City and partners team on providing weekend programming for teens

Jul30

Two Grand Rapids sites offer basketball, video game tournaments, movie screenings, college nights and more.

The City of Grand Rapids is excited to announce “It Takes a Village” – a new, collaborative, and community-supported summer youth violence prevention program. This pilot initiative provides recreational, creative, and educational opportunities for youth to help them stay constructively engaged. “It Takes a Village” kicked off last week at LifeQuest Urban Outreach and Alger Middle School. Coordinated by the City’s Office of Oversight and Public Accountability (OPA), the program aims to lower violent crime among youth in Grand Rapids by providing positive activities during the summer weekend evenings.

Through August 31, LifeQuest, Grand Rapids Urban League, Grand Rapids Public Schools and Grand Valley State University (GVSU) are offering programming to Grand Rapids youth (ages 12 to 17) on Fridays and Saturdays during summer weekend evenings.

Participants can choose between two sites offering specialized programming to suit a variety of teen interests. Pre-registration is not required.

NightQuest

NightQuest at LifeQuest, 1050 Fisk Rd. SE, offers expanded 5 on 5 basketball, dunk contests, a DJ, food, and guest speakers. This site runs 6 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday August 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, and 23 & 24.

CityVibes

CityVibes at Alger Middle School, 921 Alger St. SE, offers video game tournaments, board game nights, movie screenings, art and music workshops, and college nights. The Grand Rapids Urban League will run this site weekend nights through August 31. Cure Violence personnel will provide engaging programming. GVSU personnel will also host college nights at this location. This site runs 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday Friday and Saturday August 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 23 & 24, and 30 & 31.

“As the name suggests, it certainly “Takes a Village” to put such a program together,” City Manager Mark Washington said. “I am thankful for the collaboration with community partner organizations that have arranged for transportation through Dean Transporation, provision of security and safety screening mechanisms, serving of nutritious food and beverages, and most importantly, recruiting of kids and promoting events.

“Collectively, we will make a difference in advancing the City of Grand Rapids’ objective to ensure that all people feel safe, and are safe at all times, throughout our community. Please encourage the young people in your life to participate in our NightQuest or CityVibes “It Takes a Village” programing. I believe these summer events will encourage our youth to socialize and interact with their peers, friends, and neighbors in a safe and encouraging environment.”

Brandon Davis, director of oversight and public accountability, said this summer youth violence prevention programming stemmed the community’s urgent response to early summer youth violence in our city. “These incidents happened after 8 p.m. highlighting the need for evening programming,” he said.

“I thank our partners for coming along with us to brainstorm ways we could provide teens with structured, positive, evening activities this summer. Our ‘It Takes a Village’ program borrows on best practices from seven similarly sized Midwestern cities where such summer initiatives led to reduced violent crime rates, all made possible by robust community collaboration. This OPA-coordinated effort complements other existing efforts, such as our City’s youth curfew ordinance, programming sponsored by the Safe Alliances for Everyone (S.A.F.E.) Task Force, Cure Violence, GRow1000, Parks and Recreation programing and camps, financial support from the Grand Rapids Police Department for the Boys and Girls Club and the OnBase Baseball program to name a few.”

Participants are required to undergo security screening prior to entry. No backpacks are allowed.

Farmers Market Saturday July 27!

Jul25

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at MLK Jr. Park
900 Fuller Ave SE 49506
Look for the yellow market tents!

Did you miss our opening day on July 13? Well, that’s too bad because our market manager Ms. Belinda reports that it was a great time for vendors and patrons. This Saturday, we hope to host a Greens Cook-off demo featuring greens prepares many different ways by Ms. Belinda herself. We say hope as vandals have damaged electrical wires at MLK Jr. Park. Hopefully, we will be cooking Saturday. Power to the people! We do have some yummy greens recipes printed for you all.

