Talent

Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar performed with the Holland Symphony Orchestra in 2021 as part of the symphony's free community concert. It was the impetus behind a new drive to include diverse cultures in next year's community concert.

HSO seeks diverse music groups for Music Unites Us concert

Most orchestral music is strictly European. The Holland Symphony Orchestra is looking for groups to help change that. Deadline for submissions is Aug. 31.

Latest in Talent
Holland Mayor Nathan Bocks gets his face painted for a TikTok video.
City interns paint Holland mayor’s face in viral TikTok video

Behind the success of the viral TikTok video featuring Holland Mayor Nathan Bocks are Holland city interns Mariah Vongphachanh and Jadah Burciaga, who were tasked with growing the city’s year-old account on the widely popular social media platform.   

Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation has awarded its fourth grant to GRCC's welding program. (GRCC/Andrew Schmidt)
Heavy metal band Metallica funds GRCC’s welding program for 4th year

A fourth grant from Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation will allow Grand Rapids Community College to help more nontraditional students gain in-demand welding skills.

Tara Weymon Leonard, MillerKnoll’s vice president of global contract and field marketing, talks to I Am Academy students at the company's Design Yard.
I Am Academy explores future careers at MillerKnoll

I Am Academy helps Black students see themselves in the leaders of today and helps shape their tomorrows. The new nonprofit formed by two educators is also again heading up this year's Juneteenth celebration.

Gentex talent acquisition specialist Chris Pollack speaks to a group of the company's interns gathered at Zeeland’s Lawrence Street Park last week.
Lakeshore Advantage makes case for West Michigan living to Gentex interns

Students interning for the summer at area manufacturers are getting a taste of West Michigan life. Businesses hope they make the move permanent after graduation and keep talent in the area. Lakeshore Advantage is helping one manufacturer to make the case.

Team members from Zeeland High School's robotics team — known as Built on Brains, or B.O.B. — were one of two teams to compete at the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics World Championship in Houston last month.
Robotics students are next tech workforce

Two area robotics teams competed at the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics state and world championships, but that's just the beginning. Many tech companies mentor the students now and seek them out when it comes time to hire later.

Jocelyn Hines (right) poses with her parents (left) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after Hines received the 2019 Youth Volunteer of the Year award.
MSU grad launches Muskegon Young Black Professionals to support community

Muskegon native and MSU grad Jocelyn Hines was inspired to launch Muskegon Young Black Professionals after seeing a similar networking organization in Detroit.

Ferry and Voyager students are learning about botany and native plant species at The City Farmer.
Ferry-Voyager students partner with Grand Haven area businesses

Grand Haven Area Public Schools’ Ferry and Voyager elementary students are learning about their community by working with area businesses.  

Nearly a third of Michigan adults report having at least one disability.
Series to explore the state of West Michigan’s growing disability community

This article begins a weekly series that will explore the challenges faced by those with disabilities along with the efforts across West Michigan to address the discrimination and inequity.

A Creative Dining Services employee in a community garden.
Why a Zeeland company is passionate about the triple bottom line

Creative Dining Services received the Triple Bottom Line Leadership Award from the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum for its sustainability and social justice efforts in the foodservice industry.

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