In this episode of Don’t Quote Me, we sit down with Cole Williams: a pillar of the Grand Rapids community, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Delta Project, and a lifelong advocate for youth and justice.

Cole has spent years working within the juvenile justice system, offering mentorship, education, and compassion to young people who are too often forgotten. But beyond his professional titles, Cole is a father, a leader, and a believer in the power of love as a form of resistance.

Together, we talk about what it means to truly care for your community, where joy shows up in hard spaces, and how we can each play a part in creating lasting change. This episode is about heart, about showing up, holding space, and choosing hope.

In this episode of Don’t Quote Me, we sit down with Luke Shoemaker, longtime Grand Rapids musician, photographer, and creative force, to talk about the journey of staying true to your art while evolving through new seasons of life.

From his early days in the local music scene to national tours, countless bands, and a thriving freelance career behind the camera, Luke reflects on what it means to embrace the title artist after years of resisting it.

We talk music, fatherhood, community, and the ever-changing landscape of creativity in Grand Rapids.

🎙️ Don’t Quote Me is a Vance & Company original series spotlighting artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who remind us that connection is at the heart of creativity.

Amy Day has built a career on curiosity and creative risk-taking. Now the Creative Director of ArtPrize, she joins Don’t Quote Me to reflect on her journey through design, wilderness therapy, and the power of art to bring people together. This episode explores what it means to create with purpose — and how art can move entire communities forward.

In Episode 2 of Season 2, we sit down with Kate Christy—founder of Folk Founded and the brilliant designer behind the Vance & Company brand. Kate is not only an incredible creative partner but also a mother, long-distance hiker, and one of the most grounded voices in design we know.

This episode is all about what it means to design a creative career around the kind of life you want to live.

Kate’s humility and wisdom make this one of our most inspiring episodes yet, and it’s a must-watch for any designer, freelancer, or creative trying to do meaningful work without burning out.

Don’t Quote Me is a Vance & Company original series spotlighting local (and not-so-local) creatives and changemakers doing courageous work with authenticity and care.

We're back with Season 2 of Don’t Quote Me, and there's no better way to launch than by sitting down once again with our longtime friend and collaborator, Jose Jimenez.

In Season 1, Jose helped us pilot this series by sounding the alarm on the subtle — and not-so-subtle — threats facing immigrant communities in Michigan and across the country. Now, in September 2025, we revisit those concerns with fresh urgency.

Jose reflects on the past year, the prescience of his award-winning short film Citizen, and how much the political and cultural landscape has shifted since our first conversation. From ICE’s continued targeting of Latinos to law enforcement’s troubling local partnerships, Jose doesn’t hold back.

This episode is a powerful reminder of why art, truth-telling, and fearless conversation matter now more than ever.

Leadership coach, consultant, and nonprofit board president Kareem Scales joins us to unpack what it really means to show up across sectors, roles, and lived experiences. With deep roots in advocacy and a firm eye on the future, Kareem shares what it takes to create systems that serve people and push back against outdated perceptions.

Luxury is Wellness: Brendon Craft on Reintroduction, Presence, and the New Masculinity
Entrepreneur and creative Brendon Craft (aka Crafty) explores what it means to live again - to slow down, reset, and redefine success on your own terms. Brendon shares hard-earned lessons on fatherhood, mindfulness, male loneliness, and the power of radical authenticity.

Join us in Berlin with tramp wall artist Dillon Vance, who breaks down the intersection of athletics and artistry, and why live performance resonates in ways no recording ever could. Dillon’s story reminds us that pursuing passion, even without a roadmap, can lead to extraordinary places. For those chasing craft, momentum, and purpose, this one’s for you.

Civic designer and facilitator Adam Weiler breaks down the mechanics of meaningful innovation. Adam explains how design thinking and curiosity can lead to better outcomes for everyone. Whether you're in business, government, or somewhere in between, this one’s for the problem solvers.

Stylist, fine artist, and all-around creative powerhouse Lynn Serulla joins us to talk about working in the real world as an artist without losing your voice. This episode is a crash course in thriving creatively while still paying the bills (and following your dreams).