It is easy to feel alone if you work in the city on any one of the many issues before us. Never fear: Equity Drinks has heard you. In fact, they have not only been hearing (and sometimes even feeding) you, but on Thursday night they are hosting a special event. It's aimed not just at the faithful but the entire community. No matter who you are or what kind of work you do, join the conversation (via a panel discussion) on the topic of How We Grow held at Wealthy Theatre.
There are two reasons for the expansion of this particular event from the past formats. According to co-founder of Equity Drinks Jeremy Moore, one reason has to do with the nature of Equity Drinks.
"We created Equity Drinks as a space where relationships could be made and deepened for those who identify as wanting to advance an equitable community," says Moore. "(Our) partnering with BLEND, OutPro and The Salon is just a natural extension of that philosophy."
Moore also adds that the engaging of a diversity of thought and opinion is a "true paradox of Grand Rapids" where we growth and yet that growth is not across the board as it should be in many communities. This is seen in the areas related to people of color and the city's LGBT.
How We Grow will tackle these matters in an informal and yet informative manner. And when I asked Moore if he is nervous about preaching to the choir he concludes something we all can take to heart.
"Deepening our understanding and action is not mutually exclusive. It takes a well-tuned choir to inspire an entire congregation to action," says Moore. "So I think it’s OK if we do have a strong core of people and institutions that tends to identify around this work. That’s the goal of Equity Drinks – to develop a core network to bring the rest of the community along into the conversation and action."
For a complete list of the panelists, visit their
Facebook event page.
Admission: Free