In this episode of Community Closeup, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower sits down with Lynn Goldberg, a branch librarian and member of the Summer Wonder Workgroup.

Lynn shares all the exciting details about KDL’s Summer Wonder program—a seasonal journey designed to keep West Michigan families engaged, inspired, and learning all summer long through outdoor discovery, reading challenges, and STEAM activities.

Lynn also shares how your family can participate, track progress using the Beanstack app, and attend incredible free community events, including live cultural performances and a foam party!

• What is Summer Wonder? A free program packed with scavenger hunts, reading goals, and STEAM activities for all ages.

• How to Participate: Download and log your activities through the Beanstack app through August 7.

• Native American Dancers: Monday, July 20 at 1:00 PM (Comstock Park Branch) – Featuring champion powwow dancer Reg Pettibone & Family.

• Foam Party @ the KDL Bookmobile: Monday, July 27 at 6:00 PM (Caledonia Lakeside Park) – Bubbly fun and kid-friendly tunes (swimwear and towels recommended!).

• Summer Wonder Bash: Monday, August 3 (Caledonia Branch).

• Special Partnerships & Perks: Learn about Find Curi and Read For the Trees (in partnership with Kent County Parks), the KDL Perk Pass, and year-round youth reading programs like 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and Legendary Readers.

• Website: kdl.org

• Track Your Progress: Sign up on the Beanstack app to register for Summer Wonder and start earning rewards!

Community Closeup is a weekly public affairs program produced in partnership with the Grand Rapids Community Media Center, bringing you diverse perspectives from community leaders throughout West Michigan.

On this episode of WYCE's Community Closeup, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Victor Williams, founder and president of the Grand Rapids Media Initiative & Film Incubator (GR-MiFi) and CEO of Grandstand Pictures. Victor shares how GR-MiFi is empowering the next generation of filmmakers while preserving and amplifying the stories that have shaped Grand Rapids.

The conversation explores the organization's innovative film incubator model, its commitment to hands-on education and media literacy, and its first major documentary project inspired by Dr. Todd E. Robinson's A City Within A City: The Black Freedom Struggle in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Victor also reflects on his own creative journey—from performing with his pioneering Grand Rapids hip-hop group, New Concept, to producing films that spotlight the community's rich and often untold history.

Learn more about the Grand Rapids Media Initiative & Film Incubator at grmifi.org.

In this episode of WYCE’s Community Closeup, host Janet Zahn sits down with Heather Obrien (Program Manager) and Victor Sultana (Board Member) from Renew Mobility to discuss how their organization transforms lives by providing essential mobility equipment to those who need it most.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• A Personal Story: Board Member Victor Sultana shares a moving personal experience of how Renew Mobility provided a wheelchair for his son, enabling him to attend school for the very first time.

• Connecting with Care: How clients in need can reach out and connect with their services.

• The Funding Challenge: An honest look at the current financial struggles the organization is facing and why community backing is more vital than ever.

• How You Can Help: Beyond financial donations, discover the various ways the community can step up and support Renew Mobility's local programming.

• Website: Visit renewmobility.org to learn more, donate, or get involved.

  
  

  Community Closeup is a weekly public affairs program produced by WYCE Community Radio and The Grand Rapids Community Media Center.

In this episode of Community Closeup, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower dives into the highlights of the 2026 National Civics Bee.

On April 15th, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce hosted the prestigious regional competition at the Ford Presidential Museum, bringing together 20 talented middle school finalists from across the area to showcase their civic knowledge.

We are joined by Andy Johnston, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives with the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, along with two inspiring regional contestants from Riley Street Middle School in Hudsonville: Hadley Baer and Siddhi Pandey.

We spoke with both Hadley and Siddhi about their experience competing on the big stage, what it takes to prepare for a civics bee, and how this unique initiative is building essential skills for the next generation of leadership.

• Inside the Competition: A recap of the April 15th regional event at the Ford Presidential Museum and what the competition looked like for the 20 local finalists.

• The Stakes: How top state winners earn prizes of up to $1,000, and how Michigan’s first-place winner advances to the National Championship in Washington, D.C., this fall to compete for a $100,000 contribution to a 529 college savings plan.

• The Mission: Why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched this annual, nonpartisan competition to increase civic literacy, skills, and community disposition among young Americans.

