Featured Stories

RapidChat: Zoe Carmichael on leading conversations with confidence

By Jenna Morton Thursday, April 19, 2018

What goes into a good speech? Step back and let Zoe Carmichael, seven-year owner and speaker coach at Zoe Carmichael Consulting, advise you.

Communications, RapidChat

Defining Division: Maintaining and building community identity

By: Michelle Jokisch Polo, Defining Division Editor Thursday, April 19, 2018

Faced by the potential of future development, community members of South Division and Burton Heights share their insights on the strength of their community's identity.

Defining Division

South Division, Southeast Community

UIX: Groundbreaking healthcare is all about clear communication

By Matthew Russell, UIX Editor Thursday, April 19, 2018

The healthcare industry experiences innovation at an astounding rate, but not all innovation is defined by the latest technology or the smallest tools. Interpersonal communication, and interprofessional practice, is the new face of healthcare innovation, and care professionals in West Michigan are helping this trend grow.

healthcare, Human Resources, Inspiring Innovation, Job Creation, Life Sciences, Medical Research, Medical Technology, staffing, Talent & Tech, Urban Innovation Exchange

G-Sync: Guggenheim Fellow and Leafly's Deputy Editor Bruce Barcott comes to Grand Rapids on 420 day

By Tommy Allen, Publisher Thursday, April 19, 2018

Bruce Barcott—a Guggenheim Fellow in nonfiction and the author of Weed the People: The Future of Legal Marijuana in America—arrives in Grand Rapids to celebrate 420 day with an informative lecture “Everyday Wisdom from an Extraordinary Industry: Ten Hard-Learned Business Lessons from the First Year of Legal Marijuana.”

Community Engagement, Education, Entrepreneurship, Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor, Transformational change

Local deaf-blind adventurer partners with nonprofits to transcend barriers

By Paul R. Kopenkoskey Thursday, April 12, 2018

When you’re legally deaf and blind, climbing the seventh highest mountain in the world may seem foolhardy. Foolhardy that is, unless you’re Bill Barkeley, local adventurer who partners with nonprofits to provide hope and possibility for all.

Environment, healthcare, Healthy Living, Non Profit, nonprofit, Non-Profit, Sports & Recreation

Construction paves the way for a growing Grand Rapids

By Rapid Growth Media Thursday, April 12, 2018

Every time you look outside your window, it's clear: GR continues to grow. Catch up on the many ways construction impacts our community.

Building Communities, Building Grand Rapids, Construction, Sense of Place

Weirdly wonderfulness: Life with the "Geek Disorder"

By Nora Standish, 6th grade Thursday, April 12, 2018

Life with Asperger Syndrome isn't simple an straightforward. It's a collection of colors and experiences, and each person with the Syndrome is unique. In this VOICES essay, sixth grader Nora Standish describes her experience with Asperger's, shattering every stereotype about the Syndrome and inviting you into her world.

Engineering, Healthy Living, Michigan Nightlight

Game over: Enough excuses from Detroit to Grand Rapids

By Matt Clayson Thursday, April 12, 2018

This Rapid Blog comes to us from Matt Clayson, who leads, launches, and scales outcome driven organizations and initiatives. Clayson explores bottom-up solutions for communities across the state, including coming together to solve common problems.

Areas of Concern, Building Communities, Community Engagement, Community Organizing, Government, Public Policy, Rapid Blog, Transformational change, Volunteerism

RapidChat: Gwadue Bossuah on celebrating the highs and lows of being a local business owner

By Jenna Morton Thursday, April 05, 2018

After four years of being in business, Gwadue Bossuah, creator and owner of FZIQUE full body cycling studio, takes a walk down memory lane with us. Remembering all of the highs and lows that brought him to where he is today, Gwadue plans on hosting an extra-special celebration this month at his new Midtown location.

Entrepreneurship, RapidChat

Midtown

Ken Bair is the store manager of the new Bridge Street Market.

Neighborhoods of GR: WestSide evolution continues

By Paul Soltysiak Thursday, April 05, 2018

According to local professional Paul Soltysiak, The WestSide is diverse with lots of history. It has a wonderful flavor that is tough to define unless one lives, works, or plays here often. It needs to be experienced to be understood. Explore the Westside from Soltysiak's perspective in this installment of Neighborhoods of GR.

Business Development, Cultural, Food, Neighborhoods of GR, Small Business

Stockbridge

Cracking the affordable housing conundrum with creative solutions

By Majorie Steele Thursday, April 05, 2018

While the state of the “housing crisis” is troubled and unclear, one thing is for sure: Grand Rapids’ community isn’t lacking the potential for innovative solutions.

Non Profit, nonprofit, Non-Profit

1920s Fulton and Sheldon Intersection. Looking west on Fulton Street at Sheldon and Monroe Center.

Grand Rapids' streets of old still tell stories

By Paul R. Kopenkoskey Thursday, April 05, 2018

From “bricks” made of cedar wood and soaked in creosote to sturdy but expensive cobblestones, GR's oldest streets are rich with history.

Building Grand Rapids, Development, Historic Sites

Belknap-Monroe North, East Hills - Cherry Hill, Center City

Look at us: Seeing trans in times of misidentification

By Carlos Garay Negrón Thursday, March 29, 2018

This Rapid Blog comes to us from Carlos Garay Negrón, a Trans Latinx activist, community advocate, musician, and queer/trans theorist. Their theory work is centered around intersectional analyses of trans and queer experience through the media lens, and their praxis is focused on empowering marginalized communities to enact transformative change.

Cultural, LGBT, Rapid Blog

VIDEO: Pennies from Heaven breaks down employment barriers

By Council of Michigan Foundations Thursday, March 29, 2018

How are rural foundations across the state approaching economic development? We’re sharing success stories right here in Michigan, with a look at how can the philanthropic sector breaks down barriers that make it challenging for employees to be successful in the workforce.

Non Profit, nonprofit, Non-Profit, Sustainability

Neighborhoods of GR celebrates our city's places and spaces

By Rapid Growth Media Thursday, March 29, 2018

Over the past 10 months, Rapid Growth has featured the places and spaces of GR in our Neighborhoods of GR series. Catch up with the amazing people, nonprofits, and businesses that have graced our pages.

Neighborhoods of GR, Non Profit, nonprofit, Non-Profit, Sense of Place, Small Business

Eastown, Heritage Hill, South Division, East Hills - Cherry Hill, Creston-Cheshire, Center City, Midtown, Southeast Community, Stockbridge