State Representative John Fitzgerald invited members of the community to Community Conversation at The Stray on Division Avenue in Wyoming on Nov. 14 for an open and meaningful discussion about the concerns and priorities of the community (Courtesy, WKTV)
State Rep. John Fitzgerald, District 83 (Courtesy photo)
Each month, State Representative John Fitzgerald invites members of the community to Community Conversation at a local location. Each Community Conversation event provides an opportunity to discuss important issues, share thoughts and engage with your local representative.
On Friday, Nov. 14, Rep. Fitzgerald could be found at The Stray on Division Avenue for an open and meaningful discussion about the concerns and priorities of the community.
An investment of time and relationship
“Every three to six weeks we cycle through and go all throughout the district and find a place where we can have a casual conversation with constituents,” Fitzgerald told WKTV General Manager Tom Norton.
“It’s really important that I’m as much a listener as someone who takes action on things.”
Fitzgerald went on to say that people expect access to their government officials – and he intends to provide that access.
“Something that’s been ingrained in me is that people enjoy having that somewhat personal relationship with their elected official,” said Fitzgerald. “It’s important that people see me out and feel comfortable to come say hi and share that little bit of a nugget of information that might help inform my decision-making in Lansing for our community.”
Lauchpad for a renaissance
The positive impact of Fitzgerald’s investment of time and relationship with the local community throughout his tenure as a Wyoming City Council member, as well as State Representative of District 83, can be seen in the flourishing businesses of the Wyoming South Division corridor.
The Stray, Fitzgerald said, is an example of the South Division commerce resurgence.
Rep. Fitzgerald chats with constituents at The Stray (Courtesy, WKTV)
“We’re seeing more of that here throughout the Division Avenue corridor. I think that we’re going to see more businesses want to improve their own facades, their operations, and I think that we’re really again on the launchpad for a renaissance.
“Throughout this community, we’re seeing investment, we’re seeing business owners want to be community fixtures,” Fitzgerald continued. “This is a great time to be in Wyoming.”
“Your voice matters.”
Fitzgerald urges residents and business owners to engage in Community Conversation events in their neighborhood. Information on Community Conversation events can be found on Fitzgerald’s Facebook site.
The City of Wyoming celebrated the grand opening of the new Godwin Mercado on Saturday, Aug. 16 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and free community event.
Senator Hilary Scholten (left) and Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin cut the ribbon, officially opening Godwin Mercado (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The warm summer morning began at 10:30 a.m. with statements given by State Representative John Fitzgerald, U.S. Senator Hilary Scholten, City of Wyoming Mayor Kent Vanderwood and Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin.
“The Godwin Mercado is a project that embodies the best of what our community can achieve when we come together with purpose and vision,” said Mayor Vanderwood. “It is a true honor to stand here today as we officially open the Godwin Mercado.”
Support from the community helped make Godwin Mercado a reality (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Krashawn Martin echoed Mayor Vanderwood’s remarks, saying the marketplace would not have been possible without broad community support.
“My heart is beyond happy to see so many smiling faces, so many different pieces and pockets that really build the community that is Wyoming,” said Martin. “I’m so honored to be a tiny piece of making this beautiful space come together.”
Placemaking in action
Managed and programmed by the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department, the 6,000-square-foot, $6.2 million facility community event space will provide year-round usage opportunities to local vendors, seasonal farm and artisan markets, food trucks, community events and private events.
Godwin Mercado is recognized as Wyoming’s new gathering spot for the community (Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Market days will also help fill key gaps in the area’s food system, helping support the well-being of residents in the Godwin Heights area and the entire Wyoming community.
Representative Fitzgerald expressed the value Godwin Mercado brings for this generation as well as future generations.
“This is placemaking in action for this community,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. “It’s going to bring attention, good attention, to this community. I cannot be prouder of the City of Wyoming and its investment in this space.”
After the ribbon cutting, community members gathered for several free activities, including a meal, games, face painting and live music, all provided by Wyoming food and artisan vendors.
Local Kona Ice provided refreshing treats (Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Free face painting was enjoyed by both children and adults (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
A free meal was served to all in attendance (Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
All participating vendors are local to Wyoming (Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Large garage doors allow for easy access to and from the Mercado indoor event space (Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Wyoming Police let children explore department vehicles (Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Playing with bubbles is a must for all ages (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Children enjoyed several fun activities (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
All participating vendors are local to Wyoming (Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Wyoming firefighters and police officers chatted with event guests (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Children enjoyed several fun activities (Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Celebration attendees enjoyed live music (Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Rep. John Fitzgerald (left) and Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin visit with celebration guests (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The outdoor plaza was filled with fun, family-friendly activity while the main indoor event space allowed seating and shade for those eating or simply needing a break from the sun.
