For the last several years, GRIID (Grand Rapids Institute For Information and Democracy) has been one of the only organizations in Grand Rapids attempting to do any kind of local media monitoring or present news from a radical perspective. They have also hosted classes ranging in topic from the current state of the United States' media to the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict.

This spring will be no different. Beginning on Monday, April 12th, GRIID will be offering a class on the current United States occupation of Afghanistan. The class will take a critical look at U.S. history in the region and possible plans for the future as well as struggles to oppose the war at home and abroad.

The other class being offered is Making Sense of United States Foreign Policy. The class will take an in-depth look at U.S. Foreign Policy since the end of World War II. Book purchases are required for both classes, and small donations for The Bloom Collective are appreciated.

GRIID organizer Jeff Smith said, “The GRIID classes are designed to provide participants with intellectual self-defense skills and engage the community with an investigation of some of the most critical issues of the day.”

Tami VandenBerg has been a participant in several of the classes. “It's really refreshing to have a place where you can discuss U.S. foreign policy and learn from other people. It feels good to become a more informed citizen,” she said regarding her experiences with GRIID.

Please visit the GRIID website for more information.