Anthropology, GVSU and Bethany Refugee and Immigrant Services

Bethany Refugee and Immigrant Services and the GVSU Anthropology Department partnered to share assets and resources for the promotion of refugee cultural orientation and resettlement. The collaborations involved multiple projects: community-based research, curriculum development for refugee services, video production, internships, life history interviews, guest speaking, and student awareness. We value refugee families and community support and have assisted service -providers who address the challenges migrants face during their journeys. Our partnership values a civic responsibility to assist refugees as they engage in the process of settling and trying to integrate successfully into life in Michigan and the U.S. 

Faculty/staff: Russell Rhoads, Deana Weibel, Elizabeth Arnold, Christopher Shaffer, Tara Hefferan, Michael Wroblewski, Kristin Hedges, Heather Van Wormer

Students: Marc Lehman 

Community Partner: Alyssa Hall, Sam Lankah, Nathan Slauer, & Kristine Van Noord (Bethany Christian Services) 

Seeds of Promise: A Living Learning Laboratory for GVSU Faculty, Staff, and Students

Seeds of Promise is a sustainable neighborhood organization in Southeast Grand Rapids that currently has ~10,000+ residents. Local resident Host Neighbors drive strategy and decision-making. Eight impact teams have been formed to address local specific quality of life and well-being issues. There are nearly 50 community endorsing partner organizations that support the work of the impact teams. A collective economic impact report is written annually to track progress. This presentation will focus on the engagement, support, and contributions that GVSU has made to the overall progress and development of Seeds of Promise in recent years. 

Community Partner: Ron Jimmerson, Taffy Dickerson, & Paula Creamer (Seeds of Promise)

West Side Education Initiative

The Liberal Studies Accelerated Leadership Program for adult learners has partnered with Harrison Park and Westwood schools and West Grand Neighborhood Association around the Challenge Scholars Program. In its third year, the partnership engages faculty, students, and community members in more than a dozen projects to assist the community, students, and their families to create a college-going culture. Multiple scaffolded courses harness the design thinking process and leadership studies in order to help students integrate learning across their courses, wrestle with the complexity of social issues in their communities, and develop the skills and virtues necessary for addressing these problems. Descriptions of projects will be provided.

Faculty/Staff Danielle Lake, Judy Whipps, Justin Pettibone, Sara Walker, Denise Goerisch, Jacqueline Adams, Tim Eernisse.