#RG20LookBack: Jeff Hill and the power of showing up for each other.
For his seventh #RG20LookBack, Tommy Allen reflects on the lasting impact of his predecessor, Jeff Hill, who served as Rapid Growth publisher from 2008 to 2015.
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Using social media to match those in need with someone who can help
Abby McKiernan turns personal struggle into community action, creating platforms that connect neighbors, remove stigma and make asking for help easier.
New campaign seeks to reduce Michigan businesses’ food waste by doubling food donations
A new initiative led by the nonprofit Michigan Sustainable Business Forum is seeking to double the amount of food that Michigan businesses donate to food banks and rescues.
#RG20LookBack: North Monroe’s focus on parks, people, and play is transforming this neighborhood.
For his sixth #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth’s Tommy Allen revisits Monroe North’s transformation into a vibrant riverside neighborhood shaped by redevelopment.
#RG20LookBack: DACA — A personal view from here to Washington
For his fifth #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth’s Tommy Allen reflects on thinking he understood DACA—until sudden federal changes forced him to learn faster, listen closer, and document how policy reshapes neighbors’ daily lives.
#RG20LookBack: How neighborhood identity factors into planning a socially productive park
As part of Rapid Growth's 20th anniversary, we revisit a 2014 innovation story by Anya Zentmeyer, documenting a subtle but significant shift in Grand Rapids public planning sessions and citywide meetings.
Two British influencers explore what makes Michigan ‘special’
Sometimes it takes outsiders to remind us how extraordinary our everyday really is. Thanks, Josh & Jase.
#RG20LookBack: La Lucha Fund supports undocumented and mixed-status families
Celebrating 20 years, we revisit a 2020 story where La Lucha Fund and partners created direct cash relief for undocumented Kent County families excluded from CARES Act aid.
#RG20LookBack ‘A Family Loving Environment’
As Rapid Growth marks its 20th anniversary, we’re revisiting archival stories that captured cultural shifts in our community. The 2010 snapshot of Rachel Hood and Dave Petroelje, brand-new parents making climate, clean energy, and public health relatable to families, still resonates today.
Letter from the publisher: On 20 years of listening and the sharing of solutions rooted in community.
As Rapid Growth marks its 20th anniversary, publisher Tommy Allen reflects on what the publication’s solutions journalism model has meant for telling the stories of Grand Rapids. While he has not led the organization for its entire history, Allen has spent two decades as one of its key storytellers, much of that time as a photographer.
Using social media to match those in need with someone who can help
Abby McKiernan turns personal struggle into community action, creating platforms that connect neighbors, remove stigma and make asking for help easier.
New campaign seeks to reduce Michigan businesses’ food waste by doubling food donations
A new initiative led by the nonprofit Michigan Sustainable Business Forum is seeking to double the amount of food that Michigan businesses donate to food banks and rescues.
#RG20LookBack: North Monroe’s focus on parks, people, and play is transforming this neighborhood.
For his sixth #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth’s Tommy Allen revisits Monroe North’s transformation into a vibrant riverside neighborhood shaped by redevelopment.
#RG20LookBack: DACA — A personal view from here to Washington
For his fifth #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth’s Tommy Allen reflects on thinking he understood DACA—until sudden federal changes forced him to learn faster, listen closer, and document how policy reshapes neighbors’ daily lives.
#RG20LookBack: How neighborhood identity factors into planning a socially productive park
As part of Rapid Growth's 20th anniversary, we revisit a 2014 innovation story by Anya Zentmeyer, documenting a subtle but significant shift in Grand Rapids public planning sessions and citywide meetings.
Two British influencers explore what makes Michigan ‘special’
Sometimes it takes outsiders to remind us how extraordinary our everyday really is. Thanks, Josh & Jase.
#RG20LookBack: La Lucha Fund supports undocumented and mixed-status families
Celebrating 20 years, we revisit a 2020 story where La Lucha Fund and partners created direct cash relief for undocumented Kent County families excluded from CARES Act aid.
#RG20LookBack ‘A Family Loving Environment’
As Rapid Growth marks its 20th anniversary, we’re revisiting archival stories that captured cultural shifts in our community. The 2010 snapshot of Rachel Hood and Dave Petroelje, brand-new parents making climate, clean energy, and public health relatable to families, still resonates today.
Letter from the publisher: On 20 years of listening and the sharing of solutions rooted in community.
As Rapid Growth marks its 20th anniversary, publisher Tommy Allen reflects on what the publication’s solutions journalism model has meant for telling the stories of Grand Rapids. While he has not led the organization for its entire history, Allen has spent two decades as one of its key storytellers, much of that time as a photographer.
