Community Updates: Friday, March 3

Numerous Events Celebrating Women's History Month to Take Place in Grand Rapids in March

On Tuesday, the White House issued a proclamation to once again designate the month of March as Women's History Month. This proclamation, the 28th in a consecutive series of yearly proclamations issued by the President of the United States, encourages the American people to "celebrate the countless women who have fought tirelessly and courageously for equality, justice, and opportunity in our Nation."

Beginning on March 1 and continuing through March 31, numerous events (including lectures, artistic performances, discussion sessions, and more) will be held in cities across the country, including Grand Rapids.

On March 15, the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council (GGRWHC) has organized an event called "The Second Surge: Women Running for Public Office in the 1970s" at 6:30pm at the St. Cecilia Music Center. This program will touch on the history of local women in politics and the trails they have blazed for those that came after them. Jo Ellyn Clarey, a historian and former Co-President and Director of the GGRWHC, will be speaking at this event. Refreshments will also be available to attendees. Tickets are free, but registration is required.

For those who would prefer to learn and celebrate Women's History outside, Grand Rapids Running Tours (in partnership with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.) has organized a number of no-cost, history-related walking tours around downtown Grand Rapids. The "Grand Rapids Lady Legends" series will focus on influential women in the City and the local "organizations or causes" that they supported and/or created. This series will be split into two parts, with part one and part two scheduled for Monday, March 6 and Tuesday, March 14, respectively. Grand Rapids Running Tours will also be offering two other walking tours in observance of Women's History Month, "RAD American Women - A to Z" (scheduled for Wednesday, March 22) and "Women's Way Murals" (scheduled for Thursday, March 30). These tours are open to the public. For more information, visit the Grand Rapids Running Tours website here.   

On International Women's Day (March 8), there will be an outdoor celebration taking place at Rosa Parks Circle. This event, hosted by a local nonprofit called SowHope, will feature a presentation and downtown march honoring "the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women" both in the United States and around the world. For more information on this event, including the route the march will take, visit the Grand Rapids Office of Special Events' website here. 

Other Women's History Month events happening in Grand Rapids include:

• A fundraiser benefitting the YWCA West Central Michigan and Women's Resource Center organized by Grand Rapids Community College.
• A screening of the movie Little Women at Wealthy Theatre in celebration of International Women's Day.

City of Grand Rapids and Participatory Budgeting Grand Rapids Steering Committee Seeking Proposals for Three First Ward Projects

On Thursday, the City of Grand Rapids announced that the Participatory Budgeting Grand Rapids (PBGR) Steering Committee has put out three requests for proposals (RFPs) for three of the First Ward projects that were chosen by the public in October of 2022. Through March 31, the City of Grand Rapids and PBGR will be accepting proposals from "individuals, organizations, companies or agencies" that are qualified and interested in developing and implementing these projects in the First Ward.

The first batch of projects that the City and PBGR are accepting RFPs for are:

1. Democracy Skills Program
2. Community Reading Initiative
3. Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence

All RFPs must be submitted by 11:59pm on Friday, March 31. According to the City's press release, more requests for proposals for PBGR projects in the City's Second and Third Wards can be expected in the coming months.

For more information about the First Ward projects, RFP submission, and more, visit the City's website here. 

Also in the News:

• On March 4, after a two-year hiatus, Kent County's Walk for Warmth will be returning to Grand Rapids. Hosted by Kent County Community Action, the purpose of this event is to raise money for families in Kent County who are struggling to afford their heat bills. For more information, visit Kent County's website here.

Sharing Your Stories

The Rapidian encourages local residents to share their own stories related to civic, economic, and public health developments in the Grand Rapids area on The Rapidian’s platform. To get started as a community reporter, visit TheRapidian.org/write.