Stories

Feature Story Samariz Hernández Cruz

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. 

New Wikiwiki Poke Shop and Oyster Bar brings unique flavors to quick service concept


Innovation News INcultured

Strictly Business: The women who own Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is already home to many women owned and operated businesses, and with this development boom we are likely to see a continued rise in women's ownership and leadership. Nationally, business growth among women entrepreneurs continues to be on the rise.

Feature Story Kids Walking

Choosing to stay close to home: Five families commit to an underutilized neighborhood school

In 2016, MLive reported that 26 percent of Michigan students are enrolled outside of their home school district. Instead of opting for school of choice, this fall, five families in the Alger Heights/Garfield Park neighborhoods took a bold step: they organized and committed to sending their kindergarteners to their under-performing neighborhood school, Brookside Elementary.

Feature Story HipHop

Hip Hop Academy students advocate, articulate, and find creative expression through music

Hip Hop Academy, a group of talented and passionate individuals, not only work to advance their own craft and skills, but look for ways to empower the community with their art and by mentoring youth.

Feature Story fd9

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.

Feature Story fd3

Una comida compartida en la avenida Grandville

Tuvimos el privilegio de ser invitados a compartir una comida entre los residentes de la avenida Grandville en la Asociación de Vecindarios de Roosevelt Park. Estas son sus historias.

Feature Story OTG Muskegon Hamburger Mikey employees funny

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.

Feature Story TommyBW

G-Sync: Growing pains are natural (and so is healing them)

The act of listening in a city still has incredible power. Publisher Tommy Allen looks around and finds plenty of opportunities  for us to engage more fully with each other in our neighborhoods. 

Partner Content Jeanane Charara, Michigan Science Center distance learning coordinator

This new program allows Michigan students to learn from science professionals—anywhere

ECHO, a new distance learning program created by the Michigan Science Center, uses video conferencing to connect classrooms with a museum educator who conducts interactive lessons in real time.

New Kent County nonprofit launches public-private pilot program for improving foster care outcomes


Sanctuary Folk Art Gallery retires from South Division

Nine years before Grand Rapids’ first ArtPrize, Reb Roberts and Carmella Loftis were nurturing a blossoming art community in their Sanctuary Folk Art Gallery on South Division. Now, after eighteen years, Roberts and Loftis are opening a new chapter—and saying goodbye to their beloved gallery space in Heartside.

Feature Story FTsocialjusticechoir

Social Justice Choir puts GR's culture of giving to work

Yearning to put Grand Rapids’ “culture of giving” to work advancing social justice, Claire Minnis established Social Justice Choir, a community group focused on social justice issues.

Feature Story RapidBlog

Rapid Blog: Do you know where your clothes come from?

When you’re out shopping for that little black dress or the perfect Fall handbag, are you thinking about where those items came from, who made them, the materials used? Probably not. The ethical fashion industry is trying to change that.

Feature Story RapidChat

RapidChat: Kati Palmurkar

It's been over a year since we last chatted with aspiring cat cafe owner, Kati Palmukar. After struggling to obtain sufficient funds from her Kickstarter campaign, she managed to press on with help from her family and friends. As of August 17, 2017, Happy Cat Cafe became the first and only cat cafe within West Michigan.

Feature Story Chef Char Morse

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.

Feature Story Sue Garza, directora de la Biblioteca Cook y Erica Tomas Juarez

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.

Feature Story ET6

Eliminando la política de cero tolerancia: cambios de ley y esfuerzos hacia prácticas restauradoras

Durante 25 años, Michigan ha tenido una de las disciplinas escolares más duras del país. Para estudiantes como Erica Tomas Juarez, quien fue expulsado bajo la política de cero tolerancia. En el verano del 2017, la ley fue modificada permitiendo que las practicas restauradores puedan ser libremente implementadas en todo el estado, con el objetivo de evitar que historias como la de Juarez se vuelvan a repetir, y pueda mantener a más niños en la escuela. 

Feature Story RGgettinfresh

Problem solving with real-time data: The projects behind GR's Smart City status

Last month, we discussed GRand Rapids' progress toward becoming a Smart City. This month, we take a look at the projects powering that progress as the city looks to data to solve real world problems.