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

On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue speaks with Gairen Tembreull, Director of Albatross Aviary in Grand Rapids.

Albatross Aviary is a unique avian rescue and sanctuary dedicated to providing permanent care, shelter, and rehabilitation for companion parrots and other exotic birds when rehoming options are scarce. 

Albatross Aviary is a bird refuge mainly focusing on exotic companion birds like parrots, including parakeets, cockatoos, macaws, and other Psittacine species. They typically accept most companion or exotic birds and other captive avian species.

Online:  Albatross Aviary

On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue, program manager at The Rapidian, speaks with Guest Amy Thomas-Mellema, Executive Director of Revive & Thrive Project.

Revive & Thrive Project was founded by nutritionist and cancer survivor Wendy Borden. After learning about the Ceres Community Project, Wendy made a heartfelt commitment to model the program in Grand Rapids.

Revive & Thrive’s first nutritious meals were home-delivered to 12 individuals with cancer on May 15, 2015.

Key elements of Revive & Thrive Project programs include:

Online: Revive & Thrive Project

On this week's show, host Allison Donahue welcomes Guests: Meghan Distel, Broadway GR President and CEO, and Jennifer Pascua, Broadway GR Marketing Director.

Broadway Grand Rapids was established in September of 1988 and opened the first season with South Pacific

The mission of Broadway Grand Rapids is to bring the very best of national touring Broadway productions to Grand Rapids.

The audiences attracted by this top-notch programming become an economic catalyst for the community, not just at the theater but at area restaurants, hotels, and other cultural venues. BGR leverages access to performances and performers to create educational opportunities for students at schools and colleges and unique backstage opportunities for service clubs and other area organizations.

All Broadway Grand Rapids presentations take place in DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.

Online: Broadway Grand Rapids

On this week's program, host. Allison Donahue welcomes John Vanderhaagen, communications director at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

John spoke with Allison about the featured art exhibit at the gardens, as well as the always popular upcoming butterflies exhibition, the summer concert series, and the number of volunteer opportunities at Frederik Meijer Gardens

Online: Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

On this week's program, host. Allison Donahue speaks with Zack Berends, the festival and events manager for Laughfest and Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids sponsors the 14th annual LaughFest from March 6 to 10.

This year's event features comedians such as Tammy Pescatelli, Josh Johnson, Piff the Magic Dragon, and Demetri Martin. Comedian, actor, and author Tom Papa is set to headline the Gilda’s Club annual Red Door Gala on March 14 at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Other Laughfest events include LaughFest: Night at the Museum,  LaughFest Trivia Night of Stars, KaraJOKEe, Pop Scholars, River City Improv, and The Dirty Show. Proceeds from LaughFest, presented by Gun Lake Casino, and LaughFest’s High Five Campaign benefit the free cancer and grief emotional health support program offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.

Online: LaughFest

In this week's *program, host Allison Donahue (Program Manager for The Rapidian) continues her conversation with Rodney Brown, the founder of GRMIFI. (*The Grand Rapids Media Initiative & Film Incubator). During the program, Allison and Rodney discussed the utilization of film and media as a means to tell the untold stories of Grand Rapids and GRMIFI's role in cultivating the next generation of local filmmakers. They explored the themes in Todd E. Robinson's book "A City within a City" and the concept of narrative justice that helps guide GRMIFI's work.  

The work of the GRMIFI (The Grand Rapids Media Initiative & Film Incubator) supports dynamic storytellers, capturing diverse Grand Rapids narratives from past and present about strategizing, organizing and building to thrive amidst the zero-sum mentalities, misdirections and/or niceties about issues of race and power in this region.

*This is part two of a two-part conversation.

Online: ⁠GRMIFI ⁠

In this week's *program, host Allison Donahue (Program Manager for The Rapidian) welcomes Rodney Brown, the founder of GRMIFI. (*The Grand Rapids Media Initiative & Film Incubator)

 During the program, Allison and Rodney discussed the utilization of film and media as a means to tell the untold stories of Grand Rapids, GRMIFI's role in cultivating the next generation of local filmmakers, and they explored the themes in Todd E. Robinson's book "A City within a City" and the concept of narrative justice that helps guide GRMIFI's work.

The work of the GRMIFI (The Grand Rapids Media Initiative & Film Incubator) supports dynamic storytellers, capturing diverse Grand Rapids narratives from past and present about strategizing, organizing and building to thrive amidst the zero-sum mentalities, misdirections and/or niceties about issues of race and power in this region.

*This is part one of a two-part conversation.

Online: GRMIFI

In this week's episode, host Alison Donohue speaks with Pattijean McCahill, director of marketing and development, at Feeding America West Michigan.

Feeding America West Michigan is at the center of a united community effort driven by the core belief that hunger is unacceptable and meals can change lives.

Feeding America West Michigan works to gather and distribute food to relieve hunger and increase food security in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

Feeding America West Michigan serves people today through an expansive hunger-relief network of hundreds of food pantries and meal programs across 40 counties. They are one of 200 food banks in Feeding America’s nationwide network. 

Online: Feeding America West Michigan

On the program this week, Allison Donahue speaks with Janay Brower, Founder and CEO of Public Thread

Public Thread is a West Michigan-based manufacturer and retailer that works with with upcycled textiles and materials.

Public Thread moved last week into a 10,000-square-foot space at 446 Cesar Chavez Ave. SW, the start of a new chapter for the fashion accessories company following an extensive search for a new facility.

Public Thread sources waste materials from other companies like billboard companies and transforms their discarded products into consumer goods

Online: Public Thread

Marcial Benavidez  - Kent County Welcome Plan Collaborative Communications Specialist Podcast descriptions:English: In this week's episode, host Allison Donahue welcomes Marcial Benavidez, Kent County Welcome Plan Collaborative Communications Specialist.The Kent County Welcome Plan Collaborative is a multi-organizational group that represents over 50 organizations including local school districts, non-profits, government bodies, and businesses. The WPC is tasked with implementing and advancing Welcome Plan priority areas to help new Americans, immigrants, and refugees get acclimated in West Michigan. 

Spanish: En el episodio de esta semana, la presentadora Allison Donahue da la bienvenida a Marcial Benavidez, especialista en comunicaciones del Kent County Welcome Plan Collaborative.

El Kent County Welcome Plan Collaborative es un grupo multiorganizacional que representa a más de 50 organizaciones, incluidos distritos escolares locales, organizaciones sin fines de lucro, organismos gubernamentales y negocios. El WPC tiene la tarea de implementar y promover las áreas prioritarias del Plan de Bienvenida para ayudar a los nuevos estadounidenses, inmigrantes y refugiados a aclimatarse en el oeste de Michigan.

Connect online: Kent County Welcome Plan Collaborative