This year, the Midland Area Cultural Awareness Coalition is celebrating 30 years of working toward a more inclusive community. We’re marking the milestone by sharing stories, memories, and moments from the people who make this work meaningful.
Today, we want you to meet our friend, Kevin.
For Kevin Kendrick, Midland was never just a place he lived. It was a place that invited him in, challenged him, and ultimately became a community he would help shape for years to come.
Kevin and his wife, Jenny, arrived in Midland in 2006, following his retirement from the FBI and his transition into a newly created global security role at Dow Corning. What was intended to be the next chapter of a long and accomplished career quickly became something more personal. “We just enjoyed every minute of it,” Kevin shared. “We really had a good time and immersed ourselves in the community.”
That immersion was not accidental. It was expected. At Dow Corning, leadership encouraged employees to get involved, and Kevin took that to heart. Through the Midland Area Community Foundation, he found meaningful ways to contribute, eventually serving as a trustee, a member of the grants committee, and a dedicated voice within what would become the Midland Area Cultural Awareness Coalition.
For Kevin, Midland stood out in ways that often go unnoticed. “It was a melting pot of people from all over the world,” he said. “They brought with them knowledge, passion, and an appreciation for culture and diversity.” While some may have questioned whether diversity existed in Midland, Kevin saw it clearly. “It’s here. You just have to ask. You have to interact with people. You have to show up.”
That belief shaped his work with the Cultural Awareness Coalition. When Kevin joined, the group was searching for direction. He saw an opportunity to broaden its impact by expanding both its reach and its purpose. “Diversity is more than just food,” he said. Under his leadership, the coalition moved beyond cultural events centered solely on cuisine and began building deeper, more inclusive connections across the community.
Kevin helped grow the coalition into a space where more voices were welcomed and represented. He emphasized the importance of bringing in people of different backgrounds, abilities, and experiences. “Everybody deserves a seat at the table,” he said. That philosophy guided efforts to collaborate with partners across Midland, including schools, the Midland Center for the Arts, the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, and community festivals like Midland Area River Days Festival.
One of the initiatives he remains most proud of centered on youth. The coalition created opportunities for middle and high school students to share their perspectives on cultural awareness and diversity through short films. The result was a student-driven film festival that not only showcased creativity but also encouraged meaningful dialogue. “That’s where the seeds are planted,” Kevin said. “If we can get into the minds of our children that everybody’s the same, it’s a wonderful place to start.”
Beyond the coalition, Kevin’s impact extended across Midland. He contributed his time to The Legacy Center for Community Success, championing education and English as a Second Language programs, and served on the theater board at the Midland Center for the Arts, where he found joy in both the creative and collaborative sides of performance. Each experience reinforced his belief in the power of community connection.
Even after leaving Midland, Kevin’s connection to the community has never faded. He speaks with deep gratitude for the role it played in his life. “I will always be grateful for the time that Jenny and I had to spend there,” he said. “It gave us stability and opened doors I never thought were there.”
Looking ahead, Kevin hopes Midland continues to build on that spirit of connection and generosity. He points to the importance of collective effort, especially through initiatives like Give Local Midland, which he helped establish in its early days. “This only works if it’s a team effort,” he said. “We need people to understand that their involvement matters.”
For Kevin Kendrick, the legacy of the Cultural Awareness Coalition and the broader Midland community is simple but powerful. It is about showing up, inviting others in, and making sure every voice has a place.
