Photo courtesy of Write 616

Write616 is West Michigan’s Literary Hub

Write 616, formerly Great Lakes Commonwealth of Letters (GLCL), aims to be a helping hand to all writers in the Grand Rapids area. While its name has recently changed, its initial mission of providing resources, building skills, and creating connected, professional platforms for writers, has not shifted since its inception in 2013.
Katarina Samardzija, founder of Locker Lifestyle

From Student Athlete to CEO

As a full-time student and athlete at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and the founder of her own company, Locker Lifestyle, Katarina Samardzija is living her dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Marisa Kwiatkowski, investigative journalist at The Indy Star

Journalist Who Uncovered Nassar Abuse Kicks Off New GVSU Speaker Series

Investigative reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski was working on a story about the failure to report sexual abuse within Indiana’s schools when she received a tip from one of her sources suggesting she take a look at USA Gymnastics. The tip led to the uncovering of a massive scandal by the organization and the discovery of the widespread abuse young girls had faced for decades at the hands of Larry Nassar.

Church to art hub

Carol Moore purchased the historic church and is leading it through a transformation.
The Ruse Escape Rooms opens Black Friday.

Looking For An Escape?

At the corner of Division and Weston in downtown Grand Rapids sits a building that begs the question, “Will you make it out alive?”

A Family Affair: Laureen Robinson’s Kids Helped Prepare Her for State Games

Wyoming resident Laureen Robinson, 53, took up running following the tragic death of a family friend during the Fifth Third River Bank Run. At her son's encouragement, Robinson took her running to the next level by competing in the Meijer State Games of Michigan and later competing in her first State Games of America.
David Leslie

A Journey of Self-discovery

For David Leslie, leaving his hometown of Grand Rapids in the 1990s began a 25-year journey west and back. He’s a furniture craftsman, owner of The Maker’s Bench, but that wasn’t what he set out to do intentionally.
Gilles Renusson

Cooking up awards

Gilles Renusson, French Agricultural Merit award winner, discovers profession in boarding school.
Humane Society of West Michigan.

Helping Animals Find Their Forever Homes

When Henry entered the Humane Society of West Michigan (HSWM) he was not only malnourished and suffering from severe skin infections and internal wounds, but he’d also lost most of the fur on his body. Because of this, the HSWM staff members could not identify his breed.
Les Creatif

UICA’s Off the Wall Shakes Things Up

The Urban Institute for Contemporary Art (UICA) is switching things up this year with the first annual Off the Wall fundraiser. For 20 years, the UICA hosted Live Coverage—an event that invited artists to create in a live setting while spectators mused, hoping to win auctioned art.
Photo by Kevin Kamis

Make Room for the Mountain Minnies

Say hello to the winter adventure program designed to get little girls outside to brighten the colder months.
April Reign created #OscarsSoWhite in response to the lack of diversity in the entertainment industry

Creator of #OscarsSoWhite Speaks in Grand Rapids

Three years ago, while sitting in her living room, April Reign watched as the nominees for the 87th Oscars were named. All 20 of the acting category nominees were white men or women and the behind the scenes nominees weren’t any better.
SHEvents founders Devin DuMond & Deb Kalsbeek

Two Area Mompreneurs Are Building a Community of #GRbossbabes

Whether you are a female entrepreneur with a brick and mortar business to your name or a woman with a great business idea but not a clue how to launch it, SHEvents is here for you.
Orchid Festival, photo by Johnny Quirin.

Enthusiasts Explore World of Orchids

Orchids. Those delicate, multibloomed delicacies of the botanical world. So desirable, orchids are smuggled globally as devotees seek out incredibly rare varieties.
Ginny Mikita holds a photo of her 13-year-old dog Kadie.

Passing Peacefully

When they say “dog is a man’s best friend,” that’s no exaggeration. A family or companion pet can make a profound difference in many people’s lives, and their memories are often cherished forever.
Jeff Troutman releases his first album, "Songs About Fly-Fishing."

Jeff Troutman Tackles Stress with New Album

With a newborn baby and a demanding job in finance that sucked up to 70 hours out of his week, Jeff Troutman was struggling with stress and sleep deprivation. So when his psychologist told him he needed a break and recommended he take up a hobby, Troutman decided to give fly-fishing a try.

Celebrating Black literature

The Black Book Exchange Box project encourages reading.

Girl power

A local mom is creating safer beauty products for tweens and teens.
Athlete Johnny Agar.

From Local Inspiration To Global Campaign

“No one expected my life to be as normal as it is,” said Rockford athlete, Johnny Agar. While Agar simply views his life as normal, most would view it as extraordinary and inspiring.

The Rescuers

Peg Markle sat at a glass-top patio table on the wooden deck outside what is both her home and the site for Wildlife Rehab Center, 1504 Union Ave. NE. Sporting a pink T-shirt beneath an unbuttoned blue-on-blue shirt, Markle, the WRC executive director, was within reach of her coffee and her cordless phone, which seemed to ring every 10 minutes.

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MARCH/APRIL 2024 ISSUE