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Opinion

 

No Worker Left Behind; One Rapidian's experiences

Submitted 01-11-2010 under OPINION

Over the last several years I have basically skated through life and my career never worrying about the incomplete degree that I knew I shouldn't be neglecting. Now, I have found myself in the unenviable position of having to jump back into the...

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Community Re-investment Vocab Primer

Submitted 01-10-2010 under OPINION

 Grand Rapids has gained the attention of many urbanists, locally and nationally in the past decade based upon its successful community re-investment strategies. Grand Rapids has been doing many things right but people consistently get the...

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Grand Rapids Painted in Secret

Submitted 01-10-2010 under OPINION

I drive by it everyday. Each time, I think, “I need to capture this before the trains move again.” For brief periods of time, a moving art gallery comes to Grand Rapids at the train yard alongside US-131. I keep putting it off – mostly because the...

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Content facilitator eager to begin new year with Rapidian

Submitted 01-04-2010 under OPINION

Dear readers, reporters, collaborators, sources and supporters, Whether you already know me or not, I'd like to extend a greeting as the new content facilitator of Grand Rapids' hyperlocal news source, The Rapidian. Not long ago, I was introduced...

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Welcome to BETA II

Submitted 12-15-2009 under OPINION

Since the launch of The Rapidian, exactly three months ago to the day, The Rapidian has been operating in what we’ve been calling “Beta I.” It has been a time to throw everything out there and see what works and what doesn’t. Things, for the most...

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Art Viewing Experience

Submitted 12-15-2009 under OPINION

Walking through the austere building, you hear hushed voices, feel a cool draft and see stark white walls everywhere you look. You move from room to room glancing at each of the hundreds of paintings, prints and sculptures that break up the bright...

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Moving Towards Adequate Prenatal Care: Preventing Low Birth-weight and High Infant Mortality Rates in GR

Submitted 12-04-2009 under OPINION

By: Annie Hakim, Frederick Meijer Honors College, Grand Valley State University Part two of a three-part series on prenatal care in Grand Rapids Government and non-profits within Kent County have already made significant strides...

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The Pros and Cons of Dégagé Ministries in Heartside Neighborhood

Submitted 11-25-2009 under OPINION

Revised on Dec. 11 in light of new information. Click here for more information. Dégagé Ministries. That name sounds like salvation to some individuals. To others, that name can invoke feelings of animosity. Dégagé has been a source of contention...

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The Mitten: One Size Fits Most?

Submitted 11-19-2009 under OPINION

The Generation Y Michigan podcast on Michigan Radio and the overly optimistic pro-Michigan sentiments it's inspiring are starting to annoy me. Oversimplified arguments for pledging allegiance to Michigan willfully ignore...

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Reboot the Economy? Reboot Education

Submitted 11-14-2009 under OPINION

 In a poorly performing national economy Michigan is currently one of its worst players. Our un-employment rate hovers around 15%, not to mention the unreported stats, under-employment and low wage jobs. We also have been seeing the effects of...

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