Wealthy Street: a place where Grand Rapids meets a United Colors of Benetton ad directly in the center of the city. Past relics of streetcars and Dutch immigrant homes now resemble a diverse business and residential neighborhood district.
Wealthy Street has had many faces over the years. At times, the face resembled a first generation American Citizen, other times the face changed into a single mother trying to escape the challenges of raising young children in a neglected community. The most recent face of Wealthy Street is one of a biracial 20-something with various entrepreneurial pursuits and artistic capabilities.
Several known and unknown local seed sowers have contributed to the success of the now-destination neighborhood. These individuals contributed time, money and sweat equity, and most importantly, love. Wealthy St. is now home to over 80 small businesses. Different seed sowers planted roots in the concrete jungle only for the opportunity to manifest their pursuit of happiness. Some of their seeds grew into hair salons, barbershops, car washes, markets, bakeries, wineries, ethnic restaurants, theatres and community gathering spaces. The diversity of the seed sowers has become a tribute to the grassroots development that has changed so many opinions and renewed spirits.
Wealthy Street has also seen all forms of brick throwers, whether ideologically or, in the case of December 2010, actual vandalism of storefronts. The brick throwers neglected the history and stories which established a resilient community such as this one. I say it is one thing to vandalize for a petty statement, but it's a much larger thing to actually get involved in the unjust. Like my daddy says, "Never throw stones, then hide your hands."
There are still areas of Wealthy Street that need some tending to. Diversity of employment, for example, which reflects the local demographic region. Leaders and neighborhood associations can revive important inclusive community events, such as the "Wealthy Street Alive" block festival. New partnerships can be established with higher education institutions to educate Wealthy St. employers and personnel on the importance of cultural competency. Businesses can establish strong positive relationships with the local GRPS elementary neighborhood schools, while embracing residential concerns. Small solutions to the complexities of growth always seem to make for a stronger impact.
As the City of Grand Rapids turns a new page, so must our perspective on urban agendas. Having community forums on sensitive issues like a failing education system or gentrification help to remind us of how much we need unite together.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." So I ask curious young individuals and Grand Rapids community leaders, what seeds will you sow?
Happy Black History Month!
Johannah Jelks has worked on campaigns for non-profit organizations such as the East Hills Neighborhood Association, Neighborhood Ventures, the Wealthy Street Business Alliance, as well as for local political campaigns in fundraising and field operations. She is the founder of Generation X&Y for Michigan (GenXYforMI Consulting LLC).
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