Tag Archives: GVSU

Veterans History Project at GVSU helps veterans process and share military experiences

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James Smither (left) interviews World War II Navy veterans David “Goldie” Goldsboro and Sid Lenger (Courtesy, WKTV)

By Deborah Reed

deborah@wktv.org

Capturing information and details not officially recorded anywhere else is a job James Smither, Professor of History and Director of the GVSU Veterans History Project (VHP), has undertaken for 15 years.

With well over 1,000 military veteran interviews under his belt, Smither continues to seek out anyone who was in military service from World War II onward who are willing to share their experiences, whether they have seen combat or not.

“If you have been in the U.S. military, we want to talk to you,” said Smither.

All ages of veterans welcome

WWII Navy veteran Don Morell spoke with Smither in 2018 (Courtesy, WKTV)

Smither said he has noticed a trend of veterans wanting to make sense of their military experiences approximately 40 years after the conflict.

“WWII veterans really began talking a lot about it in the 80s, Vietnam vets mostly in the past 20 years,” said Smither. “But a lot of the (veterans) who have been through Iraq or Afghanistan, for a lot of them it is probably still too soon.”

Many recent veterans also don’t consider their experiences as part of history, or consider what they did as important.

“They don’t think of what they did as being part of history, but when I get them, it’s great because they remember a lot of stuff,” said Smither. “And those who say they ‘didn’t really do anything,’ after a few questions, it quickly becomes apparent that a story is there.”

More than just fact-finding

But Smither views the VHP as more than just a fact-finding mission.

“We see our job as giving veterans a way of telling their story, and telling it in the way they want to tell it,” said Smither. “The whole story, or as much as they want to tell.”

Air Force veteran Mike Sutton shared his military experiences with Smither in 2019 (Courtesy, WKTV)

Smither said that veterans are not required to talk about things they don’t want to talk about. They have full control over their own content.

“We do our best to make it as easy for them as possible, and to treat everybody and their stories with respect,” said Smither. “For a lot of them, they are working through their experience. Sometimes I am the first person they have told the whole story to.”

Interviews range from veterans who have previously held back from talking about their experiences, and some who have told bits and pieces but never tried to put their entire story together.

Smither said that veterans appreciate talking to someone who understands military language and with reasonable knowledge of wartime events because the veterans often remember things but don’t know why those things happened (the context of the situation) or how they wound up that particular situation.

Gaining background information from Smither, or having him bring a different perspective, has often helped veterans find clarity.

“People who haven’t talked about it, I can help them tell their story,” said Smither. “And even people who do talk about it sometimes, I can help them put it together and make sense.”

Smither has encountered veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who have said the interview process was helpful and that they found peace and healing by telling their stories.

“You help them get control over their stories, and [for] some of them, it helps them process the trauma,” said Smither.

A view rarely seen

Capturing veterans’ experiences yields multiple benefits.

“On a basic level, it’s a teaching tool,” said Smither. “You can imagine what warfare is like, but unless you are in it yourself, you tend to have a more abstract or sanitized view of the reality of how bad it is. It doesn’t ever really sink in.”

Hauenstein Center GVSU Ford Museum Veterans Day 2021 (Courtesy Photo)

With the VHP interviews, viewers get a very different picture of a soldier’s experience than would be portrayed in journalistic reports and official records.

“There’s this whole layer of human experience that you get in these interviews that doesn’t have a place otherwise,” said Smither.

Another value to the VHP’s interviews is preservation of historical information.

“There is a huge amount of historical information out there that gets lost if you don’t [record it] that can help people get a better understanding of reality,” said Smither.

Fully invested in a career path he never saw coming

“I originally trained as a conventional European historian,” said Smither. “I was the Renaissance Reformation guy at Grand Valley when I got there in 1990. But I always had an interest in military history and developed a course in military history.”

In 2003, Smither was contacted by an oral historian working with a local group to establish a military museum. The intent was to record interviews with local veterans and post them online in conjunction with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

Grand Valley State University Professor James Smither, head of the GVSU Veterans History Project, has dedicated 15 years of his life to telling veterans’ stories (Courtesy, GVSU Veterans History Project)

The hope was to “catch up” with World War II veterans before they were all gone.

“I met [the oral historian] in the summer of 2003, and a couple of months later he had me onstage with four DDay veterans, helping them tell their stories in front of a live audience,” said Smither.

One of those veterans was Ralph Hauenstein, part of Eisenhower’s intelligence staff.

When the museum group folded in 2005, Smither – as chairman of the GVSU History Department – was tasked with continuing the interviews and archiving all completed interviews. Smither knew a lot of background facts about the veterans’ stories and realized he could apply that knowledge.

Things really began moving in 2007 when Smither was contacted by the Kentwood Historic Preservation Commission. They offered to help recruit veterans for interviews and recommended WKTV Community Television to help with the recording process.

Since 2008, Smither has completed over 100 veteran interviews at WKTV.

“I have been all over the place for interviews, but WKTV has been a regular home for the project and does good quality studio shoots,” said Smither.

WKTV General Manager Tom Norton said, “WKTV Community Media is pleased to have played a role with Dr. Smithers, GVSU, and the Library of Congress for all these years, and to be the resource for recording the oral history of our veterans.”

A life-changing experience

Being part of the Veterans History Project has had a profound effect on Smither.

“On a basic level, doing this transformed my own career,” said Smither. “When I was doing 16th French history, there was always something missing. I was never quite sure what it was. I didn’t have a really good feel for the significance of what I was doing.

Veterans’ stories have a lasting impact (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)

“Then,” Smither continued, “when I started working with veterans, I realized that this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Smither has also noticed he now has a form of PTSD.

“You absorb a lot of the trauma and psychological damage that these people suffer because you are listening to the telling of these harrowing stories,” said Smither. “You are living it while they are telling it to you.”

Smither admitted that some things he once found appealing, such as action/adventure movies and game simulation warfare, are no longer of interest to him.

“It does take its toll in a certain sort of way, and changes your perspective on certain things,” said Smither.

But Smither has no plans to back away from helping veterans tell their stories.

“If we don’t record these things and make them available, then all of that knowledge and all of that information is lost,” Smither said. “What (veterans) did, did matter.”

If you are a veteran and would be willing to share your experiences, please contact James Smither at: smitherj@gvsu.edu or 616-331-3422.

West Michigan economy flattens in July, GVSU researcher says

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(Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

Brian Long is a local business forecaster. (Courtesy, GVSU)

Local manufacturers are seeing the West Michigan economy flatten as sales across some industries have slowed and market demand has stabilized, according to a monthly survey conducted by Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research at Grand Valley’s Seidman College of Business.

Long said his August report shows several key indicators from July have flattened after fluctuating from the previous few months.

“Our most important index in our survey of purchasing managers is new orders,” Long said. “When new orders are coming in strong to just about any firm, they start buying more materials, more equipment, more industrial services and eventually of course, hiring more people, but the impact on the financial and employment statistics may not show up for weeks or even months.

“So right now, with most of our recent orders indexes turning in flat or stable, we have to declare that the West Michigan economy is stable, neither expanding or contracting.”

While the strong demand for cars and light trucks is helping the automotive industry prosper, suppliers in the office furniture sector are seeing their segment soften, Long said.

“Statistically, this month’s survey of purchasing managers in West Michigan is about as flat as it can possibly be,” Long said. “However, it is our automotive parts producers that are holding us up. Other industries like office furniture are softening, but again, I say softening and not collapsing like we would expect in a recession.”

Here is a look at the key index results from July’s survey of West Michigan manufacturers:

  • New orders index (business improvement): 0 versus +9 in June
  • Production index (output): -3 versus +6 in June
  • Employment index: +7 versus +14 in June
  • Lead times index: -7 versus -17 in June

More information about the survey and an archive of past surveys are available on the Seidman College of Business website.

Grand Valley board approves campus Master Plan

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

GVSU Board of Trustees approves a new Master Plan. (Courtesy, GVSU)

The Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees approved the university’s Master Plan at its Feb. 24 meeting at the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Trustees heard the plan is designed to embrace technology and create an environment for diverse learners and advance equity.

The plan envisions a more cohesive footprint at the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, providing more greenspace with a “campus quad” near the Seidman Center, a student center/dining hall and a new Center for Talent, Technology & Transformation known as Blue Dot, among other improvements.

“The approval of the campus Master Plan does not represent a commitment of capital, but does help focus the vision and anticipated capital projects for Grand Valley campuses and aligns them to support Reach Higher 2025,” said Trustee Elizabeth Emmitt. “It is exciting to imagine how the campuses will evolve and think about the impact on our community.”

Blue Dot would serve as a keystone component of a planned renovation and expansion of the Eberhard Center, which is located adjacent to the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids.

In Allendale, the plan shows a more pedestrian friendly layout with more modern living centers, a renovated and expanded Kirkhof Center and continued improvements of athletics facilities.

One major idea includes converting Campus Drive to focus on pedestrian and bus traffic while diverting most traffic to Laker Drive. The plan also calls for the phased replacement of Kistler, Copeland and Robinson living centers, which are the original living centers from the 1960s, with more modern facilities.

At the Health Campus in Grand Rapids, plans call for adapting and renovating classrooms and other areas for new technologies and to better accommodate nursing and health sciences curriculum.

The board also heard a presentation from Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Brandon DeHaan about safety measures and planning on campus in the wake of the shootings at Michigan State University.

The presentation followed a February 23 campus safety briefing DeHaan hosted with President Philomena V. Mantella and Sgt. William O’Donnell, Grand Valley’s emergency manager.

