justice
This holiday, support incarcerated folks by joining Season For Solidarity
by (Briana)
Submitted 12-12-2017 under PLACE-MATTERS
This holiday season, support incarcerated folks by joining us for Season For Solidarity! Join us this Friday, December 15, 2017 from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational UCC (4010 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508) for A Season for...
Join The Micah Center at City Hall to stand for dignity, protection for immigrants
by (The Micah Center)
Submitted 10-24-2017 under NONPROFITS
Will you act now to stand with the immigrant children of God in Grand Rapids? Click here to quickly, easily email the City Commission and join us today to show support at the City Commission. Some of our most vulnerable, immigrant...
City, GRPD must seek independent investigations into police call recordings to rebuild public trust, transparency
by (Russell Olmsted)
Submitted 09-15-2017 under OPINION
Yesterday, after months of fighting in court, the City was forced to release 5 recorded phone conversations between Officer’s Adam Ickes, Thomas Warwick, and the now fired Lt. Michael Janiskee. These conversations were related to a November...
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...
New web show holds first live taping event
by (MixedReviewsGR)
Submitted 03-14-2017 under NEWS
The new web show Mixed Reviews Grand Rapids will tape its next episode, about gentrification in Grand Rapids, in front of a live audience this Thursday. After the initial conversation between the two guests, the audience will be invited to interact...
Series confronts equity issues in West Michigan businesses
by (Elizabeth Roger...)
Submitted 01-13-2017 under OPINION
At a roundtable discussion recently facilitated by MiBiz, small business owners raised their concerns about equity issues in West Michigan. As Grand Rapidians head into 2017, how is systemic bias perpetuated, even as our awareness of barriers grows...
Equity issues: Entrepreneur Adriane Johnson speaks out
by (arcarpenter)
Submitted 01-10-2017 under OPINION
Part 4 During a recent roundtable discussion with local small business owners, hosted by MiBiz, the all-white panel brought up the large economic gap between people of color and whites in Grand Rapids. As I continue the conversation in...
Urban Roots looks to dig deeper than soil, investigate inequities, land use
by (carly.schweppe)
Submitted 11-01-2016 under NEWS
Urban Roots is an urban agriculture organization that sits among the houses in the Madison neighborhood in the city of Grand Rapids. They grow fresh vegetables on their community farm at 1316 Madison and have a farm stand on Thursdays. And according...
In age of Trump candidacy, understanding racism is crucial
by (prfcgr)
Submitted 10-11-2016 under NONPROFITS
On October 18, Partners for a Racism-Free Community will host the first part of a new series we have launched called Building Blocks centered on understanding the fundamentals of racism. In our particular line of work, we know addressing racism...