On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, two members of the Kent County Lead Task Force, a group which studied the issue of rising levels of childhood lead poisoning in Kent County, talk about a report recently presented to the County Commission which included a list of recommendations to combat the problem.
And just in case you think lead poisoning is only a problem of heavily urban areas such as Flint, consider that in 2016 the county being statistically the third worst in the state.
In Focus host Ken Norris talks with Kent County Commissioner Emily Brieve and Adam London, the Health Officer for the Kent County Health Department. And, at one point, Brieve discussed the role of local city governments and individual rental property owners as part of the solution.
“Each municipality, each city has different rules, different regulations for rental properties, and rental inspections,” Brieve said. “So one of the things that was part of our recommendations was to gather that information, to see what a good practice would be, going on, and what we could recommend to those municipalities, how they should address lead in their communities. … I think it is a multi-facetted effort. There is an awareness on behalf of the renter and also the property owner. It is an awareness of how to take care of the property, how to fix it up. And also local government, keeping an eye, making sure the rules are followed.”
Also on the episode, The Rev. Dr. Weldon Frederick Wooden, just Fred to his friends and congregation at Fountain Street Church, who is one of currently two Democratic candidates attempting to unseat Republican U.S. Congressman Justin Amash in Michigan’s District 3.
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
The episode will debut on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m., will again air on Thursday, March 15, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of March 19. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
Amanda is a Spanish teacher from West Michigan. Guillermo is a businessman from Campeche, Mexico. They met and fell in love in … Spain, of course! They join us to talk about intercontinental romance, business, and life in a bi-cultural world.
When my daughter Cora was two years old, she was still struggling with lack of physical strength, muscle coordination, and core muscle use. She was receiving PT and OT, but we were both frustrated with the results. Cora was doing the same thing over and over at every visit with little improvement. It didn’t help that I would diligently work with her between those therapy sessions on the homework the therapists gave me. I was being a great mama and helping my child improve, right? YES, I was being a good mama, but I was also boring my daughter to the point of frustrated tears on both our parts. I was so focused on her achieving the goals that were given to her that I totally ignored what was literally right in front of my face.
You see, I have been a professional horse trainer for over 30 years and with the birth of my daughter Cora I had taken a step back and cut down on the number of clients and horses that I had in training at my facility every month. Don’t get me wrong, I still rode and worked with others, but Cora was the new priority. She would often be in the in the house during most of my horse-related sessions. Once she was strong enough, I brought her out to a play pen near the arena. It was seeing Cora light up while she watched the horses that gave me the idea to get her ON a horse.
You’d think that having her on a horse would have been my first inclination. The adage is true though, that we often don’t see what is right in front of our eyes. Cora started riding a horse after she received the required neck x-ray from the pediatrician. I felt like a failure and a success at the same time. A failure that I hadn’t tried this sooner, and a success because I finally did get Cora on a horse.
Long story short — Cora’s physical strength and core strength increased with the use of a four-legged friend that whinnies. She would ride at a walk gait with a side walker and I would lead the horse while giving Cora little tasks to complete. For half an hour at a time, life was filled with laughter, a child, and a walking horse. I immediately saw improvement in Cora’s strength and coordination.
Cora on horseback
How? It’s called Equine Hippotherapy and here’s how it works. A horse has a walking gait which mimics a human’s walking gait. As the horse walks and the child rides the horse, the movement that works through the body of the child is the same as the child physically walking. The brain does not process that the child is riding a horse. It instead processes the movements as physically walking and therefore the muscles respond in the same way. Cora is 6 years old now and is still riding horses. The physical strength and coordination this kind of play offers has been wonderful for Cora’s progress.
One of the greatest blessings that this journey with Down syndrome continues to teach me is to look outside of the box for the answers that Cora needs. After all, Cora doesn’t do anything the usual way. She traditionally finds her own way and achieves a goal in her own time. Another thing this journey has taught me: Cora will achieve any task handed to her if given the respect to achieve it in her own time.
If you are stuck in a rut with your kiddo’s therapy, think outside of the box. A task usually has at least five ways of getting it done. Society has taught us that there are only two ways to do something — the right way and the wrong way. I encourage you to shake that theory up a little bit just like our kiddos do daily. That extra chromosome they were born with? It comes with a “thinking outside of the box”, “watch while I do it upside down and sideways” genetic makeup. It’s a positive attribute in a stringent world.
Down syndrome is a blessing which allows us parents many opportunities to walk along side our kiddos and ENJOY life — one moment at a time. But, we should remain open to the unseen blessing that will be delivered in a different way. And if a horse is involved, even better!
Katrina Curtis and her husband Scott live in Byron Center, Michigan on a few acres they call We-N-Us Ranch. Their slogan is “Where Courageous Kids and Special Horses rub elbows”. If you would like more information on Equine Hippotherapy and getting your child involved, you may contact Katrina on her Facebook page or email her at plexuskatrina@gmail.com.
It would have been easy for Metro Health-University of Michigan Health to just dispose of the huge banners created as temporary building signs when the two health care providers joined in 2016. But that’s not their way of doing business.
So, when permanent signage was placed on the healthcare providers’s hospital, located at 5900 Byron Center Ave SW in Wyoming, the temporary signs were put into storage and discussions started on how to recycle them in some way.
That is when Metro Health Foundation’s impACT Board, and a burgeoning relationship with Mel Trotter Ministries, came up with the answer — make blankets to help the homeless in our area.
On Feb. 16, a total of 145 weather-resistant blankets, along with several bags containing personal care items, were delivered to Mel Trotter Ministries in the Heartside of downtown Grand Rapids.
Dean Herried, Mel Trotter Ministries (WKTV)
“These blankets are going to be utilized by individuals and families here to help keep them warm during these cold winter months in Michigan,” Dean Herried, chief engagement officer for Mel Trotter Ministries, said to WKTV. “We are so thankful for our partnership with the impACT Board, with the University of Michigan Health Foundation, with Metro Health Hospital Foundation, for their generous donation of these blankets. We would not be able to do this without their help and assistance.”
The four original banners were made to be weather-proof — they hung on the hospital for more than six months and took a lot of beating — and, with the addition of the felt, the blankets now can provide some protection from the cold as well. Some of the material was also turned into bags to be filled with a blanket and other personal needs, also to be given out to the homeless through Mel Trotter Ministries.
“This really helps Mel Trotter fulfill our mission of showing the compassion of Christ through programs of restoration and rescue in our community,” Herried said.
In a different way, the donation — and the work put into turning banners into blankets — fulfills the mission of Metro Health-University of Michigan Health.
Trevor Mier, Metro Health-University of Michigan Health. (WKTV)
“This donation really came about as a result of us having a long history of sustainable practices at the hospital,” Trevor Mier, Support Services administrator for Metro Health-University of Michigan Health, said to WKTV. “We hated to think about these temporary banners being thrown away once we are done with them. So we came up with the idea of recycling them into something, but we were not exactly sure what that was going to be.”
The healthcare provider had some discussions, decided it would be a good idea to establish a relationship with Mel Trotter Ministries, through the impACT Board, to support the ministries’ efforts to help the homeless. And the idea was born.
“What if we took those banners and turned them into blankets for the homeless at Mel Trotter?” Mier said. “So we reached out to a vender we had used before in the past, and they cut up the banners into 3(foot) by 5(foot) sections, sewed a little bit of felt onto them, and turned them into these great blankets for those in need downtown.”