In other board action:

  • Jesse Bernal, chief of staff to the president and vice president for Inclusion and Equity, said Grand Valley is leading Michigan in advancing diversity and inclusion. Bernal presented highlights from the Division of Inclusion and Equity’s annual report, stating Grand Valley’s graduation rates for students of color and underrepresented students surpass rates of those cohorts at other Michigan public universities. Bernal said equity gaps on campus are closing due, in part, to the coordinated approach to inclusion and equity adopted in 2015.
  • Trustees approved the reauthorization of four public charter school academies, Chandler Woods Charter Academy, in Belmont; East Arbor Charter Academy, in Ypsilanti; and two Michigan Mathematics and Science Academy locations in Warren. Trustees also approved appointment or reappointment of charter school board members.
  • Trustees welcomed the return of Shelley Padnos and the new appointment of Ronald Hall to the board. Padnos, an attorney and the current executive vice president of PADNOS, a company known for its innovative recycling process, previously served on the board from 2007-2014. Hall, a Southeast Michigan business leader and attorney, is new to the board. Both were appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to eight-year terms beginning February 2.

Student chalks up a research success

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By Daniel Schoenherr
Capital News Service

LANSING – A chalk mural by Grand Valley State University student Jacob Yingling depicts what he studies: yellow perch in drowned river mouth systems.

Jacob Yingling’s chalk mural took him two hours to create and many more hours to plan. It reads, “Yellow Perch Condition in Drowned Rivermouth System.” Credit: Jacob Yingling

Through the data Yingling collected for the university’s Annis Water Resources Institute, he discovered that the average weight and health of fish captured at Lake Macatawa is significantly below standard levels.

His artwork was part of a recent Grand Valley Chalk Art Symposium, where dozens of students showcased their work on the Pew Library plaza.

“This was my first time doing something like this,” Yingling said. He said he loves drawing landscapes in his free time and was excited to be a part of the event.

Combining science with artwork allowed people who wouldn’t have otherwise seen his research to see it, said Yingling. “I believe science is really for everyone.”

Attendees approached Yingling throughout the day to find out more about his research.

“A lot of people thought it was cool, and they stopped to ask what it meant and how it was impacting them,” he said.

Great Lakes river mouths are home to ports and cities that have lots of human interaction, according to a 2013 article in the Journal of Great Lakes Research.

 

The activity can harm marine health through factors such as runoff and improper waste disposal.

Sharing scientific research through artwork is a growing trend, said Michigan State University Museum Creative Director Mark Sullivan.

“Science gives artists opportunities for an approach they have never taken before,” he said. Artistic expression and interpretation can improve the observational skills of scientists, too.

Science and art have come together all over the scientific community, according to another Annis researcher, Michael Hassett.

 

Institutions nationwide promote seminars through colorful posters, feature artwork in their studies and have even spread water awareness through interpretive dance.

You don’t have to be an activist to take action.

According to Yingling, the people viewing his mural often asked how they could help preserve yellow trout along Michigan’s west coast.

“The best way for us to generate funding is to get the public interested in what we’re doing,” he said.

Just like Yingling, Sullivan’s team gets out into the community with artistic exhibits and performances based on research subjects like climate change, immigration and technology.

“We’re not about sitting on the shelf, but taking action,” Sullivan said.

 

Daniel Schoenherr reports for Great Lakes Echo.

BHSH System and GVSU join forces to offer new nursing scholar program

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Grand Valley State University and BCSH Systems, which includes Spectrum Health, have partner to offer a Nurse Scholar program. (Supplied)

Two of Michigan’s largest institutions have created what they hope will be a model for the nation in addressing the severe talent shortage in nursing. Leaders from BHSH System and Grand Valley State University have announced a partnership with the creation of the BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar program. The partnership is designed to increase the nursing talent pipeline by taking away financial barriers to college and smoothing the educational path to employment at BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan.

 

The health system is investing more than $19 million to provide infrastructure, start-up costs and resources for increased clinical placements, training and other support for students in the program. This includes grant dollars for all BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholars. Grand Valley will increase infrastructure support for students in the areas of financial aid, curriculum enhancements, technology and equipment, student support services, simulation enhancements and clinical experiences.

The BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar partnership will create an opportunity for nearly 500 additional students to pursue a career in nursing over the next six years. The university will assume all future infrastructure costs and maintain a permanent increase in the number of students admitted to its Kirkhof College of Nursing, creating a lasting impact for our community, state and region. More than 92 percent of all GVSU graduates within the health professions stay in Michigan.

              

A federal workforce analysis shows Michigan currently has a nursing shortage for its population, and that shortage has been exacerbated by the burnout and stress caused by the pandemic. Leaders at BHSH System and GVSU say the creative solution they’ve designed will build a stronger talent pipeline, and the partnership can serve as a model and inspiration to enterprises, universities, communities and governments to solve the nation’s talent shortages.

“We challenged ourselves to be bold: What can we do, together with GVSU, to permanently increase access to education, strengthen nursing education programs and invest in talented, compassionate people who want to become nurses?” said Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO, BHSH System (formerly Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health). “Our teams delivered a joint, innovative proposal that expands opportunities for up to 500 future nurses and can be the model for others to emulate. We are incredibly excited about the nurse scholar program and the impact this will have in health care, for individual learners and for future generations.”

Grand Valley President Philomena V. Mantella said the agreement is a perfect example of how educational institutions and enterprises can partner quickly and efficiently to address talent shortages.

“These talent gaps hold us back or put us at risk,” said Mantella. “We have many dedicated and talented students who want to pursue nursing, but we needed the creativity and support of our partners at BHSH System to make the expansion of nursing possible and affordable for more talented and diverse students. This program is a huge leap forward and a model for other high need fields. I applaud the ingenuity and willingness of our teams to bring it to fruition.”

                                                                                                      

After all approvals and accreditation, the BHSH Spectrum Health West Michigan Nurse Scholar program will be in place by January 2023. 

West Michigan Aviation Academy advances to state Science Olympiad competition

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By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

About 700 middle and high school students competed in 46 different events for the Regional 12 Science Olympiad competition which was at Grand Valley State University. (Supplied)

West Michigan Aviation Academy beat out 46 other teams to snag one of six high school spots to advance to the Michigan Science Olympiad state competition.

Around 700 middle school and high school students from Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties displayed their STEM-related work during the competition. at the Regional 12 Michigan Science Olympiad which was held Saturday, March 19, on the Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus. Six middle school and six high school teams qualified for the state tournament, said tournament co-director Chelsea Ridge.

Besides West Michigan Aviation Academy, the other five high school teams were Grand Haven High School, Hudsonville High School, East Grand Rapids High School, Allendale High School and Forest Hills Central High School.

The middle school teams that qualified were Grand Haven’s Lakeshore Middle School, Forest Hills’ Northern Hills Middle School. Hudsonville’s Riley Street Middle School, Grand Haven’s White Pines Intermediate School, Chandler Woods Charter Academy in Belmont, and Allendale Middle School.

 

“The team dynamic helps students to foster a community at their school where they can dig deeper in STEM areas they are passionate about that may not be covered in a traditional science class,” Ridge said. “The tournament is an opportunity for them to showcase all they have worked so diligently to master throughout the season.”

Hosted by the GVSU’s Regional Math and Science Center, the 46 scheduled events included competitions involving airplanes, indoor bottle rockets, vehicles and more.

The state competition is set for April 30 at the Michigan State University campus, which is located in Lansing. 

GVSU to host special presentation of theater production ‘Anne and Emmett’

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Anne Frank and Emmett Till are the subjects of an upcoming theater presentation at Grand Valley State University. (Free domain)

Grand Valley is hosting a special presentation of a play that imagines a conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till, two young people who died as victims of hatred and whose lives are now widely remembered.

“Anne and Emmett,” written by Janet Langhart Cohen, is being presented by Ebony Road Players, a theater group based in Grand Rapids that works to bring to the community productions that focus on the Black experience.

The presentation is at 7 p.m. March 24 at the Loosemore Auditorium in DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. It is free and open to the public, said Rob Franciosi, the GVSU professor of English who is organizing the event. The evening also will include a talk-back session and refreshments.

Franciosi said he became familiar with the Ebony Road Players production in 2021 when it was in a streaming format, and thought it would be beneficial to his students in a Frederik Meijer Honors College course about Frank.

“The power of the play, however, is such that I thought it was important to open the performance up to the wider GVSU community as well as the public,” Franciosi said.

The story focuses on a conversation between Frank, a Jewish girl who while in hiding was discovered and died at a concentration camp, and Till, who was kidnapped and killed in 1955 for allegedly offending a white woman. Franciosi said while watching the play, he was struck by the youth of both Frank and Till. He also noted how easy it can be for people to forget that they were children when they died.

“Yet for all the distance between the worlds of Anne and Emmett and our own, the continuing stains of racism and anti-Semitism which destroyed them add a measure of urgency to setting their stories side by side,” Franciosi said. “Aligning the crimes of Nazi Germany to those of the Jim Crow South can, in fact, deepen our understanding of the larger forces which engulfed both Anne Frank and Emmett Till.”

Edye Evans Hyde, executive director of Ebony Road Players, said theater company officials decided to produce the play to highlight the lessons from the stories of Frank and Till.

“We chose ‘Anne and Emmett’ for the relevant stories of two teenagers who experienced similar atrocities at different times in the world,” Hyde said. “We hope that the stories help remind us of the horrors they lived through so we don’t make the same mistakes with our children.”

The production is sponsored by GVSU’s Frederik Meijer Honors College, Joseph Stevens Freedom Endowment, Department of English and Division of Inclusion and Equity.

