When:  Thursday, September 21, 2023 (4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.)

Where: City Built Brewing Co. 820 Monroe Ave NW Suit 155 Grand Rapids, MI 49503

What: Groundswell will start off the year with an immersive professional development (PD) experience focused on engaging with the local community. Educators will be introduced to the 6 Place-Based Education (PBE) Principles: 1) Scan the Community; 2) Choose an Issue; 3) Develop Partnerships; 4) Research Your Issue; 5) Complete an Action Project; 6) Share Results and Celebrate. The focus of the PD will then zoom in on the first two elements: Scan Your Community and Choose an Issue. Together with your peers, you will:

• Discuss needs and issues within your community
• Analyze potential student approaches to identifying these issues
• Discover different ways to conduct a community scan
• Explore Iterations of classroom set-up, management, and tactics for engaging in PBE within your local community
• Review local partnership options and opportunities in our area

Event Detail

When:   Tuesday, September 19, 2023 (6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)

Where: Loosemore Auditorium, Richard M. DeVos Center 401 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

What: Ratified on December 15, 1791, the First Amendment establishes that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Does the First Amendment guarantee us the right to be free from religion in the public square? Does it guarantee religious individuals and institutions the right to be exempt from otherwise valid laws that burden their religious beliefs and practices? Join the Hauenstein Center to celebrate Constitution Day as we welcome the Tocqueville Professor of Political Science and founding director of the Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Vincent Phillip Muñoz, to explore our “first freedom” in light of the thought of America’s Founding Fathers.

Event Details

When:   Monday, September 25, 2023  (2:30 p.m.)

Where: Kirkhof Center Grand River Room

What: You are invited to attend a listening forum with the nation's first Chief Growth Officer, Hilary Doe, on Monday, September 25 at 2:30 PM in the Allendale Campus’s Kirkhof Center Grand River Room. As part of the Growing Michigan Together Listening Tour, Hilary is meeting with people all over the state to develop strategies that will make Michigan the best place in America to accomplish your dreams. Do you want to launch your career? Build a business? Start a family? Serve your community? All of the above? Whatever “making it” looks like for you, we want to make sure that’s possible here in the Mitten state.

Why did you choose to go to college here in Michigan? And what will it take to get you to stay after you graduate? We need to hear from you. Hilary will deliver a report to Governor Whitmer in December that includes your feedback and solutions. Now is the time to provide your input and make your impact on Michigan’s future.

As an added bonus, two randomly selected GVSU students who attend this listening forum will receive a $500 scholarship for the Winter 2024 semester! We’re serious about removing barriers to your success. To be eligible, you must intend to take classes in Winter 2024, meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, and attend the entire event on 9/25. Additional details about this award are available upon request.

Please use this form to RSVP. And don’t forget to tell a friend! Email [email protected] or call (616) 331-2187 with any questions. To learn more about the Growing Michigan Together Council, please visit growingmichigan.org.

When:   Wednesday, September 27, 2023 (4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.)

Where: Allendale Campus

What: Join the Kaufman Interfaith team as we explore some of the basics of 'interfaith' - how to engage in conversations around religious, secular, and spiritual identities, how we all orient differently around our worldviews and values, and how we can work together to create an inclusive campus climate for all. In this introduction, we'll discuss:

• Definitions of 'interfaith' and 'pluralism'
• Religious diversity on campus
• Tips for practicing cultural humility
• Resources available to students, including how to request religious accommodations

This interactive workshop will be held in-person in Kirkhof 2201. While the workshop is free, registration is required. Snacks will be provided! We hope to see you there.

 INT 100/201 APPROVED!

Event Detail

When:  First Friday of each month during the academic year

Where: Online via Zoom

What: The Health Forum of West Michigan is hosted by GVSU's College of Health Professions, Kirkhof College of Nursing, and Midwest Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research Center (MIPERC) and is scheduled on the first Friday of each month during the academic year.  The forums are coordinated under the collaborative leadership of our community partners with sponsorship provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Health Forum Information