Instructor Shawn Nichols leads the Monday night adult band class at East Hill's Triumph Music Academy
Instructor Shawn Nichols leads the Monday night adult band class at East Hill's Triumph Music Academy Tommy Allen

Features

Longform Jessica Rickert

Breaking Barriers: Dr. Jessica Rickert inspires native dentists

Shandra MartinezWednesday, April 2, 2025
Jessica Rickert, DDS, the first American Indian female dentist, advocates for oral health equity and inspires Native youth through mentorship and representation.
Feature Story Gail Eichorst is a volunteer driver with Disability Network West Michigan.

Volunteers find purpose, fulfillment at Disability Network West Michigan

Shandra MartinezWednesday, April 2, 2025
Volunteers at Disability Network West Michigan find satisfaction through meaningful roles, supporting events, community programs, and accessibility initiatives.  
Feature Story Volunteers walking to planting sites, ArborFest 2024, photo by Tiffany Fant (Mo'Photography LLC).

ArborFest unites neighbors to grow Grand Rapids' tree canopy

Shandra MartinezWednesday, April 2, 2025
Grand Rapids’ ArborFest brings volunteers together to plant trees, restore urban canopies, and foster community connections.
Feature Story Surrounded by members of the 2025 class, GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella shares the success of the DCIH.

Healing the Pipeline: GVSU’s bold response to a regional nursing crisis delivers four years later

Tommy AllenWednesday, April 2, 2025
How a state-of-the-art health education center, powered by philanthropy and partnerships, is reshaping the future of care in West Michigan.
Feature Story A revamped library at Kent County Juvenile Detention Center, supported by a partnership with volunteers and KDL, improves behavior and literacy.

Library overhaul builds culture of reading at youth detention center

Shandra MartinezMonday, March 31, 2025
A revamped library at Kent County Juvenile Detention Center, supported by a partnership with volunteers and KDL, improves behavior and literacy.
Feature Story Influencers and friends Stefanie Schaffer and Erika Nala Franco toured Grand Rapids in their wheelchairs. Their video is out now.

Wheel the World designation spotlights GR’s accessibility

Shandra MartinezMonday, March 31, 2025
Grand Rapids' commitment to inclusivity takes center stage as Wheel the World highlights the city's accessible attractions, dining, and experiences.
Feature Story andrewdoyleronyob

Now showing: Calvin University filmmakers among the highlights of environmental film festival

Genevieve FoxFriday, March 28, 2025
Folks from all over Michigan gathered in Manistee to promote environmental stewardship through an annual film festival and other events.  
Feature Story Cody Kirby, visiting economics professor at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business, and Daniel Montanera, assistant professor of economics there, Co-authored a paper calling Grand Rapids a "beacon of light" for health care jobs.

Study: Greater Grand Rapids a ‘beacon of light’ in health care hiring

Paul R. KopenkoskeyFriday, March 28, 2025
A study by two economics professors finds that Greater Grand Rapids’ healthcare labor market and real wages in key occupations are a “beacon of light” amid Michigan’s slower job growth.
Feature Story Shanika P. Carter

Author channels passion for writing into new book and upcoming retreat

Shandra MartinezWednesday, March 26, 2025
Rapid Growth contributor Shanika P. Carter celebrates storytelling with a new book and a writing retreat, inspiring others to bring their stories to life.
Feature Story Youth in the NCN program are helping families who need food get farm-to-table meals.

Educating Teens About Food and the Farm Through New City Neighbors

Luke FannWednesday, March 26, 2025
Learning about nutrition, cooking, and food scarcity helps prepare youth for adult life and deepens their empathy. New City Neighbors, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit's after-school program, gives area teens a head start and connects them with impactful experiences. 
Feature Story Wangler sees events like South by Southwest, which she recently attended, and Tech Week as important stages to share the West Michigan tech story.

Women in tech find community in Grand Rapids

Shandra MartinezWednesday, March 26, 2025
In Grand Rapids, women in tech are building supportive spaces like Go Beyond and Coffee Circles to connect, grow, and lead together.
Feature Story KCAD's Fashion Studies students gather around the table to discuss runway show plans.

Couture Code: KCAD’s students' capstone collections aim to be more inclusive …and sustainable

Tommy AllenWednesday, March 26, 2025
The Grand Rapids Public Museum's main floor will again transform into a catwalk for emerging designers from the Pamella Roland DeVos School of Fashion at KCAD. This year’s student-led show, “Couture Code,” features original creations and innovative ideas, with each garment telling a story of sustainability, inclusion, and resilience.
Feature Story A major attraction of GR Stories is its focus on research within community reporting to provide context.

GR Stories: How community storytelling builds bridges, fosters belonging, & preserves hidden history

Tommy AllenWednesday, March 26, 2025
In a time of widening divides, a quiet revolution in connection is emerging at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. What began as a few Zoom calls during the pandemic has evolved into GR Stories — a series highlighting how even the most personal histories can bring communities together.
Feature Story SMALL-WrapIssue

Trust Women: Rapid Growth's Publisher looks back on women who are making a difference in WM

Tommy AllenWednesday, March 19, 2025
When equity initiatives face unprecedented backlash, striving for genuine equality transcends mere aspiration.  
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Gala rocks and raises funds to advocate for autistic Michiganders

Estelle SlootmakerFriday, March 14, 2025
The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) Michigan Shines for Autism Gala, its largest fundraiser, will rock Detroit’s Motor City Casino Hotel on April 25, 2025 with “an electrifying evening blending a black-tie event with a rebellious twist.” 
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