Rebuilding networks, social capital key for nonprofit organizations

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Finances, Non-Profits, Our Cities, , , ,

By Brian Vernellis
Grand Valley State University

ALLENDALE, Mich. — Charities and nonprofit organizations will need to develop stronger ties with their supporters because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Grand Valley professor.

photo from pxhere.com

The pandemic challenged charities and nonprofit organizations in an unprecedented fashion, forcing them to strategize virtual ways in connecting with donors online, said Salvatore Alaimo, associate professor of nonprofit management, within the School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration.

However, Alaimo said charitable organizations rely on the social capital of networking, relationships, trust and reciprocity that they build and maintain with supporters.

 

“This social capital feeds into whether people donate, whether they decide to volunteer their precious, expendable time or whether they want to serve on the board of your organization,” said Alaimo.

 

The holiday season usually means an increase in donations to charities and nonprofits, and after nearly two years of pandemic restrictions limiting in-person gatherings and events, this season is even more important.

Giving USA’s 2021 annual report stated Americans responded by donating more than $471 billion to charities and nonprofits in 2020, a 5.1 percent increase over 2019. Foundation giving also increased to more than $16 billion in 2020, a 19 percent increase over 2019.

According to the Urban Institute, about 1.5 million charitable organizations function in the United States. While charitable giving has increased, Alaimo believes they will face long-term ramifications due to the challenging times.

  

“For nonprofits, it’s going to be an adjustment of priorities,” said Alaimo. “Staff leadership and boards of directors will have to go back to basics. Who’s the audience they are trying to reach, who are the stakeholders, and how do they maintain relationships if we’re being kept separate from each other.”

More than 80 percent of nonprofits have budgets less than $500,000, so they faced challenges even before the pandemic, said Alaimo.

In-person events are integral to forming connections between supporters and the nonprofit, said Alaimo. But, with the pandemic limiting in-person functions, charities resorted to a myriad of virtual events.

Auctions, fun runs and even golf outings moved online, making those all-important connections difficult to maintain. For all the good technology did to ease the logistics of fundraising, it still created separations between organizations and supporters, said Alaimo.

“As I remind my students, just because we are electronically networked does not mean we are good at networking,” said Alaimo. “Now that COVID has come along, the isolation factor of technology is amplified. My concern is all of that is going to put a dent into social capital, and that’s not going to bode well for nonprofits.”

When it comes to selecting nonprofits that are reputable and allocate money efficiently, Alaimo said there are several websites and databases to help such as GuideStar, Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau.

WalletHub released its list of best charitable organizations for 2022.

“The nonprofits that best form long-term relationships are going to be more fiscally viable and sustainable,” said Alaimo.

GVSU, Ford Foundation’s Veterans Day event hosts veteran/author who inspired ‘Black Hawk Down’

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Image taken from promotional material for the Veterans Day Celebration, with U.S. Army Rangers First Sgt. Matt Eversmann (Ret.) speaking. (GVSU)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

U.S. Army Rangers First Sgt. Matt Eversmann (Ret.), whose battlefield experiences in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia led him to become an author, is also an advocate for “teaching the next generation of leaders through his experience with the atrocities of war.”

In that and many other ways, Eversmann is the perfect person to be the featured guest at a Veterans Day Celebration hosted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Grand Valley State University’s Peter Secchia Military and Veterans Resource Center and GVSU’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies — a center named for Col. Ralph W. Hauenstein.

Hauenstein — a journalist, war hero, entrepreneur, philanthropist and so  much more — was also a strong advocate for educating leaders on the impact and aftereffects of military conflict.

The Veterans Day Celebration, with Eversmann speaking, will take place Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m., in GVSU’s Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, 401 West Fulton St., Suite 134 E, DeVos Center, Grand Rapids. For more information and to register, visit this gvsu.edu page. Free parking is available at the nearby Seward Ramp.

U.S. Army Rangers First Sgt. Matt Eversmann (Ret.), now an author and speaker. (Supplied)

“In October of 1993, First Sergeant  Matt Eversmann led a group of Army Rangers in a UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia,” it states in event promotional material. “Having been trapped, outnumbered, and marked for death, Eversmann’s survival and heroism earned him a Bronze Star Medal with valor device. He’s since been immortalized in the film Black Hawk Down.

“Upon returning from Somalia, Eversmann committed to teaching the next generation of leaders through his experience with the atrocities of war – not unlike our namesake, Colonel Ralph W. Hauenstein. His story highlights the importance of leadership, followership, and responsibility in our age of tribalism.”

While the Veterans Day Celebration will be a live event, the Hauenstein Center continues to offer a digital alternative for all of their events “as we consider the health and safety of our members, students, and the community.” The program is available virtually by visiting  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87222394732 or call 929-205-6099 to gain access to the webinar ID: 872 2239 4732  to view the live broadcast.

In addition to members of the Hauenstein Center, all community members who are veterans or military-connected are invited to an hors d’oeuvres and drinks event at 5:30 p.m.

Eversmann — soldier and author

Eversmann is the co-author of two military-related books, The Battle of Mogadishu and Walk in My Combat Boots, and he knows what he writes about. But he is also a strong advocate for veterans rights and post-military employment and other services.

In Eversmann’s supplied biography, it states that: On October 3, 1993, Matt was placed in charge of a group of Army Rangers to lead a daytime raid against an eager enemy militia. His inspiring story of survival was immortalized in the epic film, Black Hawk Down, which recounts the harrowing experience. For his actions on the battlefield he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with valor device.

During his remaining time in uniform, he worked at the Army War College, taught at The Johns Hopkins University and was finally deployed to Iraq where he lived with the Iraqi Army for 15 months during The Surge. He remained on active duty until May of 2008, when he retired after 20 years of service.

His frustration with the typical hiring process for veterans fueled his desire to help others avoid the “veterans predicament,” where servicemen and women are overlooked because of a broken hiring system. Since his retirement from active duty, he has worked in several industries in mid-level to senior-level positions. He was an operations officer in healthcare, an executive director in a non-profit and a VP of leadership development for a data management company.

GVSU economist: West Michigan economy slightly better but flat

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Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU

By Dottie Barnes
GVSU

In West Michigan and across the country, supply chain problems have resulted in longer lead times, missed deliveries, higher prices and sometimes exorbitant expediting charges, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of October.

“What seems most worrisome to some of our survey participants is that there is still no end in sight for our supply chain problems. Although these supply chain gremlins are inhibiting the West Michigan economy, modest economic growth continues,” Long said.

Most automotive manufacturers are extremely frustrated by the fact they cannot build or ship most of their cars because of a shortage of $15 worth of computer chips, Long said.

“Throughout the chip crunch, automakers have prioritized output of large pickups, some of the industry’s most profitable vehicles,” he said. “Ford and Ram are among automakers offering zero percent financing for 72 months on large pickups. At the same time, competition in the segment is increasing with a redesigned Toyota Tundra and the industry’s first electric pickup, the Rivian R1T, on the horizon.”

 

Addressing inflation, Long said the Federal Reserve is still sticking with its theory that the current inflation is “transitory.”

 

“They won’t say how long before we can expect to ‘transition’ out of the high inflation we are currently experiencing,” he said.

 Highlights of Long’s October report:

  • The Index of Employment remained positive at +24, down from +27.
  • New orders, or the Index of Business Improvement, rose to +15 from +8.
  • The Production Index, or output, rebounded sharply to +19, up from -1.
  • The Index of Purchases eased to +8 from +14.

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.” 

GVSU Veterans History Project highlighted at monthly program at Marge’s Donut Den

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James Smither of the GVSU Veterans History Project interviews David “Goldie” Goldsboro and Sid Lenger. (WKTV)

By Anna Johns
WKTV Contributing Writer

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are 19 million U.S veterans as of this year. In Michigan alone, there are 634,000 veterans, making up 8.8 percent of the state’s population.

 

In 2006, Professor James Smither founded the Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project. Since the project began, Smither estimates that he has completed more than a thousand interviews. Smither works alongside a team of student interns, research assistants, and community volunteers and partners. Together they have conducted numerous interviews with military veterans of all eras. In addition, they also have interviewed civilians of foreign nations who had experiences with Americans during the wartime.

The program is in partnership with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. The team creates videos and archives oral interviews focusing on the experiences of military veterans. Over the years, the team has collected a wide range of interviews with veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. The project has worked to create documentary films, book projects, and live presentations.

 

On Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m., Smither will be presenting his findings to the public. During the presentation, Smither will describe the project and include excerpts of interviews that have been conducted over the years. Participating in his presentation are veterans Ron Oakes and Bob Huizenga and Rick Jakubczak.

 

Huizenga served as a marine in Vietnam. He joined the marines shortly after he graduated high school and was deployed to Vietnam. During his time in the Marines, he served as a machine gunner, assistant driver, and helped transport men and supplies during the Tet Offensive in 1986.

Oakes served as a marine in Vietnam as well and with the Army National Guard in Iraq. During his time in the Guard he helped provide security for the 1996 Summer Olympic games in Atlanta and spent eleven months in Iraq in 2005. He served with his unit until March of 2009 when he retired at the age of sixty.

Jakubczak, a retired Navy corpsman, has spoken at a number of veteran events, sharing his stories and perspective of the Vietnam War.

The public is invited to join Dr. Smithers for his presentation on the Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project. The presentation will be held in the Paul Collins Room at Marge’s Donut Den at 1751 28th St. SW. The program is part of the Mr. Sid’s Video Series event that is held at Marge’s Donut Den.

GVSU expert: West Michigan economic recovery continues to flatten

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By Dottie Barnes
Grand Valley State University

Pent-up supply demand has been satisfied causing the West Michigan economic recovery to continue to flatten, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University.

Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU

“Our index of business improvement came in at +8,” said Long. “The pent-up demand has been satisfied, but supply chain constraints are holding back further progress.”

There is no end in sight for the on-going computer chip shortage, said Long, and automotive customers, dealers and manufacturers are all growing increasingly frustrated. 

