Anya Zentmeyer's Latest Articles
A closer look: Three ways Avenue of the Arts programming is changing S. Division
Ten years ago, a consultant told Dwelling Place’s Jenn Schaub that there would be a tipping point for that stretch of the South Division corridor affectionately called Avenue for the Arts, a point where the vacant storefronts between Fulton and Wealthy streets would begin to fill up and the redevelopment would only snowball from there. As the Avenue gears up to celebrate its 10th anniversary on Friday night, Schaub says they've finally made it.
What inclusion and equity look like at the neighborhood level
What would it look like if neighborhood organizations were guided by some of the very people they set out to serve? Meet Seeds of Promise leader Floyd Willis, whose own vibrant spirit, palpable belief in the idea that everyone has something worthwhile to say, and conviction that everyone deserves to have a place where they feel comfortable saying it has transformed an organization that began with a focus on neighborhood beautification into a network with deep roots in Grand Rapids' neighborhoods.
Surviving the ‘Zone of Chaos’
With the sweeping GR Forward planning process underway, public input plays a big role in the future of downtown Grand Rapids and its biggest asset, the Grand River. Rapid Growth's Development Editor Anya Zentmeyer checks in with city planners and others involved in trying to ensure the massive project reaches its highest potential, and she reports on the challenges and opportunities for the Grand River's future.
Goal! New Grand Rapids Football Club takes off just in time for the World Cup
Just in time for the 2014 World Cup, the new Grand Rapids Football Club takes off with a bang, reaching its membership goal even sooner than expected. Anya Zentmeyer talks with the people behind the project and finds out there are some passionate fans looking to bring semi-pro soccer to West Michigan.
‘Everybody has the opportunity to make the world a better place’
For Grand Rapids students who serve as trustees-in-training on the GRCF Youth Grant Committee, giving back to the community goes hand in hand with empowering students to succeed. Anya Zentmeyer discovers how serving on the committee changes individuals as well as the organizations that receive the funds.
Wealthy Theatre embraces the future to preserve the past
Historic Wealthy Theatre is a much-beloved neighborhood asset, and its latest round of sustainable upgrades position it to stay that way for the long term. Anya Zentmeyer finds out why a change of lights could spark infinite possibilities in Eastown.
