Focus Areas
Arts & Culture
Development
Dining & Nightlife
Entrepreneurship
High Tech/High Growth
Michigan Nightlight
Reuse / Rebuild
Small Business
Sustainability
Talent
Urban Innovation Exchange
Places
Ada
Alger Heights
Allegan County
Baxter
Belknap Lookout
Belknap-Monroe North
Black Hills
Boston Square
Byron Center
Caledonia
Cascade
Cedar Springs
Center City
Creston-Cheshire
East Grand Rapids
East Hills
Eastern/Burton
Eastgate
Eastown
Franklin-Eastern
Garfield Park-Alger Heights-Grandville Ave
Garfield ParkNear
Grand Haven
Grand Rapids Twp
Grandville
Grandville Neighborhood
Heartside
Heritage Hill
Highland Park
Holland
Hudsonville
Jenison
John Ball Park
John Ball Park
Kentwood
Lake Eastbrook
Leffingwell-Twin Lakes
Lowell
Madison Square
Michigan Oaks
Midtown
Millbank
MLK Park
Muskegon Heights
Muskegon Lakeshore
North Monroe
North Park
Northeast
Oakdale Neighbors
Ottawa County
Ottawa Hills
Plainfield Twp
Richmond-Oakley
Ridgemoor Park
Rockford
Roosevelt Park
Saugatuck - Douglas
Shangrai-La
Shawmut Hills
Shawnee Park
South Division
South Hill
Southeast Community
Southeast Community
Southeast Community - Español
Southeast End
Southwest
Sparta
Spring Lake
Stockbridge
The Lakeshore
Walker
West Grand
Whitehall - Montague
Wyoming
Zeeland
On The Ground
Garfield Park-Alger Heights-Grandville Ave
Garfield ParkNear
Muskegon Lakeshore
South Division
Southeast Community
Southeast Community - Español
The Lakeshore
Series
Bridging the Talent Gap
Building Bridges
Community Redistricting
Defining Division
Good Food
High Tech GR
Literacy Matters
Michigan Nightlight
Neighborhoods of GR
On The Ground
On the Ground Español
Public Education
Rapid Blog
RapidChat
State of Health
Stories of Change
Trails and Greenways
Urban Innovation Exchange
Voices for Transit
Toggle navigation
Focus Areas
Arts & Culture
Development
Dining & Nightlife
Entrepreneurship
High Tech/High Growth
Michigan Nightlight
Reuse / Rebuild
Small Business
Sustainability
Talent
Urban Innovation Exchange
Places
Ada
Alger Heights
Allegan County
Baxter
Belknap Lookout
Belknap-Monroe North
Black Hills
Boston Square
Byron Center
Caledonia
Cascade
Cedar Springs
Center City
Creston-Cheshire
East Grand Rapids
East Hills
Eastern/Burton
Eastgate
Eastown
Franklin-Eastern
Garfield Park-Alger Heights-Grandville Ave
Garfield ParkNear
Grand Haven
Grand Rapids Twp
Grandville
Grandville Neighborhood
Heartside
Heritage Hill
Highland Park
Holland
Hudsonville
Jenison
John Ball Park
John Ball Park
Kentwood
Lake Eastbrook
Leffingwell-Twin Lakes
Lowell
Madison Square
Michigan Oaks
Midtown
Millbank
MLK Park
Muskegon Heights
Muskegon Lakeshore
North Monroe
North Park
Northeast
Oakdale Neighbors
Ottawa County
Ottawa Hills
Plainfield Twp
Richmond-Oakley
Ridgemoor Park
Rockford
Roosevelt Park
Saugatuck - Douglas
Shangrai-La
Shawmut Hills
Shawnee Park
South Division
South Hill
Southeast Community
Southeast Community
Southeast Community - Español
Southeast End
Southwest
Sparta
Spring Lake
Stockbridge
The Lakeshore
Walker
West Grand
Whitehall - Montague
Wyoming
Zeeland
On The Ground
Garfield Park-Alger Heights-Grandville Ave
Garfield ParkNear
Muskegon Lakeshore
South Division
Southeast Community
Southeast Community - Español
The Lakeshore
Series
Bridging the Talent Gap
Building Bridges
Community Redistricting
Defining Division
Good Food
High Tech GR
Literacy Matters
Michigan Nightlight
Neighborhoods of GR
On The Ground
On the Ground Español
Public Education
Rapid Blog
RapidChat
State of Health
Stories of Change
Trails and Greenways
Urban Innovation Exchange
Voices for Transit
About
Contact
Stories
Share
Feature Story
7 ways Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services pivoted during the pandemic
Shandra Martinez
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Responding to clients who were frustrated about missing out on critical COVID-19 information, staff at Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services in Grand Rapids made changes to better serve them.
Development News
Active Commute Week: Walk, Roll + Ride
Estelle Slootmaker, Development News Editor
Friday, June 17, 2022
It’s
Active. Commute Week
in West Michigan, a celebration of cleaner, healthier, less congestion-causing transportation.
