Jonathan James

Community Engagement Coordinator

Jonathan James approaches everything he does with a passion to serve others and create positive change. As a Kalamazoo native, since 2nd grade, Jonathan believes that all of us have a purpose to serve in improving our community. Helping students receive equal access to higher education is vital to this process. Thanks to the Kalamazoo Promise he will be able to help change education for the future generations. In his role as the Community Engagement Coordinator for The Kalamazoo Promise, he will assist with researching best practices, supports, and resources for Promise Students. 

Jonathan and his family moved to Kalamazoo the summer before he started 2nd grade. He attended KPS and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. Jonathan joined the workforce in Kalamazoo after high school and quickly realized there were barriers to achieving higher positions without post-secondary education. 

Because of the Kalamazoo Promise he was able to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College (pre-med) and then transfer to Western Michigan University and graduate with his Bachelor of Science (bio-med). WMU was also the place where he met his lovely wife who continues to love and support him. The Promise allowed Jonathan to focus on being a student and father. His son will also be a Kalamazoo Promise recipient. He is now continuing his education in Counseling Psychology M.A. program at WMU.