As Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses launches another ambitious #30Days30Dollars challenge, Rapid Growth chats with its founder, Jamiel Robinson, in a candid conversation about economic development, the importance of a robust minority-owned business community, and what this lifelong Grand Rapidian thinks the Ferguson report has to do with his city.
Librarian doesn't begin to cover what Tim Gleisner does. The history buff and trivia king manages special collections at the Grand Rapids Public Library while holding a wealth of local knowledge in the file cabinet in his brain. Stephanie Doublestein gets his perspective on river restoration and the importance of history, plus shares a peek inside the archives, in this week's feature.
What do you do when you and a few friends notice a need for more Latina faces around certain tables? If you're this foursome, you take it upon yourselves to create a new space for leadership development and culture by forming the Latina Network of West Michigan. Rapid Growth's Stephanie Doublestein sat down for coffee with this creative collective and found out what the buzz is about.
A lifelong Grand Rapidian, Dr. Brandy Lovelady Mitchell got through high school on her love of basketball, not books. She's since changed her tune and earned more degrees than you can count. As lead administrator at Kent Career Tech Center/Kent ISD, she's passionate about the power of education to create a beloved community, and she shares her thoughts about school funding, education policy, and building a better Grand Rapids for everyone in this week's RapidChat.
What does a curator do, anyway? For this Cool Jobs feature, Stephanie Doublestein checks in with the UICA's Heather Duffy, who, on the eve of Live Coverage, fills us in on how her job is equal parts moderator, connector, dreamer, researcher, mentor, and educator.
For children to succeed in school and become great readers, they need excellent teachers and lots of exposure to words. But what if a child can't get help with homework or is missing out on bedtime stories because a parent has literacy needs too? With its Family Literacy Program, the Literacy Center of West Michigan aims to increase the English fluency of parents and caretakers -- and the benefits boost the reading scores of the kids in the family at the same time.
Is Bridge St. the new Wealthy St.? As West Side development heats up, Stephanie Doublestein takes a look at how to keep the West Side the best side for both new businesses and longtime residents. With housing costs rising, find out how some community stakeholders think the neighborhood can embrace revitalization while making sure the changes are good for Challenge Scholars, college students, and the proud people who call the West Side home.
Imagine you're inside a house where, as much as possible, everything you see was made in Michigan: the chair you're sitting in, the art on the wall, the beer in your hand, and the live music coming from the band set up on the lawn. Now imagine that house in Austin, Texas during next month's SXSW, and you have a glimpse of the innovative space being created and exported by a creative group of collaborative partners in West Michigan and beyond. Read on for all the Michigan-made details.
Yeah, yeah: you want to lose five pounds, exercise more, eat less. Who doesn't, at least during the month of January? But wellness means more than numbers on a scale, and a few local initiatives are playing their part in crafting a healthier Grand Rapids. Each week this month, Rapid Growth will feature one unique way to be well in West Michigan. Want a more thoughtful, sustainable path to feeling better in 2015? Read on.
Yeah, yeah: you want to lose five pounds, exercise more, eat less. Who doesn't, at least during the month of January? But wellness means more than numbers on a scale, and a few local initiatives are playing their part in crafting a healthier Grand Rapids. Each week this month, Rapid Growth will feature one unique way to be well in West Michigan. Want a more thoughtful, sustainable path to feeling better in 2015? Read on.
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