“The auto industry continues to be stymied by the shortage of computer chips, resulting in reduced production schedules affecting local auto suppliers. Some experts believe this crisis could extend for another full year,” he said.

Employers continue to experience a shortage of workers. Long said there are a record number of job postings in West Michigan and across the country. “We have to get people who dropped out of the workforce back to work,” he said.

Highlights of Long’s September report:

  • The Index of Employment remained positive, and rose to +27 from +19. It would be stronger if there were more people to hire.  
  • Bad news for the widely publicized chip shortage. There is no end in sight for the chip shortage. Tech companies are reluctant to add capacity for the types of chips needed for automotive. Because of the chip shortage, auto sales have fallen to levels last seen in the Great Recession. 
  • The production index has turned slightly negative (-1) for the first time in 14 months.
  • To attract new employees, about a third of all firms have raised their starting wage. Others are offering signing bonuses to avoid getting locked in to higher wages. Some economists are concerned we could be developing a wage-price spiral leading to cost-push inflation.

     

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.” 

New classical concert series showcases piano-baed chamber music

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

A new classical concert series curated by a Grand Valley State University piano faculty member will present chamber music in venues both on campus and at locations throughout West Michigan.

The inaugural GV Piano Chamber Series will showcase more than a dozen musicians, including several GVSU faculty members, in a series of free, open-to-the-public concerts. The performances start Sept. 20 at the Haas Center for Performing Arts on GVSU’s Allendale Campus and extend into 2022.

The series will feature the totality of German composer Johannes Brahms’ chamber music work written for piano and other instruments, segmented into six programs, said Sookkyung Cho, the associate professor of piano for GVSU who curated the series. Besides the on-campus location, the off-campus concert venues include locations in Grand Rapids as well as along the lakeshore.

Cho will be joined by musicians playing violin, viola, cello, clarinet and horn. These acclaimed musicians have vast experience performing at venues across the globe; many also are current members of, or have appeared, with symphony orchestras in West Michigan.

BrahmsFest, as the series is called, is an opportunity to present piano-based chamber music on some of the most beautiful pianos in the West Michigan area, Cho said.

“This will give us a rare opportunity to explore one composer’s musical world throughout the year, and Brahms’ chamber works are some of the most beautiful music ever written,” Cho said. “The timing also just seemed perfect to me — chamber music is all about coming together, being in harmony with one another, and conversing with each other.

“Most of all, I would just love for audiences to indulge in and enjoy beautiful music.”

Find out more about the series and schedule by visiting the GV Piano Chamber Series website.

WKTV introduces new series — Voices: 9/11 at 20 — with GVSU professor talking history, causes of attacks

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WKTV Voices: 9/11 at 20 Interview #1 Dr. Abdullah F. Alrebh, GVSU professor

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

WKTV Journal recently welcomed into our studio Grand Valley State University professor Dr. Abdullah F. Alrebh for the premier episode of “WKTV Voices: 9/11 at 20 — Our Islamic neighbors 20 years later”.

This special WKTV Voices project will present video interviews, and online/print stories, covering a range of personal stories of the 9/11 attacks and their impact over the following two decades. After initial background interviews dealing with American Islamic history, global politics, and the current Islamic world, we will present the voices of local Muslim community leaders and, finally, Muslim American citizens, especially young people who grew up in the age of 9/11.

Dr. Alrebh’s field of study is in Sociology of Religion and Sociological Theory, and he has published a number of academic articles and essays focusing on religion, the Middle East and its social movements, and education.

He is also very knowledgeable about the Arabian Peninsula region and specifically Saudi Arabia — a country forever linked to the 9/11 terrorist attacks as the plan’s leader, Osama bin Laden, who was the initial leader of the pan-Islamic militant organization al-Qaeda, was a Saudi.

WKTV Journal’s “Voices: 9/11 at 20 — Our Islamic neighbors 20 years later” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (For dates and times on Channel 26, see our Weekly On-air Schedule. For dates and times on Channel 99, visit here). All individual interviews are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos. Online/print stories are available by searching “9/11 at 20” on WKTVJournal.org.

Documentary on Wyoming ‘sewing circle’ featured on WKTV

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Caregivers Sewing Group which use to meet at the Wyoming Gall Sewing and Vac Center. (Supplied)

By Kelly Taylor
WKTV Program Director

The concept of a sewing circle, a group of people, most often women, gathering together to sew as a group goes back centuries to the colonial period of this country. Mennonite women’s sewing circles began in the late nineteenth century growing out of their desire to support mission work. Native American women had sewing guilds that “promoted autonomy through control of the means of production in the tribe. Only selected women were taught the sewing crafts and religious symbols, thus ensuring tribal and economic status for the woman and her family” according to K.D. Schmidt in “Moneneheo and Naheverien Cheyenne and Mennonite Sewing Circles: Convergences and Conflicts.

Sewing circles still exist today, some within local chapters of the American Sewing Guild, some established through houses of worship while others have been birthed at local sewing centers such as the Caregivers Sewing Group which was established in the former Gall Sewing and Vac Center in Wyoming.

For more than ten years, every Friday these elderly women gathered at the Gall Sewing to sew hundreds of clothes each year and donate them to DA Blodgett-St.John’s for children in foster care. The sewing center, kind enough to donate the space for the women, has since moved to 3150 Plainfield Avenue NE. Some members of the group remain from its inception while others have recently joined. Members come and go, but the group remains and the donated fabric never disappears in spite of all their hard work.

 

The Caregivers first appeared in a documentary released by Thought Provoking Films (TPF Productions, LLC) and produced by Salvatore Alaimo in 2017 entitled What is Philanthropy? that is available through Indiana University Press. Alaimo, an Associate Professor in the School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration at Grand Valley State University, was so interested in the group’s story, he decided to produce a short 25-minute documentary about them called Sew What?

 

“I remember when we shot the footage of the ladies for my first documentary, my crew and I thoroughly enjoyed their company, and we had a lot of laughs,” Alaimo said. “They left such an impression on me I decided that their story needed to be told. It’s a story about their use of their special skills, their friendship and their compassion.”

 

Sew What? was produced and directed by Alaimo and features original music by Jason Mraz and Peter Kaukonen. It made its Grand Rapids premiere at the Koning Micro Cinema inside Wealthy Theatre to a sold out crowd on September 19, 2019. In 2020, the film was an official selection of the VOB Film Festival in Carmel, New York; the Knoxville Film Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee; the Gallup Film Festival in Gallup, New Mexico; the Canadian & International Short Film Festival; and the Los Angeles Short Film Festival. A special virtual screening of the film was held on November 10, 2020 to 25 members of the Grand Rapids chapter of the American Sewing Guild. Sew What? was also recently broadcast on WGVU three times in late 2020 and early 2021. 

The film’s WKTV premiere is set for May 11 at 7 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. May 13 and 9:30 a.m. May 14 on WKTV Channel 25.

Soldiers pose for a group photo, March 28, 2018, in a post in the outskirts of Afghanistan. (U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Jasmine L. Flowers)

GVSU’s Hauenstein Center, continuing support for veterans, to host Hidden Wounds of War Conference

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Soldiers pose for a group photo, March 28, 2018, in a post in the outskirts of Afghanistan. (U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Jasmine L. Flowers)
Soldiers pose for a group photo, March 28, 2018, in a post in the outskirts of Afghanistan. (U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Jasmine L. Flowers)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

While limitations on in-person group experiences continue due to the pandemic, The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies knows there has been no break in the need for supporting veterans recovering from the sometimes hidden wounds of war.

So Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center and its partners, including the Kent County Veterans Services office, will go virtual this year as the Hidden Wounds of War Conference — this year with the conference theme of “Moral Injury” — will be held Thursday, May 6, and will be delivered online using Zoom.

“The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies hosts the Hidden Wounds of War Conference as a community service effort to build awareness and educate the community about treatments and resources available to our veterans,” Brent Holmes, acting director of the center, said to WKTV. “The Hidden Wounds of War Conference stems from a Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies event that has held in June 2008. Through the years, the Hauenstein Center has partnered with veteran organizations to be able to host this impactful conference.”

U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest depart a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter prior to an advisory meeting with Afghan National Army soldiers at Camp Hanson, Afghanistan, June 13, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

And one reason for a presidential studies center to be focused on support of war veterans? It is presidents who send them to war.

“We desire to be more effective in serving those who serve and have served our communities and nation,” Holmes said. “Veterans, first responders, families, and communities struggle with the aftereffects of this service. Too often suffered in silence, the psychological trauma experienced by our men and women in uniform brings the hardship home. By embracing honest discussion and strong networks of support, winning the battle against these challenges is possible.”

For detailed information and to register for the Zoom conference visit here.

General conference schedule

The schedule of events for the day begins with opening remarks at 8:30 a.m., then moves into general session at 9 a.m., with Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock discussing “Moral Injury.”

Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock is Senior Vice President for Moral Injury Programs at Volunteers of America and a Commissioned Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). (Courtesy/GVSU)

Moral injury refers to suffering due to moral emotions such as shame, guilt, remorse, outrage, despair, mistrust, and self-isolation, according to supplied material. It emerged as a concept among Veterans Affairs clinicians working with military combat veterans beginning in 1994.

This session will offer some of the factors in human beings that can lead to moral injury by examining how conscience is shaped; presenting several definitions of moral injury, both clinical and cultural/religious; identifying the range of morally injurious experiences that disrupt moral identity; and explaining the relationship of moral injury to other trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

After a short break, there will be morning break-out sessions between 10:30 a.m. and noon, including sessions titled “Military Sexual Trauma”; “Military Culture, Families, and Relationships”; and “Suicide Prevention” — where participants “will gain an understanding of the scope of suicide with the United States and within the Veteran population and will know how to better identify a veteran who may be at risk for suicide.”