The goal of the Metro Health Hospital Foundation’s impACT Board, according to its website, is “Mobilizing community through change-makers, who use their skills and careers to drive vital change. … Many people want to make a difference, but turning good intentions into tangible impact can be hard. With the Foundation impACT Board, professionals and community do-gooders become the most effective change-agents they can be by taking on community health projects, volunteering at organizations with like causes and building a strong network of brand ambassadors for Metro Health Hospital Foundation.”
Mohammad “Mo” Ehsani came to the U.S. in the 1970s to study technology. After a distinguished career as professor of civil engineering, he is off to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems. An indefatigable engineer with the wrap on very important solutions!
Wyoming-Kentwood Community Media’s VOICES: a community history projectpowered by WKTV has one time slot left, at 2 pm, for its Second Saturdays at Marge’s appearance at Marge’s Donut Den (1751 28th St SW, Wyoming, MI) Feb. 10. Second Saturdays at Marge’s offers a great opportunity for folks to grab a cup of joe, enjoy a donut and share their favorite stories and memories.
The project’s mission is “to collect, share and preserve the narratives of people in our community”—of our lives; of people from all walks of life. VOICES travels throughout the West Michigan area—with a focus on Wyoming and Kentwood—to gather the narratives that make us human—our experiences, sorrows, triumphs and tragedies. We believe that we all benefit from knowing each other’s background; the shared bond that helps us build community. It’s a free public service, offering a comfortable video recording studio with a relaxed atmosphere.
High-tech video and audio equipment records the conversations and memories of our neighbors, friends and family— any story from anyone—that make up the fabric of our lives and our community. Participants share their hardships and successes, of what shaped them and their families into the kind of people they are today.
Conversations usually take place between two people who know and care about each other. They can be friends, family or mere acquaintances. At the end of each 40-minute recording session, participants are provided with a link to their conversation on Facebook, to share or do with as they like.
Conversations can be “life reviews,” conducted with people at the end of their careers. Or they can focus on a specific period or a specific event in people’s lives, as with war veterans or survivors of an earthquake, flood or hurricane.
All VOICES conversations are audio- and video-recorded to provide participants with a link to their conversation and for possible airing on Channel 25 in Wyoming, Kentwood and Gaines Township (U-Verse Channel 99).
The project launched at ArtPrize Nine in September 2017, welcoming scores of visitors to tour our renovated 1958 Airstream® mobile studio and learn more about the oral history project.
On this week’s episode of In Focus, host Ken Norris and WKTV Journal drills down into two important mental health issues in Kent County, first with the Be Nice youth mental health program, and then with the director of Network180, the county’s mental health provider and an organization currently cutting services due to state funding issues.
Christy Buck, executive director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, talks about the foundation’s Be Nice program, an effort to reach into local schools, and to reach local students on a personal level, with the message of how they can become part of the solution to youth suicide.
The program Be Nice is based on four elements/actions corresponding to the letters in NICE: Notice, Invite, Challenge and Empower. And, Buck stresses in part of the interview, the challenge part is a two-way challenge.
“It is absolutely a two-way challenge, and that sometimes is the sticking point, where, if I don’t challenge that person and empower them” then they will not respond, Buck said. “They need to understand, it is a physical illness. If you want to get better, you have got to take some steps towards that. You cannot force people. But when someone sees that you care enough to notice and invite (discussion), it leads to empowerment.”
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
The episode will continue its two week run Today, Thursday, Feb. 1, at 6:30 p.m. and conclude its run Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m., and Thursday, Feb. 7, also at 6:30 p.m., on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
On the latest episode of In Focus, the Grand Rapids based Migrant Legal Aid organization, specifically director/attorney Teresa Hendricks and attorney Ben O’Hearn, discuss their group’s work to protect migrant workers’ legal rights and to give voice to a sometimes silent portion of our community.
Also on the episode, Michigan State Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-28th District, which includes the City of Wyoming) talks with host Ken Norris about his work for efficient funding for the state’s foster care system as well as subjects ranging from the state’s term limits law to his volunteer work for “Volley for Mitchell”, a charity volleyball tournament which has raised more than $100,000 for Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy.
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
The episode will continue its two week run Tuesday, Jan. 22 , at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday, also at 6:30 p.m., on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
Students participate at one of the 2017 Winterfest booths. (WKTV)
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
After a successful debut last year, the One Wyoming Community Collaborative will present the 2018 version of its Winterfest community-wide series of events on Saturday, Jan. 27, with events planned any seven different locations but with one goal: to get people out and talking to their neighbors.
One Wyoming is made up of a collaboration of schools, businesses, local government, churches, nonprofits and residents to improve the quality of life in the community. It is best known for its successful 1-on-1 mentoring program.
Wyoming’s Winterfest is similar to National Night Out, which takes place in August. This years’s event will have seven different locations in various neighborhoods throughout the city. Each location has activities that have been planned by churches, residents and businesses of that neighborhood. Each site will have its own slate of events, but all will feature food, family-friendly activities, health related information and activities, and giveaways from businesses and other local organizations.
Where things are happening
The list of morning locations, open from 9-11 a.m., include: The Dock, located near Kelloggsville High School at 4669 South Division Ave. (actually Grand Rapids); Wyoming Junior High School, 2125 Wrenwood St. SW; West Elementary School (with Calvary Church), 1840 38th St. SW; and Grace Bible College, 1011 Aldon St. SW.
The list of afternoon locations, open from noon-2 p.m., include: North Godwin Elementary School, 161 34th St.; Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center, 961 Joosten St. SW.; and Vanguard Charter School, 1620 52nd St, SW.
For more information about the event or about One Wyoming, visit onewyoming.com.
It is common practice to honor the flag prior to the a high school basketball game, to stand for the playing of the national anthem. But South Christian High School pushed honoring America, and American service members and veterans, to an whole other level at a game last month when it hosted a special veterans recognition ceremony.
At the Sailors’ Dec. 15 game when it hosted Caledonia, a special ceremony between the girls and boys games honored U.S. Navy SEAL David Warsen, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2012, and well as other servicemen and women that have sacrificed their lives. It was also a benefit for the David Warsen Foundation and Warriors Set Free, a Grand Rapids based organization for veterans run by veterans to help deal with PTSD, suicide, anxiety, depression, and other life issues.
The event was the creation of two South Christian students, seniors Andrew Haan and Will Warsen.
David Warsen “was a cousin of my friend Will, my partner in organizing the event,” Haan said to WKTV. “I know Dean VanderMey who is on the board at Set Free Ministries, I told him about this project and he referred me to Steve Prince, the main person at Warriors Set Free, which is an offshoot of Set Free Ministries.”
For Prince, it was not his first time working with the David Warsen Foundation and it all fit perfectly with his ministry’s mission.
“I was invited to the South Christian event by Andrew Haan, his brother is connected to Set Free Ministries,” Prince said to WKTV. “I have also attended several events with the David Warsen Foundation. A large part of my ministry is spreading the word about what we are doing, so being at that event helped to inform more people about our mission. I also spent some time (at the game) talking with people who are already connected to Set Free Ministries and military vets.”
Warriors Set Free — “Where the hurting and the Healer connect”, according to its website — “is a (Christian-based) ministry run by Veterans for Veterans. Typically a Veteran will only be comfortable talking to another Veteran about the experiences they have had in a war or military service. Trying to explain your military experience to a civilian has its challenges. We remove that problem by training Vets to help Vets. Our director, founder and volunteers are all Veterans.”
