On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue, program manager at The Rapidian, speaks with Stephanie Sheler, Executive Director of CASA of Kent County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Kent County organizes and empowers community members to provide best-interest advocacy for children in Kent County’s child welfare system. Their program connects concerned citizens with the family court to make a lasting impact on the lives of children who have experienced abuse and neglect. Stephanie al...
Nov 27, 2024•16 min
This week's episode welcomes Brooke Clement, director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum . Brooke Clement began her career with the National Archives as an archives technician at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She then held archival and supervisory positions with the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and the Barack Obama Presidential Library. Brooke joined us to discuss their c...
Nov 22, 2024•16 min
On this week's episode, Phil Tower speaks with Carol Kendra, COO of Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Carol shares how she became Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park's first Chief Operating Officer. Before joining Frederik Meijer Gardens, Kendra was Vice President of Business Development, Strategic Growth, and Engagement at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan. Carole also gave us a preview of the upcoming ENLIGHTEN Experience at Meijer Gardens – a new epic winter light spectac...
Nov 15, 2024•16 min
On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue welcomes Sister Colleen Ann Nagle, Executive Director and Counselor at The Franciscan Life Process Center in Lowell, MI. The mission of The Franciscan Life Process Center is topromote relationships with God that bring dignity and hope to the sacred process of all life through programs that assist, educate, enrich and inform, especiallyutilizing Music therapy, visual arts workshops, classes, galleries, counseling services, spiritual integration, and ot...
Nov 08, 2024•17 min
On this week's program, host Allison Donahue speaks with Veronica Horsley-Pettigrew, Community Outreach/Marketing Supervisor · Care Resources (PACE). Veronica joined Allison to discuss the community open house for Care Resources’ new location in Lowell, Michigan. Care Resources is a community-based program for people 55 or older that promotes healthy, independent living and helps prevent nursing home placement. Our team of healthcare professionals works with you and your family to develop a comp...
Nov 01, 2024•16 min
On this week's program, host Allison Donahue speaks with Becky Mercier, Trinity Health Breast Imaging Supervisor on the importance of mobile mammography in the battle against breast cancer. In just one year, the mobile mammography unit at Trinity Health Grand Rapids has completed over 2,000 breast screenings and diagnosed 13 patients. The 40-foot bus, equipped with top-quality 3-D imaging capability, provides increased access to care in our community by visiting neighborhoods, partnering with or...
Oct 25, 2024•13 min
On this week's episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Allison Donahue, program manager at The Rapidian about the Rapidian's Mayoral Debate on Monday, October 21 at Wealthy Theatre. Allison previews the debate featuring Grand Rapids mayoral candidates former state representative David LaGrand and former Grand Rapids commissioner Senita Lenear. More Online at The Rapidian...
Oct 25, 2024•15 min
On this week's episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Ryan Waalkes, the founder and executive director of Bridge Street Ministries Ryan joined us to discuss the origins of Bridge Street Ministries' program and its focus on discipleship and youth development, especially for middle schoolers with “high potential.” The mission statement of Bridge Street Ministries states, “We believe young people are image bearers of God with inherent value and the capacity to cultivate thriving withi...
Oct 10, 2024•16 min
On the program this week, we welcome Gaby Cordova, Director of Engagement, to the Hispanic Center of West Michigan. Gaby joined us for an update on some important events that the Hispanic Center will be sponsoring later this year, especially in early 2025, when they will host a large Latinx Youth Conference at GRCC. Gaby also informed us that the Hispanic Center is collecting winter coats for both children and adults for a distribution event on Saturday, November 16. Coats can be dropped off at ...
Oct 04, 2024•15 min
On the program this week, host Allison Donahue welcomes Katy Hoffman, the Executive Director of Garfield Park Neighborhoods Association. Their mission is to preserve and improve their neighborhood's unique human and physical characteristics through resident involvement. Members are committed to equitable and inclusive programming, ensuring that everyone feels like a supportive community member regardless of where in the neighborhood they live or what language they speak. Online: Garfield Park Ne...
Oct 04, 2024•14 min
This week on the program, Phil Tower talks with Josh Mosey, KDL's Digital Marketing Strategist and leader of the Write Michigan team. Kent District Library recently announced its thirteenth annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest, which drew over 1,150 entries last year. Michigan writers of all ages are invited to enter, with separate categories for youth, teens, and adults. Winning entries will be published, and the top writers will receive cash prizes. Stories can be submitted at writemichig...
