Actors’ Theatre hosts inclusive pop-up performances embracing “raw honesty” & “marginalized voices”
The Actors’ Theatre focuses on curating inclusive and creative pop-up performances centered on identity, community and love.
West Grand
The Near West Side district is located across the Grand River from Center City. The area is known for its working-class attitude, rich European traditions and, above all, resilience. The construction of the US 131 highway and Interstate 196 in the 1960's destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in the area. It also scarred the heart and soul of a community. But today the Near West Side district is emerging as a much stronger and vibrant place than it was before the bulldozers. With Grand Valley State University expanding in the area; a thriving museum district; a growing selection of pubs, restaurants, and locally run shops; as well as aggressive investment in unique urban housing ventures; the Near West Side now stands on the leading edge of Grand Rapids' evolution into a thriving 21st century city.
Host Productions LLC plans to open a community theater and more on the West Side
Grand Rapids-based theater production company plans to invest $750,000 on the West Side to transform a vacant building into a permanent home.
Residents leverage alternatives to driving as generational perspectives on transit shift
Generational shifts in transportation have prompted a new outlook on alternative transportation and highlight solutions for getting around without a vehicle.
Residents get more power in allocating ARPA dollars with participatory budgeting model
City of Grand Rapids is using a new model, the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP), that will give residents more say in how its $2 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will be spent in each of the city's three wards.
Pedestrian safety concerns and accidents prompt city planning and infrastructure changes
High automobile speeds and distracted drivers create increased pedestrian safety concerns, prompting infrastructure shifts and conversations about street safety.
Vaccination effort spurs massive collaboration between Kent County and local health care providers
The Kent County Health Department and local health care providers are collaborating on what may be the biggest inter-organizational vaccination effort in Michigan’s history.
Attracted to GR’s collaborative music history, Dogtown Studio builds up our artists’ community
Publisher Tommy Allen sits down with Dogtown Studio’s Co-Founder Robby Fischer (both wearing N95 masks) to learn firsthand how this Westside studio is helping our area musicians connect more fully to their audience.
G-Sync Editorial: Restaurants to the Power of You
While the new year is a time of welcoming resolutions, as you consider 2021, how about leveraging ones that impact our community and embrace two of our most powerful resources: creativity and the power of you.
Community discussions encourage new, mutually-beneficial solutions for unhoused population
Recently, bus stations for routes like the Silver Line have seen an increase in traffic from unhoused individuals, resulting in safety concerns and prompting a community-wide discussion to seek solutions.
Calling rockstar entrepreneurs: Local spirits company encourages supplier diversity
Motu Viget Spirits’ partners have had to modify their operations in the wake of COVID-19. Even with this unexpected hurdle, Motu Viget has been able to secure placements in over 260 locations to date. Moving forward, they hope to see more underrepresented businesses appear at local restaurants and on retail shelves.
