Making Grand Rapids more affordable, inclusive and equitable: Our city’s hopes for 2016
As we bid adieu to 2015 and welcome another turn around the sun, Grand Rapidians who are changing and shaping our city share what they hope will happen in 2016.
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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.
UIX: Roderick Daniels and Kingmakers aim to set others on the path to success
Roderick Daniels' Kingmakers is an organization that seeks to keep men and women from a life on the streets through skill building and work. He draws on his own story as proof it can be done.
RapidChat: Jamiel Robinson
As Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses launches another ambitious #30Days30Dollars challenge, Rapid Growth chats with its founder, Jamiel Robinson, in a candid conversation about economic development, the importance of a robust minority-owned business community, and what this lifelong Grand Rapidian thinks the Ferguson report has to do with his city.
UIX: Dr. Keli Christopher and Mind Boggle help young learners develop STEM skills
If you love your work, it isn’t work. That’s the spirit Dr. Keli Christopher maintains in her role as founder and head educator of Mind Boggle. Read more about her efforts to emphasize STEM education in this story by UIX Editor Matthew Russell, with images by Steph Harding.
UIX: Della Marie brings Big Dreams to women in small business
Della Marie's Dream Big Sister Circle brings together a network of women in small business “who have big dreams to change the world." UIX Editor Matthew Russell reports on her growing community of support.
G-Sync: Making a new list
In 1997 Apple asked us to "Think Different" and it became one of their most discussed ad campaigns. Publisher and Lifestyle Editor Tommy Allen looks to the economic fabric of our city and wonders what we will have in the near future if we "build different" now.
G-Sync: STEAM energy is the answer
The world has been engaged in a talent and innovation battle for decades and STEM education has been the weapon of choice. But this is all about to change...that is, if we are willing to make the change. Lifestyle Editor Tommy Allen comes out about the silent "A" and our new weapon of change: STEAM.
G-Sync: New Year’s revolution
Lifestyle Editor Tommy Allen's G-Sync is talking about how to create the city we want now in his New Year's Revolution. With seven suggestions for both personal and community improvement, surely at least one will be right up your alley in 2015. Are you in?
G-Sync: Pop songs and progress
G-Sync's Lifestyle Editor Tommy Allen took the weekend off from attending local events and stepped into the streets of Washington, DC. Now he shares his view from the nation's capital and his hopes for 2015.
G-Sync: DisArming stereotypes with art
Grand Rapids has often been referred to as a "beta city," transforming our reputation in the process. Lifestyle Editor Tommy Allen discovers how the Grand Rapids debut of the DisArt Festival in 2015 will once again capture the nation's attention.
