GRCC In the News, 09/30/2021

Le Dîner en Blanc Comes To Grand Rapids

September 24, 2021; The Grand Rapids Times

With international travel on hold for most of 2021, Le Dîner en Blanc sent participants on an uplifting holiday in our own city, thus making them feel like they were on vacation in the south of France! The festive and community feel of this long-standing French picnic tradition will not change even though, the number of guests attending was limited. And as always, the location remained secret until the last minute.

… “Due to the pandemic and only having about five months to plan instead of the usual year to plan the event, people were not quite comfortable with being on busses and being close to each other so some of the guidelines changed,” said Tyrona. “We followed the template from start to finish, but people were allowed to have their tables separate and we didn’t do buses so it was all walking to a pedestrian location. Grand Rapids Community College was very gracious in allowing us to use their parking structures at both campuses. We used parking structures throughout downtown, so we had five departure locations and everyone met at the same time and they were shocked because no one has really held anything like this at Veterans Park. Everyone thought that it would be held on the Blue Bridge or at the Calder. We surrounded the Library and East Park Street and we surrounded the park along with VIF (Very Important Friends). We had Brown’s Funeral Home and R 3 Stations as sponsors and we also collaborated with The House of Detroit for the VIF media lounge event. We also hired vendors to do food and alcohol and partnered with Baxter Community Center’s employee Sandra who was very gracious and really helped us to be able to pull this off.”

Vaccine clinics for GRCC, Kentwood communities focus on accessibility

September 29, 2021; schoolnewsnetwork.org (Kent  Intermediate School District)

Leaders at Grand Rapids Community College believe vaccines are an effective tool in slowing the spread of COVID-19, so they are working to make the vaccine process accessible for everyone. 

GRCC hosted two vaccination clinics on their Grand Rapids and Lakeshore campuses this month and offered a $200 incentive to encourage students to get “an effective COVID-fighting tool.”

“We wanted to create an incentive that could apply to all students, whether they are taking classes on campus or virtually,” GRCC Communications Director Dave Murray said. “Adding $200 to their RaiderCards allows students to use the money at the bookstore for textbooks, electronics or anything else sold in the store, as well as parking, food service and printing.” 

Ongoing development at James Street and U.S.-31 includes urgent care center, roundabout and more

September 29, 2021; The Holland Sentinel

HOLLAND TWP. — Drivers along the U.S.-31 corridor in Holland Township have noticed an increase in construction projects near James Street.

… Following the completion of Grand Rapids Community College’s Lakeshore Campus in The Shops at Westshore, the complex is renovating its James Street entrance.