After a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., there will be another general session with Dr. Nakashima Brock. The lecture will, among other topics, explain what constitutes recovery from moral injury and discuss validated programs for supporting recovery from moral injury. In addition, it will discuss strategies as yet to be validated but that seem promising, including the role of congregations and community organizations.

After another short break, there will be more afternoon break-out sessions from 2:30-4 p.m., including sessions titled “Community Resources”; another session on “Suicide Prevention”; and one on the local “Kent County Veteran Treatment Courts”, which will discuss trends and policies of such courts, and the courts’ mission — “Participants will leave with an understanding of the methodologies used in program development and operations and how KCVTC enhances public safety and enhances the community’s return on investment.”

Award-winning journalist gives virtual keynote address for King commemoration event

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Education, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Yamiche Alcindor, award-winning journalist and White House correspondent for PBS Newshour, will give the keynote address during West Michigan’s commemoration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Yamiche Alcindor (GVSU)

The virtual program on Monday, Jan. 18, will run from 6:30-8 p.m. It is free and open to the public; register online to receive a link to the Zoom webinar. More information about Alcindor is below. The event will also introduce area high school scholarship recipients and include short welcomes from college presidents and community leaders.

Alcindor’s address, “The Legacy of MLK: Purpose, Truth and Justice,” is sponsored by Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University, with key support from Spectrum Health, Consumers Energy, and Warner Norcross and Judd LLP.

On the 35th anniversary of this community event, GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella said she is pleased the higher education partners teamed to bring Alcindor to the community.

“Dr. King’s legacy invites all of us to commit ourselves to fighting systemic racism by supporting the Black community and elevating their voices and experiences of yesterday, today and tomorrow,” Mantella said. “Together, we as a nation have work to do.”

Bill Pink, president of GRCC, said: “Each year we come together as a community to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King. We recognize his achievements, his life and his message. But it is also a time for us to take a hard look at ourselves and our community. We can appreciate how far we have come while still focusing on the long road ahead. The events of 2020 show we have much to do. Our annual celebration can inspire us to do that work together.”

 

Richard J. Pappas, president of Davenport University, said he is grateful the campus partners honor the legacy of King and are “renewed in our commitment to provide equitable and inclusive experiences across our campuses.”

 

“Together, we are teaching and shaping tomorrow’s leaders to build each other up, show others compassion, speak out against racism and violence and rally together for what is right,” Pappas said.

Alcindor joined PBS NewsHour in 2018. She began her journalism career at Newsday in New York and several years later was named a political correspondent for NBC and MSNBC. During the 2020 presidential election, Alcindor became a go-to voice in analyzing the nation’s most critical issues.

Alcindor has received the White House Correspondents’ Association Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage and the 2020 National Association of Black Journalists’ Journalist of the Year Award.

More information about Alcindor, the Jan. 18 event and other GVSU events to commemorate King’s life are online at gvsu.edu/mlk.

GVSU theater program to present virtual performance of play

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment
Taylor “Tay” Terry performs her play rehearsal in front of a webcam and green screen for the upcoming production of The Revolutionists. Terry is playing the role of Marie Antoinette. (Supplied)

By Peg West
Grand Valley State University

Performances are next week for the virtual production of a play presented by the Grand Valley State University theater program.

The presentation of “The Revolutionists” by Lauren Gunderson will be livestreamed at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Nov. 9, 11 and 13.

Auditions and rehearsals were conducted over screens and traditional staging is reimagined for the virtual world. Each actor will occupy a small room individually while interacting virtually with cast members during the performance. The technical crew will take images obtained through webcams in each room and feed them into a streaming system for the audience to see.

Madison Williams performs her play rehearsal in front of a webcam and green screen for the upcoming production of The Revolutionists. Williams is playing the role of Marianne Angelle. (Supplied)

The cast for “The Revolutionists” is four characters. The play is described as an “irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.”

Karen Libman, professor of theater and production director, said the goal is to carry on while facing the same challenges that all theaters are facing worldwide due to the pandemic. She also wants to ensure that the production stays true to the performing art by having the element of liveness that is inherent in theater.

“How can we do theater differently to continue to be able to practice our art and bring these performances to audiences?” Libman said. “How can we bring some kind of interactivity, some kind of liveness, so that it will not be like watching a film but will continue what is special to the discipline of theater?”

To purchase access to the performances, visit https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/40001.

GVSU Economist: West Michigan economic recovery resembles a ‘lopsided W’

3-bottom, Local Business

By Dottie Barnes
Grand Valley State University

Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU

The economic recovery in West Michigan currently resembles a “lopsided W,” said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Long said in a W-shaped recovery, the economy begins to recover rapidly, but then falls into a second period of decline. He said it is also known as a double-dip recession as the two economic declines create the shape of a W.

“We know the COVID-19 recession has resulted in displaced workers now seeking work, and we know from our survey respondents that there are at least some job openings that may absorb some of these frictionally unemployed workers,” Long said. “This is especially true for our automotive parts producers. However, it is doubtful the West Michigan industrial economy can soon absorb all of the recently unemployed workers. Hence, a lopsided ‘W-shaped’ recovery is most likely.” 

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of October.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) came in at +16, virtually unchanged from last month’s rate of +18. The production index rebounded to +29, from +20. The index of purchases came in at +12, virtually unchanged from +14, and the employment index fell to -2, from +9.

Long said similar to last month, the overall mood of West Michigan business leaders is mixed. “Both capital equipment and office furniture manufacturing activities are weak, but automotive parts producers appear to have turned the corner,” he said.

He also said the national economy appears to be on its way to a “V-shaped” recovery, where a quick and sustained recovery takes place after a sharp economic decline.

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”

Flint pediatrician will discuss public health, public trust during virtual event hosted by GVSU, GRPL

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By Michele Coffill
GVSU

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha (HappyPenguinista )

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who uncovered the impact lead in Flint’s water system was having on children, will discuss public health and environmental inequality during a virtual event presented in partnership by GVSU’s Kutsche Office of Local History and Grand Rapids Public Library.

 

“Public Health & Public Trust with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha” will be Monday, October 19, beginning at 7 p.m.; state Rep. Rachel Hood will join the discussion. The event is free and open to the public; participants must register online to receive information about how to access the program.

 

Hanna-Attisha was scheduled to visit Grand Valley’s campus in March as part of the Great Michigan Read. She is the author of the nationally recognized book, “What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City.”

Kimberly McKee, director of the Kutsche Office of Local History, said the virtual event aligns with the office’s mission of presenting an intersectional approach to history, while connecting with its Grand River project.

“Hosting Dr. Hanna-Attisha for a conversation supports the Kutsche Office’s interest in considering how local history intersects with environmental history, picking up on some of the themes that emerged from our Connections Along the Grand River project,” McKee said. The Grand River project was also funded by Michigan Humanities, a sponsor of the Great Michigan Read.

Julie Tabberer, manager of the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections department at GRPL, said a conversation about environmental inequality, and the relationship between democratic representation and healthy communities is important to everyone.

The 2019-2020 Great Michigan Read is presented by Michigan Humanities and supported by national, statewide and local partners, including the National Endowment for the Humanities and The Meijer Foundation. This program is funded in part by Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment of the Humanities.

GVSU to showcase pieces by Mathias Alten, ‘Dean of Michigan Painters,’ in statewide traveling exhibition

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GVSU students prepare some of Mathias Alten’s works for a statewide traveling exhibit. (Supplied/GVSU)

By Peg West
GVSU

Mathias Alten often painted bucolic scenes, such as farmers using oxen, in a nostalgic response to the immense modernization around him in the early 20th Century.

Another constant for the German-born impressionist artist was his depiction of the Michigan landscape, a collection of beloved pieces from the lakeshore, cities and rural areas that experts say helped cement the reference to him as the “Dean of Michigan Painters.”

Now Grand Valley State University, the holder of the largest public collection of Alten’s works, will share some of these pieces throughout the state in a traveling exhibition to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Alten’s birth in 1871.


“Mathias J. Alten: An American Artist at the Turn of the Century,” will begin on Sept. 20 at the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City.

A painting by Mathis Alten is prepared to be shipped as part of a statewide exhibition of his works. (Supplied/GVSU)

“Narratives of empathy, peace, love, social justice, equity — all core elements to what it means to be human — are told through art,” said Nathan Kemler, director of Grand Valley’s galleries and collections. “I believe the stories art tells belong to everybody and we want to take these stories into our communities and across our state.”

Other scheduled venues are the Daughtrey Gallery at Hillsdale College, the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing and the Muskegon Museum of Art, said Joel Zwart, curator of exhibitions for the Art Gallery, who added officials are working through hosting dates due to the uncertainty from COVID-19.

The exhibition includes more than 40 works drawn from the Art Gallery collection as well as historical photos and personal artifacts such as brushes to fully tell the story of Alten’s life, Zwart said.

Alten’s artistic work was one of inspiration from travels to major art and cultural centers around the globe and creating pieces that showed the quiet reflection of himself as well as his surroundings when his travel was limited during World War I and the 1918 pandemic. 

His lifelong celebration of his surroundings in Michigan, in particular the environmental landscapes, especially resonated with George Gordon, who along with his wife, Barbara, donated 35 paintings in 1998 to initiate Grand Valley’s collection. The momentum that ensued after that initial donation not only led to the distinction of GVSU having the world’s largest public collection of Alten’s work but also the entire artist Catalogue Raisonné and published scholarship.

