WYCE's Community Closeup (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)

In this episode, we have a conversation with Sister Gabriella Pettirossi, the Executive Director for the Franciscan Life Process Center in Lowell, MI.    In May 2025, Sister Gabriella Pettirossi was appointed to serve as the executive Director for the Franciscan Life Process Center.  Sister Gabriella succeeded Sister Colleen Ann Nagle, the foundress and executive director of the Franciscan Life Pr...

In this week's episode, we welcome Bill Kirk, the Director ofCommunications at Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. ( DGRI) Bill joined us for a preview of the 7th annual World of Winter Festival, happening January 9 through March 1, 2026. World of Winter is a celebration of art and community designed to remind us that there is fun to be had and connections to be made in the wintertime in Michigan! Worl...

In this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Bill Kirk, Director of Communications, DGRI. Bill joins us in this episode to give us a preview of the 7th annual World of Winter Festival. World of Winter dates are January 9 - March 1, 2026. World of Winter is a celebration of art and community designed to remind us that there is fun to be had and connections to be made in the wintertime in Michigan. In...

In this episode, host Janet Zahn welcomes Veronica Horsley-Pettigrew, Community Outreach and Marketing Supervisor with Care Resources PACE. Care Resources is a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).  ‘PACE ‘is a Medicare and Medicaid-funded option that gives community-based care and services to people 55 years or older, helping to prevent nursing home placement. PACE provides covera...

In this episode, we welcome Steff Rosalez, CEO, Grandville Avenue for the Arts and Humanities. Steff is an artist and musician who started working at GAAH in 2011 because of her passion for the arts and community. In her spare time, Steff fronts the band,  How to Live Together. What we learned in this episode: Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities  operates two main facilities on the southwest s...

In this episode, we are happy to welcome Michele Suchovsky,  Chief Executive Officer of Paws With a Cause ( PAWS). Michelle’s been leading PAWS since 2018.   Under her leadership, PAWS completed a $10 million capital campaign to renovate its campus, expanding its ability to serve clients and communities.  She also launched the Animal Assisted Services department, formerly known as Purposeful Place...

In this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist, and Mitch Ermatinger, President of the Wealthy Street Business Alliance, owner of Speciation Cellars. Uptown GR brings people, partnerships, and possibilities together to sustain a strong and vibrant urban district. Both Mitch and Dana reminded us that Uptown GR’s 28th annual Shop...

In this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Elizabeth Bovard Strong, the Founder and President of Construction Allies in Action (CAIA). Elizabeth was the first female Executive Vice President of the Builders Exchange of Michigan. Construction Allies in Action   is a local nonprofit organization committed to building a more inclusive, transparent, and equitable construction industry. ...

In this episode, host Janet Zahn welcomes Dr. Wendy Falb, Ph. D.,  the Executive Director of the Literacy Center of West Michigan. The Literacy Center of West Michigan was founded in 1986 by educators and librarians, and today is the largest community-based organization in Michigan… and one of the largest in the country dedicated solely to adult literacy and learning. The Literacy Center works loc...

In this episode, we speak with Hannah Berry, Executive Director of Lions and Rabbits Center for the Arts. Lions & Rabbits fosters creative community development through strategy, transformative placemaking, and workforce development. Much of their work in the West Michigan area is focused on Public Health…using art as a powerful tool for promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being.  T...

In this week's episode, we welcome George Bayard, Executive Director of The Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives. The Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives ’ mission is to collect and retell the rich, colorful stories that compose the historic African American tapestry of living in Grand Rapids. George Bayard joined us on the program to speak about the big move for...

In this episode, we speak with Katie Zychowski, Director of Marketing & Communications with the Grand Rapids Public Library . Katie joined us to speak on a variety of topics, including how easy it is to sign up and get a Grand Rapids Public Library card. This can be done year-round at any branch in the city. On an ongoing basis, your Grand Rapids Public Library is a wonderful resource for peop...

In this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Mary Jennings, Executive Director with The Grand Rapids Ballet, and James Sofranko, the Artistic Director with the Grand Rapids Ballet. Mary and James joined us on the program for a preview of the 2025–2026 season. The season kicks off with the world premiere production of “ Sherlock "--October 24-26, 2025, at Peter Martin Wege Thea...

In this episode, we speak with Patrick Placzkowski , Chief Executive Officer, Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids , and  Daryl Reece , Community leader, founder of the Piecing Together Unity Foundation , and also a board member with the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids. Daryl shared his story with us regarding the powerful impact that was made on him as a young man while attending programming a...

In this week's episode, WYCE's John Rummery welcomes Pablo Garcia, the Executive Director of SECOM Resource Center.       The mission at SECOM Resource Center is to give help and hope to their neighbors by empowering families to achieve their full potential through healthy living, education, and economic opportunities. SECOM began in 1971 as an outreach ministry of four area churches to me...

In this episode, we welcome Jess Young, Executive Director with East Hills Council of Neighbors. Through regular meetings and continuous outreach, East Hills is reaching beyond the status quo to address the needs of its community. With the collaboration of passionate neighbors, they have worked to build and maintain a beautiful, diverse, friendly, and safe place to live, work, and play. The East H...

In this episode, we speak with Jason Wheeler and Bruce Ling, cofounders and instructors for the annual Great Lakes Music Camp. This year's  Great Lakes Music Camp  is October 2-5. Once again, this year's session is sold out, but there are opportunities to be added to a waiting list for next year's session. Great Lakes Music Camp is an inspiring and community-building musical experience...

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...

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 the...

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 mus...

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 Care...

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...

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: T he 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 re...

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 immigrant...

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 serv...