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PODCAST

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning issues of importance in West Michigan)

WYCE Independent Community Radio

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

business non-profit

All Episodes

00:15:25

Behind the scenes with George Bayaard, Executive...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/10/31

In this week's episode, we welcome George Bayaard, Executive Director, with The Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives.The Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives’ mission is to collect and retell the rich, colorful stories that compose the historic African American tapestry of living in Grand Rapids.George Bayaard joined us on the program to speak about the big move for GRAAMA to a new location full of immense potential for the organization.The Grand Rapids African

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00:15:35

Exploring a world of resources at your local Grand...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/10/24

In this episode, we speak with Katie Zychowski, Director of Marketing & Communications with the Grand Rapids Public Library.Katie joined us to speak on a variety of topics, including how easy it is to sign up and get a Grand Rapids Public Library card. This can be done year-round at any branch in the city.On an ongoing basis, your Grand Rapids Public Library is a wonderful resource for people who need help with their computer, laptop, or smartphone. Even general questions about email, the

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00:16:16

Previewing The Grand Rapids Ballet's Spectacular...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/10/17

In this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Mary Jennings, Executive Director with The Grand Rapids Ballet, and James Sofranko, the Artistic Director with the Grand Rapids Ballet.Mary and James joined us on the program for a preview of the 2025–2026 season.The season kicks off with the world premiere production of “Sherlock"--October 24-26, 2025, at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. Next up is the timeless holiday classic, “The Nutcracker", December 12-14 & 19-21 at DeVos

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00:16:51

How the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids is to...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/10/10

In this episode, we speak with Patrick Placzkowski, Chief Executive Officer, Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids, and Daryl Reece, Community leader, founder of the Piecing Together Unity Foundation, and also a board member with the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids.Daryl shared his story with us regarding the powerful impact that was made on him as a young man while attending programming at the Boys and Girls Clubs in both Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor.The mission of the Boys and Girls Club of Grand

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00:17:24

How SECOM works to promote healthy...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/10/03

In this week's episode, WYCE's John Rummery welcomes Pablo Garcia, the Executive Director of SECOM Resource Center. The mission at SECOM Resource Center is to give help and hope to their neighbors by empowering families to achieve their full potential through healthy living, education, and economic opportunities.SECOM began in 1971 as an outreach ministry of four area churches to meet the needs of the surrounding neighborhood, particularly in hunger and food insecurity. In 1993, SECOM

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00:13:19

How the East Hills Council of Neighbors are building...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/09/26

In this episode, we welcome Jess Young, Executive Director with East Hills Council of Neighbors.Through regular meetings and continuous outreach, East Hills is reaching beyond the status quo to address the needs of its community. With the collaboration of passionate neighbors, they have worked to build and maintain a beautiful, diverse, friendly, and safe place to live, work, and play.The East Hills Council holds monthly meetings on the third Monday of Every Month at 6:30 PM in Cherry ParkAll are

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00:14:34

How Great Lakes Music Camp offers equitable access to...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/09/19

In this episode, we speak with Jason Wheeler and Bruce Ling, cofounders and instructors for the annual Great Lakes Music Camp.This year's Great Lakes Music Camp is October 2-5. Once again, this year's session is sold out, but there are opportunities to be added to a waiting list for next year's session.Great Lakes Music Camp is an inspiring and community-building musical experience held on the shores of Lake Michigan at Camp Blodgett Loeks Retreat Center.The camp creates a unique

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00:14:44

How MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/09/12

In this episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower welcomes Stefanie Pohl, Senior Content Specialist · Michigan Economic Development Corporation.In July, a unique Crowdfunding Campaign called "Northeast Grand Rapids: A City of Healing" was launched with a $50,000 goal to win a matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative.This project was powered by donations through the success of a crowdfunding campaign led by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

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00:16:48

How the Rapidian is boosting media transparency and...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/09/05

On this week's episode, WYCE Station Manager Phil Tower speaks with Allison Donahue, Program Manager, The Rapidian.Allison joined us on this program to provide us with an update about everything happening with The Rapidian.In 2023, the Rapidian introduced the Grand Rapids Documenters program, part of the nationwide Documenters Network, to create a new public record in Grand Rapids.Since then, The Rapidian has been training and paying community members to record notes and audio for a diverse

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00:17:10

Up close with Cindy Meyers-Foley, the Director...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/08/29

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 Grand Rapids Art Museum are becoming positive spaces for health and

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00:16:35

How WMCAT is providing a culture of opportunity for...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/08/22

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 with us how WMCAT provides a culture of opportunity for people to make

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00:14:10

Up close with Hal Phillips, from the Eastown...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/08/15

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 also works closely with the Eastown Business Association on

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00:15:02

A Preview of Grand Rapids Greatest Generation...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/08/08

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's Greatest Generation.The events also offer an opportunity to commemorate

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00:10:21

How A Glimpse of Africa Festival celebrates diverse...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/07/31

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 gave us a preview of their annual, A Glimpse of Africa Festival,

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00:13:47

A preview of Hispanic Festival 2025: Celebrating West...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/07/25

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 annually. The staff is largely bilingual and multicultural. Hispanic

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00:13:59

A preview of the Piecing Together Unity Festival with...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/07/18

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, clothing, and shelter to ensure that every child's basic needs are met,

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00:15:28

How Fulton Street Market is connecting communities,...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/07/11

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 Eardley talked about how Fulton Street Market has been working hard to

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00:15:51

How The Diatribe's mission to inspire, educate, and...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/07/04

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 the creative gaze; words like racism, justice, and even liberation.A

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00:15:23

Running for Better Mental Health with Still I Run's...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/06/27

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 with the motivation and accountability to keep running. Still, I Run

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00:13:59

How West Michigan's CSNIP provides affordable vet...

WYCE"s Community Closeup (*conversations concerning... ·

2025/06/20

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. CSNIP promises no judgment, no attitude... just kindness and support.Sharon

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