Attorney Raquel Salas understands the ins and outs of immigration and cultural adaptation, having moved to the U.S. over a decade ago from her native Dominican Republic. She uses that lived experience as a newcomer along with her native Spanish language skills to counsel immigrants in the intricacies of American criminal law. She joins us to talk about culture, belonging, and the myths that surround the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, DACA for short.
State Rep. Steven Johnson, left, talks with WKTV Journal: In Focus host Ken Norris during a recent interview. (WKTV)
K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
First-term State Representative Steven Johnson, whose district includes the City of Kentwood, wears the title of being a Christian conservative with pride — both because he was elected to a conservative state house district because of his views and because, when you talk with him, that is who he is.
Rep. Johnson (R-District 72) recently visited WKTV Journal: In Focus, WKTV’s public affairs show and talked with its host about his first month’s in Lansing, his views on what he calls “corporate welfare” — state and local government incentives to attract businesses — as well as his effort to introduce a bill which would strip funding from the state’s abortion clinics.
And on the issue of his right-to-life politics, Johnson says even if his efforts fail he will have done what he and a majority of his constituents believe is right.
“Obviously we want to see it pass, that is number one,” he said. “For me, I believe abortion is a terrible evil. And I believe, at the very least, what I don’t want to be doing, when I get done here and go home, I don’t want to say ‘I did not do anything.’ I want to be able to say, ‘Look, I tried’. You lose the fight, but at least you fought. The battles that will be won or lost, that is in God’s hands.”
Rep. Johnson district includes much of Allegan County and portions of Kent County.
Also on this episode, Kent County director of Veterans Services, Carrie Anderson, about the problems faced by our region’s veterans and the county, state and federal efforts to provide possible solutions.
As part of the discussion with Anderson, a veteran herself, she discusses the alarming statistic that each day 20 veterans commit suicide in this country, available services — including help for homeless vets — and why her job is more than just a job.
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel. This episode will have a special airing on Wednesday, Nov, 15, at noon on Comcast Channel 25.
Kent County director of Veterans Services Carrie Anderson on the set of WKTV Journal: In Focus. (WKTV)
WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
With Veterans Day coming this week, and veterans issues important every day, the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, WKTV’s public affairs show, finds program host Ken Norris talking with the Kent County director of Veterans Services, Carrie Anderson, about the problems faced by our region’s veterans and the county, state and federal efforts to provide possible solutions.
Also on this episode, first-term State Representative Steven Johnson talks about his busy first year in Lansing.
Kent County director of Veterans Services Carrie Anderson. (WKTV)
As part of the discussion with Anderson, a veteran herself, she discusses the alarming statistic that each day 20 veterans commit suicide in this country, available services — including help for homeless vets — and why her job is more than just a job.
The episode will debut this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and will again air on Thursday, and again next week on the same days and times on WKTV channels but all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVVideos.
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6:30 p.m., on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel. This episode will have a special airing on Wednesday, Nov, 15, at noon on Comcast Channel 25.
David Willer — who prefers to be called “Whitey” when he is behind the camera — is one of the newest WKTV sports coverage volunteers. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
By WKTV Staff
David Willer — who prefers to be called “Whitey” when he is behind the camera — is one of the newest WKTV sports coverage volunteers, occasionally working as part of the video crew for high school football games.
After his first night working with “the truck”, as WKTV’s mobile video unit is nicknamed, the Northeast Grand Rapids resident says his night as quite an adventure.
“I did not expect to do as much as I did (that first night), but it was a blast,” Willer said. “It was a great experience.”
Willer said he found out about sports volunteer opportunities on FaceBook. “I saw the station and responded and decided to do it. It is something I was always interested in, but never really pursued. But I thought ‘Why not now?’”
Part of the reason for Willer, an admitted sports fan, to become involved was his desire to get back into youth sports as well as to learn how to work cameras.
“I used to coach youth sports, back in Minnesota, where I grew up,” he said. “Came here and never had the chance. Fell into cooking, as a chef, and that is what I have been doing for the last 30 years. This (working with WKTV sports coverage) gets me back into sports. It has been a great experience.”
Persons interested in joining Willer and other community volunteers do not need any prior video camera or video production training. (But it helps!) For more information about volunteering at WKTV and becoming part of the stations sports coverage team, email Davin at davin@wktv.org or Bill at bill@wktv.org.
Chris Pulliams, at his induction into the Ferris State University Hall of Fame this month. (Supplied)
By WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
Chris Pulliams
“Student. Athlete. Intern. Coach. Athletic Director. Teacher. Mentor.” — Those were the words used to describe long-time Wyoming Godwin Heights teacher, administrator and coach Chris Pulliams prior to the school’s Sept. 1 home football game.
Joining him at center field during a ceremony honoring Pulliams impending induction into the Ferris State University’s Hall of Fame were Principal Chad Conklin, Athletic Director Rob Hisey, and head varsity football coach Carlton Brewster, as the stadium announcer told the crowd: “We say congratulations and thanks by honoring Chris Pulliams for his dedication to his work, whether that be in the classroom or on the field, he continues to give back to the Godwin community in immeasurable ways! Chris Pulliams, we thank you for being what it means ‘To Be a Godwin Heights Wolverine’.”
Pulliams was inducted into the Ferris State Hall of Fame Sept. 15.
Pulliams arrived at Godwin as a student and athlete, according to supplied information. He played varsity football at Godwin Heights before moving on to success as a running back at Ferris State, where he currently ranks sixth on the school’s all-time career rushing chart with 2,743 yards and 35 TD’s in his career. He claimed All-America honors in 1995 and was a two-time All-GLIAC tailback. He received the 1996 GLIAC McAvoy Leadership Award. He ran for a career-high 1,729 yards and 23 scores during the 1995 season, which ranks as the most yards in a single-campaign by a FSU tailback in school history. His performance helped the Bulldogs post a 12-1 overall record in route to the school’s first NCAA Division II National Semifinal appearance.
He was also a First Team MIFC All-Academic choice in 1996 with a 3.29 GPA in Business Education.
Next, after graduating from college, and teaching at Forest Hills Public Schools, he returned to Godwin Heights as athletic director.
“Two years later, he moved back into the classroom as a teacher in order to impact our students academically; this truly is his calling. He continues to dedicate his days, nights, and weekends in honor of our students’ needs,” the announcer told the crowd.
Whether we’re young, middle-aged, or elderly, the 28th Street Metro Cruise brought smiles to all. It was a fantastic weekend, Aug. 25-26, for the great city of Wyoming! And, also Kentwood and Grandville. I covered a half mile stretch, from Clyde Park to Michael/DeHoop avenues, and saw hundreds of classic cars. If you are a car enthusiast, this was — and is each year — a MUST SEE.
An Aussie/Kiwi couple moves from Down Under to Up Over. Pamela and Craig Benjamin discuss their personal mid-life moves. Changing hemispheres and changing careers in the land of opportunity.
As a young kid, Adam Khafif was already developing a sense for business, working in his off-school hours for the family’s cookie business. In high school, he launched a streetwear company, completing his first sale – to his aunt! With the dauntless spirit of an entrepreneur, Adam sharpened his focus, majoring in business at Babson College and cementing his vision for his LSNP clothing line. Today, he sells hip clothing, all the while incorporating his core values that set LisnUp apart in a very competitive industry.
