One man’s vision: making West Michigan known for great leadership
Rodger Price is on a mission to train 1,000 West Michigan leaders. His Leading by Design program boasts an impressive list of alumni.
Holland
Located on the shores of little Lake Macatawa, just off the coast of expansive Lake Michigan, Holland is the epicenter of West Michigan’s Dutch history and culture. Not surprisingly, then, the city is perhaps best known for its annual Tulip Time Festival in May. But there’s much more to the Tulip City than, well, tulips. The city’s downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts as much retail activity as any urban core in the region. The community is flush with wildly popular waterfront beaches like Tunnel Park and Holland State Park. And Hope College lends the clean, conservative town a bit of youthful spirit.
Chamber trailblazer earns elite designation
Under Jane Clark’s leadership, the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce is nationally recognized as an industry leader that is impacting the Holland-Zeeland area for the greater good.
Parade celebrates nonprofit-church partnership in building Habitat home
In spite of construction shutdowns due to COVID-19, a partnership between nonprofits and churches has completed a Habitat for Humanity home for one Holland family. The completion of the project was celebrated with a parade and a home dedication.
LEDA’s 1st virtual conference brings together leaders for day of inclusion education
In an age when racial inequity has been thrust to the forefront, the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance’s annual summit on race and inclusion drew nearly 800 people. Among the virtual event's attendees were representatives from cities, public schools, police departments, public health departments, corporations, nonprofits, and universities.
Mail-in ballots attractive to first-time voters
Recent high school grad Gezelle Kingdom Grier is ready to cast a ballot by mail in her first election. “I was looking forward to voting in person but I think this will be much easier," she says.
Renters avoid eviction, landlords get back rent with new state program
The Michigan Eviction Diversion Program is providing $60 million in coronavirus relief funds to prevent homelessness statewide by paying back rent to landlords. “It’s a win for everybody,” says Good Samaritan Ministries Executive Director Drew Peirce.
Thrive shines light on childhood trauma’s effects on adults
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as abuse, neglect, or a home with mental illness, domestic violence, or the loss of a parent can affect people long into adulthood in ways that can manifest as both mental and physical maladies.
How bebop influenced the civil rights movement
Hope Professor Jordan VanHemert writes about his love for Bebop, a style that challenged the status quo during the Jim Crow era and why he thinks everyone should listen to this music.
What businesses need to know about Michigan’s mask mandate
As positive cases of COVID-19 rise, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expanded the previous recommendation-only directive for use of face masks to a mandate. There are many implications to businesses, their patrons, and employees. Here's what you need to know.
Why counting young people is critical to success of 2020 census
Young adults don’t always recognize the civic responsibility of filling out a form, but the federal government uses answers to measure population and determine federal funding distribution to local governments.