A thread of connection
An unveiling of the colorful mural on Godwin Mercado’s outer south wall also took place.
The Godwin Mercado mural tells the history of the City through “story stacking” (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Installed by local nonprofit, Lions & Rabbits Center for the Arts, and painted by Filipina street muralist and visual anthropreneur Venazir, the mural is a testament to Wyoming’s history, resilience and spirit – and was inspired by a game of Jenga.
“I was playing Jenga with my friends, and then I thought of stacking all the bits and pieces of who was Wyoming, who is Wyoming,” Venazir told WKTV Journal.
As Venazir researched the City’s history, she recognized the importance of not only the Godwin Mercado space, but what the significance and impact of revitalizing that space means to the community.
Titled “Stacked Stories” and “Building Balance,” the mural’s stacked images reveal the many facets of Wyoming’s lifespan while giving a poetic nod to the layered narrative of Godwin Heights and Wyoming and emphasizing the balance between past and progress.
Mural artist Venazir continued working on the mural during the celebration (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Another prominent element of the mural is a red thread weaving through the images.
“The red thread is the most symbolic element in my work,” said Venazir. “It’s this unifying element that I use across all of my murals.”
Since 2017 in the Philippines, Venazir’s red thread has been weaving a tapestry of stories internationally as she explores the intricate relationships between human traditions and the ever-changing landscapes that shape them.
“It stitches us [together] in ways that we couldn’t even imagine,” said Venazir. “My journey as an artist is to visualize the process that there is a red thread that guides us. That thread stretches and tangles, but it is never broken.”
Learn more about Venazir and her dynamic art here.
An educational avenue
Godwin Mercado will not only provide fresh food options and space for events, it will also collaborate with local schools and organizations to host educational activities.
(Courtesy, Godwin Heights)
Chad Conklin, Superintendent of Godwin Heights Public Schools, said school staff and students are excited about the opportunities Godwin Mercado offers.
“What this building is going to bring with the agriculture – it’s going to be fantastic,” Conklin told WKTV. “We’re looking at ways to be able to incorporate our own curriculum within it and hopefully support that through our science classes.”
Conklin also appreciates the increased accessibility the Mercado parking lot provides for the adjoining Godwin Heights athletic complex activities.
Helping our city thrive
Sen. Hilary Scholten said Godwin Mercado will play an important role in helping support small businesses and local entrepreneurs in West Michigan.
“Close to 99% of businesses in the State of Michigan are considered small businesses,” said Senator Scholten. “That is what makes our economy so beautiful and so diverse.
“Places like the Mercado are going to continue to support those small businesses and help them to thrive.”
(Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Resource links
The Godwin Mercado full market grand opening is planned for spring of 2026. For updates, sign up for the Godwin Mercado newsletter here.
The Mercado provides various options for residents to embark upon their own personal entrepreneurial journeys. Interested vendors can sign up to participate weekly or for the entire market season via a vendor application.
For more information about Godwin Mercado, click here.
Watch this short clip to hear what City of Wyoming officials have to say about the opening of Godwin Mercado! (Courtesy, Tom Norton WKTV)
State Representative John Fitzgerald sat down with WKTV Journal Soundbites to recap “an exciting year in the legislature” and deliver a direct message to his constituents in District 83.
“I am a representative for this community, of this community, and I’m a conduit for information both from Wyoming, southwest Grand Rapids, and Byron Township to Lansing, but also the other way,” said Rep. Fitzgerald.
Bringing transparency to local legislature
Driven by a “listen first” mentality, Fitzgerald is also committed to transparency. And that means keeping his constituents “in the know” about legislative happenings that affect their communities.
One of the bills passed and signed into law under Fitzgerald’s guidance made the Affordable Care Act state law. This ensures that if federal law requirements to receive health insurance were ever preempted or withdrawn, quality healthcare would still be available to Michigan residents.
Fitzgerald’s bill was specifically aimed toward extending dependent care, allowing dependents to remain on their primary caregivers’ insurance until age 26.
“We also passed significant energy law reform that is going to put us on a track to 100% clean energy by 2040,” said Fitzgerald. “This legislation is going to really put us as the leader in the Midwest when it comes to clean energy.”
Included in the bill is language specifying a Kent County incinerator facility shutdown by 2040 due to health concerns surrounding that facility.
Looking ahead
Fitzgerald said he is currently working on increasing transparency and ease of understanding to the public via the Open Meetings Act.