• Learn more about local business advocacy and initiatives: Grand Rapids Chamber

• Learn more about the competition: National Civics Bee / U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

WYCE’s Community Closeup is a weekly public affairs program produced in partnership with the Grand Rapids Community Media Center, bringing you diverse perspectives from community leaders throughout West Michigan.

In this episode of Community Closeup, host Phil Tower sits down with Max Gilles, Strategic Initiatives Manager for Mobile GR, to discuss the future of urban transit in West Michigan.

Max joins the program for a discussion about the city's upcoming long-range framework, major changes to the downtown shuttle system, and transit solutions for the city’s newest entertainment hubs.

Key Topics Covered In This Episode:

• The City’s New Mobility Blueprint: Max gave us an inside look at the development of Grand Rapids' new long-range multimodal framework prioritizing safety, equity, and sustainability.
• The Reimagined DASH Route: Why the city of Grand Rapids chose to roll out a tighter, one-direction loop that slashes wait times down to 8 minutes while addressing rising transit costs.
• Downtown Grand Rapids Venue Transportation: How Mobile GR plans to efficiently move crowds to and from the new Acrisure Amphitheater and Amway Soccer Stadium.

Learn More at Mobile GR.

In this episode, host Phil Tower sits down with Jazz McKinney (they/them), Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Pride Center, to look ahead to one of the city's most vibrant and impactful summer traditions: the 2026 Grand Rapids Pride Festival.

• Dates & Times:

  • Saturday, June 20 (12:00 PM – 10:00 PM)

  • Sunday, June 21 (12:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

• Location: Calder Plaza, Downtown Grand Rapids

• Theme: "Together We Glow"

• Admission: General admission is free (donations are highly appreciated).

• 38 Years of Pride: How the vision for the Pride Festival has evolved since its inception in 1988 into one of the city's largest events.

• Festival Footprint & Guidelines: What to expect at Calder Plaza this weekend, including city guidelines designed to keep the space streamlined for community safety and joy (service/therapy animals only; no external signs or banners inside).

• More Than a Party: The critical connection between attending Pride Fest and funding the Grand Rapids Pride Center, as the festival serves as their largest annual fundraiser.

• Year-Round Support: How festival donations directly fuel vital community programs, including the Therapy Assistance Program (TAP), the Health Equity Program, and an array of peer social and support groups (Youth, BIPOC, Timeless Pride Connections, and Trans/Nonbinary groups).

The Grand Rapids Pride Center is the longest-running LGBTQ+ resource center in Michigan.

To learn more about their services, year-round programming, or how to support their mission, visit their website or stop by the center.

In this episode of Community Closeup, our weekly public affairs program produced in partnership with the Grand Rapids Community Media Center, host Phil Tower sits down with Charles Burke, President & CEO of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

Recently celebrating his third anniversary with the organization, Charles discusses how Meijer Gardens has solidified its reputation as an internationally acclaimed cultural landmark, including being recognized as the Best Sculpture Park in the United States by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for three consecutive years.

Drawing from his March 2026 column, "What the World Needs Now: How Art, Culture, and Nature Can Help Heal Communities in Difficult Times," Charles shares his insights on why a deeper human connection is essential in divided times.

Tune in as we also discuss:

• Healing Through Art & Nature: How spaces like Meijer Gardens foster the conditions for empathy, resilience, and restoration.

• Summer Highlights: A look ahead at the highly anticipated Summer Concert series (including Wilco) and the major Chihuly at Meijer Gardens exhibition.

  Links:

• Learn more about upcoming events and exhibits: meijergardens.org

• Read Charles Burke's full column: ExpertFile Spotlight

In this episode, WYCE’s Janet Zahn welcomes Mariah Malone, Communications coordinator with John Ball Zoo, to talk about upcoming summer events, highlights, and ways you can support their wildlife conservation mission.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival: Returning with this year's theme, Realms of Wonder, featuring three new enchanting realms. Running Wednesdays through Sundays (expanding to Tuesdays starting May 19) through June 14. (Note: Tickets are unavailable on June 12).

• RendeZoo: The Ripple Effect (June 12, 7:00 PM): The zoo’s annual 21+ fundraiser featuring live entertainment, food, craft cocktails, and immersive experiences.

• World Ocean Day: Special events planned at the zoo on June 25.

• Member Nights (Beginning June 30, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Exclusive after-hours perks for zoo members, including live performances from magicians, jugglers, and hula hoopers, plus open attractions, animal activities, food, and alcoholic beverages.

To get tickets, check out annual and monthly membership options, or plan your next visit, go to jbzoo.org.