Sep 20, 2024•14 min
On the program this week, Phil Tower speaks with Paul Soltysiak - Vice-President and Co-Founder of Fans Of Valley Field, and Steve Tibbe - Chief Officer of Fans Of Valley Field. Fans of Valley Field is a grassroots effort to restore and revitalize Sullivan Field (originally named Valley Field), a historic baseball field located on the West Side of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The field opened in 1937 on Grand Rapids’ west side. The organization's long-term plan is to restore, revive, and give the his...
Sep 20, 2024•15 min
On this episode, host Allison Donahue welcomes Lisa Knight, board chair for the G rand Rapids African American Arts and Music Festival and a city commissioner for Grand Rapids’ 2nd Ward. The festival will be held on Saturday, September 14, from noon to 10 p.m. at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids African American Arts and Music Festival is an annual festival celebrating African-American art, live music, dance, culture, and people. More information can be found online: ...
Sep 09, 2024•16 min
On the program this week, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Julie Brunson, executive director of HOPE Gardens , a local nonprofit based in Wyoming, MI. HOPE Gardens was established nine years ago with the mission of teaching nature-based gardening, a sustainable, cost-effective, and organic method. Their main focus is establishing educational gardens in schools, which not only teach about nature-based gardening but also provide engaging and interactive learning experiences for students fr...
Aug 30, 2024•14 min
On the program this week, host Allison Donahue spoke with Ruben Ramos, president of the Mexican Heritage Association. The Mexican Heritage Association exists to promote and educate the public about Mexican culture, customs, history, traditions, and the contributions of Americans with Mexican Heritage through promoting and participating in community events and services. Ruben joined Allison to preview Fiesta Mexicana, happening September 13-15th on Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. Fiesta Me...
Aug 27, 2024•15 min
On this week's episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower spoke with Jason Wheeler, co-founder of The Great Lakes Music Camp, a talented musician and founder of The Round Creek String Band. Jason told us that the 7th year of The Great Lakes Music Camp is honored to return to the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan at Camp Blodgett, October 3-6, 2024 GLMC features some of the finest music and vocal instructors in the nation. Jason stressed that The Great Lakes Music Camp is meant for all skill lev...
Aug 16, 2024•15 min
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 ...
Aug 09, 2024•15 min
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 f...
Aug 02, 2024•13 min
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 ...
Jul 25, 2024•13 min
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 th...
Jul 23, 2024•15 min
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 efficie...
Jul 11, 2024•15 min
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 opportunit...
Jul 05, 2024•16 min
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 Reso...
Jun 26, 2024•14 min
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 ...
Jun 21, 2024•14 min
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 Freder...
Jun 13, 2024•16 min
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 ...
Jun 07, 2024•15 min
On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Missy Summers, Executive Director, Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids. Mark your calendars! The Festival of the Arts is back, and it's happening from June 7th to 9th in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, MI. Don't miss out on this exciting event that brings together art, music, and food in one vibrant celebration! This year's Festival is a melting pot of activities, offering something for everyone: live music performances to art exhibitions, from...
May 30, 2024•15 min
On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue speaks with Amy Acton, CEO of The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors and Buses By The Beach President, Beth Smith about the upcoming bus benefit May 24-27 (Memorial Day Weekend) Bus Benefit is presented by Buses by the Beach at Smiling Acres in Trufant, MI. It is a fundraiser for the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Members of Buses By The Beach are a group of VW van lovers. Their events draw VW bus owners and their families from the United States ...
May 23, 2024•15 min
On this week's program, host Allison Donahue welcomes Dana Romero-Vogg, development coordinator for donor communications with YWCA West Central Michigan. The YWCA West Central Michigan exists to inspire hope and healing. Where racism and sexism give rise to domestic and sexual violence, staff at the YWCA West Central Michigan transform lives with expert services for victims, education to end those things that fuel abuse, and advocating for public policy that translates the YWCA's mission into la...
May 17, 2024•15 min
On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue speaks with Sasha Wolff, the founder and Executive Director of "Still I Run." Still I Run is a community of runners and mental health warriors determined to take control of our physical and mental health while also breaking the stigma surrounding people who live with a mental illness. Still I Run is the country’s only non-profit running community that works to promote the benefits of running for mental health while also defeating the stigma, raising a...
May 10, 2024•16 min
