MSUE free online canning classes start Thursday

Jul5

Register here!

Are you thinking about preserving food at home this summer? Join MSU Extension to learn best practices for safe home food preservation and receive valuable resources to ensure the safety of your home preserved foods.

Classes offered at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. each of the following Thursdays:

July 8 – Preserving Berries

July 15 – Preservation Methods-Safe or Unsafe?

July 22 – Pickling-Not Just For Cucumbers

July 29 – Water Bath & Atmospheric Steam Canning

August 5 – Shopping & Storing MI Fresh Produce from the Farmers Market & U-Pick

August 12 – Peaches-Can or Freeze?

August 19 – Picked a Peck of Peppers-Now What?

August 26 – Filling your Freezer

September 9 – Too Many Tomatoes

September 16 – Salsa 101

September 23 – Drying Produce and Fruit Leathers

GRPS Summer Meals Program NOW AVAILABLE!

Jun20

Summer Meals Program FREE for children up to 18 years old.

Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation, which is why the Grand Rapids Public Schools Nutrition Services Department will be sponsoring the USDA funded Summer Meals Program this summer at multiple GRPS schools and community locations throughout the city. Serving times vary by location and are subject to change. Pick up a nutritious lunch. Check with the site for snack and breakfast availability. Sites may also have exciting summer activities scheduled for your child.

For more information , click HERE or call (616) 819-2135.

GR Juneteenth 2021: Dickinson Park Dunumba “Power In the People!”

Jun18

“

Independence Day Celebration
Sat. June19, 2021

12:30 p.m. Parade begins at 12:30 Pm

1 p.m. Opening ceremony  

Dickinson Buffer Park                         
1635 Linden Street SE GR, MI 49507

Bring your family and friends to this FREE, fun in the sun event. Walk, jog, or ride your bike. Take Rapid Transit #3 (Madison) or #4 (Eastern) Enjoy refreshments, bring a drum, lawn chair, jump rope, Free throw challenge and more.

Sponsored by; (ADDPA), City of Grand Rapids and West Michigan Jewels Of Africa LLC

For information email info.msjewelshair@att.net or text (616)633-8148

Join OKT and FGRP for Movies in the Park

Jun17

7 p.m. Friday June 18
MLK Jr. Park
900 Fuller Ave. SE 49506

OKT will be tabling with information on our programs and the Southeast Area Farmers Market during Friends of Grand Rapids Parks’ Movies in the Park on Friday June 18 at MLK Jr. Park. FGRP is excited to bring Movies in the Park, the free, family-friendly summer series, back to five neighborhood parks this summer!

Feel free to bring along lawn chairs, blankets and snacks, but please no alcoholic beverages.

schedule for each event:

7:00 PM – Community partners will be providing yard games, music, dance, entertainment, as well as recreational activities for all ages

9:00 PM – Movie starts! (Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse)

2021 SCHEDULE OF MOVIES IN THE PARK:

  • June 18: Martin Luther King Park
  • July 17: Sullivan Field
  • July 31: Roosevelt Park
  • Aug. 7: Plaster Creek Family Park
  • Aug. 21: Highland Park

¡Friends of Grand Rapids Parks se complace en traer Movies in the Park, la serie de verano gratuita y familiar, de regreso a cinco parques del vecindario este verano!

Siéntase libre de traer sillas de jardín, mantas y aperitivos, pero no bebidas alcohólicas.

horario de cada evento:

7:00 PM – Los socios de la comunidad ofrecerán juegos de jardín, música, baile, entretenimiento y actividades recreativas para todas las edades.

9:00 PM – Comienza la película  (Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse)

The Movies in the Park series is generously supported by Lake Michigan Credit Union, the Grand Rapids Police Foundation, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kent Count Health Department, Aligned Planning, Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, Consumer’s Energy, the Wege Foundation, the Community Media Center, and the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department. .

Get Vaccinated Thursday at LINC UP!

Jun15

Vaccine Event At LINC UP
1167 Madison Ave SE
Thursday June 17 from 1:00PM – 7:00PM
Walk in or schedule ahead of time

“My name is Vincent and I am LINC UP’s Director of Communications. Last April, my mom called my brother and me once a day to give us daily updates about my dad. My dad caught the COVID-19 virus at the height of the spread in Detroit when hospitals were overwhelmed with cases. Fortunately, after three weeks of breathing treatments, trips to the doctor, and a lot of help, he pulled through. It was one of the most difficult times in our family’s life. As soon as I was able to sign up to be vaccinated I did. I got vaccinated to protect my family and the families of so many other people in our community.“

Right now, the disparities of who has had access to the vaccine have kept Black and Brown communities from taking the vaccine. From technology to the vaccine clinic locations, it has been difficult for Black and Brown communities to sign up. LINC UP is teaming up with SpartanNash to address the disparities by hosting a Vaccine Clinic right here in the Madison Square Neighborhood. 

