Heartside Gleaning Initiative wins 5×5 Competition

A program that creates access to healthy food for residents in the Heartside neighborhood was awarded $5,000 at the Grand Valley State University 5×5 Competition on March 23.

The Heartside Gleaning Initiative (HGI) beat out four other GVSU teams to win the prize, and was given just five minutes to present their idea to five judges.

Located in Grand Rapids, the Heartside neighborhood is in need of healthy food due to the lack of local grocery stores and the low income of its residents. HGI will use the $5,000 prize to purchase a cargo van that will distribute healthy food throughout the greater Grand Rapids community.

GV awarded for its work with high school students

The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) awarded Grand Valley State University with the Beacon Award for its work in shaping the next generation of college students.

GVSU is one of 12 universities in the AdviseMI partnership, a program that sends advisers to West Michigan high schools to help students prepare for college. In their work, advisers work with students on admissions exams, college applications, as well as financial aid and scholarship applications.

The award was accepted by GVSU Provost Gayle Davis at the MCAN’s sixth annual conference on March 8 in Lansing, Michigan. In 2015, GVSU advisers were placed in Grand Rapids University Prep Academy, Muskegon Heights Academy, Montague High School and Muskegon High School.

Celebrating Women Awards

Both men and women from Grand Valley State University will be celebrated for their positive impact on the lives of women during the Celebrating Women Awards on March 29.

The show is a collaborative effort between the Women’s Center, the women, gender and sexuality department and Positive Black Women. Awards include the Emerging Professional Award, the Unsung Hero Award, as well as the Outstanding Student Award.

The Celebrating Women Awards is set to take place from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center Grand River Room.

‘Amp Up Your Power’

The Women’s Center Storyteller Series will continue with a workshop that has participants realizing their own story in musical form on March 30.

The workshop will be hosted by Steffanie Rosalez, program director for the Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities Cook Arts Center, and local hip hop artist Lady Ace Boogie. Together, the two will help participants articulate their own stories through music-making and songwriting activities.

“Amp Up Your Power with Steffanie Rosalez and Lady Ace Boogie” will take place from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. in Room 2270 of the Kirkhof Center.

Gene Knific Trio to perform at next Arts at Noon

The latest installment of the Grand Valley State University Arts at Noon series will feature a performance from the Gene Knific Trio on March 30.

The Gene Knific Trio performs a variety of different styles ranging from jazz classics to pop, rock and folk music. The group’s leader, Gene Knific, is a pianist, composer and arranger who has won multiples awards in both the jazz and chamber music circuit.

The performance is free to the public and will take place from noon until 1 p.m. in the Cook-DeWitt Center on GVSU’s Allendale Campus.

For more information about the event, go to www.gvsu.edu/artsatnoon.