“All of this is only possible because of the Gordons’ contributions and their passion not only for Mathias Alten but also art in general,” Kemler said. “The Gordons could have done several different things with that collection. They shared our vision that works need to be seen, they need to be shared and they need to be out in front as much as possible, not in storage.”

Alten’s works are on exhibit in the George and Barbara Gordon Gallery on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. It open from 1-5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, except for holiday weekends, and admission is free.

GVSU economics expert: West Michigan is back to positive numbers, for now

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Brian Long, photo from gvsu.edu

By Dottie Barnes
Grand Valley State University

After four months of a gut-wrenching decline, the West Michigan industrial economy has returned to positive territory, for now, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of July.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) came in at +12, considerably better than the -7 reported last month. In a similar move, the production index rallied to +14 from -11. The index of purchases bounced to +10 from -13, and the employment index rose to -4 from -13.

Long said West Michigan manufacturing firms are gradually resuming “modified” normal operations, although some are still hampered by disrupted supply chains and shipping bottlenecks.

He said many office furniture customers are currently reevaluating office configurations from a social distancing perspective. “Some office furniture firms have partially transitioned into the medical furniture business, but readjustment for this industry may be slow,” said Long. 

Automotive suppliers may suffer some temporary setbacks, but Long said reshoring may provide new opportunities, given that many local firms have proven themselves to be world competitive. And, unlike the previous recession, Long said the residential real estate market has not collapsed, and the housing valuations in some areas of the county are actually rising.

 

Long added sit-down restaurants have been hardest hit, and returning to normal will be very slow for those that survive. 

“The restaurant take-out business has soared, but not enough to make up for the lost sit-down sales in traditional restaurants,” he said. “Some fast food outlets have actually seen increases in business because of the popularity of drive-thru window service. With more people eating at home, the grocery business is booming, and the grocery delivery segment has more than doubled. Many changes like this are likely here to stay.”

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”

EPA re-establishes Great Lakes Advisory Board

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Alan D. Steinman, Ph.D., left, gives a tour of GVSU’s Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute to members of the EPA and local politicians on Wednesday, June 3 in Muskegon, Mich. where he is the director. Steinman was appointed to the EPA’s Great Lakes Advisory Board. (Supplied)

By Nate Hoekstra
Grand Valley State University

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the re-establishment of the Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB) at a news conference at Grand Valley’s Annis Water Resources Institute on June 3.

The GLAB serves to provide advice and recommendations on matters related to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada.

The GLAB was discontinued in 2018. Alan Steinman, director of the Annis Water Resources Institute, said the re-establishment of the board shows a commitment to the health of the Great Lakes by the EPA.

“When the board lapsed in 2018, there was concern about why we were losing the Great Lakes Advisory Board, does that mean that there’s a change in thought and process within the EPA. So coming back and re-forming it suggests, to me at least, that the commitment is there in the White House, it’s there in Region 5 of the EPA, and I think that’s an important message,” Steinman said.

Steinman was one of 14 experts tapped to serve on the re-established board. He previously served on a subcommittee of the board, and said he is keenly aware of the importance of the GLAB and the vital roles and responsibilities that it has in informing the EPA and Congress.

Wheeler said during the announcement that as a native Ohioan, the Great Lakes have always been important to him personally, as well as being important to the entire country.

“The advice received from the board in past years has been a critical part of the work EPA has done, and continues to do, to restore and protect the Great Lakes,” Wheeler said. “Our work cleaning up the Great Lakes is far from over, and GLAB’s future efforts will ensure needed expertise is available for environmental agencies to use both here in the U.S. and in Canada.”

The EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler speaks during a press conference at GVSU’s Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute on Wednesday, June 3 in Muskegon, Mich. Alan Steinman, director of AWRI, was appointed to the EPA’s Great Lakes Advisory Board. (Supplied)

U.S. Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) and Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) also spoke about the importance of the Great Lakes.

“These are big and powerful bodies of water, and they’re big and powerful not just ecologically, … but also economically,” Huizenga said. “With the GLRI and the partnership that has been going on with the state and locals and nonprofits and the federal government, we’ve proven that you can both support the ecology as well as the economy that’s attached to the Great Lakes.”

Huizenga said the lakes are too valuable to be wasted, so they need to be used properly, and protected properly as well.

Upton said having a formal advisory committee of experts from the Midwest who could alert the EPA and congressional delegations about potential problems is “really important.”

Steinman said that it has been great to be in Muskegon and see changes made by environmental restoration over time. 

“When we talk about improving the ecological health of these communities, we’re also talking about improving the economic vitality of these communities as well, and the community spirit,” Steinman said. 

Steinman said he has four main goals for his work on the board, including ensuring restoration efforts are based on sound science, soliciting meaningful community input, focusing on preservation instead of just restoration and taking a holistic and sustainable approach to restoration projects.

The members of the board will include:

Stephen Galarneau, director of the Office of Great Waters – Great Lakes & Mississippi River, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Co-Chair)

Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, chief executive officer, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (Co-Chair)

Scudder Mackey, chief of the Office of Coastal Management, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Chad Able, administrator, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

James Williams Jr, chairman, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians

Jeff Stollenwerk, director of government and environmental affairs, Duluth Seaway Port Authority

John Hull, founder and chairman, Hull & Associates Inc.

Lisa Frede, director of regulatory affairs, Chemical Industry Council of Illinois

Larry Antosch, senior director, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation

Kay Nelson, director of environmental affairs, Northwest Indiana Forum

J. Val Klump, dean and professor of the School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin

Alan Steinman, director of Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University

Brian Miller, retired, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Illinois Water Resources Center

Sylvia Orduño, organizer, Michigan Welfare Rights Organization

GVSU alumna launches ‘Headband Aid’ to relief to those wearing masks for extended hours

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The Headband Aid features buttons to help secure a face mask. (Supplied)

By Dottie Barnes
gvsu.edu

Frontline workers responding to COVID-19, along with many others who are returning to their jobs, are wearing masks all day long. Some are experiencing irritation, especially around their ears.

Katarina Samardzija, a 2019 graduate of Grand Valley State University and founder of Locker Lifestyle, took notice. Locker Lifestyle produces athletic clothing with storage pouches.

“I had all of these athletic headbands in stock that have been tested for comfort and fit by marathon runners,” said Samardzija. “I recruited my grandmother, who is a seamstress, to help sew buttons on the headbands. The buttons allow you to attach a surgical mask to relieve irritation behind the ears.”

The Pocket Headband for women and men has non-slip gel dots and a pocket in back, secured by Velcro®, to carry money, keys or even a spare mask. In April, Samardzija made a demonstration video, which went viral. She and her work crew, consisting of her mother and grandmother, have shipped about 600 Headband Aids all over the country.

Katarina Samardzija’s grandmother (left) helped Katarina with the design of the Headband Aid. (Supplied)

Samardzija earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Grand Valley with a double major in marketing and entrepreneurship. She was also a member of the GVSU Women’s Tennis team. She was headed to tennis practice in 2016, when she got the idea for Locker Lifestyle.

“I got tired of carrying all of my belongings to the gym. The first product I made, which is our best seller, is the Wrist Wallet. It holds items like an ID, money, keys, lip balm. My friends started knocking on my door wanting one,” she said.

Samardzija connected with Grand Valley’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and began competing for startup funds. She has participated in about 14 competitions to date to help fund patents and to manufacture products.

“Runners World” magazine named Locker Lifestyle products the top gear to have in 2020; in 2019, Samardzija was named one of the Newsmakers of the Year by the “Grand Rapids Business Journal;” and in 2018, she was the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest Bronze Prize Winner.

Samardzija said her education and connections at Grand Valley have proven invaluable.

“The support from the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation has been a continual resource,” she said. “I connect with Shorouq Almallah and Matthew Larson from CEI on a monthly basis to stay in touch and discuss growth.”

Find out more about her products at www.lockerlifestyle.com

Regional strategies work best doing times of disaster, GVSU researcher says

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By Dottie Barnes
GVSU

For more than a decade, Davia Downey, associate professor of public, nonprofit and health administration, has focused her research on American disaster response.

Downey said responding to public health disasters, like COVID-19, is particularly difficult.

“All communities have hazard response plans for earthquakes, hurricanes, public health events and even terrorist attacks,” said Downey. “In most of these cases there is some warning or chatter before the disaster. That’s not the case with an infectious disease.”

While states and localities across the country have disaster management plans, Downey said most don’t pay attention to those plans until a disaster happens. “Too often, our best thinking happens after the disaster,” she said.

 

Assessing the response to COVID-19, Downey said two pieces are working well at the state level. First, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is consulting with statisticians, business owners, public health officials and emergency planners, while utilizing an internal metric system unique to Michigan.

Second, Downey said Michigan is looking to external partners about the sharing of resources. One way to facilitate this is through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. All 50 states are part of EMAC in order to share knowledge, coordinate deployment of critical supplies and help each other take care of critical needs that arise.

Davia Downey, GVSU associate professor of public

There is also a lot of information that can be gained by looking back at the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, Downey said. That is the last time a global shutdown occurred because of a severely infectious disease that impacted multitudes of countries all at once.

“The one thing that is really beneficial is now we have the Internet. We have the ability to share information much more quickly,” she said. “I have been impressed with the amount of knowledge that is being shared openly and across state and country borders.”

Downey said there are already a few lessons that can be learned from COVID-19: emergency management needs to be global and not siloed, strong networks in the beginning are the most effective tool and regional strategies work best.

“The best way to recover from this type of disaster is to have strong collaboration networks. The places that will be left out of recovery will be directly related to the amount of collaboration those communities, states or countries were engaged in prior to and during this evolving disaster,” she said.

Downey noted there’s a human element to how people deal with the unknown which colors the way they think about how to respond to a disaster.