Rep. Fitzgerald aims to increase transparency in legislature (Courtesy, WKTV)
“If you’ve ever seen the Open Meetings Act language, it can be kind of gray,” Fitzgerald said. “We don’t want gray. We want to make sure that there is adherence to the Open Meetings Act.”
Supporting families via family leave under the Affordable Care Act is also on Fitzgerald’s agenda.
“As somebody who has a young child in daycare, it’s a very expensive cost to Michigan families, and we want to make sure that we’re creating that environment to support [them],” said Fitzgerald. “My mission is that Michigan could be the best place to raise a family in the country.”
Education
With seven school districts in the City of Wyoming alone, and several more compiling District 83, education is also on Fitzgerald’s mind.
A new budget is a milestone for local schools (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
With so many public school districts with varying needs, a budget was passed in 2023 that Fitzgerald said is a milestone for the City of Wyoming and southwest Grand Rapids.
“One of those things that we passed [is] free school lunch and breakfast for all public schools,” said Fitzgerald, adding that they have already seen great implementation by local school districts.
Tax relief
Thousands of seniors, Fitzgerald said, are receiving an average of $1,000 back due to a pension tax return repeal and retirement tax repeal.
On the flip side, working families are receiving a tax credit.
“There were 8,400 (District 83) households who qualified for that last year,” said Fitzgerald. “We are now putting more money back in those 8,400 households.”
“Show me the money” – Tax dollars coming home
“We brought home almost $70 million into services and infrastructure and goods that are going to impact [and] amplify the lives of Wyoming residents,” said Fitzgerald.
“When polled,” Fitzgerald said, “Wyoming residents say, We want a place to call home, that we can identify as: that is Wyoming. We don’t have that.
“But the City has taken this on to say, we’re going to build a downtown multi-use walkable area, and we’re going to do that on 28th Street.”
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
$35 million is allocated to the Grand Rapids Fire Department to build a new station and training center on South Division Avenue.
“That is helping to support services that actually directly impact southwest GR and Wyoming,” said Fitzgerald. “When we need mutual aid, they’re coming into Wyoming as well.”
$5 million will help Special Olympics Michigan to continue their services and renovation of the former South Christian High School.
“It’s going to be the world’s largest Special Olympics training facility, right here in Kent County,” said Fitzgerald. “We want to make sure that those athletes are getting exactly what they need to help cut down on health disparities, to help cut down on mental health challenges.”
And finally, $4 million will help Godfrey Lee schools with a much-needed roof renovation.
“That is real money that went to Lansing, or went to Washington, and is coming home now to enrich the lives of Wyoming residents. That’s exciting, and that doesn’t happen without your input coming to me,” said Fitzgerald.
Serving at home: “I want to hear from you.”
Rep. Fitzgerald spoke with community members during a recent Wyoming Senior Resource Fair (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Being attuned to his duties in Lansing is important, Fitzgerald said. But he believes connecting to his community is equally essential.
“My duty is to the people here at home,” said Fitzgerald.
Offering opportunities for communication is a top priority for Fitzgerald.
“I hope that any and all of you join me when we have office hours on the second and fourth Mondays at Wyoming City Hall, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. I’m there, I want to hear from you, it’s an open door,” said Fitzgerald in a direct message to the community.
“Please come and engage, because you are what drives me. Your interests, your concerns, help to drive the work that we’ve discussed here today, and more.”
Recharging with family time
When asked what he does to recharge so he can continue his work in the legislature, Fitzgerald replied: “Right now, it is playing with my daughter.”
Fitzgerald went on to say that his perspective has changed since becoming a parent.
“Your priorities change, your mindset changes, you’re more empathetic, you’re more understanding of other people’s situations as well,” said Fitzgerald. “Really being with my daughter charges me up. Hearing her laugh now, and seeing her start to walk, that’s just incredible to me.
“So quite frankly, it’s quality family time that has really kind of helped to recharge me to go to those long days in Lansing, to make that commute day in and day out.”
A conduit and facilitator for residents
Fitzgerald urges residents to contact him with questions and concerns.
Rep. Fitzgerald wants to hear from residents (Courtesy, WKTV)
“I am your representative…a conduit for you to Lansing, and for the information in Lansing to come home to you. That’s what we do best, connecting people with local resources, state resources, or even federal resources, to make sure that your life is enriched and your government is providing you with what you need,” said Fitzgerald.
“We have a lot to be proud of, we have a lot to look forward to. I think that the future is very bright here in Michigan.”
