WYCE's Community Closeup (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)
WYCE's Community Closeup is a weekly public affairs program featuring community leaders and nonprofit organizations. WYCE is West Michigan's only independent, commercial-free, community radio station serving the greater Grand Rapids metro. WYCE programs an eclectic blend of folk, rhythm & blues, hip-hop, rock, jazz, and world music to the West Michigan community and beyond. Listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered. WYCE is a proud service of the Grand Rapids Community Media Center. We exist because of listener support. Please support us to keep the music playing: http://www.wyce.org
Episodes
In this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Cindy Meyers-Foley, the Director and CEO ofThe Grand Rapids Art Museum.
Cindy spoke with us about several programs and happenings at the GRAM, including their new "Thursdays on the Terrace" programming, the GRAM on The Green Concert Series, a partnership with WYCE Community Radio.
Cindy also spoke about the changing role of museums, especially how places like the ...
On this week's program, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Jamon Alexander, President + CEO, WMCAT (West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology)
Jamon joined WMCAT in 2015 and now leads the organization’s work to provide access to opportunity as president & CEO. Previously, he was the director of workforce development at WMCAT, where he spent several years growing WMCAT’s Adult Career Training Program.
Jamon shared w...
On this week's episode, we welcome Hal Phillips, board chair of the Eastown Community Association.
The Eastown Community Association is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit Neighborhood Association that was formed through the joint efforts of Aquinas College and Eastown residents in 1973. The ECA works with City officials, the Grand Rapids Police Department, other nonprofit organizations, and area businesses.
The Eastown Community Association ...
In this episode, we welcome Joel Westphal, Deputy Director, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
Joel spoke with us about the upcoming multi-day event: The Greatest Generation Celebration: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II.
The events will be spread across several days from September 1-7, 2025.
This Historic Celebration in Grand Rapids offers a full week of remembrance and tribute to America'...
In this episode, WYCE's John Rumery welcomes
Guest: : Guest: Fridah Kanini, the Founder and CEO of A Glimpse of Africa.
A Glimpse of Africa is a West-Michigan-based non-profit that brings people together by showcasing, educating, celebrating, and sharing diverse African cultures while fostering community through programs that voice, advocate for, and address African refugees and immigrants’ needs and disparities.
Fridah also ...
On this episode, we welcome Gaby Cordova, Director of Engagement with the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan.
Founded in 1978, the goal of the Hispanic Center is to provide unmet social services to the Hispanic Community in Greater West Michigan.
The Hispanic Center of West Michigan is located on Cesar Chavez Ave. in Roosevelt Park, the largest Latino neighborhood in Grand Rapids.
The Center serves more than 30,000 individuals annual...
On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Daryl Reece, Executive Director and co-founder of the Pieces of Reeces Foundation.
The Pieces of Reeces Foundation will once again bring the community together on Saturday, August 9, from 1-8 pm, for their third annual Piecing Together Unity Festival at Rosa Parks Circle.
The festival is hosted by the Pieces of Reece's Foundation.
The foundation provides essential resources such as food, cloth...
In this week's episode, WYCE station manager Phil Tower welcomes Dana Eardley, executive director of Fulton Street Market, and Anissa Mathiasz, assistant market manager at the Fulton Street Market.
Fulton Street Market celebrates the power of community and grassroots activism.
Established in 1922, Fulton Street Market has been a staple of Grand Rapids and beyond, evolving to meet the changing needs of our diverse population.
Dana Ea...
In this episode, WYCE station manager Phil Tower speaks with Wardell Frazier, Jr., Executive Director of The Diatribe, and J-Lin Tamminga, Director of Education at The Diatribe.
Both Wardell and J-Lin spoke about the Diatribe Vision: Creating art that is informative because we know that some of the most complex topics can be digested easier through an artistic lens, and that some of the most complex verbiage can be redivided through...
In this episode, host Janet Zahn speaks with Sasha Wolff, founder and executive director of Still I Run, as well as Brendan Kelly, licensed therapist and owner and CEO of The Well Being.
Both West Michigan organizations have partnered to offer the Starting Line Scholarship, a program designed to remove any barriers that may be blocking individuals from taking up running for mental health.
The scholarship seeks to provide recipients w...
In this episode, WYCE. Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Sharon Caldwell-Newton, Executive Director with CSNIP.
CSNIP positively impacts thousands of families each year in our mission to reduce the gap in veterinary care by providing affordable vet care for pet families in our 10-county community.
They're here to help---If you have a pet, you already know how powerful the human animal bond is and how it can change lives. CS...
On this week's episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Jazz McKinney, executive director of The Grand Rapids Pride Center.
The mission of The Grand Rapids Pride Center is to create positive change for the 2-SLGBTQ+ community by breaking down barriers, creating awareness, providing inclusive services, and bridging relationships.
Jazz spoke about the history of the Pride Center and also discussed the upcoming PrideFest 20...
On this episode, host Janet Zahn welcomes Lakiya Jenkins, executive director of LINC UP, and Donald Thompson, events coordinator with LINC UP.
They joined Janet to discuss their upcoming Rock the Block Festival on June 14th in Grand Rapids
LINC UP’s Rock the Block brings neighbors, local businesses, and community partners together for a vibrant day of connection, celebration, and culture. It features live music and food trucks, local...
On this episode, we welcome back Dana Romero-, BSCD.
They are the Development Coordinator for Donor Communications at YWCA West Central Michigan.
YWCA West Central Michigan is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and girls, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
The YWCA West Central Michigan seeks to inspire hope and healing.
Where racism and sexism give rise to domestic and sexual violence, the YWC...
On this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Adrienne Goodstal, the Executive Director of North Kent Connect.
North Kent Connect is a Christian service organization committed to improving the lives of all people in northern Kent County by providing access to basic needs and promoting economic independence.
They provide a wide variety of services for the clients/individuals they serve.
On this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with David Bult, executive director of Next Step of West Michigan, and Darion Boyd, Carpentry-Community Builder with Next Step of West Michigan.
Next Step of West Michigan is a faith-based, social enterprise non-profit that provides job skills training, as well as employment opportunities in construction, manufacturing, and municipal clean-up.
The organization works to st...
On this week's episode, host , John Rumery from WYCE speaks with Lindsay Ellis, a member of the Grand Rapids Women's Chorus.
The Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus is dedicated to singing music that celebrates and honors the diversity of women’s lives. Drawing on music from many cultures, the Chorus strives to educate and inspire its community to promote justice, peace, and equality.
The chorus is a diverse, volunteer group of women...
On this episode, WYCE's Janet Zahn speaks with Nicole Rapacki, the Recycling Coordinator for the Grand Rapids Department of Public Works.
Nicole and Janet spoke about the efforts by the city of Grand Rapids to consider becoming the sole trash hauler for residential properties, according to city officials.
The Grand Rapids Department of Public Works leadership has conducted two separate studies that have each recommended that the ...
On this week's episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Noddea Skidmore, the Director of Marketing and Communications with Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.
Noddea gave us a preview of the upcoming 20 25–20 26 season at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and talked as well about ticket packages that patrons can take advantage of.
We also discussed the upcoming "Ten For All" finals and accessibility at the theatre.
On this week's episode, host John Rumery welcomes Lydia Kauffman, a Project Manager at Carnevale and COO at The Tech-Collaborative
The Tech Collaborative empowers non-profits with innovative tech solutions, enabling them to maximize their impact.
They are committed to nurturing the next generation of tech by providing opportunities for non-traditional talent to thrive in the industry.
The Tech Collaborative exists to bridge the g...
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