“That comes from our amount of discounting. If we haven’t come down with COVID-19, we have a tendency to discount the severity of what’s happening,” she explained. “Our tendency to discount things not at our front door is problematic in a disaster because it hinders our ability to think clearly about how to proceed.”

Snapshots: Kentwood, Wyoming news and things to do

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Life imposes things on you that you can’t control, but you still have the choice of how you’re going to live through this.

Musician Celine Dion



By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Farmers Markets are Opening!

Metro Health Farm Market opens May 14. (WKTV)

The Metro Health Farm Market kicks off the summer season by opening Thursday, May 14. Due to COVID-19, the market will be a little different in that social distancing guidelines will be adhered to and those attending are asked to where masks and leave the personal shopping bags at home. The market will be open form 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more on the Metro Health Farm Market and other farmers markets, click here.

Music for Quarantine

Now on Blue Lake Public Radio: the Grand Rapids Symphony (Supplied)

Every Sunday in May, area residents can tune into a previously recorded Grand Rapids Symphony performance. Performances are on at 1 p.m. at WBLU-FM 88.9 in Grand Rapids or click here to access Blue Lake Public Radio online. For the complete line up, click here.

Remembering the Heroes of WWII

May 7 marked the 75th anniversary of when the Germans surrendered to the Allied Forces. This week’s KDL Staff picks features a selection of World War II books from Michael Bornstein’s “The Survivor’s Club to “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei (of “Star Trek” fame). For the complete list, click here.

Fun Facts

A botanist running around like Rambo? Well according to Tim Evans, a GVSU professor of biology, if that’s what it takes to get people to discover Michigan’s amazing natural beauty, well why not? We’re all for it. Here is Evans’ first in a series on “Dangerous Botany.” To check out Evans’ other videos, click here.

GVSU Economist: Local economics stats down sharply, but not as bad as expected

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Brian Long is a local business forecaster. Credit: GVSU

By Dottie Barnes
Grand Valley State University

It was anticipated the local economic statistics for April would be negative, but the numbers weren’t as bad as expected, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business.

“This report is one of the weakest we have filed in our 40-year history; however, the data we collected in the third and fourth weeks of April did not turn out to be a record low,” he said.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of April.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) fell to -45 from -21. Long noted at the onset of the Great Recession, new orders fell to -59 in December 2008.

The production index fell to -48 from -16. The index of purchases fell to -44 from -30, and the employment index plummeted to -41 from -25.

Long said during the Great Recession, it took 18 months (October 2007 to April 2009) for statistics in this local survey to turn back to positive.

“As the economy slowly reopens, we will be closely monitoring the confidence levels of both retail and industrial consumers, both of which have been hit very hard,” he said.

Had it not been for Internet purchases, Long said, auto sales would have been virtually non-existent. He said automakers and dealers have countered many of the lockdown measures with remote and online sales, but U.S. light-vehicle deliveries were expected to fall 50-55 percent in April.

Long said COVID-19 will cause nearly every industry to reevaluate supply chains. “Many firms had no idea that many subcomponents back in the supply chain were coming from China,” he said. “Look for an anti-China backlash.”

 

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”

GVSU Occupational Health and Safety students resources to front line health care workers

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GVSU Pew Grand Rapids Campus (GVSU)

By Nate Hoekstra
GVSU

In a normal workday setting for health care workers who have to wear personal protective equipment, or PPE, the same equipment that workers know fits properly is readily available. But when the COVID-19 pandemic created shortages of PPE at many health care facilities, the need for respirators and gloves was met with donations. 

While the donations were needed, using equipment without a proper fit can render the equipment less effective than it would normally be. 

To help address this concern, Grand Valley Occupational Safety and Health students have created helpful guides for health care workers that provide a step-by-step tutorial for qualitative fit-testing different styles and brands of respirators.

“The guide also provides information about the different types of respirators and provides information on the acceptable conditions, and maximum efficiency,” said professor of occupational safety and health Derek McCormick.

McCormick said that the N95 mask, which has become commonplace since the pandemic began, is intended to filter 95 percent of contaminants from the air. That efficiency goes down if the mask isn’t worn properly, or doesn’t fit right.

“Knowing how to fit-test these respirators is important because OSHA requires employers to assess hazards in the workplace and provide the right PPE, and employees want to be using the right equipment for the job,” McCormick said. “This project helps identify the best way to use the tools available for health and safety.”

A different group of occupational safety and health students also created a guide for proper cleaning and PPE in room sanitization processes. Again, in normal times the same kind of sanitizer would be used in a health care setting, but with shortages of chemicals and cleaners, non-standard solutions are being used.

Those different chemicals and cleaners have different exposure risks, which can be mitigated by different kinds of gloves that are designed to protect from different hazards. The students created a list of cleaners that can be used in place of normal sanitizing processes, and what PPE should be used to protect workers from side effects or other hazards.

“These seniors and recent graduates are making a difference in a unique way,” McCormick said. “Helping protect frontline workers in our health settings during a pandemic is a wonderful and important way to showcase what they have learned at Grand Valley.”

GVSU Carillon in Grand Rapids to turn blue to thank critical workers

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By Dottie Barnes
GVSU

Beckering Carillon will turn blue May 1 – 15 to thank health care workers.

The Beckering Family Carillon Tower on Grand Valley State University’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus will turn blue as a way to thank critical workers for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grand Valley, in partnership with Creative Day Technologies and Odyssey Lighting, is paying tribute to all critical workers, including first responders, health care workers, grocers and many more, who are putting themselves in harm’s way during the COVID-19 crisis.

The carillon will be illuminated by blue lights, installed by Creative Day and Odyssey Lighting, beginning May 1 and extending through May 15. 

“This is one small way to honor all of the critical workers who are working so diligently to keep us safe, fed and cared for,” said President Philomena V. Mantella. “We honor them for their hard work and unwavering commitment. We are forever grateful.”

A sign, next to the carillon, will offer extended words of gratitude from Grand Valley:

“Thank you, Critical Workers! You have risen to the occasion to provide frontline support and ensure our community is cared for, housed, and fed. You have remained calm and steadfast in a time of crisis and uncertainty. We know it has not been easy. Your commitment and fortitude have not gone unnoticed. We see you. We thank you. We will not forget.”

West Michigan resident recovers from coronavirus, donates plasma to ‘pay it forward’

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By Dottie Barnes
Grand Valley State University

A Grand Valley State University graduate student, who has recovered from COVID-19, said it’s difficult to be studying health care and not be able to practice what she knows.

Hannah Grinwis, 25, is in her second year of GVSU’s physician assistant studies program. Her clinical rotations were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s hard to be sidelined during this health care phenomenon,” she said. “My classmates and I are passionate about caring for others, so it is hard not being able to help patients in a feasible way right now.”

Grinwis was out of the classroom for several weeks and out of her clinical rotation for a couple weeks when she developed a dry cough and minor body aches in March, while home with her husband in Kent City.

That quickly turned into more severe symptoms.

“I had a fever and pretty severe upper back and chest pain that worsened when breathing deeply,” she said. “I also had a very severe headache, shortness of breath and fatigue. I lost my appetite and sense of smell and taste.”

Grinwis said she was able to utilize telemedicine to communicate with health care workers and tested positive for COVID-19 at the Spectrum Health tent in Grand Rapids.

“I have no idea where I got this,” she said. “We followed strict safety procedures during rotations and I had not been working with any patients who were possible COVID-19 patients.”

Grinwis said her husband and sister developed symptoms but neither developed a fever or more severe symptoms. They followed guidance from the Kent County Health Department and Spectrum Health and were all able to recover at home.

Once she was feeling better, Grinwis said she started exploring ways to give back to “pay it forward.” She decided to give plasma. In order to donate, she needed to be symptom-free for at least 14 days with a confirmatory swab that was negative. She received the “all clear” in April and now donates plasma once a week.

“It’s important for me to give back to the community that has helped me,” she said. “I grew up in West Michigan and I want to serve the people who helped me get to this point.”

GVSU expert shares what astronauts can tell us about enduring isolation

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By Peg West
Grand Valley State University

With federal guidelines for social distancing extended because of the COVID-19 pandemic and much of the country under stay-at-home orders, a large segment of the population is dealing with isolation for the foreseeable future.

Deana Weibel, GVSU professor of anthropology (GVSU)

Among us is a small segment of the population that understands isolation in a way no one else can. Astronauts have had to find ways to handle isolation to get the job done, to get along with each other and for their overall well-being, said Deana Weibel, professor of anthropology, whose research focus includes space exploration.

Weibel, who recently wrote an article for The Space Review about this issue, shares some lessons astronauts have learned that can apply to everyone in these extraordinary times. The upshot: Even though it’s serious business in space, diversions are crucial for tolerating isolation.

• Have a schedule

With nowhere to go, it is easy to fall into the trap of days almost numbingly running together. What astronauts know, Weibel said, is that having a schedule creates the structure necessary to break up the days and provide mental stimulation.

NASA gives astronauts a significant list of tasks to complete in each 24-hour period, often more than the astronauts can finish, Weibel said.

 

“You’re staying so busy, isolation isn’t really an issue because you always have the next thing to do,” Weibel said.

• Communicate with others outside your current small world

As they move about in the heavens, astronauts have the constant of the ground crew’s voices in their heads, Weibel said. That is a crucial line of support, but astronauts count on more.

 

Even as they orbit the Earth, they can have instantaneous communication with loved ones using a variety of devices, Weibel said. They may be busy with tasks and sometimes carrying out risky maneuvers, but they know how important it is to reach out beyond their confines.

That shows the power of real human connection, which plays out on Earth right now in the popularity of video meetings, video parties and video chats with friends. “If this had happened even 20 years ago we couldn’t have done that,” she said.

