The event provided various entry points to engage, inspire and challenge attendees. This included:
- Local artists and musicians performing songs aligning with the event's message adding a layer of local culture and creativity.
- A session featuring outside speakers covering topics on the American Idea, The Founder's “Pursuit of Happiness,” and a perspective on Martin Luther King, Jr.
- A robust local panel representing diverse backgrounds that focused on issues and solutions for right here in Grand Rapids.
The event was a testament to our collective commitment to community development. This work requires intentional planning, but it also allows outcomes to happen organically. It asks us to show up with an experimental mindset. It invites us to be okay with not agreeing on everything.
Change happens at the pace of deep relationships. It’s a core tenet of the work we do. Deep relationships require building trust. Often, when we disagree politically or religiously, or there are power dynamics, it’s hard to trust someone or some group directly.
The question we need to ask is: Do we trust that the people in the room have a shared care and concern for our city and those who are vulnerable? If we can get to a yes we can begin to move forward.
The summit closed out with a personal appeal to all attendees, and we include it here because it highlights the importance of continued personal connection: Will you reach out to some of the people you met at this conference, especially people you might not usually connect with? We started our time together around the table. Maybe grab a coffee or a meal with them to further the discussion.
Highlights + Key Takeaways
When we come together as a community, the ideas begin to flow. Actionable items that surfaced on the local panel included:
- Prioritize areas of our city that have historically lacked investment, and do so in a way that uplifts those communities.
- Close the disparity gap by getting the right capital, resources, and expertise needed to spark business growth for smaller businesses positioned to scale.
- Proactively engage local organizations and the faith community as support agents in community transformation. The churches are often a source of support when people are in crisis, but can play a more significant role if proactively engaged.
- Foster more collaboration among the nonprofit community to better address our community's challenges.
We’re inspired by the attendance, participation and follow-up opportunities that Believe in our City generated. The partners are already exploring what future convenings of Believe in our City could look like - and we encourage you to continue sharing your ideas as well.
