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Passing the Mic: Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association answers, "How are you preserving your neighborhood's unique history and stories?"

Mallory Patterson from Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association responds to Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association's Sam Brower.

Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association

HDNA works to create and protect a community environment that enhances the quality of life for all. It empowers residents to be actively involved in this mission through neighborhood listening sessions, work groups, online dialogue, and more.

The Heartside neighborhood spans most of Grand Rapids' downtown area. It's bordered by Michigan St. and Lyon St. to the north, Lafayette Ave. and several nearby streets to the east, Wealthy St. and Buckley St. to the south, and the Grand River to the west.

Amy Brower, Executive Director of Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association, asks Grand Rapids' neighborhood associations:

  • "In the midst of all this fast moving change and planning for the future, how are they . . . still preserving some of the rich history of their unique neighborhoods, or some of the stories that reflect their past?"

Mallory Patterson, Co-Chair of Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association, responds, and passes a question on to other neighborhood associations in the city:

  • "What advice would you give to newer neighborhood associations as it relates to best serving the community? And, with that, what do you wish you could change or do differently as you're thinking about the future of your organization?"

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Passing the Mic is a project of Community Media Center that promotes online, community-wide discussion of local issues and topics using the spoken word.

Residents are invited to share one to three-minute audio responses to locally-focused questions from fellow neighbors, with questions geared toward all Grand Rapidians or specific communities within the city. Keeping the discussion going, speakers are encouraged to end their responses with their own question related to a local issue or topic – passing along the opportunity to amplify community voices.

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