• Celebrate milestones, make special efforts to connect, pitch in and look for morale boosters

Weibel said research has shown that isolation can be one of the major causes of conflict with crew members who are confined together for extended periods. She cited work by anthropologist Jack Stuster, who had astronauts keep diaries during their missions.

Some of the conclusions drawn can help those in isolation from wearing on each other as the weeks go by, she said.

Ideas: Be sure to celebrate birthdays, holidays and other passages of time. Little surprises like an unexpected item in the food stash for astronauts can give them a mental boost, Weibel said. So, too, might a splurge treat for a family member in a grocery order or preparing a loved one’s favorite meal.

Speaking of meals, having them together helps with a meaningful connection, Weibel said. Designated nights for movies or a TV series gives everyone something to anticipate, including astronauts. Scott Kelly, who recently wrote about his experiences with isolation while in space, said he binge-watched Game of Thrones twice.

And be sure chores are evenly distributed to cut down on potential resentment while being cooped up. Again, that was important for astronauts, research found.

• Get some fresh air

Weibel noted that astronaut and West Michigan native Christina Koch, who returned to Earth in February from the International Space Station, talked of being eager for outdoor sensory experiences such as feeling a breeze. That yearning shows nature is a balm, and many of those isolated on Earth right now can experience it by getting outside.

The benefit of a walk? Much-needed exercise, something astronauts also swear by, though they have special reasons given their environment. “Astronauts will lose bone mass if they don’t,” Weibel said.

GVSU New Music Ensemble’s newest album features pieces inspired by national parks

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By Peg West
Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University’s New Music Ensemble is set to release an album featuring compositions inspired by the scenery of national parks.

Dawn Chorus will be released April 24 on Innova Recordings and will be available everywhere, said Bill Ryan, ensemble director. The 11-track recording features works created to reflect the splendor of Arches, Badlands, Capitol Reef, Grand Teton, Wind Cave and Yellowstone national parks.


Dawn Chorus Director Bill Ryan speaks before the group’s performance. (Supplied)

It is the fifth commercial recording for the nationally acclaimed group.

Ryan has led the ensemble on three tours of national parks to play compositions he has specially commissioned to correlate with each park; a fourth tour planned for this summer has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Composers for these tours were chosen for their strong connection to the natural environment, Ryan said. Each piece reflects the feature of a particular park that inspired the composers, such as its vastness, its landscape or its wildlife.

The album includes all of the pieces from the 2016 tour as well as some from 2014, Ryan said. Two of the composers are Grand Valley alumni who were students when they wrote the pieces: Ashley Stanley and Niko Schroeder.

Ensemble members, all since graduated, recorded the music at Solid Sound Studios in Ann Arbor, Ryan said.

“When we initially started doing this project, I didn’t have the idea of recording it in my head,” Ryan said. “After getting incredible pieces from the composers, I started looking for a way to share it with an audience beyond the national parks.”

Dawn Chorus has been on three tours of national parks to play compositions especially commissioned to correlate with each park. (Supplied)

Founded in 2006, the ensemble is an undergraduate group that focuses on contemporary music. The ensemble has received recognition from national publications and performed throughout the country.

During this period of remote learning and communication, Ryan reached out to students and alumni to record a piece of music for a video showing what life is like on tour with the ensemble. Each player performed an individual part to a click track — some even using just their phones — and then the music was assembled.

The trailer to Dawn Chourus’ new CD. (Supplied)

GVSU graduating senior writes ‘An Original Song for the (COVID) Class of 2020’

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By Peg West
Grand Valley State University

Sentimentality is a time-honored emotion for graduating seniors, and Joseph VanArendonk was feeling that heavily as he approached his last week at Grand Valley State University. 

What sets VanArendonk and his peers apart is the unprecedented mix of emotions that comes from experiencing a lifetime milestone during the pandemic of a lifetime.

VanArendonk channeled those feelings by writing his first ever song: “An Original Song for the (COVID) Class of 2020.”

The piece came together in a weekend. As he wrote a song full of the sentimentality and sadness he was feeling, he also found himself thinking about the he response to the pandemic itself, the lack of social distancing he had witnessed just that day and the strife it is causing.

“The song is just really my internal monologue that rhymes,” said VanArendonk, a human resource management major who is also president of the campus student a capella group, Euphoria.

So the next day he and some his friends, using proper social distancing, of course, recorded scenes for the video about the recommended ways to handle the pandemic, providing a change of tempo in the song and a message: “Understand that you are not alone.”

The result is about three-and-a-half minutes of catharsis and reflection, as well as gratitude and a little levity.

And VanArendonk is looking forward with hope amid the uncertainty. “It lifted my spirits to see an actual date set (Oct. 10) for the postponed commencement. Seeing a solid date is something I have recently learned to value,” he said.

GVSU expert describes local economy “like a train wreck in slow motion”

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Brian Long, photo from gvsu.edu

By Dottie Barnes
Grand Valley State University

In the 40-year history of a Grand Valley State University economic survey, the economic situation in West Michigan has seldom looked this grim, said Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in Grand Valley’s Seidman College of Business.

“Although negative, much of our data collected in the third and fourth weeks of March do not begin to reflect the impact of recent events,” said Long.

Long surveyed local business leaders and his findings below are based on data collected during the last two weeks of March.

The survey’s index of business improvement (new orders) slipped to -21 from +7. The production index dropped to -16 from +2. The index of purchases plunged to -30 from +9, and the employment index plummeted to -25 from +9.

Long said the Detroit automakers made good on their promise to report only 2020 quarterly sales, which reflect the aggregate of positive sales months of January and February and the negative month of March. “Even then, sales were off considerably,” he said.

Long said at this early stage, assessing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is almost impossible, but said “we are now in a historical collapse.”

“If, by some miracle, we were to have a viable vaccine in the next few months that could be widely distributed, the economy would quickly begin to recover,” said Long. “However, some marginal businesses have already been forced to close, and there will surely be more to follow. Unfortunately, this crisis is still just beginning.”

The Institute for Supply Management survey is a monthly survey of business conditions that includes 45 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids area and 25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are from the region’s major industrial manufacturers, distributors and industrial service organizations. It is patterned after a nationwide survey conducted by the Institute for Supply Management. Each month, the respondents are asked to rate eight factors as “same,” “up” or “down.”

How will COVID-19 impact the nonprofit sector? Johnson Center research offers insights

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Johnson Center for Philanthropy

By Nate Hoekstra
Grand Valley State University

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the United States and the rest of the world, financial implications on employees and businesses are profound.

Impacts are being felt across the economy, and the nonprofit sector is not immune. Researchers at Grand Valley’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy have analyzed IRS 990 form data and have identified trends in the nonprofit sector that nonprofits can expect to contend with as the pandemic evolves. 

The research was led by Jeff Williams, director of the Johnson Center’s Community Data and Research Lab, and is based on an analysis of the financial vulnerabilities of nonprofit organizations.

Williams said models can help nonprofit leaders make educated decisions about their organizations, especially as it pertains to project management, disaster response and using solid data.

The Community Data and Research Lab identified three trends that leaders can use to inform decision making.

1. Before things get significantly better or worse, leaders can expect to see things ‘get weird.’

Williams said in times of crisis when we are looking for certainty the most — even if it’s bad news — is when events are most likely to be unexpected in terms of magnitude, order and topic. 

“Adopting a mental posture of flexibility is key,” Williams said. “Being open about the impending storm in communications with service beneficiaries, clients and staff is essential for maintaining staff morale, too.”

2. Nonprofits are facing three distinct financial threats at the moment, each of which will impact different nonprofits in different ways. 

As entire segments of the economy falter and the stock market tumbles, different types of nonprofits will see decreases in revenue in three very different ways: decreasing revenue from annual campaigns and gifts, dropping demand for services and/or changes to contracts, and decreasing value in investments and stock market fluctuations. Most nonprofits, for example, receive very little investment income, so stock market fluctuations will not be their primary concern.

Williams said a clear understanding of the different types of revenue declines is important because nonprofits are businesses that pay salaries and rent, and purchase supplies and equipment just like any other. However in the big picture, nonprofits serve a broader public mission. Williams said nonprofits should remember to secure their operations first, much like the instructions given to passengers on airliners about oxygen masks: Always secure your own mask before assisting others.

“While businesses are closing and people are at risk of losing employment, there is likely to be an increase of demand for safety net agency services, many of which will be met by nonprofit organizations and their staff,” Williams said. “But if a nonprofit cannot meet its business obligations, it will not be in a long-term position to assist its community in a time of need.”

The full report from the Community Data and Research Lab explores in depth the different financial problems nonprofits of different sizes and categories may face due to COVID-19. The report is available at JohnsonCenter.org.

3. The process of restoring normalcy isn’t a linear process. Multiple stages of recovery often exist, involving different sectors of the nonprofit world at different times.

Williams said while some disasters are a singular event, like a tornado or tsunami, others happen more slowly and recovery often takes many stages. When society works to recover from the pandemic, the nonprofit sector will see those stages take shape. 

Right now, nonprofits are focused on immediate needs, like health care and direct emergency assistance, especially food. However, over time, as the situation stabilizes, the nonprofit sector will need to shift to education, housing and human services. 

Once the virus is well contained, job training, workforce development and other economic and productivity concerns will come back to the forefront. 

Finally, when people feel confident making longer-term plans to return to normal life, nonprofit operations will also return to a more normal activity level.

Upcoming research

Over the next several weeks, the Johnson Center will use additional IRS data to explore other financial aspects of the nonprofit sector, including cash on hand, changes in revenue sources, and what past economic shocks tell us about nonprofit organization creation and failure rates.

For more information, visit JohnsonCenter.org.