The latest unemployment numbers released today show more positive signs for the state’s economy, as fewer people are out of work.
Here’s a link to a story about the numbers posted on Business Week’s website.
Excerpt from story:
The figures show lower unemployment rates everywhere on a year-to-year bases.
Seasonally adjusted joblessness has been falling for months in Michigan. It stood at 8.8 percent in February.
Note: Several members of the Van Andel Millennial Board will offer individual perspectives on the visit to Grand Rapids. Some posts will recap the entire visit, while others will discuss individual tour stops.
By: Courtney Dernberger, Hope College
As a graduating senior at Hope College, I was very excited to gain a deeper perspective on a city I had become more and more familiar with during the years. Throughout the two-day tour, we met many individuals who seemed to reflect the very character of the city. The pervading trait that seemed to resonate in each individual was passion.
Unlike many large urban areas, the people of Grand Rapids do not ignore the ugly aspects of the city. Rather than turning a blind eye, they passionately meet the challenges head on – and this is what was exciting to see on our tour – young and old leaders all over the city taking the initiative to make a difference and invest in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Heart-breaking statistics are quickly met with a creative solution. One in four children go hungry each night in the city of Grand Rapids. Though this is a devastating reality, it is not one that is ignored. One of my favorite visits was the Kids’ Food Basket. They are ferociously attacking childhood hunger in greater Grand Rapids, providing sack suppers to more than 4,000 elementary school children everyday. How amazing is that!
Another fascinating company was WMCAT, West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology. They are responding to poverty in the city by providing after-school education as well as free adult education so families are able to survive and prosper indefinitely. It was inspiring to talk to Luisa Schumacher, the executive director of the program. She is a young leader who saw the hardship in her city and has made an enormous difference for families all over the area.
None of these programs would be possible without the generosity of fellow Grand Rapids citizens. It was amazing to learn that Grand Rapids is the second-most philanthropic city in the country. Families like the VanAndels and the DeVoses have stayed in Grand Rapids and given it the opportunity to become vibrant and alive once again. They have created the means for young and passionate leaders to meet the needs of the city and its people.
I would love to move to Grand Rapids in the near future. Not only are there countless opportunities to get involved and make a true difference, but the heart of the city – the people – are full of authenticity and passion.
Note: We had a great time during our two-day tour of Grand Rapids on April 19 and 20. In the coming days, we’ll provide individual thoughts on the visit and highlight some of our destinations in more detail.
MLive.com and The Grand Rapids Press Reporter Zane McMillin and Photographer Emily Zoladz joined the Van Andel Millennial Board for several of its visits during the first day of the Grand Rapids tour. Each posted coverage of the visit on MLive.com, with McMillin’s article and Zoladz’s photos really capturing the essence of our visit.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
They were eight members of the Van Andel Millennial Board, an endowed youth council comprising students from 14 private Michigan colleges, including several in Grand Rapids and West Michigan.
An arm of the Michigan Colleges Foundation, the Millennial Board works to “develop and implement … strategies to attract and retain students in Michigan,” according to its website.
The Millennial Board’s ArtPrize visit Thursday was one leg of a rigorous, two-day whirlwind tour of sorts to sites around Grand Rapids that, in some way, highlighted parts of the city that would attract a young, right-out-of-college crowd.
The group started their day at The Rapid bus system’s Central Station, where the group learned about recent service changes and the upcoming bus rapid transit Silver Line.
Note: We had a great time during our two-day tour of Grand Rapids on April 19 and 20. In the coming days, we’ll provide individual thoughts on the visit and highlight some of our destinations in more detail.
Featured stop: Haworth
Haworth, an industry leader in the office furniture industry, provided a comprehensive tour of its facilities – complete with a half-hour visit with Matthew Haworth (the company’s chairman and the grandson of founder G.W. Haworth). Mr. Haworth provided a great overview of the company, shared many of the positive and negative attributes of living/working in West Michigan and discussed his background. It was such a positive experience to hear about the real opportunities and issues that companies face in Michigan. It was even better to get a few tips on how to grow in our chosen fields and enter the workforce.
Beyond our visit with Mr. Haworth, we really enjoyed seeing the close proximity between the corporate offices and the manufacturing facilities. Beautiful office space used by designers, marketers and executives is literally steps away from the nuts and bolts of the operation, allowing everyone to remain closely connected to all aspects of the company.
Another area that was very interesting involved the major focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. It was great to hear that Haworth has implemented “zero landfill initiatives” designed to make use of old materials or turn those materials into energy.
Haworth appears to be a company founded on strong principles and beliefs. It opened our eyes to some of the opportunities that can be found in Michigan that match our interests and our passions.
Thanks again to everyone at Haworth for hosting us.
Note: We’re pretty excited about the two-day tour of Grand Rapids on April 19 and 20. In the coming days, this blog will highlight each of the Van Andel Millennial Board’s destinations and talk a little bit about what we’re hoping to accomplish/learn at each stop.
Today: Meeting with Mayor George Heartwell
Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell serves as more than just a top government official for Michigan’s second largest city. He’s an advocate on a national level for the region, its waterways and green initiatives.