Fuentes is a professor of music at Calvin College and he also enjoys composing music for theater, television and the concert hall. (Photo courtesy Calvin College.)
David Fuentes believes it is impossible to find a piece of music that is not about who we are and what we care about. “In fact, I even offer $500 to any student that can find one,” said the music professor. “I’m not out any money yet.”
Fuentes addresses this in his writing for, Vocation across the Academy, a book collaboration with NetVUE, a nationwide network of colleges and universities. NetVUE is working to create resources that empower students in vocational exploration, said Fuentes. Fuentes contributed chapter five, “To whom do I sing, and why,” addressing the place of music in human flourishing.
Fuentes began his musical journey when his mother picked up his first instrument, an accordion, at a garage sale. From then on, said Fuentes, he had a knack for music and liked making up his own songs. Since then, Fuentes has enjoyed composing music for theater, television and the concert hall as well as teaching a number of Calvin’s music courses.
Music as vocation
The topic of vocation is particularly important to Fuentes because part of his job is to help students uncover their personal calling and understand how much of their lives will be directly related to music. “For some this will be 100 percent, for others it will be a smaller part,” he said.
Fuentes believes the way students approach education has changed over the years. In the past, it was about learning reasoning and critical thinking, he said. Then, in whatever field you pursue, you would be pulling from a pool of knowledge. “Students today are trying to be practical about what they are going to go into. If they don’t have a job right out of college, they feel like a failure.”
Fuentes said students are often so focused on finding a career that they forget to ask: What are my gifts and loves? How can I contribute to God’s Kingdom? Educating students about vocation helps them fine-tune and understand all of their giftings, he said. It also gives students permission or a calling to help people.
“I have been nervous about pursuing music as a major for the longest time, but I definitely felt more comfortable after taking his class,” said Alexia White, a student of Fuentes.
Why music matters
Each semester Fuentes asks his students: Why does music matter in human lives? Are people just listening because they like it or is there something deeper?
“I assumed that when I took this class it would be about how music is only meant to bring glory and honor to God,” said White. “But Professor Fuentes helped us understand how that can be one purpose for music, but music can help us explain our biblical worldview. Music can teach us about God, others and ourselves.”
In the chapter he wrote in Vocation across the Academy, Fuentes tackles the issues of artists creating only for self-expression and audiences expecting a profound emotional experience with every artistic encounter. According to Fuentes, this is only a small part of what music can do.
“Sometimes people use music to escape; music is good at that. We go into a different state of mind and can experience great emotion there. On the other hand, music can help us delve into issues,” said Fuentes. “The deepest and most profound emotions come when we realize something. Rather than escaping from reality, music can bring us deeper into reality,” said Fuentes.
“There are two basic ways human beings make sense of the world: rationality and intuition,” said Fuentes. “Music brings those two together beautifully.”
Copyright Calvin College, reprinted by permission.
Two of the area’s finest with Shake Broukian and her son, Charlie
By Catherine Kooyers
June 24th was an action-packed day on the grounds of Grace Bible College, and the weather couldn’t have been any better. Happy people, food, ice cones and family friendly activities brought the community and businesses together with firefighters, police officers and other first responders.
It was all part of ‘Boots and Badges’, an annual event hosted by the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce to honor and show appreciation for the area’s first responders. The idea is to get people connected with their local law enforcement outside of an emergency or distress call.
A fun-filled game of kickball between firefighters and police was just one of the highlights. Families posed for photos with mascots of the White Caps and Drive #1, hit the button on the dunk tank, competed in 9 Square (a volleyball-type game), checked out the vehicles used by first responders, and even became “honorary” first responders, complete with hats and badges.
Lola Audu is used to creating firsts in her adopted U.S. home. As an international student in college, she had to teach white administrators about unintended racism. As a real estate professional, she became the first black president in the 117-year history of the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors. As a graduate of the Cultural Intelligence Center, she is now bringing cultural intelligence (CQ) to the real estate industry. Join Alan as he interviews the Nigerian native who has become a West Michigan force to be reckoned with.
The Association of Nature Center Administrators will distinguish Former Blandford Nature Center Founder and Director Mary Jane Dockeray as the inaugural ANCA President’s Award recipient for foundational leadership in the Nature and Environmental Learning Center Profession.
During a near 70-year career, Dockeray has helped instill youth environmental education as part of the nature and environmental learning center profession. Since boldly asking for the donation of ten acres of private land in 1964 for “getting kids boots on the ground”, Dockeray has displayed what Jason Meyer, current President/CEO of the Blandford Nature Center calls “her characteristic willingness to push boundaries.”
Over 43 years, Dockeray grew those ten acres into a 143-acre refuge that has served over two million visitors, an astounding accomplishment. Among her innovative achievements is the foundation of the Blandford School, a sixth grade program where 60 public school students spend their entire school year using the nature center as their classroom.
Beyond Blandford, Dockeray helped build youth environmental education into the ethos of the profession by freely offering her knowledge. She hosted and supported an early professional association of nature center administrators: the Michigan Coalition of Nature Centers. Corky McReynolds, PhD, CPF, and former Coalition member writes, “Her inspiration to me helped launch my career, and I am just one of literally thousands of lives she has touched.”
Dockeray exemplifies the exceptional contribution to the nature and environmental learning center profession that the President’s Award was created to acknowledge. ANCA Board President, Francis Velazquez, writes, “It is how Mary Jane’s story touches on all the aspects of our profession that captured my attention. It was the humility, simple directness, foresight, and sustained effort that brought her consideration for the President’s Award. It was how she educated one child, through one program, one field trip, one nature center, one pioneering idea after another and how she influenced one community and one profession with such lasting effects that made it clear she should be awarded by ANCA.”
Jen Levy, ANCA Executive Director, writes, “Mary Jane represents an exceptional group of individuals who recognized the need to secure the places that are now a vital network of nature education sites. Our profession is indebted to Mary Jane and her fellow nature education pioneers, and I am thrilled the board is recognizing her.”
To no surprise, at age 90, Dockeray continues to live out her commitment to environmental education. You can find her captivating young learners and mentees weekly at the Blandford Nature Center. On behalf of the nature and environmental learning center profession, we recognize Mary Jane Dockeray for her unwavering commitment to youth, nature, and the profession with the ANCA President’s Award — rock on Mary Jane!
The President’s Award will be given to Mary Jane Dockeray at the Association of Nature Center Administrator’s Annual Summit in August in Nauvoo, Alabama.
David Castro understands hard work. Arriving in the United States, the Mexican native spoke little English but knew he had to work. Luckily, the manager of the Sears men’s department was kind and gave him a job stocking clothing. And helped him learn English. Moving from retail to the catering business, David maintained that same work ethic, moving from Server to Supervisor to Manager. Today, he is the President and Partner of Applause Catering, the largest catering company in Grand Rapids, Mich.
This is an installment in Local First’s Measure What Matters series where Local First Members who have taken the Quick Impact Assessment are interviewed and asked how the assessment has helped them use their business as a force for good and be Good for Grand Rapids.
Started by a group of Calvin College alumni back in the 1993, River City Improv has been making Grand Rapids residents laugh for over 20 years. Since its inception, River City Improv has evolved into a comedy group that’s passionate about making a positive difference in West Michigan through fun and witty humor.
