Home
West Michigan students spread kindness by joining Positive Affirmations initiative
A group of West Michigan students launches an initiative promoting kindness, combating bullying, and creating National Positive Affirmations Day in schools.
Latest stories
Michigan coaches lead student mental health support beyond the game
Michigan coaches recognized by the Coaches Who Care program for commitment to student mental health.
Grand Rapids sustainability leaders recognized for innovative environmental community impact
Three West Michigan fellowship winners advance zero-waste business, forest protection, and climate justice, inspiring communities to adopt sustainable and equitable solutions.
#RG20LookBack: Music as infrastructure, talent retention, neighborhood identity, and the glue of community
In his 13th #RG20LookBack column, Rapid Growth publisher Tommy Allen reflects on the 2022 story by Enrique Olmos, which serves as a reminder that the region’s music economy is about more than entertainment.
Collaboration helps unhoused residents with disabilities navigate housing crisis
Local agencies, including Disability Network Northern Michigan, collaborate to help unhoused residents with disabilities find housing in Traverse City’s tight market.
West Michigan students spread kindness by joining Positive Affirmations initiative
A group of West Michigan students launches an initiative promoting kindness, combating bullying, and creating National Positive Affirmations Day in schools.
Workplace accommodations challenge one-size-fits-all approaches for employees
Advocate and guardian collaborate to resolve workplace accommodation gap, highlighting communication, policies, and solutions that keep a worker safely employed.
#RG20LookBack: The Grand River is having the moment we imagined—together
In his 12th #RG20LookBack column, Rapid Growth publisher Tommy Allen revisits the 2008 story, “A River Runs Through Green Grand Rapids,” which now reads like an early spark for everything unfolding along the Grand River today.
Gina Bivins: Steward of local history shows how seeing others builds bridges of curiosity
GVSU’s Kutsche Office of Local History honors Gina Bivins with the Gordon Olson Award for a career that highlights how public history resonates more when diverse individuals see themselves reflected in it.
“It was my safe place”: Walker mayor leads push for library expansion
Walker invests more than $20 million in library expansion that Mayor Gary Carey Jr. says will produce lifelong impact for its patrons and meet growing community needs.
Grand Rapids nonprofit turns dog biscuits into opportunities for adults with disabilities
Beer City Dog Biscuits turns dog treats into opportunity, building community for adults with disabilities while expanding into stores across Michigan.
New Pine Rest urgent care center offers quicker psychiatric help for youths
As youth mental health needs strain Michigan families, Pine Rest opens its new Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health. The center offers expanded inpatient treatment, the state’s first pediatric psychiatric urgent care center, and new services for children and adolescents.
A publication of
Issue Media Group is a multi-local network of digital news outlets focused on community transformation through solutions journalism. We highlight the people and projects tackling challenges and driving change. Through its national, regional and local publications, IMG connects communities, shares impactful solutions, and inspires progress.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time. Have a question? Contact us or review our privacy policy for more information.
Solutions that work, from communities like yours. Explore innovative stories from across our network showcasing how neighborhoods are solving today’s challenges together.
- This elementary school banned screens in the middle of the year. Will it solve their reading crisis?
- Water conservation works in Western cities, but climate change is outpacing it
- As parents seek out ‘vaccine friendly’ clinics, pediatricians worry about eroding trust
- Why ballot curing may be the next frontier for Michigan campaigns
- Property owners are trying to flip this city back to its heyday
- An ambitious vision, the Triangle Trail would connect more than a dozen communities. It’s making progress.
- From Pews to Pints: Why some rural Michigan churches are reopening as breweries
- Where county officials say local elections are secure despite Trump calls to ‘nationalize’ them
- Leadership program helps dental directors improve care in underserved communities
- How a community dance movement fuels connection, wellness and economy
Top 5 Articles
1
Collaboration helps unhoused residents with disabilities navigate housing crisis
2
West Michigan students spread kindness by joining Positive Affirmations initiative
3
Grand Rapids sustainability leaders recognized for innovative environmental community impact
4
#RG20LookBack: Music as infrastructure, talent retention, neighborhood identity, and the glue of community
5
Michigan coaches lead student mental health support beyond the game
Support independent journalism in Grand Rapids
Rapid Growth is a local digital media outlet covering neighborhoods, small business and entrepreneurship, arts and culture, health, sustainability, talent, and social innovation.
