Stories

Partner Content The EUPISD LifeSPAN team collaborated with other area organizations to host a Color Run/Walk last August.

SNAP-Ed Eastern U.P. LifeSPAN team is helping to get the U.P. active

Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District staff have spearheaded numerous initiatives through the LifeSPAN program, which gives families the tools to lead all-around healthier lives. 

Feature Story LAUP received $20,000 to add a career coaching component to the ¡Más Adelante! program.

Women of Color Give distributes $40k to 5 groups

Women of Color Give awarded more than $40,000 to five local organizations that took part in the collective’s second annual Pitch Night in December. 

Longform Kevin Fischer.

Michigan prepares for long-term mental health effects of COVID-19

The pandemic's mental health impacts are expected to remain for the long term – and many of Michigan’s communities, mental health professionals, and researchers are already preparing to address them.

Feature Story Treetops Collective

Treetops Collective: Connecting New Americans to a welcoming community

Treetops Collective brands itself as a cross-cultural movement helping to create a more welcoming Grand Rapids community for New Americans. Through leadership and cohort programming, mental health access, language services and more, the nonprofit connects women and their families with local resources and organizations.

Feature Story Mitch and Johally Carlson pose with their children outside their new home. The family has a home of their own this holiday season with the help of Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity.

Home for the holidays: Habitat builder comes home to Habitat house

Mitch and Johally Carlson built hundreds of homes for other people, but when they needed a home of their own, the answer was closer than they might have thought.

Feature Story Jubilee Ministries Executive Director Steve Grose and Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Don Wilkinson speak to a crowd before a ceremonial groundbreaking at Park Vista Place, a joint project of the two, on East 40th Street in Holland.

More housing coming to West Michigan, still more needed

New housing projects underway now and coming soon will help alleviate some of the housing shortage in West Michigan, HousingNext's Ryan Kilpatrick says. But still more is needed to slow ever-increasing housing prices.

Feature Story Dr. Bragg

Job growth and educational opportunities in health care expand and adapt post-COVID

In-person learning opportunities that were put on hold during the pandemic have been adapted to a new hybrid environment, and the pipeline for talented doctors and nurses is once again being expanded in West Michigan.

Feature Story Guillermo Cisneros

West Michigan Hispanic Chamber named a 2021 Neighborhood Champion

Bank of America has selected the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as a 2021 Neighborhood Champion, a recognition that includes both grant funding and executive leadership development. 

Development News Stacy Stout

Wildly popular Grand Rapids Neighborhood Match Fund open to new ideas, deadline looms

The City of Grand Rapids is accepting another round of Neighborhood Match Fund proposals from residents through Dec. 31.

Longform Dr. Susan Goold and Dr. Renuka Tipirneni have been working on the University of Michigan's evaluation of Michigan's Medicaid expansion.

Michigan's Medicaid expansion leads to lower uninsured rates, improved health, and cost savings

The state is looking back to examine how the 2014 introduction of the Healthy Michigan Plan has improved health for Michigan residents who otherwise could not afford health insurance.

Innovation News Mosby's Popcorn social media

With a focus on community, Well Design creates website feature for fundraising with Mosby’s Popcorn

With the help of Well Design Studio, Mosby’s Popcorn launched a new website with a unique way for customers to create community impact through fundraising.

Feature Story The GRCC Foundation's Alumni Relations team created a map of local craft breweries owned or operated by GRCC alums. 

Map highlights how GRCC brewers help Grand Rapids earn its Beer City USA title

The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation’s alumni relations team created a map of local craft breweries owned or operated by GRCC alums. The map provides a fun way to support fellow alumni by creating your own brewery tour.

Feature Story After 57 years, Lu Reyes is retiring as host of Holland’s first Spanish-language radio show. (J.R. Valderas)

Spanish-language radio pioneer ‘feeling proud’ as she retires after 57 years

After 57 years, Lu Reyes is retiring as host of Holland’s first Spanish-language radio show.   

Partner Content Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley (in red tie) joins SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator Amanda Mattila and residents during a Fresh Conversations session at Hasselbring Senior Center in Flint.

Greater Flint Health Coalition + SNAP-Ed = a healthier community

The Greater Flint Health Coalition recently added two new programs that support residents in eating healthy and moving more.

Longform Parent holding infant's hand

Michigan projects aim to dismantle racism at the root of maternal and infant deaths

Racism is killing mothers and babies in Michigan – and initiatives across the state are working to tackle that root cause and save lives.

Feature Story Narcan Vending Machine

Vending machine conveniently offers life-saving drug

To address the latest opioid overdose epidemic, local nonprofit The Grand Rapids Red Project has a new way to save lives in the community. In partnership with Wayne State University, the nonprofit installed a naloxone vending machine outside its office, which offers the lifesaving drug for free 24/7.

Feature Story APIAVote-MI attend the October 20th Detroit public hearing

Community groups look to convince redistricting commission to change state maps

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will listen to public comments in Lansing and Detroit this December as they prepare to vote on the maps representing Michigan’s new political districts on Thursday, Dec. 30. Here’s how area nonprofits are approaching what could be the final month of discourse.

Development News Steve Grumm

Ramped-up expungement program will help deserving Kent County residents gain a “clean slate”

Legal Aid of Western Michigan will launch a three-year criminal record expungement project to help Kent County residents access better jobs, housing and education opportunities by moving on from long-past mistakes.

Feature Story MSOH episode 6 art

PODCAST: Migrant workers, rural Michigan, and rethinking community during COVID

On this week's episode of Michigan's State of Health, we're digging into how migrant workers have embodied rural Michigan's experience with COVID-19 – and how to improve health care for all rural Michiganders in the long run.

Feature Story MSOH episode 5 art

PODCAST: Reconnecting to behavioral health care in a time of crisis

On this week's episode of Michigan's State of Health, we're digging into  how COVID-19 helped raise awareness of the importance of behavioral health – and how to support Michiganders through the long-term behavioral health issues COVID is likely to create.