In this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Stefanie Pohl, Senior Content Specialist · Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

In July, a unique Crowdfunding Campaign called "Northeast Grand Rapids: A City of Healing" was launched with a $50,000 goal to win a matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative.

This project was powered by donations through the success of a crowdfunding campaign led by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the nonprofit Lions and Rabbits Center for the Arts (LRCFA), which was powered by donations through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

We're pleased to add that after this program was recorded, the Grand Rapids City of Healing project met its required match of $50,000 on August 23, 2025, triggering the MEDC match of $50,000 to complete the project.

Because of the successful funding and the match from the MEDC, a new series of public art installations and murals will be completed throughout Northeast Grand Rapids to improve public health and community connection.

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC.

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan.

As of July 7, 2025, MEDC has provided more than $14.3 million in matching grants.

On this week's episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Allison Donahue, Program Manager, The Rapidian.

Allison joined us on this program to provide us with an update about everything happening with The Rapidian.

In 2023, the Rapidian introduced the Grand Rapids Documenters program, part of the nationwide Documenters Network, to create a new public record in Grand Rapids.

Since then, The Rapidian has been training and paying community members to record notes and audio for a diverse range of local public meetings, with a goal of boosting transparency and making what goes on at City Hall (and in boardrooms and auditoriums across the city) more accessible to our neighbors.

Allison also reminded us that The Rapidian upholds the highest standards of editorial independence.

The staff has a strong commitment to full transparency in how they fund their work.

The Rapidian accepts gifts, grants, and sponsorships from individuals, organizations, and foundations to support its operations, special projects, and coverage of specific topics.

However, editorial decisions remain entirely independent—donors have no role in assigning, reviewing, or editing content.

The Rapidian is holding a fund drive September 15-19.

ONLINE: ⁠The Rapidian⁠

In this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Cindy Meyers-Foley, the Director and CEO ofThe Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Cindy spoke with us about several programs and happenings at the GRAM, including their new "Thursdays on the Terrace" programming, the GRAM on The Green Concert Series, a partnership with WYCE Community Radio.

Cindy also spoke about the changing role of museums, especially how places like the Grand Rapids Art Museum are becoming positive spaces for health and wellbeing, third spaces, and spaces for community and social connection.

Much of their new initiatives are centered on community outreach, including an exciting new program we spoke about at GRAM...their Teen Identity program.

We also briefly discussed the must-see exhibition: David Hockney: Perspective Should Be Reversed, Prints from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation. The exhibit continues through November 2 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Online: The Grand Rapids Art Museum

Cindy Meyers-Foley, Director and CEO ofthe Grand Rapids Art Museum.(Late August)

Online:artmuseumgr.org

CLOSE: You’ve been listening toWYCE’s Community Closeup…a weekly public affairs program produced inpartnership with The Rapidian, a hyper-local news service of the Grand RapidsCommunity Media Center. This is WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower…thank you forjoining us!

Cindy Meyers-Foley, Director and CEO ofthe Grand Rapids Art Museum.(Late August)

Online:artmuseumgr.org

CLOSE: You’ve been listening toWYCE’s Community Closeup…a weekly public affairs program produced inpartnership with The Rapidian, a hyper-local news service of the Grand RapidsCommunity Media Center. This is WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower…thank you forjoining us!

On this week's program, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Jamon Alexander, President + CEO, WMCAT (West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology)

Jamon joined WMCAT in 2015 and now leads the organization’s work to provide access to opportunity as president & CEO. Previously, he was the director of workforce development at WMCAT, where he spent several years growing WMCAT’s Adult Career Training Program.

Jamon shared with us how WMCAT provides a culture of opportunity for people to make social and economic progress in their lives and community. They fulfill the mission through visual arts and tech engagement, workforce development, and social enterprise.

For years, WMCAT has created access to opportunity for teens, adults, and families through their Arts + Tech programs, through their workforce development programs and career training, and leadership development.

Jamon also spoke about WMCAT’s unique Step Year programming, which is a unique mix of college and career exploration, self-discovery, and connections to employment pathways in a variety of sectors.

