Hope and Healthy Futures for All
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute offers hope and healthier futures for those in the community with disparate health outcomes by acting as a resource for health education, research, and advocacy.
Heidi Stukkie's Latest Articles
GRIL U Strengthens Leaders to Transform Communities
Teaching young adults how to be strong leaders is the key to transforming communities for the better. One area nonprofit has a proven record when it comes to making this happen.
Building Green Homes and Communities
A local nonprofit organization that educates and trains homeowners, builders, architects, and others in green building practices is growing.
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative prepares children for kindergarten and life
When Dr. Nkechy Ezeh was growing up in Nigeria as a child, they didn't have any early childhood learning opportunities like they do here. No one knew what the children were missing. Now that she lives in the U.S., what baffles her most is that we have early education programs here, but not all children have access.
Boxes are for Shoes: LZ Granderson on Equality
If you don't know him from his work with ESPN or CNN, you might remember award-winning journalist LZ Granderson from his moving presentation at TEDxGrandRapids. Rapid Growth Do Good Editor Heidi Stukkie sat down with him last week to discuss fatherhood, diversity, and equality.
Planting Seeds of Promise
Seeds of Promise, a nonprofit organization that calls itself an urban community improvement laboratory, has recently received a $305,800 multiyear grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to begin a self-sustaining, community-governance program in the area surrounding Dickinson School. Board President Ron Jimmerson explains their strategy.
The Greening of Grand Rapids
Recent national awards have positioned Grand Rapids as an environmental leader known for its commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency and climate protection. The city’s focused efforts to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions began a few years ago and are already showing significant cost savings and numerous social and environmental benefits.
Urban Forest Project aims to map city trees and show their value
More than 1.5 million trees exist within the Grand Rapids city limits. Each of these trees provides value to our community and thanks to the new Urban Forest Project, that value can now be measured in dollars. How can you get involved?
The Journey to Eliminate Racism
Is it possible end racism? PRFC thinks so. Partners for a Racism-Free Community (PRFC) offers an organized, challenging and measured program to help individuals, organizations and businesses become racism-free.