“This was prompted by the recognition that our senior community in Wyoming is one that deserves to have attention provided to it, and services delivered right to their doorstep,” said Fitzgerald. “We really looked at what this community needs, and it is more direct services from the state. This is an opportunity for us to begin a tradition of providing these resources directly to the community.”
The Resource Fair included several community organizations that provided information, resources, goodies, and even lunch for attendees. The goal was to not only reach members of the Wyoming Senior Center where the event was held, but also the general community with resources specific to older adults in Wyoming.
“It’s very easy for older adults to slip through the cracks,” said Chad Boprie, WSC Director. “As people hit retirement age, they start to have these needs and they don’t know where to find help. By doing an event like this, [seniors] can get a lot of the resources in one place and be able to tap into those,” said Boprie.
A need for resources and compassion
The Senior Resource Fair is expected to become an annual fall event (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Resident Janet Thompson attended the Resource Fair for that exact reason.
Housing, transportation, and service providers such as plumbers and electricians were among Thompson’s top priorities.
“We want to stay in our homes as long as we can,” said Thompson. “We figured we would hire what we need done, but we don’t know where to go to hire it done.”
Where to get help – and help from providers experienced with the senior community – is not always clear, Thompson continued.
“I thought maybe the [vendors] who come here are used to dealing with seniors…and might be more patient and have more knowledge,” said Thompson.
Providing knowledge and expertise
Senior Real Estate Specialist Patti Grover Gabrielse (left) works to provide seniors with customized and fair expertise (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Senior Real Estate Specialist, Patti Grover Gabrielse, participated as a vendor at the Resource Fair to help provide that experience and knowledge.
“What we do is we focus on the senior adult community,” said Gabrielse. “Of course we want to stay in our homes as long as we can, but when the time comes that we have to sell, I make sure to protect that asset and get the most amount of money for them.”
Gabrielse went on to say that there are real estate agents out there who take advantage of people who don’t know the market.
“It’s a real area of elder abuse,” Gabrielse said. “That money, whether [seniors] are going to go to assisted living or if they are going to go to family and live, every dime matters to them.”
Health and wellness education
Tina Ezell (left) of Urban League of West Michigan chats with a senior resident (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Tia Ezell with Urban League of West Michigan participated in the Resource Fair to provide information on COVID-19 and tobacco reform.
“Today we are here with information about COVID-19,” said Ezell. “We have some resources, masks, sanitizer, and literature on the vaccine and that explains things you can do to help prevent the spread of COVID.”
The Grand Rapids Urban League is also looking to end the sale of all flavored tobacco in the state of Michigan, including menthol flavored tobacco.
“[We are] doing our best to engage and educate the community that we serve about the harms of tobacco smoke, and why there is a need for tobacco reform in the state of Michigan,” Ezell said.
Grand Rapids Urban League also provides resources in regard to health and wellness education, housing resources, employment opportunities, and the Cure Violence program.
“The communities we serve are under-resourced, marginalized, and we are aware that we need to do what we can to inform them and provide whatever resources are available,” said Ezell.
A community that cares
The Wyoming Senior Center offers resources for both physical and mental health (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The Senior Center works to provide the senior community with care and resources for more than just physical recreation.
“We want to be a hub for recreational services,” said Boprie. “Within that recreation there are so many goals related to not only physical fitness and physical health, but also mental health.”
Boprie went on to say that the WSC staff often sees loneliness and depression in older adults and believes that being active and involved in social programs helps reduce that issue.
“We also offer Meals on Wheels here two days a week, so there is also the nutritional component that we can provide for people as well,” Boprie said.
“We are very fortunate to have a senior center like this in Wyoming,” said Fitzgerald, “where we can have a gathering place to have all these wonderful organizations and people who serve our senior community get right to the source, to the people who need their services most.”
Dedicated to a life of service
A member of Rep. Fitzgerald’s staff sets out complimentary lunches, provided by Meals on Wheels, for attendees (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Serving his first term representing the 83rd House District, Fitzgerald is dedicated to building policy that will solve everyday, real issues that impact West Michigan residents. His commitment to community service stems from his mother and grandmothers who devoted their lives to giving beyond themselves.
“My personal connection with the senior community began when I was a child,” said Fitzgerald. “Starting at the age of three, I delivered Meals on Wheels with my mom. I would go in there and begin to chat with those who we were delivering meals to, and hear how their day was going.
“In my teenage years, I played cards with a number of my church members who were older,” Fitzgerald continued. “Even today, I look to support our senior community in a number of non-profit ways as well.”