Early last year, Heartwell made headlines when he was one of a few select mayors to be invited to the White House. During the visit, Heartwell was photographed talking with the President, advocating for funding of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. It was just the latest in his work to support the waterways of Michigan. In 2008, he presented a similar question via video to Republican Presidential hopefuls who were taking part in a CNN-televised debate:
Heartwell has led numerous “green” initiatives during his time as mayor of Grand Rapids, called “America’s Greenest City” by Fast Company in 2008. His bio lists several of the initiatives that the city has undertaken to reach this level of recognition, including “implanting a variety of environmental measures including (the) purchase of renewable resource energy, use of alternative fuels in City vehicles, continued attention to water quality in the Grand River and widespread implementation of energy conservation measures.”
The millennial board looks forward to hearing from the mayor on numerous items, including waterways, the city’s innovative “MyGRCity” points program, attempts to make streets more pedestrian-friendly, green initiatives, etc.
Note: We’re pretty excited about the two-day tour of Grand Rapids on April 19 and 20. In the coming days, we’ll highlight each of our destinations and talk a little bit about what we’re hoping to accomplish/learn at each stop.
Today: WMCAT
The West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology does some amazing things. From connecting urban youth with opportunities and new experiences to providing job training programs for adults, WMCAT is a shinning example of what can be done by dedicated individuals who seek to better their community.
Led by a young, dynamic professional, WMCAT has struck a chord with many in West Michigan. Here’s a great video summarizing WMCAT and its impact:
We look forward to hearing more about WMCAT from its executive director and touring the facility, it should be a valuable experience.
Note: We’re pretty excited about the two-day tour of Grand Rapids on April 19 and 20. In the coming days, we’ll highlight each of our destinations and talk a little bit about what we’re hoping to accomplish/learn at each stop.
Today:Kids Food Basket
Kids’ Food Basket is a homegrown nonprofit organization that supports the dinner needs for more than 4,800 K-5 students each day. The idea is simple – students need to eat dinner. Yet many families can’t afford a meal at all and many more have trouble including healthy meal options.
KFB makes sure that lunch isn’t the last meal of the day for these young students, organizing efforts at 35 schools to provide 1,000-calorie sack dinners. More than 170 volunteers help each day, and numerous organizations from around the community donate time, money and products.
The efforts are led by KFB’s dynamic young leader, a late 20-something who started at the organization as an intern when it was launched. Today, she leads a dedicated team of more than a dozen staff members who do great things in Kent County every day.
People nationally are taking notice of KFB. The nonprofit was recently selected for inclusion in a reality show pilot that is being pitched to major cable networks about nonprofits that make a huge difference each day.
We’re excited to see what can be done to help others when you put your mind to it.
Note: We’re pretty excited about the two-day tour of Grand Rapids on April 19 and 20. In the coming days, we’ll highlight each of our destinations and talk a little bit about what we’re hoping to accomplish/learn at each stop.
Today: The Rapid
The Rapid is Grand Rapids’ rapidly expanding bus system that continues to see increases in ridership, routes, and pickup times. As they say, “it’s how they roll.”
The Rapid will soon add Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a bus line that is described as having many of the benefits of a street car system without the tracks. The system will have a dedicated lane during rush hours, be able to hold green/yellow lights to ensure that it stays on time, use platforms and electronic ticket stations, etc. The federal government is set to award approximately $27 million to help build the infrastructure and purchase the vehicles necessary for the line and a millage from local communities will help to fund its operation once it opens in 2014.
Here’s a video about the BRT, called the Silver Line:
The Rapid also recently opened a new, state-of-the-art operations center. The facility will support The Rapid’s continued growth over the next 15 years, is expected to gain LEED certification and was dedicated in January by the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
We’re excited to tour The Rapid’s Central Station in downtown, its new operations center and hear about plans for expansion.
Note: We’re pretty excited about the two-day tour of Grand Rapids on April 19 and 20. In the coming weeks, we’ll highlight each of our destinations and talk a little bit about what we’re hoping to accomplish/learn at each stop.
Today: ArtPrize
ArtPrize is an open arts contest in Grand Rapids, Michigan and features the world’s largest art prize (cash award). ArtPrize selects the winner via public vote, conducted through its website, smartphone apps, etc. But ArtPrize is really much more than an arts contest. It is an experience that has completely changed the city, helping the community to see things through “new eyes.” For nearly three weeks each fall, everyone thinks that they are an art critic. You hear intense discussions at coffee shops, bus stops and places of business. For Grand Rapidians, it isn’t a question of “if” you’ve been to ArtPrize but a question of how many times you’ve gone.
During our visit, we’ll meet with leaders from ArtPrize to learn more about its launch, growth, future and (most importantly) its impact on the region.
One thing is for sure, ArtPrize certainly has had an impact on how the nation views Grand Rapids. Here’s one (of many) national segment that have aired regarding ArtPrize: The Today Show
Note: We’re pretty excited about the two-day tour of Grand Rapids on April 19 and 20. In the coming weeks, we’ll highlight each of our destinations and talk a little bit about what we’re hoping to accomplish/learn at each stop.
Today: GRid70
GRid70 is unlike almost any other workspace in Michigan. Where else would you find design-oriented staff from major companies like Amway, Meijer, Steelcase and Wolverine Worldwide working in the same building, potentially sharing thoughts and brainstorming about how products could be made better?
GRid70 stands for Grand Rapids Innovation and Design at 70 Ionia (the street address), but it has represented much more for downtown Grand Rapids. GRid70 was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal and is one of the biggest commitments of employees to downtown by the region’s largest companies.
One of the ideas behind GRid70 is that it will help attract top talent to these companies and the region. It is believed that many want to work near creative people like them in an environment that is intellectually simulating.