“We love making people laugh – it’s how we give back to the community,” said Rick Treur, co-founder and business manager for River City Improv. “Many of our performers also make a positive difference by donating their time and talents to various nonprofits around Grand Rapids.”
River City Improv entertains audiences using comedic improvisation. Many of their shows weave together skits, games, and songs with audience suggestions to create a unique show every time. Hosting approximately 20 public shows and up to 40 private shows per year, River City Improv still makes time for volunteering. Some of the ways they give back are by performing volunteer shows or donating free passes to nonprofits for auctions. If a performer is involved with a nonprofit, they can also donate a performance to the organization of their choice.
River City Improv joined Local First in 2010 and Treur recently took Local First’s Quick Impact Assessment to identify more opportunities for River City Improv to make a positive impact.
“Getting involved with Local First seemed like a natural fit for River City Improv because of our commitment to giving back to the community,” said Treur. “We took the Quick Impact Assessment because we like supporting B Corp values and believe it’s important to be mindful of what we’re doing as a business.”
When taking the Quick Impact Assessment, Treur realized there were many practices that he could be tracking and measuring for River City Improv. One of Treur’s major takeaways from the assessment was learning about the significance of buying local and using sustainable products for their shows.
“Even though we are a small business, the Quick Impact Assessment made me realize that there are things we can do better,” said Treur. “You can make a positive impact in the community no matter the size of your business, field, industry or level of community involvement.”
Treur added that getting involved with Good for Grand Rapids has been a great way to strengthen the community by showing support for local businesses.
“Look around at our local businesses in Grand Rapids and you’ll notice that many of them have a global reach and can have a positive impact on the world,” said Treur. “By using our resources for good and being thoughtful about how we run our business, we can make a difference in our local community, West Michigan and beyond.”
Interested in learning how your business performs against best practices on employee, community and environmental impact? Take the Quick Impact Assessment today to learn how much good your business is doing for the local economy and community at localfirst.com/sustainability/measure-what-matters. Meet these and other values-aligned businesses at the Measure What Matters Workshop on June 21!
The Committee to Honor César E. Chávez has partnered with the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Unity Committee to host the 2017 César E. Chávez “5 de mayo” Celebration.
The public is invited to this annual event,Friday, May 5, at the museum, 272 Pearl St NW, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 per individual, or a table of 10 for $300; purchase tickets online here.
“We are proud to be a partner with the Committee to Honor César E. Chávez in hosting this important community celebration,” said Dale A. Robertson, Grand Rapids Public Museum president and CEO. “The museum is a fitting place for this historical event; we believe in the value of working together to share stories and lessons that inspire and expand cultural opportunities for all.”
Three community members will be honored for their service and social justice work:
Andrés Abreu, editor-in-chief, El Vocero Hispano;
Carol Hennessey, Kent County commissioner, 14th district; and
José Reyna, community health programs director for Spectrum Health.
The celebration will feature authentic Mexican food, music and dancing.
Area colleges and universities joining the Committee to Honor César E. Chávez to support this event include: Aquinas College, Calvin College, Kendall College of Art and Design, Davenport University, Ferris State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, and Western Michigan University-Grand Rapids.
“Many of our campus partners serve a diverse populations and Grand Valley is proud to partner with and support this annual cultural event alongside our partner universities and colleges,” said Jesse Bernal, vice president for Inclusion and Equity at Grand Valley.
The Proud Aguila sponsors of the event are AT&T, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Valley State University and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Lupe Ramos-Montigny “Si Se Puede” Legacy Endowed Scholarship at Grand Valley. Scholarships will be awarded in October to Hispanic students who are pursuing college degrees.
Questions about the event can be directed to Lupe Ramos-Montigny, chair of the Committee to Honor César E. Chávez, at lrmontigny@yahoo.com or 616.443.5922.
Family-owned Italian grocer, G.B. Russo & Son, has announced a rebrand to commemorate the company’s history dating back to 1905.
For 112 years the Russo family has been committed to the Grand Rapids community by offering one of the largest selection of wine and gourmet food; craft beer and liquor, kitchenware, homemade Italian entrees and more. G.B. Russo & Son will now be known as Russo’s International Market. Russo’s will host a variety of giveaways, in-store events, and promotions spanning over a three-month period. A community celebration will be held in May.
“My grandfather left Montelepre, Sicily at the age of 17 and by 20 years of age had opened his first store in East Grand Rapids,” said Phil Russo, President of Russo’s International Market.
“He made it his mission to serve the community and fed many through the Great Depression regardless of background or race. He was an entrepreneur and risk-taker and in spite of natural disasters, the Great Depression and race riots, the store continued to prosper and expand to make us what we are today.”
In 2008, the business doubled the size of the store to 18,000 square feet and expanded parking at the 29th Street location. Today, the store has a 45-foot deli case with over 300 meats and cheeses from around the world, olives, fresh baked breads, oils, private label pastas and sauces, homemade Villa Russo frozen entrees, a vast selection of craft beers and liquor, thousands of wines, kitchenware and more.
Russo’s International Market is currently run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the family and in the past few years the business has expanded to include:
Catering for events, business meetings and more
Wine delivery
Custom corporate gifts
In-store educational beverage tasting events and more
A large selection of Michigan and Grand Rapids products
Additional private-labeled items
Expanded homemade products such as sandwiches, dips, sauces, breads and more
“In honor of our anniversary we will share history on Grand Rapids in the 1900s while celebrating the present and future endeavors,” said Kelley Russo of Russo’s International Market.
“It is our goal to constantly reinvent ourselves as my great-grandfather would’ve encouraged us to do.”
Historic Items of Note:
In 1908, Giovanni Russo moved the store to Division near Franklin. This area was once known as Little Italy. At that location, he owned apartments, Roma Dance Hall, Grand Rapid’s first pizzeria, a pasta-making factory, and warehouse.
In 1914, a near kidnapping of his 18-month-old daughter by the Black Hands Gang was thwarted by the Russo nanny. The gang went on to threaten and harass the family until the Grand Rapids City Police were able to build a case, with Giovanni’s help. The Grand Rapids Press wrote an article dated Nov. 5, 2914, that stated: “It was through Russo’s activities and his disregard for the Black Hand warning that enabled police to capture the gang.”
Russo established Roma Hall above the store on Division during the Great Depression and prohibition era. Throughout the Hall’s history, Giovanni rented it to anyone, regardless of ethnicity or status, for dances, weddings, dinners and jam sessions featuring the likes of Ray Charles and Jimmy Reed.
Known musicians such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Mary Wells performed for Roma Hall audiences in the 1950s and 60s.
Due to Giovanni’s acceptance of all races and economic backgrounds, his was the only business on the block not burned down during the race riots of the 1960s.
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools inducted six new members into its Hall of Fame late last month, and while the most Rebel-rousing acceptance speech was given by — no surprise — long-time football coach and educator Thomas DeGennaro, the district’s hall of fame is for more than only athletic personalities.
The induction ceremony, which took place prior to a boys basketball game on Jan. 20 at Lee High School, also included a war hero, a university professor, a long-time school board member, a school band leader and a woman who gave back to the school system almost up to her last day.
Football coach and educator Thomas DeGennaro. (WKTV)
DeGennaro — who has served as teacher, principal and now, again, varsity football coach — was the final of the inductees to speak, and he spoke clearly about what it means to be a Lee High Rebel.
