G-Sync – First Steps Off The Path

I promise this is not the start of any new fad diet, but first steps are so important.

Something wonderful happened last week at the Wealthy Street Theater during Rapid Growth's "Not Your Average Speaker Series." The focus of the event was the Uptown neighborhood. A packed house of passionate people clamored for their chance to speak into the microphone to tell their stories and share their insights.

Since UpTown was also my home for more than a decade during the late '80s and '90s (it was not called UpTown at the time), I was reminded of the many stories I had a chance to experience in real time by simply living there.  

For recent transplants to Grand Rapids, the stories told that night provided a rich oral history of the region. We heard about the first steps taken by others whose commitment to neighborhood improvement helped put into motion the present resurgence of businesses we enjoy today.

This week in G-Sync, I am going to wander off the path a bit and look at a few events that will no doubt have local impact on those who experience them, but will also shine a light on the first steps of an idea and how it can blossom.

First up is a chance to meet and listen to Afrika Bambaataa, the godfather of hip-hop and a living legend in the music arts. Bambaataa's visit to Grand Rapids on Jan. 27 at the Tequila Nightclub (932 S. Division Ave.) for a special performance is not solely about the music that he created. Earlier in the day, he will bring a message of community engagement to our youth as a guest speaker in a new series presented by Grand Rapids HipHop Coalition at the Lifequest Urban Outreach Center (1050 Fisk SE).

Secondly, "The January Series," features free lectures presented each year by Calvin College. Attendees are given the opportunity to hear eclectic speakers who address topical subjects at auditoriums all over our city.

Yes, you read that right. Auditoriums -- plural.  

Calvin College has harnessed the power of technology to stream the series beyond the fine arts auditorium to spaces all over the city and the Internet.  

The first lecture on Jan. 21 is titled "Harnessing the Power of Perspective: the Kiva Story," and it promises to harness our altruistic side when Kiva co-founder Jessica Jackley sheds insight on the topic of microcredit.

Kiva believes that its mission is "to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty." The practice has been very controversial as of late, but deserves our attention. It will probably be a lively discussion because of recent news headlines about the microcredit movement.

Both of these appearances presented by people from outside of West Michigan will offer some of the best conversation starters in our region for those looking to expand their horizons as they start their first steps in the new decade.

I'd like to build upon our publisher Jeff Hill's comment last week at the start of our lecture series, "This was no longer our event, this was the community's event." As we move through 2011 with an optimistic sense of renewed purpose at the start of our new decade, G-Sync is no longer about how we view events, but how our events embrace the entire community.

Lace up those sneakers, West Michigan, we are about to crack the whole thing wide open … eventfully and with style, of course.


The Future Needs All of Us (to step off)



Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor

Email:  [email protected]
Twitter Feed: TommyGSync



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Photo provided by Terry Johnston

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