community engagement
Local candidates to address issues outlined by residents at campaign-free forum Saturday
by (allisondonahue)
Submitted 10-10-2024 under NEWS
On Saturday, Oct. 12, Grand Rapidians will gather for a campaign-free event where candidates running for mayor, the 3rd Ward and state representative races will be asked their stance on specific local issues. Together West Michigan (TWM), a...
COVID-19 shuttered workplaces, but did it make way for new housing?
Submitted 08-29-2024 under NEWS
With a housing crisis gripping Grand Rapids and office buildings sitting empty post-pandemic, city officials and housing advocates are eyeing a bold solution: transforming vacant commercial spaces into affordable housing. “We’re in a...
Festival of the Arts returns to Calder Plaza for its 55th year
by (Koyflores)
Submitted 06-11-2024 under LOCAL LIFE
Festival of the Arts, the largest volunteer-run festival in the U.S., returned to Calder Plaza last weekend to celebrate art, food, music and the diverse community of Grand Rapids for its 55th annual event. “It’s a great way to...
Grand Rapids residents 'embrace the tension' at 10th annual neighborhood summit
by (theoscheer)
Submitted 05-20-2024 under NEWS
Over one hundred local residents and community stakeholders convened at Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus Saturday for the 10th annual Grand Rapids Neighborhood Summit, a day-long event held by the City to connect community members...
Community-centered soccer league returns to westside for new season
by (Justin Mills)
Submitted 05-14-2024 under LOCAL LIFE
The Soccer Rebellion, a local grassroots soccer movement working to bring American street soccer culture to Grand Rapids through community building, brings back Friday nights at Las Canchas as the Bridge Street League returns for its second season...
'The current leaders, not just leaders of the future': Grand Rapids students address policymakers on issues impacting youth
by (krj919)
Submitted 04-19-2024 under NEWS
Grand Rapids students had the opportunity to directly address city leaders on issues that are important to young people in West Michigan, such as housing, accessibility and transportation. The Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC), comprised of 9th-12th...
3 finalists vying for vacant Third Ward seat advance through second-round interviews
by (AlaynnaDressler)
Submitted 03-06-2024 under NEWS
At the March 5 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Grand Rapids City Commission conducted a second round of interviews with the three finalists running to fill the vacant Third Ward seat. Marshall Kilgore, the director of engagement for the West...
You might receive a postcard from the City asking if you like living in Grand Rapids — Here's why.
by (allisondonahue)
Submitted 02-01-2024 under NEWS
As part of its ongoing strategic planning efforts to improve services, the City of Grand Rapids is conducting a National Community Survey (NCS) to evaluate benchmark metrics obtained from the first 2022 NCS survey and to steer decisions in Fiscal...
Resource fair connects Heartside residents to local resources
by (DwellingPlace)
Submitted 01-16-2024 under NONPROFITS
The Community Building and Engagement (CB&E) department of Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids brought together representatives from 19 local agencies to share information with residents on quality-of-life resources at their annual Neighborhood...
Grand Rapids welcomes Halloween with haunted tours
by (AveryZWriter)
Submitted 10-17-2023 under LOCAL LIFE
To celebrate the month of October and Halloween, local arts and entertainment group Betka-Pope Productions (BPP) are hosting their annual GR Haunted Tours around downtown Grand Rapids. Leading their group of 25 attendees on Friday the 13th was...