Grand Valley Magazine Winter 2014 - (Page 25)

"Empowering people is the only way to be successful." -Ron Jimmerson, president and co-founder of Seeds of Promise "Health care is moving out to the community. It's not about being in a hospital anymore, but translating what happened in the hospital to the community to help people get healthy and stay healthy," said Sheehan. "Learning how to go in and assess a community and help them do things in a way that works best for the members of that community is the best way to learn." Grand Valley is one of the endorsing partners of the Seeds Evening Afterschool Program, which is part of the Education Impact Team. Grand Valley education students serve as tutors during an entire semester. "Once a week, Grand Valley students are paired with a student from Dickinson for tutoring with homework," said Brian G. Johnson, affiliate professor of education. "It's a great opportunity for our students to get into the schools and give one-on-one help that is so crucial in early learning." Jessica Theis, a public relations major at Grand Valley, currently serves as a marketing and communications liaison for Seeds of Promise and also develops the annual report. Eric Foster, community governance coach and project manager with Seeds of Promise, said partners like Grand Valley have embraced the vision of "how to do, not what to do." "Grand Valley has a wonderful reputation of authentic community engagement and working in an equitable fashion with the residents," said Foster. "Grand Valley is one of the best practitioners of engagement with diverse communities and brings a philosophy of working at an equal level with people who are not experts, bringing patience and understanding with that." Seeds of Promise, a nonprofit organization, has more than 50 endorsing partners helping residents with employment, economic development and the environment. Once the neighbors are ready to serve as board members, the current members will step aside and become advisors. "It's important to note that this program is not faithbased, it is faith-directed," said Jimmerson. "That is a very important distinction I want to make. The idea for Seeds of Promise came from God; He has opened up many doors for us. It is great to see resident leaders of different faiths and backgrounds coming together in love, giving to a community with their time and talent." GVM ONLINE Walk with Ludie Weddle in her neighborhood online at www.gvsu.edu/gvmagazine. Above, Brian G. Johnson, affiliate professor of education, leads a group of Grand Valley students who meet weekly with Dickinson Elementary students to help them with homework. photos by Bernadine Carey-Tucker 25 www.gvsu.edu Grand Valley Magazine http://www.gvsu.edu/gvmagazine http://www.gvsu.edu

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Grand Valley Magazine Winter 2014

Campus News
International Education
Arts
Athletics
Donor Impact
Covenant House provides education, opportunity
Going the extra Medical Mile
Seeds of Promise
Student media: creating community, content and careers
Q&A Bill Holsinger-Robinson
Research
Off the Path
Alumni

Grand Valley Magazine Winter 2014