We’re also excited to welcome back our new anchor farm, Moore Garden and Farm @mooregardenfarm. This small Muskegon family farm is run by Lynette Moore, a Black woman farmer determined to serve our farmer’s market this year.

Ms. Yvonne is back with local produce and craft items!

The Fresh Market at UMCH and the GR Food Coop will also have fresh local produce for you. #TheFreshMarket #UMCH #GoodFoodClub #GRFoodCoop. Four or five other vendors will have fresh produce, handcrafted fashion accessories, candles, and more.

Come on down and do community with us!

We welcome Bridge Card, SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and many other assistance and coupon programs. How the Double Up Food Bucks Program Works 

GR Food Coop hosting free cooking class July 25

Jul17

Tortilla! Salsa! Tacos! Puerto Rican rice! Co-op Owner Mary Nalbach is offering cooking classes to help folks learn how to cook fresh food on a budget. She has heard that some folks just haven’t learned the basics of being in the kitchen, so she is offering these classes to remedy that problem. Join her July 25, 6-8 pm. at 1438 Division Ave. S. Ingredients will be supplied. RSVP Mary by text at 231-846-0159.

Southeast Area Farmers Market opening day Saturday July 13

Jul9
  • 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at MLK Jr. Park,
  • 900 Fuller SE, 49506

Our Kitchen Table’s mission for the Southeast Area Farmers Market is to increase access to healthy foods in Grand Rapids’ southeast neighborhoods, where food apartheid is apparent. To accomplish that goal, we have brought on a new farmer as a vendor and, and we’re partnering with both New City Farm and The Grand Rapids Food Co-op.

To help us celebrate our opening day, the Grand Rapids Fire Department is deploying a firetruck to MLK Jr. Park during the market. Youngsters (and the rest of us) will be able to look inside and see it up close!

In addition to vending fresh produce, the Food Co-op will also host an information table and inviting patrons to join this a community-owned grocery that will be established soon. The cost for a lifetime household membership is:

  • Food For All program: $25 or $6/month for 5 months for people who self-identify as low income.
  • Standard membership: $250 per household or $26/month for 10 months.

Scholarships are available by request for people who can’t afford either.

All members receive the same benefits: one vote per household for who sits on the co-op board; member-only deal days; and profit sharing when store is profitable. A Supportive Business Program may also provide members discounts at participating businesses and educational opportunities.

Event explains how food gardening can boost your mental health

Jun13

Free Planting Event
1 – 3 p.m. Sunday June 23
MLK Park, 900 Fuller SE 49506

In collaboration with OKT, the Grand Rapids Food Co-op is hosting a free Planting Event facilitated by Reynalda Jones, a fellow Co-op owner. The event will explore:

  • Gardening’s impact on mood and physical well-being.
  • Whole foods and mental health.
  • Connecting with nature through mindfulness.
  • Gardening for personal development

Each participant will plant seeds in a flowerpot (provided) to take home and enjoy.

A licensed clinical social worker practicing through her own business, A Solution B, Jones has over a decade of experience in the co-occurring, mental health field. She specializes in working with women experiencing stress, anxiety, and PTSD. She utilizes traditional talk therapy with a fusion of evidence-based holistic care to promote emotional wellness and whole-body wellness. Her goal is to educate others to actively prevent burnout before it is overwhelming for the body and mind. From May to October, her services also incorporate therapeutic gardening and clients have the opportunity to engage in therapy sessions, cultivate mindfulness skills, learn about nutrition, prioritize mental health, and much more.

OKT distributed hundreds of food plants last Saturday

Jun10

On Saturday, OKT food garden coach and Southeast Area Farmers Market Manager Belinda Henderson and E.D. Lisa Oliver-King distributed hundreds of food plants to participants growing food in their yards as well as food gardens OKT is growing with students and parents/caregivers at Grand Rapids Public Schools Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy and Campus Elementary as well as Kentwood Public Schools Glenwood Elementary. A special thank you to our fabulous SEAFM set-up man, Bert, for delivering the plants to the schools!