“I have been grateful to work with some of the toughest kids in the United States,” DeGennaro said. “To be a Rebel means you are willing to stand up against the establishment. You have to be willing to put yourself on the line when you stand up. Our kids here do this every day.
“They overcome obstacles that would unimaginable to surrounding districts. Many of our students are immigrants, or children of immigrants, much like my grandparents … These students overcome language, cultural and other challenges that stall most students learning process. Not only do they overcome these obstacles, they excel. … The establishment loves to keep these kids down, but they rebel. They are Rebels.”
DeGennaro’s history in the district includes taking a position on the Lee High faculty in 2002, teaching U.S. History and Geography as well as a variety of other elective social studies courses. But it is on the football field where he did most of his teaching. In 1998, he took over the Rebel football program and coached the first Lee football team ever to make it into the MHSAA playoffs, when his team went 8-2 in the fall of 2006. After an eight-year absence from the sidelines at Lee Field, he returned this past fall and has begun the process of rebuilding a program that has not experience much success since his last season in 2007.
Starting in 2007, the Rebel Hall of Fame selection committee, comprised of members of the Board of Education, district administration, faculty, alumni and the Godfrey-Lee community has selected alumni, staff and other individuals associated with Godfrey-Lee Public Schools in recognition of their achievements and contributions.
The six new members joined forty-two other individuals and one athletic team in the Hall of Fame. David Britten, superintendent of Godfrey-Lee School District, was master of ceremonies of the event.
This year’s inductees also included Staff Sgt. Daniel Hayes, Lee High School class of 2004; Dr. Carl J. Bajema, class of 1955; Dennis E. Groendyke, class of 1979 and Board of Education member from 1999 to 2016; Christine Vettese, district SIG Coordinator for 2010 to 2013; and Robert Hill, high school band director from 1967 to 1981.
Douglas Greenwold, class of 1960, was also selected but requested to delay participation in the induction ceremony until 2018.
Personal stories of dedication
Staff Sgt. Hayes is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan military operations where, with the 101st Airborne Division, he earned the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat in Iraq in 2006. He was later personally awarded the Silver Star, the third highest decoration for valor for gallant actions and devotion to duty, while serving in Afghanistan in 2010. In 2011, he sustained another injury and earned a second Purple Heart. His award was accepted by his aunt.
Dr. Carl J. Bajema, with his wife, Claudia.
Dr. Bajema, after graduating from Lee, earned his Ph.D. in zoology from Michigan State University and retired from Grand Valley State University with the designation of Professor Emeritus in 2007 following a forty-three year teaching and scientific research career. He was also the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Volunteer Service Award from the Historical Society of Michigan.
And his wife, reading from a statement and speaking for him due to a medical condition that hampers his ability to speak clearly, revealed a little of Dr. Bajema’s own history.
“When I learned I was to receive this Rebel award, I dug into my archives for my report cards, I actually had all my report cards,” Claudia Bajema said, as Carl waved an old report card for the audience to see. “Well, I can assure you that anyone viewing those would not conclude that I would be given one of these prestigious awards.
“I left my mark on the high school in an unconventional way. For several years following my graduation … my lab mate and me were given as an example of how not to do experiments. … we were in a hurry and failed to read all the instructions on how to conduct an experiment … (and) a chemical reaction caused an explosion, a volcano of sorts, leaving a very nasty stain on the ceiling.”
Dennis E. Groendyke
Groendyke, Board of Education member from 1999 to 2016, is a lifelong resident of the district who chose to raise his own family of seven children here and watch them attend Godfrey-Lee schools, according to supplied material. He concluded his service this winter following 17 years, including four-and-one-half years leading the board as president. A strong supporter of athletics, he has provided many hours of volunteer coaching for baseball and softball, including weekend clinics for youth during the school year.
“I love this district, I love the people in it, most of all I love the children,” Groendyke said. “My heart will always be here.”
Robert Hill
Hill was Lee High band director from 1967 to 1981, where he yearly took a “sometimes unruly” group of teen musicians unifying them into well organized marching and concert bands, according to supplied material. A visible teacher and mentor, he could be seen leading his bands at every home football and basketball game, believing that the band was central to inspiring young athletes and building school pride. His musical talents also carried him to perform with the Grand Valley State University faculty orchestra.
“This high school has, and always will, have a very special place in my heart,” Hill said. “I will always remember the joy of teaching students.”
Roberta Burke, sister of Christine Vettese.
Vettese was district SIG coordinator from 2010-13. She died in 2015. When Lee High School needed help with academic improvement to get off a state list of low-performing schools, she came out of retirement from East Grand Rapids schools and applied her many leadership, curriculum, and personal relationship skills to serve as a principle leader in that effort, according to supplied material. Through her advocacy, guidance and dogged persistence, she helped secure grants in excess of $3.5 million dollars over the three years to support the work of teachers, administrators, and students.
Her sister, Roberta Burke, accepted the award.
“I know if she were here today, she would say … its all about the students, and how to get them to be the best they can be,” Burke said, pointing to the heavens. “I know she is looking down right now and saying ‘bravo’ ” for what the district has accomplished.
Riley Nguyen, a 17-year-old exchange student from Vietnam, with West Michigan Lutheran girls basketball coach Aaron Cochrill. (WKTV)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
West Michigan Lutheran, a very small high school in Wyoming, had five players available for its girls basketball team this season — what you call a really thin bench. But that was before an unlikely import from Southeast Asia joined girls basketball Coach Aaron Cochrill’s team.
For Riley Nguyen, a 17-year-old exchange student from Vietnam, playing on the team was just another way for her to fit in at her school and with her West Michigan host family — Darian Blanchard, the junior co-captain of the team, is her “home sister” in America.
For Cochrill, getting Riley to join was part being a basketball coach and part just being a teacher and mentor to students.
“What Riley brings to our team, first, is a bench — she is the sixth player,” Cochrill said. “But she is so intelligent, and she has a willingness, a ‘Whatever you want me to do coach, I’ll do it.’ So, against Aviation Academy, one of our starting point guards got in foul trouble early and we needed big minutes of her. I just said ‘Riley, it is your turn. Get in there.’ That is what she does, I ask her do something and she does it.”
Thing is, though, Riley really does not play basketball much back in Viet Nam, let along play at the level of American players, even at a small high school.
“I really like basketball, but I am a newbie,” she said. “So its takes a while to catch up with them. They are really good. The challenge is the skills I have to learn. That’s a lot. But the thing I enjoy the most is when I am out on the basketball court. I just go for it. Just do it.”
Riley Nguyen, left, with the rest of her West Michigan Lutheran girls basketball, getting some coaching from coach Aaron Cochrill. (WKTV)
Just going for it is also an apt way to describe what brought Riley to Western Michigan.
She is in America as part of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP). Her real home is Tan An City, outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, with a four-member family including a father who works as an account/auditor. This is her family’s first experience in America.
Riley Nguyen
“I enjoy the new experiences here, the food, the people here,” she said. “I get to know so many people. There lifestyles is not like ours. I also (get to) know so many things about their cultures, too. I really enjoyed Christmas break here. You have Christmas break and spring break and summer break — actually, I think there are a lot of breaks here. … But I like it.”
There were also some challenges off the basketball court. “Sometimes I miss the food in my country. I am so used to Vietnamese food that, sometimes, I have belly ache. … But that is a minor problem.”
Her new “home sister” has been helping her, though, on and off the court. And they have developed quite a friendship, both say.
