Family Engagement

SOUGHT OUTCOME:

Westside public school buildings are lowering chronic absenteeism by 10% each year through intentional communication, improved policies and procedures, and environmental/cultural changes at the building level to engage families and stakeholders in meaningful ways.


WORKGROUP MEMBERS:

Mel Atkins, Grand Rapids Public Schools

Rebecca Black, College & Career Coach/Westwood Middle School
Jim Davis, Westside Collaborative
Amber Fox, Kent School Services Network

Isabel Garcia, Westside Collaborative

Angie Glortzner, Parent Action Leader/Stocking elementary
Benjamin Oliver, Challenge Scholars/Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Stephanie Sheler, KSSN coordinator/Sibley Elementary School

Troy Wilbon, GRPS Principal/Harrison Park



Literacy

SOUGHT OUTCOME:

Parents and volunteers of Westside schools will have access to evidence-based practices that reinforce and amplify classroom instruction through a common curriculum and platform


WORKGROUP

Jim Davis, Westside Collaborative

Isabel Garcia, Westside Collaborative

Kiki Johnson, Little Lites/Other Way Ministries/ELNC

Kelly Karr, Grand Rapids Public Libraries

Mike Nassar, Literacy Center of West Michigan

Jose Orozco, Kent Schools Services Network  

JoAnn Riemersma, Grand Rapids Public Schools

Laura Ward, Affinity Mentoring




Belonging

SOUGHT OUTCOME:

Westside residents and stakeholders feel comfortable, valued, and safe in their own community as evidenced by increasing visiting local businesses, participating in local programs, accessing local services, and joining/leading local initiatives. Increasingly, the Westside community functions with a more reflective demographic diversity in age, race, socioeconomic status, gender, and ethnicity that local data recognizes "on paper."


WORKGROUP MEMBERS:


Liz Collver, Grand Valley State University (Office of Student Life)
Jim Davis, Westside Collaborative
Juan Marcos Garcia, WMCAT (Ambrose)

Kevin Huver, Experience Live Art

Rachel Lopez, Affinity Mentoring

Susana Pacheo , Church Esperanza

Casey Stratton, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids (Achievers Program)

Steve Tibbe, Experience Live Art

Karl Williams, Westside Collaborative

Alejandra Zamora-Hernandez, GVSU Student/Westside Collaborative


Resident Development

SOUGHT OUTCOME:

All Westside residents are equipped for and positioned in community leadership that may lead to further opportunities.


WORKGROUP MEMBERS:

Trudy Brown, WMCAT

Jim Davis, Westside Collaborative

Steven Jones, Abide in Media 

Isreal Ledesma, Habitat for Humanity Kent County

Eleanor Moreno, The Other Way Ministries

Kurt Reppart, City of Grand Rapids 

Bo Torres, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan

Emilio Zaparimma, Steepletown Neighborhood Services