The Rapid
’s
West Michigan Rideshare
program,
West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
(WMSBF) and participating businesses are encouraging people to walk, bike, scooter, carpool or take the bus to get where they want to go from June 16 to 23
Feature Story
Enjoying art, beer and music as summer approaches
Leandra Nisbet
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Summer is almost here. Take a look at a few arts-focused events taking place that you can check out with family and friends.
Feature Story
Donations of adaptive equipment increase accessibility
Shandra Martinez
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Organizations are stepping up to donate equipment that increases or improves access to public spaces for people with disabilities. Most recently, track chairs were gifted to Holland State Park and a motorized shopping cart was given to the Food Club in Holland.
Feature Story
Insights from LEDA’s 2022 Summit on Race and Inclusion
Paul R. Kopenkoskey
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Eric K. Foster, managing director of Rende Progress Capital, and Lance Werner, executive director of the Kent District Library, were among the speakers at the 17
th
annual Summit on Race and Inclusion.
Longform
How can Michigan maintain care for 500k residents who gained Medicaid health insurance during COVID?
Estelle Slootmaker
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Over half a million Michiganders stand to lose their coverage again whenever the federal government revokes the public health emergency declared in January 2020.
Partner Content
“A Piece of the Puzzle”: Grand Rapids event addresses growing PFAS concerns
Sabine Bickford Brown
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Feature Story
Building momentum in careers and community: Latinx leadership program looks ahead
Matthew Russell
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
The LEADeres program has been developing Latinx leaders for the last decade. These leaders still rely on the lessons learned in their cohort. Now the program is expanding to meet the needs of returning students.
Feature Story
How my Spanish Immersion education is preparing me for the future
Ava Devanney
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Eighth-grader Ava Devanney shares what’s like being in a Spanish Immersion program, and why she’s glad her parents put her on that track to be bilingual as a child.
Development News
Wellness collective, coffee shop a safe space for gathering, healing and building community
Estelle Slootmaker, Development News Editor
Monday, June 6, 2022
Northeast Grand Rapids small business collective includes LGBTQ-friendly coffee shop and library, yoga, reiki and massage businesses under one roof.
Feature Story
Your words matter: How to respect people with disabilities
Paul R. Kopenkoskey
Friday, June 3, 2022
Persons First Language is replacing ableist language that devalues people with disabilities by erroneously implying they are abnormal.
Feature Story
West Michigan employers leading the way in accessible workplaces
Shandra Martinez
Friday, June 3, 2022
Despite a labor shortage, people with disabilities are dramatically underemployed. But there are employers leading the way in providing accessible accommodations so they can tap into this often-overlooked talent pool.
Longform
Black ER patients are less likely to receive follow-up care, and this project is examining why
Estelle Slootmaker
Thursday, June 2, 2022
A new Michigan project is engaging community-based organizations to gather information on, and develop solutions to, disparities in ER follow-up care.
Feature Story
Former Ms. Wheelchair America leader advocates for inclusion
Kym Reinstadler
Monday, May 30, 2022
The Heart of an Advocate: From Ms. Wheelchair America leader to inclusion specialist and ride-share organizer, Stephanie Deible is rolling to a bright future
.
Longform
Michigan’s recovery communities offer a "total ecosystem" of services for getting and staying sober
Estelle Slootmaker
Friday, May 27, 2022
Recovery communities support a continuum of care by providing detox services, residential treatment, outpatient services, recovery supports, housing, and more.
Partner Content
Creating sustainable, local food systems through food policy councils
Estelle Slootmaker
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
This article is the second in a two-part series about food policy councils and how SNAP-Ed can help to inform that work.
Feature Story
KDL’s summer feeding program helps to fill gaps in student nutrition
Sarah Spohn
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Children need food to help fuel their bodies and minds, but over weekends and during summer months, many students who receive free or reduced lunches suffer without proper nutrition. Kent District Library’s summer Lunch at the Library program offers youths ages 2-18 free nutritious meals.
Innovation News
GRow1000 returns for its third year to help shape careers of next generation
Megan Sarnacki
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
GRow1000 returns to employ young adults ages 15 to 24 in professional career opportunities and mentorship. One partner organization, Spectrum Health, explains how participants can benefit from this program
.
Partner Content
The intersection of communities, educators, and food policy councils for just, healthy food systems
Estelle Slootmaker
Monday, May 23, 2022
A food policy council can influence, improve, or remove barriers in the food system that cause disparities, inequities, poor nutrition, or economic hardships.
Feature Story
Banking program provides accounts with little or no fees to underserved communities
Sarah Spohn
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
In May 2022, Gov. Whitmer announced the Michigan Open Account Coalition, which seeks to connect unbanked or underbanked Michiganders with access to financial services.
Load More Stories
Across Our Network
Founder of Black Wall Street Muskegon has a passion for promoting financial literacy
Source: The Lakeshore
Your Michigan beach escape: Check out these gems
Source: Rural Innovation Exchange
Want your employees to come back to the office? Rethink how your workplace impacts mental health
Source: Input Fort Wayne
Shaping the local theater scene: Avery Anderson at American Stage
Source: 83Degrees