WYCE's Community Closeup (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)

On this week's episode episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Janet Zahn, co-chair, of Grand Rapids Climate Coalition.

The Grand Rapids Climate Coalition is a growing alliance of individuals, community groups, neighborhood associations, nonprofits, faith groups, businesses, and educational institutions. 

The Grand Rapids Climate Coalition's focus is mobilizing collective power to ensure equitable access to a clean, healthy, just, and livable community and climate. 

Janet reminded us that climate change impacts everyone and almost everything: food, health care, air and water quality, transportation, housing, jobs, and the economy. 

Climate change can make groceries, utilities, and housing cost more and force out our lower-income neighbors as rich folks flee here from climate disaster locations. 

Much of this is already happening in the United States. It will happen more and more in Michigan. All of us will be affected; many of us already are.

GR Climate Coalition's Top 5 Priorities

Right now, our work is centered on these priorities:

1) Implement a Climate Voter Campaign.

2) Advocate for increased recycling and municipal composting. ​

3) Mobilize around Community Solar Legislation.

4) Promote electrification of homes through IRA funding.

5) Support efforts to influence food policy and improve green transportation.

Online: Grand Rapids Climate Coalition

On this week's program, WYCE station manager Phil Tower welcomes Daryl Reece, co-founder, along with his wife, Debra Reece, of the Pieces of Reeces Foundation.

Pieces of Reeces Foundation is again presenting the annual Piecing Together Unity Festival on Saturday, August 17, at Rosa Parks Circle and downtown Grand Rapids. 

The festival runs from 1 to 8 p.m. It will feature several vendors and community organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids. There will also be kids' and family activities, live music, several food trucks, and much more.

Pieces of Reeces Foundation has three basic tenets:

Providing Basic Support through essential resources such as food, clothing, and shelter to ensure that every child's basic needs are met, allowing them to focus on their education and personal growth.

Pieces of Reeces also enhances community engagement. By fostering a sense of community and belonging, we help youth build meaningful relationships and social connections that can positively impact their lives.

Daryl said the foundation also believes in supporting young people on their entrepreneurial journey, especially in the skilled trades, whether it's being a cosmetologist, a welder, a plumber, an electrician, a building contractor, or many other skilled trades.

The Pieces of Reeces Foundation strongly believes in supporting these efforts. Daryl transitioned from a factory job to owning a successful barber shop. He later launched the craft spirit brand Stock Da Bar vodka, emphasizing community support and philanthropy.

More info: Piecing Together Unity Festival 

On this week's program, host Phil Tower speaks with Noemi Gonzalez, Community Engagement Coordinator with Grandville Avenue for Arts and Humanities(GAAH).

Grandville Avenue for Arts and Humanities is once again sponsoring Girls Rock! Grand Rapids.

2024 marks the 11th year of Girls Rock! Grand Rapids camp and the staff at GAAH are excited to continue the joy of creating music and empowering young musicians!

Noemi Gonzalez told us there are still some critical volunteer needs and opportunities to meet amazing people and youth.

Girls Rock! Grand Rapids is also looking for a business or individual to underwrite the cost of lunch for all 50 campers and staff on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

If you know of someone or a business interested in helping to cover the cost of lunch on Tuesday during camp or by volunteering, visit https://pointapp.org/orgs/2332 to sign up, or contact Noemi at [email protected] for more information.

Online: Girls Rock Grand Rapids

In this week's program, Phil Tower speaks with Jennifer Kasper, assistant director with MobileGR.

We covered a number of issues in our conversation, including some soon to happen. Parking increases at meters and city own parking ramps for the city of grand Rapids, we also discussed the use of bikes and electric scooters, as well as DAH Routes, riding the Rapid and the cities effort at creating calmer neighborhoods, using transportation solutions.

Mobile GR is a City of Grand Rapids department that works to provide safe, reliable, affordable, and diverse transportation options.

Mobile GR operates city-owned parking systems and maintains many aspects of transportation and safety infrastructure within the City of Grand Rapids and Kent County.

Online: Mobile GR

On this weeks episode, we speak with John Gorney, Director of Public Works for the City of Grand Rapids

The City of Grand Rapids has partnered with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), The Recycling Partnership, and Prairie Robotics to launch a six-month pilot project. This innovative initiative utilizes high-tech cameras, global positioning systems, and computers on city recycling trucks. The aim is to revolutionize our recycling process, making it more efficient and effective.

