Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 6

Faculty and staff
members share three
words to describe
the West Side

"Modern
meets
traditional."
Sergio Cira-Reyes, former project director for the
WestSide Collaborative, agreed. The collaborative,
located at Steepletown Neighborhood Services, is
a group of nonprofit organizations that supports
residents and causes of the community. Grand Valley
is a member.
Cira-Reyes said the West Side embraces students as
residents and wants to better integrate them into the
community. "We want longtime residents and students
to talk and listen to each other," he said.
The collaborative focuses on community building and
he said people from Grand Valley play a role in that.
"All residents have gifts and talents to contribute to
their community; they have the necessary ingredients
to build a thriving neighborhood," Cira-Reyes said.
"Someone coming into a neighborhood with a big
vision is a key ingredient for gentrification, which is
why residents must be empowered to dream up their
community, and Grand Valley students, faculty and staff
who live on the West Side are part of that."

A story of collaboration
and connection
Paul Wittenbraker's Civic Studio is just one example of
many collaborations taking place between Grand Valley
and the West Side.
Since 1999, Civic Studio at Grand Valley has engaged
students in civic learning by presenting art in a public
context. Twelve projects have taken place in different
spaces throughout Grand Rapids. Since 2008, the
projects have focused on the West Side.
"The studio was created out of Grand Valley's
interest in civic learning and educating students about
social practices," said Wittenbraker, professor of art
and design. "Our projects that have explored what is
happening on the West Side are helping students and
residents understand its past and future."
In 2013, Grand Valley partnered with the Grand
Rapids Community Foundation's Challenge Scholars
program to create a scholarship for Grand Rapid Public
Schools students, offering them the opportunity to
attend and succeed in college.

G R A ND VA LLE Y M AG AZ INE

6

SPR ING 201 7

The program begins with sixth-grade
students at Harrison Park School and
Westwood Middle School, both on the West
Side. Students who complete program
requirements and graduate from Union High
School receive a Last Dollars scholarship
from GRCF. The value of the scholarship
depends on family income and which college
the student chooses to attend.
Another Grand Valley group, Pals Student
Mentors, seeks to positively influence the
lives of at-risk youth in Grand Rapids. More
than 160 Grand Valley students serve as
mentors for children who attend West Side
elementary schools: Harrison, Sibley or Coit.
Faculty members and students from
the Kirkhof College of Nursing frequently
volunteer at Other Way Ministries, an
organization that supports urban families
and focuses on community building.
Assistant professor Susan Harrington's
classes have partnered with the organization
to represent the face of health care for
residents. These experiences provide
opportunities for students to learn about
community nursing.
Grand Valley's relationship with
West Side neighborhoods extends beyond
the classroom and into the residential area.
Students who live in the area attended a new
orientation program in the fall to learn about
the history of West Side neighborhoods.
More than 50 students attended Good
Neighbor Orientation and met
longtime residents.
It's important for students to understand
the area's history, character and how to
be a good neighbor, said Melissa BakerBoosamra, associate director for Student
Life and organizer of the event.
"The neighborhoods that surround
campus have been here for a very long time.
While students living off-campus in rental
houses are often temporary residents, the

Adrienne Wallace,
assistant professor
of advertising and
public relations

"Accessible
to trails!"
Shelley Irwin,
host of WGVU
Morning Show

"Community.
Proud.
Home."
Bryan Bickford,
advertising and
communications
manager

"Down to
earth."
Mark Schaub,
chief international
officer

"Dynamic
new changes."
Henry Matthews,
director of Galleries
and Collections

"Growing.
Convenient.
Proud."
Eric Garvelink,
assistant director of
competitive sports



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017

West Side story
Knowledge for all
Hopes and dreams for a better future
Fund honors son's memory
Athletics
Q&A
Off the Path
Research
Arts
Campus News Briefs
Alumni Giving
Alumni Profile
Alumni News Briefs
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 1
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 2
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 3
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - West Side story
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 5
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 6
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 7
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Knowledge for all
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 9
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 10
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 11
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 12
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Hopes and dreams for a better future
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 14
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 15
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Fund honors son's memory
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 17
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 18
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 19
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 20
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 21
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Athletics
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 23
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Q&A
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 25
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Off the Path
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 27
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Research
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 29
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Arts
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 31
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 32
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Campus News Briefs
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 34
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 35
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 36
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 37
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Alumni Giving
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 39
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Alumni Profile
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 41
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Alumni News Briefs
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 43
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 44
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 45
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 46
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 47
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 48
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https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMSpring2015
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https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/Grandvalley/GVMFall2014
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https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/spring2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/winter2014
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