Around 60 athletes, young and old, participated in the 2021 Midwest Wheelchair Tennis Championship over the weekend in Grand Rapids. The event ran July 9 to July 11 at MVP Athletic Club's Crahen branch and featured more than 150 matches. Along with the traditional tournament, attendees could also take part in special events throughout the weekend, such as an "Up/Down" session, where wheelchair athletes will play social with able-bodied athletes and a kid's wheelchair tennis clinic. 14-year-old Xander Frost was among the more than 40 competitors in the championship tournament. He said the weeke ..read more

Community Mental Health of Ottawa County (CMH) has been awarded $3,805,542 in federal funds over the next two years to support behavioral health in the area. Funding comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In addition to increasing access to evidence-based mental health and substance use treatment services, the money will enable CMH to become a Certified Behavioral Health Clinic. Executive Director of Community Mental Health of Ottawa County, Lynne Doyle, said the organization has been primarily targeting the area's most severe mental health cases. By ..read more

A new STEM-based summer program is taking a thoughtful approach to bridging systemic gaps in education. The Sankofa STEM Summer Academy is a five-week, hands-on program housed at Davenport University. In partnership with Spectrum Health and STEM Greenhouse , it's educating 50 minority or vulnerable middle school children in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). "All children deserve to have the academic foundation, mentoring and role models they need to succeed in STEM,” said STEM Greenhouse Founder and Executive Director Keli Christopher, Ph.D. “When I was a girl, I h ..read more

Spectrum Health was named one of the best companies for multicultural women in 2021, in a new report from Seramount. The health care system is one of three Michigan-based organizations to make the list. Seramount researchers say multicultural women make up 25% of the workforce, and 50% of them are thinking about leaving their roles within the next two years. The company’s latest list, compiling 2021’s best companies for multicultural women was a way to support this unique talent, giving a guide to areas that are showing progress in diversity, equity and inclusion, particularly in top positions ..read more

Grand Rapids' first Holocaust memorial is set to debut at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in 2022. The initiative was spurred by a gift from the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids, made possible by a donation from the Pestka family. Linda and Steve Pestka are the children of Henry Pestka, a Holocaust survivor. They were looking for a way to honor their late father and the six million Jews that were murdered in the Holocaust. Linda said she was excited at the idea of using artwork to help tell the history of events in an accurate way. "There are over 700,00 visitors there (Frederik Me ..read more

Spectrum Health has announced plans to convert its single-occupant restrooms into affirming, gender neutral spaces. The idea stemmed from conversations with the health care giant's inclusion resource groups and aims to promote health care equity for all. “The biggest key is for us to listen and understand what the barriers are to safe care and try to help make that easier for everyone,” Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, President of Spectrum Health West Michigan said. Over the next several months, all-gender restroom signage will be installed in Spectrum Health facilities in downtown Grand Rapids. The proj ..read more

Credit Special Olympics Michigan / Special Olympics Michigan Edit | Remove Special Olympics Michigan provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to more than 23,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. It’s latest effort would open the state’s doors, mainly West Michigan, to more than 193 countries and 5.4 million athletes, as the organization plans to build the world's largest Special Olympics facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “A campus that’s going to show the world the importance of community and inclusion, a campus where all gifts and all gifts and all abilities are ..read more

Weekly we focus on the work of area individuals and organizations advancing equity in our community. This morning from HealthWest we welcome Executive Director Julia Rupp to learn why they have declared racism and social inequities a public health crisis. Joining the discussion is WGVU Grants Manager Steve Chappell. This weekly segment is part of a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation ..read more

A local Indian community member is working to open a global mall in Grand Rapids. Manoj Mulki, who has lived in the city for more than 20 years, said the idea came after he noticed the need for a "one-stop-shop" for Asian goods and services. "We have a huge Indian and Asian American community, and there is not many things to put together a one-stop-shop. If you have to buy one thing you have to go one corner, then to another corner," he explained. Mulki purchased 3.7 acres inside Centerpoint Mall, where the 200,000 square foot global mall will sit, near 2525 Lake Eastbrook Blvd. The constructi ..read more

Two West Michigan cousins say support from their family and each other are helping them in recovery, after each suffered a stroke last April. Ruben and Heriberto (Joe) Sauceda are two Hispanic men in their 60's. They were born within six months of one another and according to Ruben have been by each other's sides every since. "Joe and I grew up together. We went to school together. We did a lot of things together, and we had strokes together," he said. Ruben suffered a stroke while he was at work driving a fork-lift at work. He started to lose control and his legs went numb. "My blood pressure ..read more