WYCE's Community Connection (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan‪)‬ WYCE Independent Community Radio

On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue welcomes Jazz McKinney, MA, LLP. Jazz is the executive director of the Grand Rapids Pride Center.

On June 21, 1988, the first Pride Celebration was held at the Monroe Amphitheater in downtown Grand Rapids. Over the last 35+ years, it has now grown into one of the largest one-day events in Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids Pride Festival is an event that brings 2-SLGBTQ+ community members, 2-SLGBTQ+ businesses, allies, and organizations together to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the 2-SLGBTQ+ community!

This year's Grand Rapids Pride Festival is Saturday, June 22? Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. The event is free and open to the public and will run from noon to 10 PM.

Jazz stressed that PrideFest is all about creating a safe, open, and inclusive environment for Grand Rapids community members to celebrate who they are.

More online: Grand Rapids Pride Center.

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Missy Summers, Executive Director, Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids.

Mark your calendars! The Festival of the Arts is back, and it's happening from June 7th to 9th in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, MI. Don't miss out on this exciting event that brings together art, music, and food in one vibrant celebration!

This year's Festival is a melting pot of activities, offering something for everyone: live music performances to art exhibitions, from culinary delights to creative workshops!

Festival of the Arts 2024 will showcase Western Michigan artists, live performers, food vendors, sponsors, and Festival goers will see their favorite traditional activities as well as new surprises.  There will also be four live performance stages with all types of music and comedy, over 20 cultural food booths, visual art exhibits and activities, and 50+ artisan craftsmen at Artisan Village.  

Missy told us it takes literally hundreds of volunteers to make festival happen and volunteers are welcome and needed all the way up to the start of festival. Information on volunteering is on the Festival Website.

Don't miss West Michigan’s unofficial start of summer...Festival of the Arts Grand Rapids!

More Online: Festival of the Arts

On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue speaks with Amy Acton, CEO of The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors and Buses By The Beach President, Beth Smith about the upcoming bus benefit May 24-27 (Memorial Day Weekend)Bus Benefit is presented by Buses by the Beach at Smiling Acres in Trufant, MI. It is a fundraiser for the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.

Members of Buses By The Beach are a group of VW van lovers. Their events draw VW bus owners and their families from the United States and Canada. Since 2002, Buses By The Beach has combined a love of Volkswagen-style camping with raising money for the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.  The Phoenix Society is the world’s largest burn support organization based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Phoenix Society serves burn survivors, loved ones, burn care professionals, researchers, and anyone else committed to empowering the burn community and building a safer world.  Phoenix Society is now the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people affected by a burn injury.

 

Online: Buses By The Beach

Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors

On this week's program, host Allison Donahue welcomes Dana Romero-Vogg, development coordinator for donor communications with YWCA West Central Michigan.

The YWCA West Central Michigan exists to inspire hope and healing.

Where racism and sexism give rise to domestic and sexual violence, staff at the YWCA West Central Michigan transform lives with expert services for victims, education to end those things that fuel abuse, and advocating for public policy that translates the YWCA's mission into law.

Respecting the fullness of each person’s identity and the multiple facets that make up the whole of one’s experience, the YWCA’s staff work together to seamlessly connect those who come to us to the range of services they need.

All YWCA services are available in person. Some are available by phone and video as well.

The YWCA 24-Hour, Confidential Helpline is 616-454-9922. (454-YWCA)

Online: YWCA West Central Michigan

On this week's episode, host Allison Donahue speaks with Sasha Wolff, the founder and Executive Director of "Still I Run."

Still I Run is a community of runners and mental health warriors determined to take control of our physical and mental health while also breaking the stigma surrounding people who live with a mental illness.

Still I Run is the country’s only non-profit running community that works to promote the benefits of running for mental health while also defeating the stigma, raising awareness around the topic, and help others get started running for their mental health.

Sasha also shared that Still I Run operates solely on proceeds from merch sales and donations. All programs and outreach are donor supported.

Online-Still I Run

On this week's program, host Alison Donahue welcomes Thomas Gottschalk, food truck owner-operator and CEO of Collar Brass Solutions, and Lauren D’Angelo, also a food truck owner and operator as well as secretary of the Grand Rapids Food Truck Association.

The Grand Rapids Food Truck Association is dedicated to the promotion and education of food truck culture in and around Grand Rapids and the West Michigan region.



Online: The Grand Rapids Food Truck Association