Kevin Ford

Kevin Ford serves as the Coordinator for Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo (SPK) within the Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Department of the City of Kalamazoo. He identifies as a systems thinker and is a proud native of Kalamazoo, MI. Since taking on this role in 2017, he has been instrumental in advancing the mission of SPK, a comprehensive initiative dedicated to reducing poverty and fostering prosperity, particularly in Kalamazoo’s most distressed neighborhoods. Under his leadership, SPK has successfully mobilized and deployed millions of dollars in
resources to support residents and families in the city's core neighborhoods. He has collaborated extensively with volunteers, local stakeholders, and community-based organizations to achieve SPK’s key objectives: expanding access to quality employment, promoting family economic security, and supporting the healthy development and education of youth. He is passionate about centering equity in his work, and building a future in which zip code does not determine destiny. Kevin earned an MPA and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a public policy concentration from Western Michigan University.