As office manager and head of human resources at Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI), it's safe to say that Mary Sierawski keeps herself pretty occupied with all things urban. With her involvement on substantial community development projects such as GR Forward and other interactive public activities such as 'Valent-ICE,' Mary says it's a great time to be a Grand Rapidian.
With two films down, the 9th season of the Chiaroscuro International Film Series is already in full swing. Hosted by the UICA, this film series aims to increase cultural awareness through the medium of film. For 2015 the theme is "Generations," which explores shared human experiences across ages and cultures across the globe -- a topic which Dr. Katharina Häusler-Gross, president of the organization, can speak to from personal experience.
After years of being a personal trainer, Gwadue Bossuah introduced Grand Rapids’ first dedicated indoor cycling and kettlebell studio, Fzique, in April 2014. A mixture of upbeat music, motivational coaching, and a truly inspirational atmosphere, this boutique-style studio is sure to make your daily workouts far less of a chore.
West Michigan native Michael Saunders has always had a passion for the arts and social justice. After a stint in activist advertising, Mike took another route and expressed his calling for equality through art. From this, Mike was able to foster multiple creative outlets by co-founding the Grand Rapids Soul Club, as a producer for multiple award-winning films with Sob Noisse, and as a teaching artist at the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology (WMCAT) for film and audio production. Jenna Morton gets the scoop on what he's up to now.
Karen Tracey is a Baxter resident, a small business owner, and a parent who's passionate about her community and her environment. Rapid Chat correspondent Jenna Morton sat down with her and got her views on leadership, sustainability, and her work with GR for Animals, which works to end circus cruelty.
For nearly ten years, ‘home’ to Dr. Andre Perry was in New Orleans. During that time he met his beautiful wife, started a family, became a ‘Community Coffee’ celebrity (as he likes to call it) and produced many pieces of work that were vastly inspired by the connections he made during that time. While his initial transition to Grand Rapids was bittersweet, Dr. Perry reminds himself that “home is not necessarily where you live; home is what you stand for" as he serves as the founding dean of urban education at Davenport University.
Ashima Saigal just returned from the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco where she was recognized for her work helping nonprofits make peace with their data. Ashima has always been ahead of her time: she studied Computer Science at MSU and was an early adopter of both cloud-based computing and yoga. Now that the world is catching up, she’s zooming ahead: weaving a thread of mindfulness throughout life and work, observing more women entering her field, and, finally, moving to a new home in Grand Rapids proper. Read on as we chat all about it.
Diana R. Sieger and Lizzie Williams recently received community-wide recognition as ATHENA Award winners at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual event recognizing really amazing women. Their careers are different in sector and length, but they share a common perspective on the importance of taking a macro view and considering why it all matters. Read on as we chat about art, entrepreneurship, and building community just by showing up.
Susan J. Smith finds adventure around the world and in her own local community. She's a passionate amateur photographer, inspired by her former writing career with the Grand Rapids Press. Using her writing and photography skills, she catalogs her wanderlust with a weekly design-focused travel blog. Rapid Growth sat down with Susan at her home to chat about her experiences as a world traveler, blogger, grandmother, and Gilda's Club Founder.
Ten years ago Keegan Loye found his people at Blues on the Mall. After years spent watching music videos and teaching himself b-boy moves, he discovered a group of hip-hop-loving-dancers. He’s been breakdancing with the 61Syx Teknique crew for a decade and we’re all invited to join the 10-year anniversary celebration on August 29 at Louie’s Bar and Rocket Lounge. But in the meantime, let’s get to know Seoul, owner of 61Syx Teknique Street Dance Academy and hip hop enthusiast.
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