equity
Connecting Our Stories, Connecting Our Power: Grand Rapids previews 2019 neighborhood summit
by (MaverickLaw)
Submitted 10-23-2018 under PLACE-MATTERS
Reclaiming narratives is essential in healing generations of systemic oppression and shared trauma. Sharing our stories not only builds unity and power; it also allows us to co-create community. Imagine relocating to a community where residents,...
Finding my role in the fight for equity
by (Urban Core Coll...)
Submitted 05-22-2018 under PLACE-MATTERS
This article has been written by Kendra Avila. Kendra Avila, originally from Soddy Daisy, Tennessee moved to Grand Rapids in 2015 for an internship, with no intentions of staying more than a few months. Three years later, she now...
Grand Rapids Neigborhood Summit keynote speaker to discuss going 'beyond a seat at the table'
by (Stacy Stout)
Submitted 02-20-2018 under PLACE-MATTERS
The Grand Rapids Neighborhood Summit 2018 is pleased to welcome Rasheda L. Weaver, PhD as the keynote speaker for this year’s event. This year’s summit will be on Saturday, March 3, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Grand Valley State...
Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Parent University to host screenings of American Divided
by (Natalie Hart)
Submitted 08-08-2017 under NONPROFITS
On Wednesday, June 28, over 600 people gathered at Celebration Cinema South to watch two screenings of America Divided, a film series that explores some of America’s thorniest issues—criminal justice, housing equity, education,...
Navigating through pride and prejudice
by (kwesirobertson)
Submitted 06-16-2017 under OPINION
Some of my gay friends and I see Pride month differently. Very differently. According to them, I get two months: February, for Black History month, and June, for Pride. I should feel honored, right? I have inherited the powerful but not as...
Local First aims to help businesses create community change with upcoming equity workshop
by (Local First)
Submitted 06-13-2017 under NONPROFITS
Change doesn’t come from individuals alone. At Local First, we believe that business can instigate positive change within a community. Not only does local business help create and stabilize communities, it has a major role in creating a...
Outcry over police stop, housing funds packs City Commission
by (Elizabeth Roger...)
Submitted 04-12-2017 under NEWS
On Tuesday, April 11, 2017, the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting at 7 p.m. was packed to overflowing with people sitting in the aisles, standing in the corners and spilling out into the hallway. Concerns over cuts to housing funding and a recent...
In Grand Rapids, equity work is co-opted for influence
by (balexander)
Submitted 04-07-2017 under OPINION
In the age of co-opted movements for the sake of advertisements gone terribly wrong (hey Pepsi, what's good?), the best way to look at a community’s commitment to equity is to look at the way it treats its organizers. My time in Grand...
How far will we go to prioritize equity in Grand Rapids?
by (arcarpenter)
Submitted 03-24-2017 under OPINION
Two important equity meetings happened in downtown Grand Rapids on Thursday morning. Equity issues in development At City Hall, a panel of experts presented their findings on equity - or the lack of it - in the use of public land and incentives in...
'Championing female leaders of color in West Michigan'
by (Elizabeth Roger...)
Submitted 03-17-2017 under NEWS
Shannon Cohen and Patricia Sosa VerDuin began having conversations about the representation of women of color in leadership in the news while they got to know each other as W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellows. Cohen is the...