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#RG20LookBack: Before the riverfront boom, a broader civic vision was inked by the community
In his 15th #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen revisits Nikos Monoyios’s 2008 article, “Why Civic Centers Matter,” which frames green spaces as essential to a thriving civic environment.
Latest stories
Gentex engineers help nonprofits improve efficiency
Gentex engineers apply manufacturing skills to streamline donations, boost volunteer impact, and expand services at Community Action House and Kids’ Food Basket.
The Established Home mother-daughter designers launch children’s book to help families navigate life transitions
West Michigan design duo Jean Stoffer and her daughter, Grace Start, share a new children’s book offering families practical, faith-centered strategies to help children cope with moves and change.
#RG20LookBack: Before the riverfront boom, a broader civic vision was inked by the community
In his 15th #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen revisits Nikos Monoyios’s 2008 article, “Why Civic Centers Matter,” which frames green spaces as essential to a thriving civic environment.
Leadership program helps dental directors improve care in underserved communities
Program supports dental leaders in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana with skills to manage clinics, improve care, and advocate for underserved patients.
Transportation: An overlooked barrier to mental health care
Collaboration ensures Allegan County residents get mental health care when they need it.
What’s at stake for young families: Early childhood policy after the 2026 election
Anne Kuhnen, MLPP Kids Count policy director weighs in on early childhood education after the ’26 gubernatorial election.
How mentorship helps one man build stability despite setbacks
A long-term mentoring relationship shows how accountability, honesty, and persistence can support progress, even as challenges and setbacks continue along the way.
#RG20LookBack: Beyond Record Store Day festivities, a real GR success story worth celebrating
In his 14th #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen revisits his 2013 story on Herm Baker, whose journey from Vinyl Solution to Vertigo Music reflects resilient innovation shaping Grand Rapids’ music culture.
What a former popular Detroit Chinese restaurant can still teach us about belonging and the power of third spaces
Curtis Chin’s memoir about growing up inside his family’s restaurant becomes something larger than nostalgia, offering a timely reminder that everyday places can help communities practice belonging across differences.
At GRPM, laughter joins the lesson in Betka-Pope’s Cretaceous Countdown
An after-hours trivia experience created in partnership with Betka-Pope Productions suggests another way a public museum can build belonging: by making room for play, conversation, and the awesome power of laughter.
GVSU students turn old tech troubles into trusted local resale solutions
GVSU students solve risky, wasteful tech resale by building a trusted local model that improves safety, transparency, and sustainability.
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Solutions that work, from communities like yours. Explore innovative stories from across our network showcasing how neighborhoods are solving today’s challenges together.
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Top 5 Articles
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What’s at stake for young families: Early childhood policy after the 2026 election
2
Transportation: An overlooked barrier to mental health care
3
Leadership program helps dental directors improve care in underserved communities
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How mentorship helps one man build stability despite setbacks
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#RG20LookBack: Before the riverfront boom, a broader civic vision was inked by the community
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