Common Good Conversations

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Check out this clip we pulled from our LIVE! event in Holland. Chris Kleinjans is a Democrat running against Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel during a special Recall Election occurring on Tuesday, May 7. Chris is also a Common Good Candidate.

- Learn more about our Common Good Candidate platform

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Check out this 20-minute clip we pulled from our LIVE! event in Holland. 

Mayor Mark Northrup discusses why Joe Moss' leadership with Ottawa Impact has led to a train wreck in Ottawa County.

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Hey Everybody!

Get ready for an episode packed with laughs and learning...

Nick and Shawn had a great time with a live audience where they laughed about their father in-law wanting to try nasal irrigation, debating the correct way to pronounce the grocery store name "Meijer", and Nick testing for a red belt in karate.  Kia!

Nick and Shawn also learned about Democratic and Republican points of view while being in conversation with two candidates running for Ottawa County Commissioner against Ottawa Impact:

• Mayor Mark Northrup of Hudsonville (District 5, Republican) running against Ottawa Impact Commissioner Joe Moss in the August  6th Primary Election spoke passionately about why Joe Moss should not run for re-election, why Ottawa Impact is a "train wreak", and about not being a RINO or MAGA. 
• Chris Kleinjans (District 2, Democrat) running against Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel in a recall election on May 7th spoke about the funding complexities of Ottawa Food, findings from a MLive poll about Ottawa Impact, and why he chose to become a Common Good Candidate. 

Finally, Mark and Chris answered tough questions from the audience where they gave their opinions about parental rights, vaccines, paying litigation fees, and transparency.

You're gonna want to settle in for this episode. So grab a drink, listen with a friend, and enjoy!

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*This is a shortened promo from our previous promo episode
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A few years ago brothers-in-law Nick and Shawn started doing the unthinkable at family gatherings – talking about politics and faith at the dinner table. While at times tense and cautious those conversations were filled with curiosity, nuance, grace, and humor. Wanting to lean into that experience they decided to start a podcast. Common Good Conversations is a weekly opportunity for Nick and Shawn to talk about the politics and faith of West Michigan by being curious, nuanced, grace-filled, and humorous; perhaps they’ll learn something along the way. 

• Special Guest, Christian Kleinjans for Ottawa County Commissioner
• Live Music, Daniel Dietrich
• Alcoholic beverages and pizza available for purchase

Sunday, March 24 from 6 to 8 PM at Park Theatre.
Let us know you're coming!

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*A live event recorded at Port 393 in Holland on March 10.
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How can we move from a politics of fear to a politics of faith? A discussion with local panelists

• Dr. Fred Johnson, Professor of Political Science, Hope College
• Sarah Leach, Editor of the Holland Sentinel
• Christy Berghoef, Communication Consultant
• Rev. Dr. Jared Cramer, Rector at St. John's Episcopal Church

Moderator

• Stan Green, Leadership Consultant

Co-Sponsoring Organizations

• Vote Common Good-West Michigan
• Still Processing

Co-Sponsoring Churches

• Holland UCC, Douglas Congregational, Hope Church Justice and Reconciliation Ministry, First United Methodist Church of Holland, St. John's Episcopal Church (Grand Haven)

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Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with the Rev. Bryan Berghoef pastor at Holland UCC to discuss an upcoming event called The Soul of Politics  happening March 10 at Port 393 in Holland at 3pm. The event will feature a panel discussion with Dr. Fred Johnson from Hope College, Sarah Leach from the Holland Sentinel, Christy Berghoef, Communication Consultant, and Rev. Dr. Jared Cramer, St. John's Episcopal Church. Stan Greene will be moderating. The conversation will help people discover how to move from the politics of fear to the politics of faith, and how our faith can help heal, rather than harm our nation. VCG-WM is a co-sponsor for the event. 

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A few years ago brothers-in-law Nick and Shawn started doing the unthinkable at family gatherings – talking about politics and faith at the dinner table. While at times tense and cautious those conversations were filled with curiosity, nuance, grace, and humor. Wanting to lean into that experience they decided to start a podcast. Common Good Conversations is a weekly opportunity for Nick and Shawn to talk about the politics and faith of West Michigan by being curious, nuanced, grace-filled, and humorous; perhaps they’ll learn something along the way. 

• Special Guest, Christian Kleinjans for Ottawa County Commissioner
• Live Music, Daniel Dietrich
• Alcoholic beverages and pizza available for purchase

Sunday, March 24 from 6 to 8 PM at Park Theatre.
Let us know you're coming!

Support the show

Follow us on Facebook at Vote Common Good - primary

Send a text

Written and read by Lynn Smith of Holland.

"It’s not bad luck that we’re living through the greatest threat to American democracy since the Civil War. Rather, it’s a privilege to live during a time when our actions have immense consequences and we have a unique opportunity to display American common good … not only in our country, but throughout the world. The moral fiber of our society has been weakened by cowardly and amoral leaders, but it has not yet been destroyed."

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with David Lee and Bill Trenary from Lighthouse Immigration Advocates in Holland. Lighthouse provides direct immigration legal services to thousands of immigrants and refugees and advocates on behalf of immigrants and refugees on the local, state, and federal levels.  

In this episode you'll learn how to best refer to your significant other in a podcast, what it means to be an illegal and legal immigrant in the U.S., and how immigration plays out in Ottawa County.

Enjoy.

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Hey, Everybody!

Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Tricia Kryda and Carrie Irwin of Jamestown Township. Tricia and Carrie are passionate advocates for the Patmos Library and helped to pass a funding millage for it after being twice defunded.  

In this episode you'll learn about some all-time favorite books, what compromise in a community looks like, and how it feels to finally have the Patmos Library fully funded.

Enjoy.

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