Student Tyesha Powe Promotes a Culture of Giving

Thirty-three-year-old Kalamazoo Valley student Tyesha Powe has traveled the country, networked with countless community organizations and enjoys attending an array of engaging events - all while giving back to the community. She's done this through volunteering for more than 300 community events and activities over the last 15 years.

"Volunteerism is important to me because it's a way to give back to my community," Powe explained. "It's a way to pay it forward and is the gift that keeps on giving. I want to revitalize my community and help others see the beauty within it."

The 2009 Loy Norrix High School graduate was first exposed to volunteerism during her time as a high school student. PeaceJam, a U.S.-based global youth organization led by Nobel Peace laureates, helped to educate her on the impact of volunteerism. Through the initiative, Powe collected non-perishable items for the needy, learned about the Nobel Peace laureates and met human rights activist and theologian Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Powe's commitment to volunteering was cemented in 2015 through actively choosing to say "yes" to opportunities. She attributes the change in mindset to reading the book, "Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person" by Shonda Rhimes.

"It's a really good read that I recommend," Powe said. "You really do see the trajectory of the main character's life change by beginning to say 'yes' in life. More opportunities come to her and she's a lot happier. I wanted to implement that in my own life. Saying 'yes' to life is a change that a person won't regret. Especially when it opens doors of opportunities."

After experiencing a house fire, the book's inspirational message resonated with Powe. "My life flashed before my eyes," she explained. "It took that unfortunate event for me to realize that I wanted to help others in need, create change in my community and experience more of life's opportunities."

Powe keeps a thorough record of her volunteer efforts by collecting photos of each of her experiences. She's volunteered with Western Michigan University, the Kalamazoo Civic Theater, the Kalamazoo Public Library, Public Media Network, Care Collective of Southwest Michigan, the Family Health Center, Cradle Kalamazoo and more.

She has also participated in an array of initiatives, including a 3,000-mile mission trip across the country, the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon, Kalamazoo in Bloom's planting days, WMU's International Bazaar, comic con events, the Maple Hill Holiday Parade and more.

Powe says her experiences have helped her to enjoy life while inspiring others to do the same. "I've become an advocate for fun," Powe said. "I've gathered people together to experience life through volunteering. I'm kind of a jack of all trades for helping people have fun, connect and engage." One of her highlights includes meeting world famous retired NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar while ushering during his visit to Miller Auditorium in 2017.

Powe's dedicated mindset brought her to Kalamazoo Valley in 2023 to pursue an associate degree in general studies. She is a student in the Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program (KVAAP) and has enjoyed exploring different career paths while excelling in college.

I'm exploring what inspires me," Powe said. "When I graduated from Loy Norrix, my goals weren't as cemented as they are now. I'm more motivated now, and am excelling at everything I do."