Located on the sugar sand shores of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Grand River, Grand Haven is an active resort town and the epicenter of West Michigan's Water Wonderland. Grand Haven State Park is regularly rated one of the nation's top beaches. And the city features more than 100 miles of bike trail, 2 Great Lakes lighthouses, a busy waterfront boardwalk, and an extensive fleet of charter fishing boats. The city has felt the pain of Michigan's deindustrialization. But the community also is acting aggressively to reinvest in the urban core, leverage traditional assets such as a distinct quality of life, and position itself to compete in the 21st century. With the Big Lake on the front doorstep, it's hard to imagine anything but success.
It has been a time of celebration for artist Loren Johnson. The Grand Rapids musician and photographer recently opened a photography studio and released her first album. Both endeavors have been a year in the making and have been a collaboration with other local artists.
The LEADeres program has been developing Latinx leaders for the last decade. These leaders still rely on the lessons learned in their cohort. Now the program is expanding to meet the needs of returning students.
Facing health disparities, many health care organizations are working to answer the question, “How do we deliver equitable care?” Spectrum Health aims to address the issue by providing the community with targeted resources and initiatives.
GVSU student Ciana Witherell explains why it’s time to stop seeing gender as black and white — or pink and blue. The lines of gender continue to blur, making it increasingly important to avoid assuming others’ gender and stop invalidating the identity of gender non-binary individuals, they say.
Grand Haven resident Melanie Hooyenga is an award-winning author who has published seven books. Her latest is a young adult contemporary romance set around the August 2017 “Great American Eclipse.”
It’s no secret opposing opinions abound when it comes to wearing masks in public. Bearing that in mind, the city of Grand Haven’s new mask campaign promotes caring for the community — and keeping its businesses open — instead of focusing on public health.
Lakeshore Advantage received almost 900 applications for Michigan Small Business Restart Grants. The committee allocating $3.5 million to businesses and nonprofits in Ottawa and Allegan counties is sharing the award process to ensure transparency.
Great Lakes Observing System has entered into a partnership with Grand Circus, allowing students to access live data gathered from the lakes to enrich their final projects.
After a summer spent gaining hands-on work experience, Gentex interns were celebrated for their contributions. The gathering was also designed to showcase what the region has to offer them as a place to live, work and play.
Disability Network/Lakeshore has been working for more than 25 years to increase accessibility to all members of the community. Its annual Ability Award recognizes an Ottawa/Allegan County individual who promotes a spirit of inclusion.
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