, and State to aid in making our neighborhood a harmonious, diverse, and desired neighborhood to reside and to raise a family.

2. To restore and beautify our neighborhood while preserving its historic value.

I would be honored to serve the Milwood Association Board and make a positive impact in our neighborhood.