On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Daryl Reece, Executive Director and co-founder of the Pieces of Reeces Foundation.

The Pieces of Reeces Foundation will once again bring the community together on Saturday, August 9, from 1-8 pm, for their third annual Piecing Together Unity Festival at Rosa Parks Circle.

The festival is hosted by the Pieces of Reece's Foundation.

The foundation provides 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.

Executive Director Daryl Reece began the foundation with his wife, Debra, in 2019.

Daryl credits his time at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo as being strong positive influences on his life, and he is very involved with the organization today, including the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids.

More online: Pieces of Reece's Foundation⁠.

In this week's episode, WYCE station manager Phil Tower welcomes Dana Eardley, executive director of Fulton Street Market, and Anissa Mathiasz, assistant market manager at the Fulton Street Market.

Fulton Street Market celebrates the power of community and grassroots activism.

Established in 1922, Fulton Street Market has been a staple of Grand Rapids and beyond, evolving to meet the changing needs of our diverse population.

Dana Eardley talked about how Fulton Street Market has been working hard to create a vibrant marketplace experience that connects communities, supports local farmers and artisans, celebrates diverse cultures, and ensures sustainable food access for all.

We also learned that their mission is to inspire agricultural participation in Grand Rapids by tending to meaningful connections and experiences at the Market.

Other topics that Dana and Anissa touched on in this episode included:

• How the Fulton Street Market is working to achieve its mission of increasing food access in our community.
• Workshops and other learning opportunities that happen at the market.
• How the market is evolving to meet the needs of our growing and diverse West Michigan community.

Learn more online: Fulton Street Market

In this episode, WYCE station manager Phil Tower speaks with Wardell Frazier, Jr., Executive Director of The Diatribe, and J-Lin Tamminga, Director of Education at The Diatribe.

Both Wardell and J-Lin spoke about the Diatribe Vision: Creating art that is informative because we know that some of the most complex topics can be digested easier through an artistic lens, and that some of the most complex verbiage can be redivided through the creative gaze; words like racism, justice, and even liberation.

A critical and exciting piece of the future for The Diatribe is The Emory Arts & Culture Hub. In a real sense, it is “a dream home” for the Diatribe leadership.

With the Emory Arts & Culture Hub, the Diatribe plans a new model for redevelopment that they hope will serve as an example for inclusive community and economic growth, potentially influencing more of this type of work in communities across the country.

ONLINE: The Diatribe