This Thursday, from 1:00PM to 7:00PM, you can get the Pfizer vaccine! You can sign-up by clicking the button below or walk-in! If you have questions about the vaccine, we can get you connected to the SpartanNash Team! If you need help signing up you can get in touch with LINC UP’s Senior Community Liaison, Samika at Samika@lincrev.org or by calling 616-451-9140 and asking for Samika directly! Vaccine Event with SpartanNash
At LINC UP | 1167 Madison Ave SE
1:00PM – 7:00PM

First 616 Day! launches fundraiser for “A City within a City”

Jun14

Tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/616-day-tickets-157737393791

First Annual 616 Day! Celebration: Re-open the City & Crowdfunding Launch for ACWAC Documentary Film Project

2pm to 10pm (Full day of festivities and celebrations)@ Celebration Cinema’s Studio Park in DowntownGR
Organized by: Victor Williams, CEO, Grand Stand Pictures, Producer of “A City Within A City” Documentary Film Project and Founder, Grand Rapids HipHop Coalition
Sponsored by: DGRI, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, LoadaSpud, the Total Soul Continuum and the Grand Rapids Media Initiative and Film Incubator (GR-MiFi)

Victor Williams, CEO Grand Stand Pictures

616 Day Activities include;

  • Scavenger Hunt
  • free popcorn, snacks and beverages
  • game show games – 616 Trivia
  • music
  • prizes
  • humans
  • film teaser
  • conversation
  • announcements
  • panel discussion

Party with a Purpose
Fundraiser for A City Within A City Documentary Film Project.


Maybe you’ve made it partway through Dr. Todd Robinson’s famous dissertation A City Within A City: The Black Freedom Struggle In Grand Rapids, Michigan and wished you had a film to see instead. 616 Day! is the official launch of the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to support the making of this historic film. Major funders and many collaborators have stepped up, now it’s your turn to get on board. Log on to the campaign at this event [igg.me/at/acwacfilm], or join up on your own anytime on or after Launch Day.


The A City Within A City Documentary Film Project will also be providing training and development opportunities for apprentices and industry aspirants through our newly formed community-based nonprofit incubator, the Grand Rapids Media Initiative & Film Incubator (GR-MiFi)–Grand Rapids’ answer to Hollywood’s overdue call for Black & brown filmmakers and others locked-out of the film industry and for media professionals where they can have an on-ramp for opportunities. GR-MiFi is here for burgeoning creatives and for teaching, learning and advancement opportunities within the media, film and entertainment ecosystems. GR-MiFi will also focus resources on helping frame dynamic stories and narratives with many different talented writers and diverse artists from the Grand Rapids and West Michigan area.

So, come on out and celebrate 616 Day! and see the teaser for the documentary film, meet the producers, and hear from many of the Grand Champions of diversity, equity & inclusion- – – or pledge to be one yourself! Tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/616-day-tickets-157737393791

Sponsorship and engagement opportunities are ongoing—get on board!

COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA)

Jun7

CERA can provide rental and utility assistance for eligible renter households so that they retain their housing stability.

  • The tenant only needs to be in rental arrears, so no court notice is required for this funding.
  • Feel free to share the flyers with your clients. 
  • Updated information is available at www.kentrenthelp.org . Households in need of assistance can also call 877.ERA.KENT.
  • The Website redirects you to www.endhomelessnesskent.org if the above website does not work and the application  portal is up and running.
  • Paper applications can also be printed at MSHDA – COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) (michigan.gov)  and dropped off at the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan (1204 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI), The Salvation Army (located at Fuller and Fulton St.), or the  Kent County Community Action Agency (KCCA) at 82 Ionia St., Suite 390.
  • Tenants can also walk into any of the agencies listed above for assistance with applying for the rental assistance.
  • Clients and agency partners can also scan & email applications to kent.rent@usc.salvationarmy.org.
  • The anticipated processing time for CERA funding is 30 days.
  • There is no receipt provided when an application is submitted to the portal. If clients have questions regarding their application, they can call 877-ERA-KENT to confirm the status.
  • CERA funds can be used to cover rent and/or utilities (gas, electric, water).  If the client is not behind on utilities, the payment will be made to give them a credit on their account.

Grand Rapids Public Schools wants your opinion

Jun3

TAKE SURVEY HERE

Take 10 minutes to help GRPS develop a plan to guide the district for the next five years. GRPS writes, “The success of our school district affects everyone in our community, and we want to be sure all of our residents have the opportunity to provide input to this process.” Your response will be anonymous. Results will be posted on the GRPS website later this summer. The survey will be open until June 25th.