It is nearly impossible these days to visit any growing city in the U.S. and not be faced with the topic of gentrification. It is a topic that can be polarizing almost as soon as the word is used, but locally more and more folks are seeing this subject as a chance to engage more fully on its meaning and impact to our region and the overall health of our communities.
For this special series,
SpeakUp GR, our downtown Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL) once again welcomes the public for this special panel discussion on the topic.
The panel, which includes Start Garden’s Darel Ross II, Western University’s Dr. Benjamin Ofori-Amoah, and Grand Rapids City Commissioner David Allen, offers a platform for constructive dialog on society’s challenging topics in a neutral place known for bringing together diverse points of view for community discussions and intellectual advancement of our people.
And this is not easy material by any shot since the defining of just the word and resulting impact depending on that definition are tied to so many aspects and parts of society.
“I was actually met with a lot of resistance of people willing to speak on this topic. The people on the panel—heavy hitters in the community—were the ones willing to talk about (it),” says GRPL Business Librarian Steve Assarian.
But the best way to understand such complex topics is through community dialogue. SpeakUp GR has shown in the past via their other panel events they can provide a thoughtful space for discussion on such topics like immigration, fake news, and race relations. The GRPL is so much more than just a place to borrow books. It is a community space where intellectual curiosity is still satisfied in numerous ways.