"Empathy and the commitment of not violating one’s dignity is where I believe we can find real, tangible solutions." In this week's Rapid Blog, Grand Rapids Second Ward Commissioner Joe Jones discusses empathy, community engagement, and the power of speaking up.

At 20 state parks and recreation areas across southern Michigan, groups of volunteer stewards regularly roll up their sleeves to help protect and restore natural areas. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Volunteer Steward Program puts volunteers to work, typically removing invasive species, planting native species, and collecting native seed. The program holds about 200 workdays per year.

Many may see the culture of failure as a passing fad, but those who experience it everyday are trying to change the conversation and keep it in style.

"Is this recyclable?" is a question we ask ourselves more often than we'd like to admit. Regardless of whether or not the answer is 'yes,' you're already down a path to a more sustainable lifestyle. This week's Rapid Chat interviews Angela Fox who leads sustainability workshops with Green Michigan.

This spring, more than 1,500 area preschoolers from Head Start for Kent County and other early education programs visited the Grand Rapids Public Museum thanks to PNC Foundation grant-funded field trips.

When entering or re-entering the workforce it can feel daunting and scary, and many try to go at it alone not knowing that no one ever makes it completely on their own. Behind every successful person there is a long story; the successful stand on the shoulders of their mentors, coaches, sponsors, family, network, and friends. From mentoring to job readiness to an office-ready outfit, the Women's Resource Center empowers women to become self-sufficient.

Developing a snack bar designed to serve those who have Celiac's Disease or those who are simply gluten-intolerant, Elliott and his brother, Marshall, developed their tasty snack almost a decade ago. Now selling the Gluten Free Bar and other associated products in over 9,000 stores across the country, in Canada, and in Europe, the Rader brothers have transformed a simple idea into a successful B-corp, one bar at a time.