With more active neighborhood associations than any other area of the city, the southeast side of Grand Rapids encompasses Baxter, East Hills, Cherry Hills, Eastown, Heritage Hill, Madison Square, and Midtown, among others. Filled with historic homes and an ever-growing selection of boutiques, farm-to-table restaurants, coffee shops, and hipster bars, the southeast side celebrates its racial diversity, artistic creativity, strong civic spirit, and burgeoning business development while retaining the character found in its brick roads and sidewalks.
Marked by a history of racism and segregation, members of Grand Rapids' southeast communities share the ways this has blocked access to fostering sustainable neighborhoods -- and how they are working to overcome these barriers.
The Ebony Road Players and its executive director, Edye Evans Hyde, are pushing the community forward with theater, prompting people to listen, really listen, to stories of racism and injustice that they may not have otherwise known. Or wanted to hear.
For young adults who are living on city streets, they will soon be able to access permanent housing that is poised to empower the individuals and significantly tackle homelessness in our community. Well House, a Grand Rapids nonprofit, is opening a youth house for individuals ages 18 to 24, and the new space will give young adults the chance to build their lives.
While many of us may take for granted how easy it can be to make the 35-mile trip to Lake Michigan, the overwhelming majority of Grand Rapids Public Schools' fifth grade students have never seen this body of water. Financial hardship, lack of transportation and other barriers prevent many of the children from seeing this Great Lake, but GRPS and Open Systems Technologies are quickly changing that.
From academic assistance to emotional support, a ride to school, or even just a friend to laugh with, Laura Ward and her volunteers at Affinity Mentoring are helping young children achieve success during their crucial years of development.
When the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks was struggling to connect with residents in underserved areas, they decided to change the way they were doing things. Part of that meant hiring a neighborhood liaison, Yiovanny Cornejo, who led the charge to make the city's green spaces more welcoming and active gathering places.
The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan's 37 years of history are not only its biggest asset but something that Executive Director Roberto Torres has leveraged to push the center towards sustainability.
From providing lessons about growing food in urban spaces to giving children fresh produce to take home, school gardens are playing an increasingly vital role in Grand Rapids' community health landscape.
Since 2013, Well House, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit, has helped 103 homeless individuals find permanent, safe and low-cost housing in the city. Publisher Tommy Allen reflects on this milestone and where the organization, and the entire city, goes from here.
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