A frontier fur-trading town that continues to evolve as a hub of innovation and can-do spirit, the Center City district of Grand Rapids is the financial and cultural anchor of Michigan's West Coast. Rising on the eastern shore of the Grand River, Center City features numerous attractions. The Civic Theatre is Michigan's oldest community theatre. The GRAM holds more than 5,000 works in its permanent collection. The Monroe Center walking mall offers a wide selection of coffee houses, restaurants, and boutique shops. Rosa Parks Circle, the district's public park and amphitheatre, hosts weekly blues concerts in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Another unique highlight is La Grande Vitesse, a large outdoor sculpture at the center of government square, which is distinguished as America's first publicly-funded art installation. The district's major festivals include a three-day arts celebration in June, as well as distinct Polish, Irish, Italian, Native American, Latino, Mexican, German, and African American celebrations of cultural heritage throughout the summer. Incorporated as a city in 1850 with a population of 2,686, Center City now is the heart of Michigan's second largest city. Once known as the Furniture Capitol of the World, this also is the epicenter of Grand Rapids effort to redefine its identity as a leader of modern medical research and sustainable design.
Before Black History Month comes to an end, it is a great time to discover new attractions and educational opportunities highlighting Black culture and impact. Take a look at photos of places to visit as you navigate throughout the city.
The war on drugs has had a lasting disproportionate impact on many communities. With the legalization of cannabis, the city’s proposed nonprofit will help heal some of this harm while advancing social equity throughout the cannabis industry.
Located in downtown Grand Rapids, a bodega has opened, offering a wide variety of sandwiches, made to order salads as well as meats and cheeses by the pound. The husband and wife owners are seeking to bring the New York-style staple to the city.
Max Tendero believes that civics is a vehicle that, when given the right attention, thought and effort, can start moving us in a better direction.
Wintertime can often bring a decrease in activity, both physically and mentally. Kent District Library offers plenty of resources and programs to encourage keeping your mind active during the cold months, including the Let it Snow winter reading club.
JustAir is working to bring air quality monitors to every neighborhood and uses its data to break down health disparities associated with pollution.
While 2021 brought its challenges, community members and organizations continued to work together, support one another and share stories of resilience. Take a look back with us at some of the most impactful stories of 2021.
Treetops Collective brands itself as a cross-cultural movement helping to create a more welcoming Grand Rapids community for New Americans. Through leadership and cohort programming, mental health access, language services and more, the nonprofit connects women and their families with local resources and organizations.
The City of Grand Rapids is accepting another round of Neighborhood Match Fund proposals from residents through Dec. 31.
With the help of Well Design Studio, Mosby’s Popcorn launched a new website with a unique way for customers to create community impact through fundraising.
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