We remember Samariz Hernandez Cruz: a legacy of advocacy, strength, and leadership
We mourn the loss of Samariz Hernandez Cruz, mother, daughter, and friend to many on Grandville Avenue.
On The Ground
Speaking up: The voices and actions of Muskegon’s youth are changing our city
Volunteering. Tackling race relations. Mentoring. Urban farming. Rehabilitating homes. The students in Community enCompass' Youth Empowerment Project are doing all of this and more. Pay attention to these Muskegon teenagers: they're creating a better present, and future, for all of us.
Women of the avenue: The strength of Grandville Ave.
This photo series is a glimpse at the everyday life of women residing on Grandville Avenue through the lens of a visual narrative.
A shared meal on Grandville Avenue
We had the privilege to be invited to share a meal among residents of Grandville Avenue hosted at the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association.
Muskegon’s phoenix: The life and flight of Midtown’s Third Street
In Midtown Muskegon, life is good. Where once there were abandoned buildings, shops and restaurants are opening. People who left the city are coming back to start businesses. Third Street is rising.
A changing downtown: How Kitchen 242 is transforming Muskegon’s culinary landscape
Drawing chefs and business owners from throughout the region, Kitchen 242 in downtown Muskegon is quickly becoming an innovative cornerstone of the city’s growing food scene.
Eliminating zero tolerance: advocacy, changing law and efforts towards restorative practices
For 25 years, Michigan has had one of the harshest school disciplines in the country. For students like Erica Tomas Juarez who were expelled under this "zero tolerance" policy, navigating next steps were often a difficult path. In the summer of 2017, the law was changed, allowing for open dialogue and restorative practices to be implemented statewide, aiming to prevent stories like Juarez', and keep more kids in school.
Living history: Wasserman’s Flowers & Gifts is a story about Muskegon’s past and future
The Wasserman family and their flower shop have been an integral part of Muskegon for 137 years, and the city's oldest family-owned business weaves a narrative about the history, present and future of Muskegon—about the determination, joy, hardships, and perseverance of its people.
Rumsey Street: Leaving behind a history of sacred space
Veronica Quintino-Aranda grew up on Grandville Avenue and has attended St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church her entire life. As the building is demolished to make room for new development--Quintino-Aranda wants future generations to remember the space with reverence and respect.
Seeds of justice: How Muskegon is banding together to fight food insecurity
After facing some hard truths about health in Muskegon, residents are turning the city around. From an urban farm teaming up with doctors to provide patients with fresh produce to the downtown farmers market expanding access to fruits and vegetables for low-income families, the city's quest for better health is breaking down barriers and building community.