“I told Riley it is kind of like having a sleepover with your best friend everyday and I really enjoy it,” Darian said. “We really connected. Even before she came here, we were Skyping back and forth, and we found we had a lot in common, a lot of interests together.
Darian Blanchard
“Back home, Riley had a dance group that she was in, so we play games on the Wii, like ‘Just Dance’, a lot. … One of the fun parts about this is showing her everything. A different perspective, a different life. It has been really fun to see her go ‘This is so cool.’ … the look on her face when she sees food that is new, the look on her face is ‘Oh, my God. I cannot believe I have lived without this.’”
And then there is that Michigan State connection.
“I was so surprised, the first time I came here, and I talked to them,” Riley said. “ My dream college is Michigan State, and they are big fans of Michigan State. I was like ‘Ohhh. Yep, we were meant to be.’ We get along really well. They care about me a lot, little things like food, my sleep and stuff like that. Darian, my home sister, she takes care of me.”
And the relationship might not end with the end of this school year. Riley has applied for acceptance at Michigan State and should hear before the end of this school year.
Her American basketball career most assuredly ends with coming off the bench for the Mustangs, however. But coach Cochrill’s favorite story about Riley does show she has at least a little game.
“Our first game. She got fouled. She got to go to the line,” he said. “She made a free throw and she turns around and looks at me, a kind of look that says ‘Is that for real? Did that just happen?’ She kind of gets this grin on her face. … That is her personality to a tee.”
Imagine moving to a foreign country where you don’t know the language — or the culture and customs of its people. Now imagine starting a business or going to school there.
I can’t wrap my mind around that and yet, all of my grandparents emigrated here from Greece in the early 1920s, speaking little to no English and starting up candy shops and restaurants to support their families.
It is this experience that bolsters my profound respect for the folks who are daring enough to leave a familiar home to start anew in a strange land.
A couple with the same mindset, husband and wife team, Alan Headbloom (host) and Kim Roberts (creator and executive producer) have created a television show, Feel Like You Belong (FLYB), that shares the life stories of immigrants, expatriates and refugees to the United States. Now in its third year, FLYB celebrates its 100th episode, Anan Ameri: Love and Leadership in Arab America, on WKTV this month.
FLYB’s goal is to help immigrants acclimate to our community and learn colloquialisms of the English language, such as slang and humor. Since the program’s inception, people from Guatemala, Vietnam, the Middle East, Bhutan, the Dominican Republic and other places across the globe have shared their cultural experiences on-camera.
Paola Mendivil shares a laugh on set with the host. (Photo courtesy of FeelLikeYouBelong.com)
“Different is not bad,” said Headbloom, who teaches English as a second language and has an extensive background as an applied linguist and cross-cultural consultant. “Different is just different. White Americans — especially West Michiganders — need to get out and meet people who have accents and better tans than they do. That’s the only way we’re going to survive in this globally diversifying world.”
In addition to helping new residents acclimate to new surroundings, the show helps make a difference in how Americans perceive those who are beginning their lives anew in our country. With a few exceptions, most interviewees live and work in the greater Grand Rapids area.
“It’s a two-way street: Just as immigrants learn about our culture, we glean fascinating insights in our own culture and language, plus we’re exposed to other cultures. It’s a win-win,” said Headbloom.
The FLYB website archives the interviews as well as short educational segments for immigrants to learn from — including tips on culture and etiquette, lessons on American English grammar and slang, and examples of American humor (which is the hardest part of learning a new language). There’s also a blog for natives to educate themselves on issues of language, race/ethnicity and culture.
Alan Headbloom (Courtesy FeelLikeYouBelong.com)
Headbloom finds that the most challenging aspect of the show is having to train new crew every semester.
“We have no budget, so all crew members (production and post-production) are unpaid college interns.”
Roberts is a film/video professor at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). Headbloom has made a career of coaching international workers on how to live and communicate among Americans. He trains Americans how to work with local co-workers from overseas as well as their foreign-based counterparts around this shrinking globe. He also does training and facilitation around race, ethnicity, unconscious bias, respect in the workplace and diversity/inclusion. He finds the show rewarding on several levels.
Kim Roberts (Courtesy FeelLikeYouBelong.com
“It validates the immigrant experience and tells non-immigrant viewers that these stories, these humans are important too,” Headbloom said. “Everyone wants to be heard, be acknowledged. Many are honored to have a public forum for sharing their journey, both the challenges and the successes.”
And FLYB is making a difference in the community.
“I recently heard from a newer viewer, an 85-year-old conservative, white suburban male,” said Headbloom. “He told me he was unhappy about the country’s immigration ‘problem’ but found that watching our shows made ‘them’ seem like real people.
“In particular, I believe he was referencing Natanael “Nate” Krische’s story. Mr. Krische came here at age 18 without documents from Guatemala. He worked at odd jobs (often underpaid or unpaid) until he got his green card and then citizenship. Today, Mr. Krische employs seven area workers at his janitorial company. He is making jobs for — not taking them away from — other Americans.”
The crew of FLYB (Courtesy FeelLikeYouBelong.com)
Feel Like You Belongairs on WKTV Channel 25 (Comcast) and Channel 99 (ATT) Mondays at 8:30 pm and Wednesdays at 10:30 am. FLYB also airs on GRTV (Grand Rapids) and HCTV (Holland). Outside the area, folks can follow FLYB on its website, where the team archives all their interviews as well as the educational segments 24/7.
WKTV is pleased to announce that each week we will feature an adoptable cat from Crash’s Landing or Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Both cat rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Petrovich, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Caspian
Just look at this handsome mug!
Not only is Caspian gorgeous, but more importantly, he is a genuine sweetheart who loves to snuggle — and is very good at it. This chubby-cheeked, squinty-eyed (former) Tom cat was welcomed into Big Sid’s this past Aug. 2 after being transferred from the Humane Society of SW Michigan.
Although he had seen a veterinarian three days after his arrival at the Humane Society in mid-July, the condition causing his lower eyelids to roll inward and rub on his corneas was not diagnosed, so the appropriate treatment was not undertaken; by the time Dr. Jen got her hands on this fabulous ‘fat-head’ (born in the summer of 2012), his right eye had suffered scarring and both lids were incredibly swollen and painful. He was FIV-positive and Dr. Jen also discovered that he had torn a toenail back to the base and was sparse in the hair coat department due to a flea infestation that has since been successfully treated.
Once at the sanctuary, Caspian immediately took to wooing the ladies; his heavy-lidded, half-closed glance made it appear as if he was gazing longingly at those who stepped into his line of sight, so the volunteers couldn’t help but swoon, swoop in and scoop him up for some major cuddle time — and at 13 pounds of muscle, he is quite an armful!
At his recheck exam on Sept. 6, Dr. Jen was dismayed to see that Caspian’s FIV test was still a firm positive, but since he was having a blast in his new home she had no worries. He had a second surgery on his eyelids and, as he did before, Caspian bounced back with flying colors, sporting fancy purple sutures once again for the next week.
He left the clinic with eyes wide open — something he hadn’t really done up to this point — weighing in at 14 pounds and showing off his lustrous, almost luminous coat that good nutrition and parasite control had afforded him.
Caspian still has a tiny scar remaining on his right eye but his vision isn’t impaired in the least; he can look deep into your soul with those baby blues and you will absolutely, paws-itively MELT!
Want to adopt Caspian? Go here to read about the adoption process and then fill out an application form here.