Step Year is tuition-free and is open to Kent County adults 18-24 with a high school diploma or GED.

Learn more: WMCAT ONLINE

On this week's episode, we welcome Hal Phillips, board chair of the Eastown Community Association.

The Eastown Community Association is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit Neighborhood Association that was formed through the joint efforts of Aquinas College and Eastown residents in 1973. The ECA works with City officials, the Grand Rapids Police Department, other nonprofit organizations, and area businesses.

The Eastown Community Association also works closely with the Eastown Business Association on improvement projects within the business district.

Some of the many signature events sponsored by The Eastown Community Association are Community Bike Rides, Bizarre Bazaar, held in mid-June each year, and the fast-approaching Eastown Street Fair, on Saturday, September 6.

The mission of The Eastown Community Association is to foster a safe, diverse, and walkable Eastown neighborhood by creating opportunities for neighbors and friends to engage and connect.

ONLINE: Eastown Community Association

In this episode, we welcome Joel Westphal, Deputy Director, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum

Joel spoke with us about the upcoming multi-day event: The Greatest Generation Celebration: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II.

The events will be spread across several days from September 1-7, 2025.

This Historic Celebration in Grand Rapids offers a full week of remembrance and tribute to America's Greatest Generation.

The events also offer an opportunity to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, honoring the millions of American and Allied forces, patriots, and citizens who made immense sacrifices to ensure a world free of tyranny.

Greatest Generation Events:

Honor Parade & Wings of Honor

📅 Monday, September 1 (Labor Day) | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM. 📍 Downtown Grand Rapids

Bell Ringing Ceremony

📅 Monday, September 1 | 8:08 PM-📍 Throughout Grand Rapids.

Celebration at the Air Zoo. 📅 Saturday, September 6 | time TBA
📍 Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center, Kalamazoo, MI

Perspectives on the Greatest Generation – Lecture Series

📅 Tuesday, September 2 – Thursday, September 4
📍 Various Venues
🎟 Free Admission (Registration Required for Some Events)

Renowned WWII historians and authors present insightful lectures on the impact and legacy of the Greatest Generation.

Convocation of Remembrance (Prayer Service)

📅 Tuesday, September 2 | 6:00 PM at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral.

Greatest Generation Night at the Whitecaps

📅 Tuesday, September 2 | 6:35 PM--📍 LMCU Ballpark

Cinematic Salute Film Festival

📅 Friday, September 5 – Sunday, September 7
📍 Studio Park, Downtown Grand Rapids
🎟 Outdoor Screenings (BYO Chairs)

Enjoy classic films that highlight the sacrifices and struggles of the Greatest Generation.

Online: The Greatest Generation Celebration: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II.

In this episode, WYCE's John Rumery welcomes

Guest: : Guest: Fridah Kanini, the Founder and CEO of A Glimpse of Africa.

A Glimpse of Africa is a West-Michigan-based non-profit that brings people together by showcasing, educating, celebrating, and sharing diverse African cultures while fostering community through programs that voice, advocate for, and address African refugees and immigrants’ needs and disparities.

Fridah also gave us a preview of their annual, A Glimpse of Africa Festival, happening August 9th -August 10th, at Calder Plaza. Saturday hours -10:30 am - 11:00 pm. Sunday Festival hours | 10:30 am - 5:30 pm.

The festival is a beautiful and richly diverse showcase of the many African cultures in West Michigan.

LEARN MORE AT: A Glimpse of Africa

On this episode, we welcome Gaby Cordova, Director of Engagement with the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan.

Founded in 1978, the goal of the Hispanic Center is to provide unmet social services to the Hispanic Community in Greater West Michigan.

The Hispanic Center of West Michigan is located on Cesar Chavez Ave. in Roosevelt Park, the largest Latino neighborhood in Grand Rapids.

The Center serves more than 30,000 individuals annually.

The staff is largely bilingual and multicultural.

Hispanic Festival 2025 is the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan's annual celebration of our West Michigan’s rich Latino heritage.

The dates are August 1-3 on Calder Plaza

Learn More: Hispanic Center of Western Michigan