GRPS Uncovered

Dr. Leanne Kang
  • 5.0 (5)
  • HISTORY

A compelling portrait of an urban school district in the Midwest is uncovered through the oral histories of those who attended or worked in the Grand Rapids Public Schools in Michigan. The digital files and transcripts of these oral histories are held by the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (https://www.graama.org/).

Episodes

  1. 12/02/2025

    S2:E5 Betsaida Valdivia

    In this episode, former GRPS student Betsaida Valdivia shares how their time in the district during the 2010s shaped their understanding of education, opportunity, and student voice — a journey that now guides their work as Youth Education Organizer for the Urban Core Collective.

    30 min

  2. 07/03/2025

    S2:E4 Dennis Miller

    In this episode, I interview Dennis Miller, a retired school security officer who, at the age of 19, began his career in GRPS in 1987.

    31 min

  3. 10/01/2024

    S2:E3 Quana O'Bryan

    In this episode, I interview Quana O’Bryan who graduated from City High Middle School in 2003, a top ranking high school in Michigan. She is a funded futures trader, world traveler, mother, and currently working on a book for her community on living an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.

    31 min

  4. 07/18/2024

    S2:E2 Patrick O'Neal Luster

    In this episode, I interview Patrick O’Neal (a.k.a. Coach P) who attended GRPS from 1970-1987. He's coached and mentored many youth in GRPS and started his own youth program at Martin Luther King Park.

    27 min

  5. 06/18/2024

    S2:E1 Mel Atkins

    To start off season two, this episode revisits an interview I did with Mel Atkins in 2022 at Schuler Books. In the 1960s, Mel was a part of the Black student protests in Grand Rapids and was featured in Jet Magazine. In 2008, Mel retired from GRPS after 40 years as a teacher, administrator, and athletic director.

    24 min

  6. 03/29/2024

    S1:E5 Amanda Anka

    In our last episode for season one, I interview Amanda Anka, my Special Projects Research Graduate Assistant, to give her analysis of the podcasts so far.

    36 min

  7. 02/03/2024

    S1:E4 Kandice Todd

    In this fourth episode, I interview Kandice Todd, a homecare assistant for autistic children and mom of 4, who attended GRPS from the late 1980s to 2001. Notably, she went to Park School, an alternative school for pregnant teenage girls and moms and graduated from the Youth Career Development Center (YCDC). Both schools have since been closed.

    31 min

  8. 12/11/2023

    S1:E3 Raul Ysasi

    In this third episode, I interview Dr. Raul Ysasi, an education professor at Grand Valley State University, who worked mainly with the Latino student population in GRPS from 1977-2010.

    23 min

  9. 11/17/2023

    S1:E2 Jerry Bentley

    In this second episode, I interview Jerry Bentley who was one of the students forced to bus to South High to Union as part of the city’s racial integration plan in 1968. Jerry was also a teacher, tennis coach, and principal at GRPS from 1975-2010.

    25 min

  10. 10/27/2023

    S1:E1 Jermar Sterling

    In this inaugural episode, I talk to Jermar Sterling, Youth Director of Community Kids in 2023. He attended GRPS from the late 1980s to early 2000s.

    30 min
  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A compelling portrait of an urban school district in the Midwest is uncovered through the oral histories of those who attended or worked in the Grand Rapids Public Schools in Michigan. The digital files and transcripts of these oral histories are held by the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (https://www.graama.org/).

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Leanne Kang
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Leanne Kang
  • Show Website
    GRPS Uncovered