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
The exhibit will showcase the photographs of Tom Gunnels taken throughout the summer, along with the stories of how the photos and friendships came to be.
Come down, learn more and maybe meet some cool people along the way.
Where: The Collective Artspace, 40 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI; call 517.899.6766 for more info.
Hillary Baker and Ellen Zwarensteyn have coached students in becoming so well-versed in government and civics that they take home national awards.
Baker has led outstanding We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution teams, made up of high school students who rattle off informed opinions about different facets of the U.S. Constitution in front of lawyers, judges and professors. Zwarensteyn has coached award-winning high school debaters who argue different sides of complex policy.
But despite their track records in engaging students in civics, politics and government, both educators say there is much work to be done. As the U.S. presidential campaign creeps closer and closer toward Election Day, evidence mounts that good civics education is more important than ever.
Baker and Zwarensteyn are crafting civics curriculum and training teachers nationally, as well as working to get debate and We the People teams in more schools.
“It’s been a real interesting year in how might we craft how we talk about the election and really getting kids to explore issues,” Baker said. “How do you go beyond the candidates and really unearth and look at issues, and be able to talk about the election in a way that promotes deep understanding?”
Baker and Zwarensteyn’s work spans more than two decades at East Kentwood High School. Baker taught civics, Advanced Placement government, and coached We the People for over 15 years. She is now Forest Hills Central High School’s assistant principal. Zwarensteyn coached debate for 15 years and has served as a teacher and coach since 2006. She is on leave to work on other projects focused on civics teaching.
How Have We Gotten Here?
Because of their work, the pair have a sense of the current teaching climate. Many teachers don’t feel up to the task of even including the election in classroom discussion, they say.
“We’ve had civics teachers say they are not going to talk about it at all,” Zwarensteyn said.
But skipping lessons on polemic issues fuels the divide even further, she said.
“That’s the $20,000 question,” Baker said. “Many teachers are afraid to talk about politics in the classroom because they are afraid of backlash from parents or the administration.”
But students quickly pick up on tone and what is considered OK to say. Hateful, insulting talk and rhetoric can be contagious. Knowing how to appropriately conduct political discourse is a vanishing skill set, Zwarensteyn said.
“It’s almost as if someone might have given other people permission to speak that way,” she said. “Honestly, many students are afraid. What we have seen is that they don’t have a fundamental understanding of themselves yet enough to filter what they are hearing in the news.”
Added Baker: “(It’s) that whole idea of civil discourse and how do we appropriately model it in the classroom? How do we engage in ideas and issues, especially when the adults in the national spotlight don’t necessarily do that very well themselves?”
Adults Create the Climate
While students are influenced by candidates, more than anything they mimic other adults, Zwarensteyn said.
“If people at home aren’t filtering or watching multiple news sources or aren’t getting their news from multiple different perspectives, then there’s very little chance for that kid to see other divergent points of view.”
That’s perhaps one reason the country is so polarized, she added: “We only seek out information that confirms an existing bias, and students don’t see that as a particular problem yet. They see news as news, not a perspective.”
Baker and Zwarensteyn are encouraging teachers to think deeper and consider these questions: How do we teach ethical listening to one another? How do we teach what privilege looks like or taking multiple perspectives on an issue? How do we honor different opinions and still have a baseline of civility?
The goal of their far-ranging work is to give students a broader view and deeper knowledge of things that impact their lives.
“These programs are good for all kids,” Baker said. “It’s the kind of learning students are doing that really engages them in current issues and what’s going on around them in their communities, in the state and the nation and even around the world.”
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
Theresa Tran understands the fears of the immigrant voter. Her parents are Vietnamese refugees, and she circulates in the Asian Pacific Islander community, listening to stories. Feelings of uncertainty, the awkwardness of not fitting in, and even tales of intimidation. APIA Vote – Michigan is looking to change that. By getting the Asian Pacific Island American community to register and to understand the voting process. It is critical that all voices be heard, according to Tran, and she is working hard to ensure just that. Your country, your right, your vote!
Alan Headbloom hosts Feel Like You Belong, a show filmed at WKTV focused on sharing the life stories of immigrants, expatriates, and refugees to the United States.
West Michigan filmmaker Chris Penney and actor Sophia Maslowski visited our studio to talk about Penney’s eighth feature film, Two Guns and a Body Bag, which premieres at Celebration Cinema WoodlandThursday, Oct. 20 at 8 pm. Tickets are on sale now on Celebration Cinema Woodland’s website.
At the age of 23, Grand Rapids native Leighton Watson is striving to leave a legacy that matters, and he is confident that his life path is on target to achieve that goal.
Watson was in Grand Rapids Sept. 26 to share with Grand Valley State University students the importance of finding solutions to social injustice within each community. The former student body president of Howard University was the keynote speaker for a presentation called ‘The Power of Student Voices,’ a component of GVSU’s Student Assembly Week. The purpose of the assembly was to encourage students to actively engage in conversation about social and political issues and have their voices heard.
Leighton Watson
Although he is active in addressing the issues of Civil Rights and social injustice, Watson says he doesn’t think of himself as an ‘activist.’
“I’d rather be called a human being,” he said. “Everyone wants to put you in a box and label you. I’m an American.”
Watson’s current life path crystallized during his senior year of college, around the time of the Ferguson riots. Deeply disturbed by the increasing civil unrest and injustice, he gathered fellow students for a photo, ‘Hands Up’ (as in ‘don’t shoot’). He also traveled to Ferguson to see the situation firsthand.
“You can’t prescribe a remedy for a situation you don’t know about,” Watson said.
Meanwhile, the ‘Hands Up’ image rapidly went viral on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and CNN took notice. The station invited him to the studio to share his views and possible remedies for civic unrest.
“We don’t have to wait until we get to the point of Ferguson,” he said. “A lot of the same symptoms are happening now in other cities, but people don’t realize it until things blow up. If America was what it’s supposed to be, what it says on paper, you’d never have the movement, women’s rights, etc. I still think that there is a gap and that means there’s work for me and us to close that gap.”
Watson and POTUS
After seeing Watson’s CNN appearance — and impressed with his proactive approach to identifying solutions (rather than simply pointing out the problems) — the White House invited him to Washington to be a part of a task force on policing.
“The President asked me what I wanted him to do about Ferguson,” said Watson. “There is no national solution to this issue. It’s something that must be addressed state by state, local government by local government — it has to happen on a local level.”
Since then, Watson has kept busy visiting communities across the country to talk to school children and organizations, discussng concerns and organizing movements. He stresses the importance of preparation and solution-finding, even at the middle school level.
“And I say to middle-schoolers, ‘You have to be prepared to answer the question. Preparation is an ongoing process; you must be prepared to meet the president in that moment.'”
Watson addressing GVSU students (Photo courtesy of GVSU
Watson learned the importance of legacy from his grandfather, who started the Section 8 Housing Authority in South Bend, Indiana. Years after his death, people remember and speak very highly of him.
“I was about four years old when he died,” said Watson. “My grandpa taught me that achievement is not a resting place, it’s a trampoline.
“Fifty years from now, history will have written about this time, that these police shootings happened. The question I’ll have to answer my grandchildren is, ‘Grandpa, where were you when this happened?’ And I’ll want to answer that question confidently, that I did do something about it.
“Legacy is important. What you do with your time is important,” said Watson. “I want to look back on my life and be confident about what I did with my time.”