In this project, Grand Rapids will utilize the technology provided by Prairie Robotics to retrofit the city’s recycling collection trucks with camera technology, global positioning systems, and computers to scan material as it is mechanically dumped from each recycling cart into the truck. The technology recognizes unacceptable items, such as plastic bags, polystyrene foam, yard waste, and trash. The truck flags such items in real-time, allowing the City  of Grand Rapids to send customized feedback via a postcard or digital notification to individual households with information about how they can recycle properly.

Recycling Fun Facts: The national average recycling rate is 32%. Michigan's current recycling rate is at 21% and the City of Grand Rapids recycling rate is at 30%.  

Residents can learn more about the program here

On this week's episode, host Phil Tower(in for Allison Donahue) speaks with Bruce Doll, Vice President of the Fallasburg Historical Society, and Bruce Ling, Musician/Band Leader, a long-time supporter of the Fallasburg Historical Society.

The third annual Fallasburg Village Celebration will be held on Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM in the historic Fallasburg Village. The festival will offer live music from 12 bands, a large artisan village, family fun and games, food vendors, educational opportunities, a tractor show, a classic car show, and more! Santa Claus will also visit on July 27.

Online:  Fallasburg Village Celebration

On this week's program, Phil Tower speaks with Veronica Horsley-Pettigrew, the Community Outreach and Marketing Supervisor at Care Resources, and Karen Altom, the office manager with Care Resources Christmas, about their Christmas in July effort for older persons served by their programs.

Care Resources is a West Michigan-based program for people 55 years of age or older that promotes healthy, independent living and helps keep people who wish to live independently out of nursing homes.

Care Resources is a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (aka, PACE).

PACE is a federal- and state-funded program throughout the country. The PACE model is centered on the belief that it is better for you and your family to be served in your own community whenever possible. PACE uses Medicare and Medicaid funds to cover all of your medically necessary care and services.

During "Christmas In July," Care Resources is asking people to donate personal hygiene products, activity books and household essentials so they can support the seniors they serve.

You can check out their Amazon wish list and make donations that way online.

Their Christmas in July gift drive will help them stock their Bingo Store and provide other essentials to seniors who rely on Medicaid or Medicare.

Items can be dropped off in person at Care Resources, 4150 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids, or at Sabo PR, at 44 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW Suite. 300, Grand Rapids.

 Online: Care Resources

This week, host Allison Donahue, program manager at The Rapidian, speaks with Maris Brummel, a Public Health Epidemiologist at the Kent County Health Department.

The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) recently completed its latest Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), highlighting the most pressing health concerns as identified by county residents.             The 2023 CHNA revealed four top areas of concern:

• Housing

• Health Insurance

• Access to Medical Care

• Access to Healthy Food

The Community Health Needs Assessment is conducted every three years, and is a collaborative effort supported by the KCHD and local health care system partners, including Corewell Health, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Pine Rest, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and University of Michigan Health West.

The 2020 CHNA identified mental health, access to health care, racial inequality, and economic security as the primary issues. This year’s assessment involved a broader and more diverse group of participants, thanks to the engagement efforts of nearly 80 partner organizations and community leaders. Over 5,000 Kent County residents contributed their insights through surveys and focus groups.

Online: The Kent County Health Department's Community Health Needs Assessment

On this week's episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Bob Bernhardt, Pops Conductor, Grand Rapids Symphony and John VanderHaagen, Director of Communications for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

Once again the Grand Rapids Symphony Will be appearing on three different evenings at the 5/3 Bank Summer Concert Series at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

We spoke with our guests about this unique partnership.

Online: Grand Rapids Symphony

Online: 5/3 Bank Summer Concerts at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Time: 15:58.

On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue welcomes Jazz McKinney, MA, LLP. Jazz is the executive director of the Grand Rapids Pride Center.

On June 21, 1988, the first Pride Celebration was held at the Monroe Amphitheater in downtown Grand Rapids. Over the last 35+ years, it has now grown into one of the largest one-day events in Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids Pride Festival is an event that brings 2-SLGBTQ+ community members, 2-SLGBTQ+ businesses, allies, and organizations together to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the 2-SLGBTQ+ community!

This year's Grand Rapids Pride Festival is Saturday, June 22? Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. The event is free and open to the public and will run from noon to 10 PM.

Jazz stressed that PrideFest is all about creating a safe, open, and inclusive environment for Grand Rapids community members to celebrate who they are.

More online: Grand Rapids Pride Center.