Some people call it Southtown, but to longtime residents, it has always been and will always be the Southside. The 49507 zip code is expansive and for the most part is bordered by Franklin Street on the north, 28th Street on the south, U.S. 131 on the west and Kalamazoo Avenue on the east. The Southside is home to Burton Heights, Madison Square, Alger Heights, Boston Square, Oakdale and Ottawa Hills Neighborhoods.
"The officers pointed guns at the kids while one cried hysterically and another begged, “Don’t shoot me.” After five unarmed African American boys were stopped at gunpoint by police, Well House Executive Director and community leader Tami VandenBerg takes a look at what the community can do, and what other cities have done, to address police procedure and community engagement with the local police force.
Meet the people who are living, working and organizing along the South Division corridor and in the Burton Heights and Garfield Park neighborhoods in our On The Ground video that celebrates the incredible work being done in this community.
The city of Grand Rapids is aiming to develop South Division, Burton Heights, and Grandville Avenue into a Corridor Improvement District. To address gentrification and displacement, city officials are in the process of creating a plan with the community through the lens of equity.
Many residents in the city of Grand Rapids are not afforded the opportunity to meet basic needs, such as housing and employment, without first diving deep into bureaucratic roadblocks created to benefit only those in power and with privilege. In the community of Burton Heights, citizens are having to go above and beyond to meet these needs, only to find themselves requiring further advocacy from local organizations and leaders.
For many immigrants in Grand Rapids, coming to the United States is a chance at a better life and opportunities. Martha PeeWee and her family, who moved to West Michigan from Liberia, have been able to successfully achieve their dreams of entrepreneurship by opening up Martha's International Market. This endeavor was made possible thanks to the willingness of her community to share a breadth of knowledge, experience and connections.
On The Ground Grand Rapids invites you to help us celebrate the incredible work being done by the residents, advocates and other leaders in the Burton Heights and Garfield Park neighborhoods during a community conversation this Tuesday, Dec. 6.
In Burton Heights and Garfield Park, church leaders are helping to craft evolutionary spaces to educate, empower and advocate for immigration and police reform and safe and affordable housing.
The sale of the land where Urban Roots has been making its home on the city's southside is prompting concerns about the future of the farm that has been welcomed with open arms by neighbors, as well as fears of future development and displacement. For others, however, including the landowner, Linc Up, the sale is about ensuring there is affordable housing in the Madison Square area.
Our Partners
We want to know what's on your mind.
