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

On this episode, we welcome   Enid Gaddis, MA,  - Director of Equity & Inclusion at Arbor Circle. Arbor Circle is one of West Michigan’s most comprehensive providers of mental health counseling, substance use treatment, and family services.  Arbor Circle Staff collaborates with local resources to address the needs of our community, promote new ways of assistance, and find better strategies to...

On this week's episode, WYCE station manager, Phil Tower speaks with Marie Orttenburger,  Advancement Manager with Land Conservancy of West Michigan. In 1976, four volunteers met to lay out a plan that would identify, protect, and care for West Michigan’s natural areas. They created an organization called the Natural Areas Conservancy of West Michigan (NACOWMI), and they immediately set out wi...

In this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Brian Elve, Executive Director Guiding Light , David Madiol, Director of development and communications with Guiding Light ; and M ichael Crittenden , Musician and President Mackinaw Harvest Music Group. Brian provided us with an overview of the recovery services offered through Guiding Light. The program offers no charge substance abuse, a...

On this week's program, WYCE's Phil Tower speaks with Ron Yob , chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians .  The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians is a native sovereign nation with agreements with the federal government dating back to 1795. The Grand River Bands originally included 19 bands of Ottawa people who lived along the Grand River and other waterways in southwest Michigan. Most...

On this week's program, WYCE station manager Phil Tower speaks with Bill Kirk, Communications Director with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) is the organization responsible for city building and place management in the urban core of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Established in 2013, DGRI serves as the singular management entity for the combined operations of the ...

On this week's program, WYCE station manager Phil Tower speaks with Emilio Zamarippa, Executive Director of Steepletown Neighborhood Services. Emilio started at Steepletown 11 years ago as a GVSU undergraduate intern, was hired as a youth case manager, and is now the Workforce Development Director. Emilio's personal mission is to empower youth and young adults to pursue their academic and professi...

On this week's program, host Phil Tower (* sitting in for Allison Donahue) speaks with Andy McIntyre, chief operating officer at John Ball Zoo. Andy gave us an overview of the recently approved 10-year master plan for John Ball Zoo.  The plan which was passed in early December after a 16 to 3 vote before the Kent County Commission, includes additional language that protects green space and trees....

On this week's episode, we welcome Keith Elder, President & CEO of the Grand Rapids Symphony. Keith Elder joined the Grand Rapids Symphony as its President & CEO on July 1, 2023. Before that, he served as president of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He’s also had roles with the Aspen Music Festival and School, Eastman School of Music, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Boston Sy...

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...

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 Presidenti...

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 gav...

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 Musi...

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 h...

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 capabili...

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

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 yo...

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...

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 reg...

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 entr...

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 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...

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 n...

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 prev...

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 vo...

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 po...