Issues

A footwear brand is repurposing its local sandal repair factory to produce face masks and other protective equipment during the new coronavirus pandemic.

Meijer Inc. is adjusting its store hours for the foreseeable future to allow more time for team members to deep clean and restock its stores.

Safety is a key concern for Grand Rapids residents who are interested in trading in their car – at least some of the time – for a bicycle.

Selina Parks remembers her first steps into a Grand Rapids homeless shelter in vivid detail.

Women At Risk International, otherwise known as WAR International, is an organization that recovers victims of human trafficking and employs them.

Heart of West Michigan United Way partnered with local agencies to assemble the annual holiday volunteering and giving guide, aiding families in need for the holiday season. 

While some municipalities have opted out, others are ready for the promised gold rush.

“Housing is a basic right that everyone deserves,” Andrea Martin, housing coordinator at Arbor Circle, said. Yet, according to Arbor Circle’s website, there are over 3,300 youths who experience homelessness every day in West Michigan. “We want to get the word out so people understand that youth homelessness does exist in their communities even if they don’t always see it,” Martin said.

Partners collaborate to improve awareness.

Having your period sucks. Period. Running to Walgreens once a month to get tampons or pads for Aunt Flo is annoying enough, but for many, it’s also a financial burden. Local 501(c)(3) nonprofit Be a Rose aims to help women break barriers, not the bank, when it comes to accessing feminine hygiene products.

It’s not hard to find Tami VandenBerg’s house. Set in a cozy part of Eastown, her front yard is the only one on her street littered with yard signs. “Black Lives Matter,” and “Science is Real,” reads one; another backs a Democrat for state attorney general.

The Gadziemskis have turned their passion into a sanctuary.

A Grand Rapids-based mental health center is offering free remote counseling to medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grand Rapids craft beverage makers are pooling their resources to supply hand sanitizer to the community.

Dean Cain’s latest project was filmed in Grand Rapids.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a shelter-in-place order that will require all noncritical Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily close.

Group works to elevate the history of Black residents and clear path for future prosperity.

Heartside is lagging behind as downtown booms.

Evidence of homelessness is on view daily here in Grand Rapids—along Division Avenue in particular, where many shelters and services are located—but there is a group of homeless individuals who you aren’t likely to see on your commutes around town.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently issued an executive order to expand child care services amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.