Racism
Building equity, opportunity in greater Grand Rapids
by (DowntownGR)
Submitted 11-10-2015 under PLACE-MATTERS
Signs of renaissance abound in the City of Grand Rapids. Cranes and construction dominate the urban heart of downtown. The city is on track to recover all of its pre-recession population and now claims one of the nation’s strongest real estate...
Community discussion targeting police practices misses mark
by (hodele91)
Submitted 10-29-2015 under OPINION
As I settled into my narrow seat, popcorn in hand, pencil poised and at the ready, I couldn’t help but notice the disconcerting feeling nestled in the pit of my stomach. All around me, community members both prestigious and not conversed and...
#RacisminGR discussion to come to CRC Office of Race Relations
by (averym92)
Submitted 10-17-2015 under NEWS
On Tuesday, October 20 at 5:30 p.m., the Christian Reformed Church’s Office of Race Relations will be hosting the third of Partners for a Racism Free Community (PRFC)’s #RacisminGR discussions. Each of them has been held in a...
How We Grow: The inertia of the lone call to action
by (Jeremy Moore)
Submitted 09-10-2015 under VOICES
“…But do not struggle for the Dreamers. Hope for them. Pray for them, if you are so moved. But do not pin your struggle on their conversion. The Dreamers will have to learn to struggle themselves, to understand that the field for their...
Story Matters: W. Paul Mayhue calls out problems of racial discrimination with police leadership, trespassing
by (The Rapidian)
Submitted 07-31-2015 under NONPROFITS
After attending the mayoral debate at Wealthy Theatre, former Kent County Commissioner W. Paul Mayhue sat down to talk with us about the problems with race in Grand Rapids that he's seen with policing and laws. We build community when we...
Local Black Lives Matter chapter brings learning home from international retreat
by (Kyd Kane)
Submitted 07-07-2015 under PLACE-MATTERS
Black Lives Matter hosted its first international retreat on the Wayne State University campus in Detroit, Mich on June 18, during the Allied Media Conference. Twenty-six chapters, including Black Lives Matter Grand Rapids (BLM GR), were in...
City Commission holds public hearing on police, community relations
by (Elizabeth Roger...)
Submitted 12-17-2014 under NEWS
Last night’s City Commissioners Meeting included a public hearing on police and community relations. In light of the national events surrounding the deaths of Mike Brown in Ferguson, MO, Eric Garner in Staten Island, Tamir Rice in Cleveland...
Walking a tightrope between race, art in Grand Rapids
by (DwellingPlaceCo...)
Submitted 12-16-2014 under PLACE-MATTERS
Derrick Hollowell drops a stack of large paper bags onto the floor. He turns toward me and says “We’re going to curate this show together.” The bags are full of paintings and sketches composed by Hollowell during his 10 years of...
Black Lives Matter Grand Rapids chapter kicks off meetings with nonviolence training, rally at Calder Plaza
by (Elizabeth Roger...)
Submitted 12-05-2014 under NEWS
Black Lives Matter: Grand Rapids held an introductory workshop at Heartside Ministries on police brutality and nonviolence, led by Anita Moore and Briana Urena-Ravelo. The organization also sponsored a protest at Calder Plaza in memory of Eric...
Problem by any other name:"Growth," racism in Grand Rapids
by (Briana)
Submitted 09-08-2014 under OPINION
Grand Rapids, we gotta talk. As a local activist and organizer, in the past year and a half alone I have organized or helped organize three demonstrations to show solidarity against and bring visibility to racialized police brutality and violence...